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NRCM ended our 50th anniversary year the same way we started it - with an icy plunge into Casco Bay. More than 25 people braved the cold waters at East End Beach (and even had to jump over ice to get into the water!) at noon on Thursday, December 31st, raising more than $5,000 for our work to reduce global warming pollution. Watch our video here.

Thanks to everyone who plunged, pledged, and applauded our efforts! We had a great time and hope you did too!

Beth Dimond (in the tiara) and others race out of the ocean as fast as they can. 38 degrees is NOT the ideal water temperature for a leisurely swim.

Francesca D. dons her shark hat and gets ready to head into the Atlantic.

Pete Didisheim greets one of the polar bears who came to watch the plunge.

The Center for Maine Contemporary Art in Rockport was the site of "The Art of Local Food," a fabulous evening filled with delicious food and drinks from more than 40 Midcoast Maine farms, restaurants, and other culinary partners. Nearly 300 guests came to celebrate NRCM's 50 years of protecting Maine's environment and to support local food! (All photos of event provided courtesy of Lily Piel.)

NRCM Executive Director Brownie Carson and Board President Eleanor Kinney

NRCM was pleased to welcome Google's Director of Climate Change and Energy Initiatives, Dan Reicher, to this year's annual meeting. Mr. Reicher described how and why Google is making its bets on the clean energy ideas and technologies of tomorrow. He is one of the nation’s leading clean energy experts, with broad career experience in the public and private sectors, including as Assistant Secretary at the U.S. Department of Energy.

Dan Reicher addresses more than 300 people at the University of Southern Maine for NRCM's annual meeting.

Eleanor Kinney and Brownie Carson congratulate artist Evelyn Dunphy (third from left) and her family as she receives NRCM's 2009 People's Choice Award. Watch video.

Scott Hall, Richard Fennelly, and PPL Maine received a 2009 Environmental Award for their innovative efforts in restoring the Penobscot River. Watch video.

Russell Pierce (second from right) of the law firm Norman, Hanson and DeTroy (pictured with Brownie Carson, Eleanor Kinney and Peter DeTroy) received an Environmental Award for his countless hours of work to protect the Moosehead Lake region from Plum Creek's massive development plan. Watch video.

NRCM's clean energy project staff, Dylan Voorhees and Emmie Theberge, answered questions about federal climate legislation. Thanks to everyone who contacted Maine's Senators to urge them to pass a strong federal climate bill this year.

NRCM Board member Tom Tietenberg, North Woods Project Director Cathy Johnson, and former NRCM Board member Jane Eberle catch up during the meeting's reception.

NRCM supporters, staff, and others gathered in Portland in September for the world premiere of a new inspiring documentary film by Maine filmmaker Richard Kane.

Watch the movie trailer here.

Cathy Johnson, NRCM's North Woods Project Director and Staff Attorney, addresses the audience after the film premiere. Also pictured are (second from left) Judy Berk, NRCM's communications director and executive producer of the film, and people who were interviewed and featured in the movie.

Audience members listen as Richard Kane talks about the making of the movie.

To learn more about the movie, visit www.nrcm.org/NRCM_film.asp.

The movie will be shown at various theaters
throughout the state during the fall and early winter.

From September 8-12, Registered Maine Guides Garrett and Alexandra Conover led a trip of NRCM staff and supporters down the West Branch of the Penobscot River in Maine's beautiful North Woods. Watch a video of some highlights from the trip, and enjoy these photos, courtesy of Paul Glazebrook.

Enjoying the beauty of the river.

There was plenty of wildlife to see on this trip, including this moose that was intrigued by the paddlers.

The group of happy campers (and paddlers)

What a wonderful way to celebrate our 50 years of protecting Maine's environment! Thanks to everyone - with a special thanks to the Conovers for a fantastic trip!

On Saturday, 18 boats and 21 people made their way down the Kennebec River from Sidney to Augusta, past the former site of the Edwards Dam. What a beautiful summer day for this trip!

Sam H. of Skowhegan takes a break from paddling to pole his canoe down the river.

Getting some final instruction from Diano before the trip begins .

NRCM staff members Nick Bennett and Diano Circo (in boat on left) led the paddle down the Kennebec and say, "Thank you," to everyone who came on Saturday.

Enjoying the sunshine and calm waters.

A little rain couldn't stop almost 100 NRCM members and staff from heading to the Portland Sea Dogs game on July 1st. Brownie Carson, our executive director, threw out the first pitch, amid cheers from the crowd. Happy 50th birthday NRCM! Hot dogs, popcorn, french fries, and friends - a great way to celebrate our birthday! Watch a video from the night here.

Thanks to everyone who joined us for a fun night at Hadlock Field!

Sebastian, Sarah and Robin come down to wish Brownie luck before the game.

Brownie greets former board member Nancy Warren - one of our most avid baseball fans - as she arrives at the game!

