Vote on the Merger of MountainTrue and HRWC

MountainTrue is proposing to merge with the Hiwassee River Watershed Coalition and we need our members to vote on it.

Background: Hiwassee River Watershed Coalition (HRWC) and MountainTrue hope to complete a merger in the Summer of 2019. Both organizations share a commitment to protecting our waters and forests. Merging will make both organizations stronger and better able to address the needs of our communities through a combination of grassroots organizing, community-driven planning and strategic advocacy.

Our boards and staff have been in this focused discussion for several months.  We’ve talked to our major funders, partner groups, and other stakeholders. The overwhelming conclusion from this exploration was that we should combine forces and, earlier this month, both boards voted to support a formal merger that will result in a single organization. After the merger, the work of HRWC in North Carolina and Georgia will continue under the name of MountainTrue.

Here’s why we think a merger makes sense:

• The merger is an important step toward building one organization that can effectively fight for the interests of our mountain region. MountainTrue works across the North Carolina mountains, but our presence is most strongly felt by residents in areas where we have regional offices. MountainTrue has not had an on-the-ground presence in the far western seven WNC counties for 10 years, and merging with HRWC will provide that, bringing all of MountainTrue’s resources, expertise, and advocacy to that region and to the Hiwassee River watershed in North Georgia. Likewise, MountainTrue gains local staff, programs, and supporters to make the larger organization stronger. The people of Western North Carolina and North Georgia have a shared love of our forests, rivers and natural environment that crosses county, state, and partisan lines. This merger will harness those shared values for the benefit of the entire mountain region.
• Merging will give HRWC more financial opportunities and the ability to grow. HRWC will be able to solicit donors and foundations that only support larger organizations. HRWC’s annual budget is approximately $140,000, and large donors/foundations are often reluctant to provide big grants if it means that they would make up a significant portion of an organization’s annual budget. On the other hand, MountainTrue’s annual budget is $1.7 million, which enables it to access significant grant opportunities.
• Merging will allow the HRWC to sustain its existing programs and expand its reach. HRWC will benefit from MountainTrue’s experienced staff who provide programmatic, communications, and management support — including back-of-the-house services such as bookkeeping and database management— to our regional offices. MountainTrue has a communications and engagement team, a development team, and a public lands team ready to help. Freeing up HRWC staff from most administrative duties will allow them to focus more on program work in their current and expanded region.

Eligibility to vote: All current MountainTrue members. Dues must be current, meaning paid within the last 12 months as of June 6, 2019.
Click here to see if you are a current member.

Questions?
Contact MountainTrue Co-Director Julie Mayfield at Julie@mountaintrue.org, or MountainTrue Co-Director Bob Wagner at wagner@mountaintrue.org.

Thank you for being part of this exciting opportunity for MountainTrue to support more communities across the region in building a better, healthier and cleaner WNC for all!