| From the Secretary Home |
Happy Holidays
Dear Colleagues --
Greetings of the Season!
It’s hard to believe that nearly a year has passed since I returned to DNR.
The past 11 months have been among the most exciting and challenging of my career. Exciting, for having returned to a place, people and work that I love, to work for an Administration that is committed to protecting our resources and moving Maryland forward. Challenging, because there never seems to be enough time or money to accomplish as much as we’d like as quickly as we’d like; in addressing the needs of our natural world, time is a luxury we do not have.
Still, under Governor O’Malley’s leadership, we’ve enjoyed some significant successes in a relatively short period of time. BayStat, the new Chesapeake Bay Trust Fund, the Oyster Advisory Commission, the Climate Change Commission, and our own internal reorganization – which created the Office for a Sustainable Future and a Boating Services unit – are all important tools that will help guide and support our work in the months ahead.
And speaking of looking ahead, we can all expect to be back operating at full speed in very short order. The next session of the General Assembly begins on January 9, with a “green” legislative package on Governor O’Malley’s to do list. We will also be continuing our Future Search efforts; the next steps will directly involve some of our stakeholders – as well as some of you – in developing a department-wide strategic plan.
Also, Eric and I will be relocating our offices to C-1, in the space formerly occupied by the Licensing & Registration office. As I have said to many of you personally, we really do view our most important job as supporting your work. The move to C-1 will help us emphasize that role, make us more available to you and free up additional space on C-4 for operational uses. We look forward to both literally and symbolically changing our place in DNR early in the New Year.
So as 2007 comes to a close, I just wanted to take a moment to congratulate you on our shared achievements and thank you for your unparalleled commitment to our important work. Every one of our successes is realized through collective effort. It is your commitment, your expertise, your energy and your steadfast support that allows our agency to continue to be a natural resources leader, even in difficult times.
As you enjoy the holidays, please take some time for yourselves, to reflect, rest and rejuvenate – trust me when I say we’re all going to need it!
Speaking of reflection, I recently came across this Native American teaching:The way we harm the earth affects all people,
and how we treat one another is reflected in how we treat the earth.This teaching mirrors the fundamental promise of our new mission of sustainability – the distinction between natural and human systems is an artificial one; human systems are part of the larger natural system. I hope you will take some time to reflect on the deeper meaning of this in both your professional and personal lives.
On behalf of Governor O’Malley, Lt. Governor Brown and DNR’s entire leadership team, may your holidays and the New Year bring untold blessings to you and your loved ones.
Sincerely,
John
December 24, 2007