A scoreboard shout out to NRCM on our birthday!

The rainy June weather cleared just in time for us to celebrate our birthday with a gathering of nearly 200 people at our offices on June 25th - the actual 50th birthday of NRCM. Former and current staff and board members and their families, members of the NRCM founding families, coalition partners, interns, and others celebrated with delicious cakes, fantastic food, and remarks by Brownie Carson, Bill Townsend, and Eleanor Kinney. Here are just a few photos from the celebration!

Dylan Voorhees, NRCM's clean energy project director, and his youngest daughter enjoy the party.

Members of NRCM's founding families (from left): Ron Davis, Marshall Burk, Lee Patterson (seated), Bob Mohlar, and Bill Townsend.

David Foley speaks with some young, yet very active, environmentalists!

Happy Birthday NRCM! Leisa Dennett helps serve the birthday cake.

Happy Birthday to NRCM! Here's to the next 50!

We were fortunate that the rain held off for the morning of June 20th so that NRCM members and staff could enjoy a walk through Vaughan Woods in Hallowell. Nearly 20 people came to enjoy this hike and one of the few rain-free days in June!

Hank Tyler, steward for the Vaughan Homestead Foundation, led the walk and can be seen here talking with participants as they walk through Vaughan Woods in Hallowell.

Thank you, Hank, for such an informative and enjoyable hike!

Derek Lovitch (standing next to scope), birder extraordinaire and owner of Freeport Wild Bird Supply, gets people onto a hawk soaring overhead.

The event, celebrating the life of Rachel Carson, attracted a standing-room-only crowd of NRCM members from southern Maine and New Hampshire.

Martha Freeman, granddaughter of Dorothy Freeman and author of “Always, Rachel,” shared her memories of Rachel Carson and talked about the correspondences between the two women, which were published in her book.

Birders march to the sea and find Semipalmated Sandpipers, among other species.

NRCM supporters enjoyed a bird walk at Lobster Cove Meadows Preserve in Boothbay on May 16, led by NRCM public affairs director Allison Wells and her husband Jeff. We saw lots of colorful, singing warblers and enjoyed the company of fellow bird enthusiasts. Thanks to all who joined us!

Hearing birds was easy. Finding them in our binoculars took a little more patience!

In all, the birding group identified 56 species of birds and had great looks at many, including Northern Parula, lots of Yellow Warblers, and a Ruby-crowned Kinglet.

Brownie Carson, NRCM's executive director, listens as Nancy Bither, former board president of the Boothbay Region Land Trust, welcomes everyone to Lobster Cove Meadows.

On May 9th, we celebrated alewives at Damariscotta Mills. It was a beautiful spring day and everyone enjoyed learning about the history of the fish ladder and the alewife run. Thanks to everyone who came, and thanks to Sarah Hale Krull for these fantastic photos!

Kids had a chance to color outside while their families watched "Closing the Circle," a movie narrated by Naomi Schalit, former director of Maine Rivers, about the alewife run in Damariscotta Mills

Former Maine Governor Angus King gave the 2009 Edmund S. Muskie Lecture at Bates College - an event co-sponsored by NRCM and the Edmund S. Muskie Archives.

Governor King told wonderful personal (and often humorous!) stories of his interactions with Senator Muskie. He also spoke of the Senator's incredible leadership and strong character - both reasons that he was able to get the Clean Air and Clean Water acts passed during his time in Congress.

Brownie Carson, NRCM's executive director, introduced Governor King's remarks. You can view Brownie's speech here.

Governor King told the audience that Japan's Clean Air Act is called "The Muskie Law," a great tribute to Maine's Senator Muskie and his work for environmental protection for our nation's air and water.

Senator Muskie's portrait hangs on the wall behind Governor King as he makes a point about important leadership characteristics and how Senator Muskie demonstrated those qualities during and after his time in Congress.

Citizen Action Day is an annual event at our office in Augusta. Activists and members come to learn about priority legislation and have a chance to meet with their legislators.

Citizen Action Day brought people of all ages to NRCM's office to learn about important legislation happening at the State House.

This year's Citizen Action Day was held on St. Patrick's Day, March 17th. A highlight of the day for many attendees was the fact that, while at the State House to meet with their legislators about priority environmental bills, they were able to hear Maine's Chief Justice give the annual State of the Judiciary speech to both the House and Senate.

Want to join us for Citizen Action Day next year? Join NRCM's Action Network to receive information about this event and others, and also be able to take action on important environmental legislation at a moment's notice. Join today!

To see more photos from the Polar Plunge, click on the picture above.

We kicked off NRCM's 50th anniversary with a Polar Plunge at East End Beach in Portland on January 2, 2009!

Thanks to everyone who took the plunge, pledged a plunger or came out to cheer us on!

For more about the event, read a first-hand account from one of the plungers on NRCM's blog.