Bob Gates, one of WV’s leading independent filmmakers, dropped off a VHS copy of his newest film, “40 Years: The West Virginia Highlands Conservancy.” I found the 58 minute documentary to be fascinating, including interviews not only with the founders of WV’s oldest environmental organization but also many other WV activists from a wide spectrum of activities. Below is Bob Gates’ extended description of his important new film.
Cheat Mountain Club where anniversary celebration was held – Thomas Edison and Henry Ford were guests previously
First president Tom King and founder Rupert Cutler
“celebrating 40 Years – The West Virginia Highlands Conservancy” DVD now released In 2007 the West Virginia Highlands Conservancy celebrated its forty years anniversary, as documented in David Elkinton’s excellent and thorough book “Fighting to Protect the Highlands: The First Forty Years of the West Virginia Highlands Conservancy”. At the fall meeting that year, held at the Cheat Mountain Club on Shavers Fork, former presidents and members were recruited to attend. Charleston filmmaker and Conservancy board member Bob Gates documented the event. This fast paced 58 minute video converses with many of the attendees and summarizes the accompanying panel discussion. Attendees talk about the founding of the WVHC and the issues they delt with. A few tall tales are thrown in too. The panel discussion focuses on the many successes and some of the failures through the four decades of the Conservancy’s activity. Successes include saving the Canaan Valley from being turned into a pumped storage reservoir and working on Monongahela National Forest issues including wilderness designations. Fighting mountaintop removal coal mining remains an up-hill struggle.
Dave Elkinton
West Virginia Library Commission film librarian Steve Fesenmaier reviewed the video as follows: “I found the 58 minute documentary to be fascinating, including interviews not only with the founders of West Virginia’s oldest environmental organization but also many other West Virginia activists from a wide spectrum of activities.” Seen in the video are: newcomer Mike Buransky, longtime member Perry Bryant, former president Bob Burrell, founder and wilderness activist Rupert Cutler, “Monongahela National Forest Hiking Guide” author Allen deHart, former president and ‘40 Years’ book author Dave and Jan Elkinton, stream expert Don Gasper, a fleeting shot of filmmaker Bob Gates, founder Lou and Jackie Greathouse, first president Tom King, Julian Martin, Helen McGinnis, former president John Purbaugh, coal issues activist and former president Cindy Rank, outdoors enthusiasts Ray and Mary Ratliff, Buff and Jean Rodman, current president Hugh and artist Ruth Blackwell Rogers, Monongahela National Forest activist Dave Saville, techno whiz Jim Solley, summer interns James and Susan Tawney, and former president Frank Young. This video makes an excellent introduction to the book and should interest viewers to look up the details of the stories alluded to in the film. It provides a snapshot of the impact the West Virginia Highlands Conservancy has had on the environment of West Virginia. Contact Bob Gates at Omni Productions, Box 5130, Charleston, WV 25361 304-342-2624 omni@ntelos.net for ordering information. Copies for personal use are $25 ppd. Institutional copies are priced according to the size of the Institution.
Here is my own shorter description -
40 YEARS – THE WEST VIRGINIA HIGHLAND CONSERVANCY
2008 60 mins. Omni Productions
Charleston filmmaker Robert Gates filmed the 40th anniversary celebration of the West Virginia Highlands Conservancy at Cheat Mountain Club on Shavers Fork in October 2007. Founded in 1967, they are the state’s oldest environmental advocacy organization. Many of the region’s best known environmentalists, including former WVHC president and coal activist Cindy Rank, are interviewed about their 40 year history . Former presidents and members converse about the many successes and failures of their four decades. Successes include saving the Canaan Valley from being turned into a pumped storage reservoir, working on Monongahela National Forest issues including wilderness designations and fighting mountaintop removal coal mining. WVHC published a book in 2007 titled “Fighting to Protect the Highlands- The First Forty Years of The West Virginia Highland Conservancy”, written by Dave Elkinton, who is also a former WVHC president, with an introduction by Ken Hechler. Website - http://www.wvhighlands.org/ Access: Robert Gates, Omni Productions, 304-342-2624, omni@ntelos.net
Robert Gates, November 2008
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Bob Gates’ new DVD of the West Virginia Highlands Conservancy’s 40th anniversary celebration at the Cheat Mountain Lodge is the perfect complement to Dave Elkinton’s book on the history of the organization. Very professionally done, it brings the characters in Dave’s book to life with in-depth interviews. Some of the interviews of life-long West Virginians involved with the fight against mountaintop removal coal mining are very moving. I’m glad Bob made this DVD. It’s important oral history.