This fund honors twenty years of service contributed by Jack and Martha Carter to conserving the flora of New Mexico. They became participating members of the NPSNM several years before moving from Colorado to New Mexico. With their arrival in the state, they demonstrated enthusiasm for protecting the flora by actively participating in board meetings, field trips, lectures and annual meetings. As early members of the Gila Chapter, they joined with a group of willing workers to elevate a small chapter into one of the most successful in the state. They have held a wide number of offices at the state and local levels and have never lost their sense of responsibility for protecting New Mexico’s native flora.

Protecting planet Earth into the future will be extremely difficult. In the next thirty to forty-five years, New Mexico’s population is projected to double, and there are few prospects for slowing this rate of growth. At the same time, if New Mexico is to protect the flora and fauna that attract people to this place, education and research must be expanded; support is needed from a wide range of individuals and organizations. An endowment fund is a long-term investment into the future.

The development of an endowment fund is a long-term operation that must start small, with plans for future growth. The NPSNM will initiate this endowment fund, while maintaining the annual operating budget at approximately the same level, and will continue to support the present level of grant funding. This means the current dues structure will continue to support the present operations.

Our plan calls for 50% of the income from investments in the Conservation Fund to be used to support research and education grants. The remainder will stay in the fund. This plan is directed toward today and the future; it is a means of protecting our small part of planet Earth for future generations.

All contributions are tax deductible as provided under the law.