Wilderness Society cuts staff, citing weak economy

Contra Costa Times ^ | 11/19/11 | Bettina Boxall

[Libloather]

Wilderness Society cuts staff, citing weak economy
By Bettina Boxall - Los Angeles Times
Updated: 11/19/2011 05:48:14 PM PST

The weak economy has taken a big bite out of the Wilderness Society, which last week laid off 17 percent of its staff.

Headquartered in Washington, the organization is one of the nation's most venerable land preservation groups and has been a major force behind the creation and expansion of the federal wilderness system.

After increasing its staff and spending in recent years, the group is retrenching. "The Wilderness Society, like so many other organizations, has been feeling the effects of a down economy, creating budget pressures," said Kitty Thomas, senior director of advocacy communications. "We had an obligation to meet these financial challenges."

Thomas declined to provide details of the layoffs but said the staff had been trimmed to 155, about the size it was five years ago. Thirty-two people lost their jobs across the organization, which has nine regional offices. The cuts included a number of positions in the Denver office and in Washington, as well as one in California, according to staff members.

[Libloather]

Fewer employees means more wilderness - no?

[Salamander]

LOL

[Opinionated Blowhard]

That’s right. What are those poor wild animals going to do without the Wilderness Society????

[Roccus]

17% down...83% to go.

[wita]

Headquartered in Washington, the organization is one of the nation’s most venerable land preservation groups and has been a major force behind the creation and expansion of the federal wilderness system.

First, there is no such thing as the federal wilderness system. Look it up in the enumerated powers granted to Congress.

Second, the fewer people there are lobbying for something our forefathers spent their entire lives overcoming the better off we will all be.

Thirdly, God is the answer to the endless fears of folks who think no one is in charge, so they have to be.

Unfortunately irrational fears seem to be in the DNA of certain types of individuals, and so eternal vigilance will be a part of life until time ends.

[Donald Rumsfeld Fan]

"The Wilderness Society, like so many other organizations, has been feeling the effects of a down economy, creating budget pressures,"

A testament to their success in shutting down economic growth.....less growth equals lower donations.....they should be celebrating....

[Grampa Dave]

Good news for the rest of America.

[wbill]

less growth equals lower donations

Exactly, although I'm sure that this irony would be completely lost on them.

[BfloGuy]

The longer the economy stays weak and the government siphons away all our capital, the worse off these liberal organizations will be. I have always been somewhat bemused by their hatred for capitalism when it was the wealth created by it that provided the donations they depend on.

Stupid liberals.

[CedarDave]

The Wilderness Society is not needed — The Obama administration has adopted all their positions directly and written them into the Code of Federal Regulations.