Fred & Dorothy Meyer NP – May 2023-3 blog post June 2023 res
Fred and Dorothy Meyer Nature Preserve photo by Kyle Doles
Let’s honor those who have protected Indiana’s natural places
Written By: Cliff Chapman
Date Published: June 6, 2023
Cliff Chapman
Our president & CEO, Cliff Chapman, submitted this opinion piece to local media. It ran in several outlets in late May.
Among the many ways that Len Betley, who passed away late last year, made a difference in Indiana was through his drive to conserve our natural areas. In addition to directly participating in the purchase and protection of some of Indiana’s most stunning landscapes, he led initiatives that support ongoing conservation projects and strengthened preservation organizations.
For example, it was Len who was the primary draftsman of the legislation that allowed for the funding of land protection through environmental license plate sales. Thanks to that legislation, nearly 62,000 acres of Indiana’s natural heritage is protected forever and, one could argue, the foundation was laid for the unprecedented $10 million included in the state budget approved in late April.
It would be a shame if such a giant of Indiana land conservation — and others like him — were not honored in some way. Unfortunately, one key way we could honor him seems to have fallen along the wayside. I’m proposing that we resurrect it.
In 2009, the Indiana Natural Resources Foundation began recognizing conservationists through the Indiana Conservation Hall of Fame. The inductees listed on the Indiana Department of Natural Resource’s website include some great people from a variety of backgrounds who made a tremendous impact for conservation. Many of the names are recognizable even beyond land conservation circles, such as Cook, Deam, Efroymson, Ford, Harrison, Lilly, Rolland, Scifres and Stratton-Porter.
However, after only three classes, the naming of inductees stopped. No one has been inducted for over a decade. And yet, there are many more worthy candidates. Just based on the protection of natural areas — my professional focus — I would recommend:
Dr. Alton Lindsey. Seeing too many beautiful places destroyed, Purdue professor Dr. Lindsey led an effort to document the best we have left in his 1969 book Natural Areas of Indiana, which led to the creation of many of the preserves we cherish today.
Edna Banta. Ms. Banta put Jefferson County on the map as a biological hotspot around the turn of the last century, combing the countryside to reveal that it was the most diverse county in Indiana.
Fred Meyer. Indiana’s first chapter president of The Nature Conservancy in 1960, Mr. Meyer chaired its land protection committee and negotiated deals to protect the state’s first nature preserves.
Shirley Heinze. Ms. Heinze put everything she could into protecting the Indiana Dunes and inspiring others to do so as well. An endowment created upon her death continues to protect what she loved so much.
John Bacone. No one protected more natural areas in Indiana than Mr. Bacone, director of the DNR Division of Nature Preserves for 40 years. Not willing to wait to honor him with a lifetime achievement award, his peers in the Natural Areas Association presented one to him 10 years before he retired.
Ellen Jacquart. The Central Indiana Land Trust’s founder and first president, Ms. Jacquart served as a botanist for the Hoosier National Forest. Finding no source for materials to restore areas in need, she created a native seed nursery. Later the stewardship director for The Nature Conservancy of Indiana, she was one of the first women in the nation to serve in that role.
Dr. Laura Hare. Dr. Hare’s family’s land in Fishers has been protected as Ritchey Woods Nature Preserve for decades, and she made arrangements for a foundation to be created upon her death for the protection of central Indiana natural areas. The foundation gives land-protection grants both nationally and in Indiana, which is home to several “Laura Hare Preserves.”
And, of course, Len Betley. In addition to the contributions noted above, Len did the hard work of leading multiple nonprofits improving their business practices and governance, ensuring their long-term sustainability and impact. His legacy lives on through their ongoing success.
We must have a way to memorialize the contributions of people like those I’ve listed here, not simply to ensure their legacies but to remind future generations — including state legislators — that some of Indiana’s best people have made the state’s natural places a top priority. I urge my colleagues in land conservation, elected officials, community members and Hoosiers everywhere to find a way to revive and maintain the Indiana Conservation Hall of Fame. Let’s make sure that, when future generations are appreciating Indiana’s incomparable natural areas, they know exactly whom to thank.
Of course, another way to thank them this spring would be to do everything we can to put a generous amount of money into the state budget for land conservation. After all, these giants of land conservation would want to see more natural areas saved.
Cliff Chapman is president and CEO of the Central Indiana Land Trust.
Ben Valentine
Guest Blogger
Ben Valentine is a founding member of the Friends of Marott Woods Nature Preserve and is active in several other conservation organizations. He leads a series of NUVO interviews with Indiana's environmental leaders, and he cherishes showing his son all the wonders of nature he grew up loving.
