Wild Profile: Barbara Stein, 20-year WA Wild Supporter
From One Wild Heart to Another
Over 20 years ago, Barbara Stein and her then-partner, now wife, took a trip to go camping on the Olympic Peninsula. As they drove past all the clear cuts visible from Route 101, Barbara was appalled.
“At least they weren’t hiding what was happening, but I wanted to find a way to channel my outrage and pain. I understood that clearcutting did not just represent a loss of trees, and a visual blight on the landscape, but a multiplicity of other negative impacts. Environmental destruction brings with it erosion, pollution of waterways, and loss of wildlife habitat. To say nothing of the loss of enjoyment and feeling of rejuvenation that results from being in unperturbed wild places. ”
I wanted to find a way to channel my outrage and pain [after witnessing clear cuts on the Olympic Peninsula]
As luck would have it, not too long after she returned home, a door-to-door canvasser introduced her to Washington Wild, which was known as Washington Wilderness Coalition at the time.
As she continued to learn more about our organization, she found our message compelling. And she continues to feel the same way today. “While its name may have changed, its work has not. Washington Wild continues to put funds raised directly to its mission.”
Bringing together diverse stakeholders speaks to legislators in a way that single-issue-approaches do not. Washington Wild has positioned itself to lead such coalitions and continues to achieve results that benefit us all
When asked why she continues to support Washington Wild after all these years, her response sounded very familiar to our core messaging. “Bringing together diverse stakeholders speaks to legislators in a way that single-issue-approaches do not. Washington Wild has positioned itself to lead such coalitions and continues to achieve results that benefit us all, with a small but targeted budget. I feel fortunate that I have been able to help support their efforts for the past 20 years.”
