I want to share with President’s Circle members some of the changes already in progress following the Board’s December approval of the Garden’s new, “Keep Growing” 10-year strategic plan. The plan renews the Garden’s mission and strengthens our commitment to meeting the needs of all the audiences the Garden serves, educates, and inspires.

One of the first changes is especially exciting. During the next two weeks, you will receive the inaugural issue of our new member magazine. We named it Keep Growing to demonstrate our commitment to principles of the strategic plan. Keep Growing will provide the same valuable information of past member magazines. But it now will also include the entire adult education course catalog of the Joseph Regenstein, Jr. School of the Botanic Garden, a guide to our youth and family programs, as well as resources for teachers and students.

Keep Growing will make more information about Garden programs available to a larger number of people, and share more widely the Garden’s resources and expertise. Just one example will be a regular column by Executive Vice President Kris Jarantoski. Kris, whom many of you know, is also the Garden’s Director; he is responsible for horticulture, plant collections, operations, and long-term planning. For more than 30 years, Kris has played an unparalleled role in creating our exquisite garden. I am delighted he will share his vast wealth of knowledge with Garden audiences.

The new member magazine will also have advertising—likely a surprising change for many—and a decision we made cautiously. Yet, an important goal of the strategic plan is to ensure the Garden’s long-term financial health. Advertising revenue will cover the significant cost of printing the magazine, enabling us to invest your contributions to the Annual Fund more wisely—important in every economic climate.

The new strategic plan will enable the Garden to grow in stature and impact—throughout all Garden programming, in our own communities, across the country, and around the magnificent but fragile world we share. I welcome your suggestions on ways to enhance the Garden’s future—in 2010 and in the exciting decade ahead.

With appreciation for all you do,

Sophia Siskel
President & CEO
Chicago Botanic Garden