The practical reason for our relationship is because the MEC is a 501c(4) non-profit corporation, doing the work of lobbying for environmental protection and social rights causes, but they cannot accept tax deductible donations. As a 501c(3) educational and scientific non-profit corporation, the Cloud Forest Institute can provide grants by fiscally sponsoring any educational programs designed by the MEC that are funded by tax deductible contributions, grants or endowments. It is our ideal to be project driven, rather than money driven.
Our mission statement reads:
The Cloud Forest Institute is dedicated to offering educational alternatives through alliances with existing organizations. It is our goal to establish self-sufficient learning centers that focus on environmental and cultural sustainability. We will work to offer unique quality education, instill an environmentally conscious philosophy, and develop sound career opportunities for tomorrow's work force.
CFI was founded in 1997 as an inspiration to bridge the people and ways of the cloud forests of Mindo, Ecuador with the people and ways of the cloud forests of Mendo, California. Freeda Burnstad, founder and president of the board, is in Ecuador until April 28. She is guiding three students from CSU Monterey through a semester of service learning situations. They will be handing out a survey everywhere they go asking people about how they are coping and what solutions they might have to save their bankrupt country. She is also creating an alliance with the Amigos de Naturaleza de Mindo. She will be conducting a program in Mindo entitled "Lessons in Tropical Community Development" beginning in January of 2001. When you go to Mindo you'll understand why Alida loves it so much. I don't think she will stop there though. Alida is ready to go around the world building community.
Here in our neck of the woods there is a great potential for people to come together in Round Valley around something as simple as a stone, the stone being Covelo Jade. The Covelo Lapidary Institute Study will explore the ways in which jade could be used to make a living from jewelry to masonry applications to healing. We have received encouragement from members of the Round Valley Indian Tribes. We look forward to forming an alliance with them and starting workshops this summer.
In addition to Freeda Burnstad, the CFI board includes Alana Oldham, our bright new vice-president and official representative of the MEC to the Alliance for Sustainable Jobs in the Environment (ASJE). Gracefully accepting the treasurer's position is our new friend and eager board member Valerie Plummer. Valerie's partner, Chuck Bear, whose experiences vary from blacksmithing to university professor is available as an advisor. Currently there are 5 board members and 3 advisory committee members. Our by-laws read that we can have a minimum of 5 and a maximum of 50 board members. Give us ten years and we'll get there! Denny O'Brien, Defender of Rivers and our indispensable counsel is secretary of the board. Our fifth member is anchor man Dr. Urmas Kaldveer. I call him that because of my admiration for his whale studies on the research vessel Pelagikos. Dr. Kaldveer is a distinguished scholar and interpreter of culture who has based his life's experiences on education and research. Also working with CFI as advisors are Marigold Klein, the lady with the heart of gold, and Laura Golino de Lovato, non-profit board trainer and fund raiser. Laura and her husband Roberto are also helping to fortify our local chapter of the Alliance for Democracy. The fifth advisor and source of Freeda's independent nature is Patrick Burnstad, distance education and internet guru.
We've got lots of ideas and we'd like to hear yours. If you've got an idea for a charitable, educational or scientific project or program that will further the goal of environmental and cultural sustainability, write and tell us about it. Write to CFI, c/o the MEC, 106 West Standley Street, Ukiah, CA 95482.
I'd like to end with the words from Bob Dylan's song, "New Morning:"
"This could be the day that all of our dreams come true!"
Copyright Mendocino Environmental Center 2000
Permission granted to excerpt or use this article if source is cited