I first encountered Orion through its magazine, which is sometimes referred to as "The New Yorker for environmentalists and lovers of nature." Incomparably wonderful combination of art and science-knowledge is in these pages, issue after issue--one reads and is both informed and dazzled. Some contributors are the foundation voices in the field--Barry Lopez, Terry Tempest Williams--others are new. The art and photography are equally indispensable as the words.
Later I began to be invited to contribute, both poems and essays. For me, it's been a chance (with the essay invitations) to think about and speak about things in a public way I might otherwise not--since I don't primarily write prose. Each time, I've felt it a privilege to be asked to bring something to the conversation.
Then, I was invited to one of the Orion Society's periodic conversations in which staff, board members, contributors, and others can meet in person to consider both the magazine's and society's direction, and the issues behind its mission. For me, this was extraordinarily rich, as an event, and in the new connections it brought me. (This is no luxury junket, anyone who's eaten in the Ghost Ranch cafeteria can attest--though anyone who's seen the mesas by moonlight could make the case that it was.) One ripple effect of that meeting I can personaly recount--because of it I was then invited to serve as poet in residence for the H.J. Andrews Experimental Forest in Oregon's Western Cascades--where the original old growth research began and continues. From that visit (and education) came writing that appeared both in Orion and also in The Atlantic--thus bringing to that readership what I'd been taught about old growth trees, lichens, and the nitrogen fixing cycle of that supreme ecosystem, whose value was unrecognized as recently as the '70s. This kind of ripple effect was clearly part of what Orion hopes for from these occasional meetings--and I am grateful to have been part of the web of their generosity.
Next, I was invited onto the magazine's advisory board, where I again feel privileged to be able to offer whatever I can.
This is an absolutely unique environmental organization--its outreach travels in many directions beyond the core magazine, the magazine is an irreplaceable jewel in our cultural landscape... Anyone who is considering adding their own support for this ongoing and utterly essential contributor to our planet's continuance, for all beings, for our children's children's children, I offer my gratitude to.
Review from Guidestar
My introduction to Orion began several years ago as I was bird watching at a beaver pond near my house. A young man was there doing the same. He turned out to be on the staff of Orion. He was an expert birder and extremely knowledgeable about our community. For years, he has conducted bird walks which are open to the community. I have continued to participate in them over the years.
More significantly for me, he introduced me to Orion's bi-monthly magazine which has enhanced my knowlege of environmental issues. I have been a subscriber for over 15 years. It is beautifully written and illustrated as well as compelling and informative. Its stories, whether uplifting ,stories about people who have made a significant positive impact, or distressing, the disturbing realities about the state of some of our natural resources, are always enriching. I also turn to the Orion staff for information about ecological issues (e.g. to spray or not to spray, etc).
In addition to subscribing to Orion I regularly give subscriptions to friends. I always get positive feedback!
Orion makes a sigficant contribution to our community.