Our Story
AdkAction emerged during the summer of 2007 when a group of more than 30 Adirondack residents held meetings in their living rooms to discuss environmental and community challenges. The idea of forming an action committee to make progress for the Adirondacks arose at the earliest meetings. The group concluded that such a committee, with its ability to raise money, and support important issues, was needed to advocate for the specific interests of the Adirondacks.
During the fall of 2007 AdkAction moved from concept to reality. A community survey produced the following high-priority issues which at least 2/3 of the respondents Agreed or Strongly Agreed were important:
Many of the ideas from the survey became AdkAction projects. With such a rich variety of project ideas, the non-profit board of directors that formed to govern AdkAction decided that the number of project areas that the organization would take on would depend only on the number of passionate people on the board. AdkAction became a 501(c)(3) nonprofit early 2011.
Two of our founding board members, Marsha Stanley and Dave Wolff, with Stephanie Ratcliffe, Executive Director of The Wild Center.
Each of our projects is lead by a passionate board member with the help of AdkAction staff. Experts are brought in as necessary, and we work with partner organizations and consultants to ensure adequate capacity and expertise in each project area. With this structure we are able to have a positive, out-sized impact on Adirondack communities. Our current projects include conserving habitat for monarchs and other pollinators, preventing road salt pollution, promoting local artists and arts institutions, increasing access to high-speed internet, and revitalizing Adirondack downtowns.