As the Alliance celebrates our 25th Anniversary, we are reflecting on our storied history and strategic accomplishments. We're proud of all we've achieved together, because of you, and we're laser-focused on the work that still lies ahead of us. All proceeds from our inaugural Snap the Sierra photo contest will go toward creating a special 25th Anniversary publication.

As many of you know, our founding emerged from a publication. In 1991, Tom Knudson wrote a five part series of articles from an eight-month investigation for the Sacramento Bee called "The Sierra in Peril." This report chronicled a myriad of problems in the Sierra: polluted air, dying forests, poisoned rivers, vanishing wildlife, eroding soil and rapid-fire development. The series won a Pulitzer Prize.

And now, 25 years later, we've come full circle and embarking on a new publication to archive our past, paint a picture of our present and envision our future. Now, the Sierra Nevada Alliance has the opportunity to strengthen its membership and reiterate the functions it serves. No one effort to protect the Sierra is enough. Much like an ecosystem in nature, many organizations are needed to work in harmony. The Sierra Nevada Alliance gives these many organizations, each with their own perspectives, a way to do that.

Our 25th Anniversary publication will remind readers of the importance of the Sierra Nevada. Stories featuring member groups will highlight ways in which the Alliance has effected change through these organizations. This publication will encourage readers to "think globally, act locally," and that an investment in the Sierra Nevada Alliance helps multiple efforts to protect the Sierra.