Crow Canyon trustee Roberta Rubin has taken on the role of chair of the 2010 annual fund with the characteristic enthusiasm and smart business sense that has made her independent bookstore in Winnetka, Illinois—The Book Stall at Chestnut Court—successful for 28 years. "I look forward to heading up the annual fund because I feel this aspect of our fund-raising touches the heart and soul of this organization," she says. "As someone who has been connected with Crow Canyon since 1988, I truly appreciate the importance of keeping the lights on and the staff intact!"

Roberta first visited Crow Canyon when she joined Pat and Mike Koldyke on an invitational field trip. In addition to operating her own business, she serves as president of the Winnetka Chamber of Commerce and president of the Castle Park Board of Trustees in Holland, Michigan. She is also a member of the annual fund committee for the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and is a board member of the Ragdale Foundation in Lake Forest, Illinois.

"The annual fund is Crow Canyon's chief means of sustaining excellence through the generous support of individuals," notes Melinda Burdette, vice president of development and planning. "Crow Canyon's study of the past has the power to teach us more about the delicate balance between humans and their environment. The knowledge we gain from our research has the potential of helping us and the generations that follow live more wisely. Our donors are valued partners in this process of discovery. That's a great return on every gift dollar a member contributes to Crow Canyon."