Sunrise light on a grove of tufa towers emerging from the water of Mono Lake with soft green and dusty-red wild grasses in the foreground, Canada geese in the shallow water with reflections of the rocky towers, and desert hills in the distance.

Patagonia adds tools to the kit

Sunrise light on a grove of tufa towers emerging from the water of Mono Lake with soft green and dusty-red wild grasses in the foreground, Canada geese in the shallow water with reflections of the rocky towers, and desert hills in the distance.

Patagonia, the clothing company, has a well-deserved reputation for supporting environmental causes and Mono Lake is no exception. From designing our logo back in the 1980s to helping with the remodel of the Information Center & Bookstore in the 1990s, to providing life jackets for the canoe program in 2007, Patagonia has most certainly lived up to its reputation, and we’re proud to have a legacy of working with this innovative company.

Last weekend Patagonia hosted their 11th Tools for Grassroots Activists Conference, and I was lucky to be able to attend the gathering of non-profit experts and supporters, Patagonia staff, and seasoned environmental activists.

I got to hear amazing speakers author David Orr and activist Tim DeChristopher (also known as Bidder 70) on climate change, challenge myself at workshop sessions with experts on communications strategies, learn new tools at technology sessions with the folks from Google Earth, and meet with Patagonia’s Environmental Editor Nora Gallagher to discuss the Mono Lake Newsletter.

And then there was the fireside chat. Sitting in a sea of organic cotton Ts, wool layers, and down vests we were treated to a chance-of-a-lifetime evening of stories, philosophy, and thoughtful advice with Patagonia’s Founder Yvon Chouinard and Environmental Editor Nora Gallagher. Chouinard’s passionate belief in responsible business clearly runs deep, and one of my favorite quotes from the evening was, “I don’t have the courage to be on the front lines, but I’ll dig deep down in my pockets for you. Thank you.”

Another tidbit I wrote down this weekend was “conferences are not news.” So here I am, first day after the conference, breaking the rules. But I just had to share this experience here on The Mono-logue because this sort of training opportunity doesn’t come along every day, and it was more than just a conference. It was another generous tool from Patagonia to help us do the most we can for Mono Lake.

Visit Patagonia’s blog: The Cleanest Line for a sampling of stories from conference attendees.