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FROM THE PRESIDENT When settling into the airport shuttle at the end of the two and one-half days of presentations, technical workshops, and case analyses, I finally had my first uninterrupted opportunity to feel both exhausted and immensely satisfied. For all of us, whether working in government, enterprise or conservation, it is vital to step out-side of our daily routines to reflect upon important issues and directions. This lifelong learning pro-cess ultimately makes us more effective in our jobs and in our lives. So I was pleased to see such an enthusiastic response from WHC members and other partners to our 1997 Wildlands Conference. And it was particularly gratifying to hear over and over the growing recognition at all levels about the importance of wildlife habitat--a recognition that matches my own experience connecting with the en-thusiasm and eagerness of our corporate members about their WHC programs. The 1997 Wildlands Conference, "Exceeding Expectations," was planned to do three things. It was structured to provide technical resources and assistance for natural resources management. It was designed to provide experiential training in the process of collaborative partnerships for natural resource protection. And perhaps most importantly, the conference was conceived to inspire and encourage us to connect with a broader vision: to promote sustainable business and development through the conservation and enhancement of a dwindling precious resource--our nation's wildlands. I feel confident that we hit the ball out of the park. From the first day, it was encouraging to see the preparation and detail in each of the technical presentations on such diverse topics as wetlands, public assistance opportunities, water quality, and endangered species management. I learned a lot not only from the speakers' knowledge and experiences but from the lively discussions that followed. On the second day of the conference, teams comprising corporate managers, agency officials, and conservation leaders worked in a collaborative spirit with one another to dissect, understand, and resolve the sometimes thorny issues around three case studies. By doing this, they walked through the process of collaboration necessary to successfully resolve each situation and that will help them better manage their own projects back home. Throughout the conference, keynote (plenary) speakers provided solid insight into the importance of wildlands and of natural resource partnerships in a series of engaging presentations laced with experience, wit and powerful stories. I won't soon forget Merlin Tuttle's account of joining with the Samoan "vampire control" hunting parties in the dead of night in order to better understand the cultural milieu surrounding the relationship of bats--those much-maligned creatures who provide so much value--to the local inhabitants. And Barbara Price of Phillips Petroleum reminded all of us that genuine change grows steadily from those "small steps that make us feel good," like voluntary wildlife habitat projects. Like most participants, I took away new ways to think about the important interconnection between sustainability and competitive enterprise. I also gained a better understanding of the process driving natural resource partnerships, a clear source of energy that can help us achieve our goals. As you read through this conference report, I hope that you also will become convinced that, by conserving our wildlands in a voluntary, collaborative fashion, through common vision, action and tangible goals, we not only can exceed our expectations--we can change them. Bill Howard President
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