To this newly created position of Director of Advancement at the Conservation Law Center, “Andrea brings with her nearly twenty years of experience ranging from small business management to corporate sales and marketing,” according to the press release. “Growing up near Lake Michigan, she shares a lifelong passion for the environment and the Great Lakes region.”
I cut to the quick with an email Q&A:
RITA KOHN: What lured you to the Conservation Law Center [from a fruitful association with Upland Brewing, headquartered in Bloomington, Ind., and also with a statewide reach]?
ANDREA LUTZ: When I moved to Bloomington back in 2000 there were two things I established immediately, where I could find a delicious local beer, and how I could help with Indiana conservation. I quickly established myself as a lifetime mug club member at Upland Brewing Company, and as a volunteer and land steward at Sycamore Land Trust. It took me many years to land a job with Upland, and, as you now know, even longer to score a local conservation job.
But really, it comes down to the moment when I first got involved with Sycamore and met Christian Freitag, who was then just getting started as the director of the land trust. He and I have been working together ever since. Just a few years ago, Christian took over from Bill Weeks at the Conservation Law Center and when a well-suited position came available there, I jumped at the chance to work in a field I’m passionate about and with a leader I respect.
CLC is awesome and it’s pretty cool to wake up in the morning knowing you’re making a difference.
KOHN: What’s the story about CLC?
LUTZ: Conservation Law Center was founded by Bill Weeks fifteen years ago to provide pro-bono legal support to conservation nonprofits and to give law students real life clinical experience in this incredibly challenging and important field, thus the IU connection.
Honestly, like most people, I didn’t pay close attention to the legal side of conservation — but without it, we can’t really be effective. Shaking your fists at the heavens isn’t going to work. The law is a critical tool when putting protections in place for land, air, water, and wildlife. We work collaboratively with conservation nonprofits locally and even internationally to ensure, for instance, that when a piece of land is being protected, it’s protected forever — legally.
Some of our other projects include working with Indiana county health departments to make sure sewage and other waste stays out of our rivers and lakes. (Over 60% of Indiana’s waterways are polluted and unfit for human health and wildlife — that’s crazy!) We also support threatened and endangered wildlife like the Indiana bat.
Maybe what we’re most known for is our work defending public access to the Indiana Lake Michigan shoreline. This Public Trust work confirmed that private landowners do not own the shore as private property, but instead that land is held in trust by the State for us all. Now it remains available for local ecosystems, wildlife, and for us, so we can take a long beach walk — or enjoy a sunset. This case went all the way to the Supreme Court, and we came out on top.
KOHN: Why should NUVO readers be paying attention to your news releases going forward and be involved hands-on?
LUTZ: As I mentioned, the legal side of conservation is critical, and because we provide legal support for free (pro bono), we need financial support. The best way people can get involved is by staying informed, supporting conservation, and by sending in a contribution so we can continue this important work. There’s no magic wand to make the bad things better. It takes time and effort by people who care. We think a lot of people care, and we’re going to do our part.
