The Board of Directors of the Continental Divide Trail Alliance (CDTA) has
decided to accept with regret the resignation of our Co- Executive
Directors, Bruce and Paula Ward, effective April 4, 2008. At the request of
the Board of Directors, and with the agreement of the Wards, the Wards will
remain consultants to the CDTA during a transition period.

The Board of Directors is deeply appreciative of Bruce and Paula’s many
years of service to CDTA and we look forward to their continuing involvement
in the National and Colorado trail community. As founding directors of the
CDTA, Bruce and Paula have been extraordinary leaders in the development and
growth of the organization and in the construction of the nation’s King of
Trails.

Bruce and Paula have served CDTA with distinction and extraordinary energy
for the last 13 years. They have been tireless in their partnership efforts
with public land managers in managing the construction of the Continental
Divide Trail, a 3,100-mile long non-motorized public backcountry trail from
Canada to Mexico. Their commitment and drive has inspired nearly 10,000
volunteers from across America to help plan, construct and maintain the
Trail. They have been directly responsible for building the CDTA
organization, hiring and training a tremendous staff and developing
important youth and other volunteer programs to help sustain the Continental
Divide Trail (CDT) in the future. Their passion for CDTA, our mission and
the Trail remains unwavering.

Among their long list of accomplishments:

  • Created a strategic completion plan outlining the needs, costs and methods to complete the Trail
  • Coordinated two end-to-end surveys of the entire 3,100 mile Trail to document the status and nationally significant features critical to the Trail with the assistance of one thousand volunteers, federal land managers and dozens of corporate supporters
  • Created a CDT specific youth corps program to engage young people in conservation
  • Developed a nationally acclaimed volunteer program on the CDT
  • Secured $23 million in support for the Trail from generous sources including Fausel Foundation, REI, Coleman, Woolrich, Vasque, Outside Magazine, Quabaug/Vibram, National Forest Foundation, Gates Family Foundation, and thousands of individual donors, members and volunteers
  • Developed bi-partisan support from legislators at the local, state and federal levels
  • United thousands of diverse stakeholders by building mutually beneficial relationships and gave meaning to the term “The Trail Unites Us”
  • Established and maintained the vision for a non-motorized Trail
  • Recognized with numerous national and regional awards for their work on the Trail, including Take Pride in America National Non-profit award
  • Increased national awareness and support through thousands of articles, documentaries and presentations across the country

The Board will appoint a search committee for the Wards’ replacement at its
May 16, 2008 Board meeting. A formal announcement of the position is
expected to be posted after that date.

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