DEAR FRIEND OF THE BTG,

I am humbled and excited to be writing to you as the President of the BTG.  Whether you’re already a Life Member or thinking about becoming one, we welcome you to join us in the never-ending journey toward understanding the natural world around us. Our hope is that you will carry the things you learn in Chautauqua to your hometowns around the world.

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The 2024 Chautauqua season was busy and brilliant. We hosted 102 programs during the nine weeks and served over 5,500 attendees. In addition to our daily guided nature walks, we hosted an weekly Open Garden at the Shipman Gardens at Miller Cottage, the home of Chautauqua Founder Lewis Miller. Designed by Ellen Biddle Shipman, the gardens were installed by his daughter, Mina Miller Edison, who was married to inventor Thomas Edison.

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The 2024 House and Garden Tour was a huge success in spite of the light rain. Chaired by Rosemary Rappole, the tour, a biennial tradition since 1954, will fund most of our programming for the 2025 and 2026 seasons. 

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Our One Thousand Tree Marker Campaign is going well. We have installed hundreds of tree markers around Chautauqua in an effort to match the One Thousand Tree Marker Campaign of the 1972 BTG. Our rich history sets a high bar for the present and future.

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Warmly,

Leslie Renjilian