DJ Connors
Guest Blogger
DJ Connors, a Central Indiana native and late-to-life hunter, combines a lifelong appreciation for wildlife and the outdoors with a deep passion for exploring the natural beauty of the area he has called home for most of his life. As a husband and father of three, he is committed to ensuring his children have the same opportunities to connect with nature and appreciate the outdoors in their community. DJ’s unique journey into hunting emphasizes sustainability, responsible stewardship, and the importance of preserving these experiences for future generations.
Bridget Walls
Guest Blogger
Bridget is our first ever Communications and Outreach Intern. She is a graduate of Marian University, where she combined English, studio art, and environmental sciences in her degree studies. As treasurer for Just Earth, the university's environmental club, she helped plan events encouraging a responsible relationship between people, nature, and animals.
Jordan England
Guest Blogger
Jordan England is a lifelong Shelby County resident who graduated from Waldron Jr. Sr. High School (just a few miles from Meltzer Woods!). After earning her B.S. degree in Retail Management from Purdue University, she returned to Waldron to start a family with her husband, Brian. Together they have 3 young children and enjoy sharing with them their love of the community. Jordan is the Grants and Nonprofit Relations Director at Blue River Community Foundation, managing BRCF’s grant program, providing support to local nonprofits, and promoting catalytic philanthropy in Shelby County.
Cliff Chapman
President and CEO
As CILTI’s President and CEO, Cliff keeps CILTI’s focus on good science and stewardship. He’s mindful that the natural places you love took thousands of years to evolve and could be destroyed in a single day, and that knowledge drives his dedication to their protection.
Stacy Cachules
Chief Operating Officer
Among her many key duties as Assistant Director, Stacy has the critical task of tracking our budget, making sure we channel donations for maximum efficiency. When her workday’s done, Stacy loves to spend time with her two young boys—and when not traveling, she’s likely planning the next travel adventure.
Ryan Fuhrmann
Vice Chair
Ryan C. Fuhrmann, CFA, is President and founder of Fuhrmann Capital LLC, an Indiana-based investment management firm focused on portfolio management. Ryan’s interest in land conservation centers around a desire to help preserve natural habitats for wildlife and the subsequent benefits it brings to people and the environment.
Joanna Nixon
Board Member
Joanna Nixon is the owner of Nixon Consulting, an Indianapolis-based strategy and project management firm focused on the nonprofit sector. She currently serves as the Philanthropic Advisor for the Efroymson Family Fund. Prior to opening her consulting practice in 2000, Joanna was vice-president for grantmaking at Central Indiana Community Foundation (CICF). Joanna has more than 25 years of experience in the nonprofit and arts and culture sector. She is passionate about the environment and loves bringing big ideas to life and creating high-quality arts and culture programs and experiences. Joanna enjoys outdoor adventures, including competing in fitness obstacle course races and hiking with her high energy Australian Cattle Dog, Jackson.
Karen Wade
Board Member
Before retiring, CILTI board member Karen Wade worked for Eli Lilly & Co. In retirement she volunteers for a number of organizations, including the Indiana Master Naturalist program, Johnson County Native Plant Partnership CISMA, Meadowstone Therapeutic Riding Center, and Leadership Johnson County.
David Barickman
Development Systems Manager
Born and raised in Central Illinois, David spent many days as a child wandering around the river, forest and lakes there. He works behind the scenes as a key member of our fundraising team. When not working, David loves to be outdoors hiking, fly fishing, kayaking or woodworking.
Jamison Hutchins
Stewardship Director
Jamison leads our stewardship team in caring for the land that is so important to you. He comes to our team after eight years as Bicycle and Pedestrian Coordinator for the city of Indianapolis, where his work had a positive impact from both health and environmental perspectives.
Jen Schmits Thomas
Media Relations
An award-winning communicator and recognized leader in Central Indiana’s public relations community, Jen helps us tell our story in the media. She is the founder of JTPR, which she and her husband John Thomas own together. She is accredited in public relations (APR) from the Public Relations Society of America, and loves to camp and hike in perfect weather conditions.
Shawndra Miller
Communications Director
Shawndra’s earliest writing projects centered around the natural world, starting when a bird inspired her to write her first “book” in elementary school. Now she is in charge of sharing our story and connecting you to our work. Through our print and online materials, she hopes to inspire your participation in protecting special places for future generations.
Phillip Weldy
Stewardship Specialist
Phillip enjoys nature’s wonders from an up-close-and-personal perspective as he works to restore the natural places you love. As an AmeriCorps member in Asheville, NC, he had his first full immersion in relatively undisturbed land while reconstructing wilderness trails in National Parks and National Forests.
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