NEW BOARD LEADERSHIP

Alex (Lex) S. Crawford, Jr.  was installed as EIOLT’s new Board President in January.  A member of the Board of Directors for seven years, Lex served as Board Vice President for the last four.  He and his family protected their 217-acre Sand Creek Farm property in 2007, and his passion for the conservation of Edisto Island knows no bounds.  He succeeds BoBo Lee, EIOLT President for the last four years.  Lex said, “Our members, Board and staff want to thank BoBo for his dedicated service to EIOLT and our mission.  BoBo has shown us all what it means to be unwavering in your devotion to keeping a special place safe, and we are grateful that he has agreed to stay on the Board and continue this worthy work.”

Burnet (Burnie) R. Maybank, III, joined the EIOLT Board late last year and now serves as the Chair of the Land Protection Committee.  A tax attorney with the Nexsen Pruet Law Firm in Columbia and Charleston, Burnie served for many years as SC Tax Commissioner and is recognized for significant contributions to SC’s land conservation success. He is the author of numerous local, state, and federal tax incentives for conservation easement donations.  Burnie serves as Chair of EIOLT’s Land Protection Committee

Bobby R. Creech, Jr., newly elected member of the Board, is a partner in the CPA firm, Webster Rogers, LLP, at the firm’s Charleston office.  Since 2005 he has served on the SC Board of Accountancy and is currently Chair. He also serves on committees of the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy, as well as the DNR’s Migratory Waterfowl Committee.   Bobby will Chair EIOLT’s Audit Committee, and serve on the Finance Committee.

Board of Directors

Officers

Alex S. Crawford, Jr.
President & Chair
 
Robert E.
"Bobo" Lee, Jr.
Past President

Fisher C. Walter, Jr.
Secretary

Charles E. Callahan
Treasurer

Other Directors:
Mark T. Crawford
Bobby Creech
Sidney A. Gauthreaux, Jr.
R. Walter Hundley
Pamela G. Jacobs
James O. Kempson
David L. Lybrand
Burnet Maybank III
I. Jenkins Mikell, Jr.
Chalmers W. Poston, Jr.
Sue H. Thorton
Ellen E. Unger

Land Protection Committee

Development Committee

Co-Chairs:  Sidney A. Gauthreaux, Jr. &
Mark T. Crawford

Members:
David L. Lybrand
Fisher Walter
Pam Jacobs

You are invited to
review EIOLT's
IRS Form 990 for 2008

Executive Director

Marian Brailsford

Office Manager

Ida Tipton

LETTER FROM
THE EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR

I think that we are all, unavoidably, thinking about the economic times in which we live.

Do you ever wonder how land protection impacts the economy?

A recent study by the University of South Carolina's Moore School of Business suggests that there is a direct link between the protection of our state’s natural resources (woods, waters and open space) and economic prosperity. 

South Carolina’s natural resources currently provide 236,000 jobs and contribute $30 billion to the state’s economy.  Researchers predicted that “the wise use of our extraordinary assets, if preserved, will bring substantial growth to a variety of economies,” including recreation, tourism, forestry and sustainable agriculture.

Where does Edisto fit into this prosperity picture?  It mirrors the state's top industry, recreation and tourism.  You simply can’t find a more outstanding location for South Carolina's three most popular recreational activities -- bird watching, hunting/fishing/wildlife viewing, and beach swimming/sunbathing.  And Edisto is home to three farm markets – the trendy "eat local" movement has long been a way of life on Edisto.

The USC study corroborates what the Edisto community has long realized: Edisto’s future prosperity is tied to protecting our island’s agricultural heritage, its spectacular natural beauty and its irreplaceable ecosystems.  Saving Edisto was once a dream.  Now, thanks to you and all EIOLT members, it is rapidly becoming a reality.            

Thank you.

            Marian Brailsford