TAHOE FUND NAMES ART CHAPMAN BOARD CHAIR
Longtime Environmentalist Clem Shute Joins the Board
INCLINE VILLAGE, Nev. and TAHOE CITY, Calif. – April 13, 2016 – The Tahoe Fund, an environmental nonprofit dedicated to raising private support for environmental projects at Lake Tahoe, today announced the appointment of Art Chapman as chair of the board of directors. The organization, now entering its sixth year, also announced the appointment of environmental attorney E. Clement (Clem) Shute, Jr. to its board of directors. The bi-state organization is focused on restoring the Lake’s famed clarity, improving outdoor recreation and inspiring greater stewardship of the Tahoe Basin. Chapman takes over as chair from Tim Cashman, who will remain a board member of the organization.
“Tahoe is an incredibly special place to me and my family,” said Art Chapman. “As a founding member of this organization, I have seen the great work we can do for Tahoe with the help of the private community. I am honored to be named chair and will continue to focus our efforts on growing our impact.”
Chapman is the Founder of JMA Ventures. Headquartered in San Francisco, JMA’s assets include The Fairmont Heritage Place Hotel at Ghirardelli Square, the Epic and Waterbar restaurants in San Francisco, Homewood Mountain Resort at Lake Tahoe, The West Shore Café and Inn, and ownership interests in the Squaw Valley and Alpine Meadows ski resorts. He was a founding member of the Tahoe Fund. He was also appointed to and served, alongside Chute, on the bi-state California/Nevada consultation committee that guided the development of the recently adopted Tahoe Regional Plan that is administered by the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency. In 2011, Art was recognized as the Citizen of the Year by the North Lake Tahoe Resort Association.
Clem Shute, the co-founder of Shute Mihaly & Weinberger LLP, is an environmental lawyer with deep roots in California and Lake Tahoe. He was involved in the early battles over the formation of TRPA, including property rights issues and a proposed casino. During the 1980’s he represented the League to Save Lake Tahoe, particularly in the formulation of TRPA’s 1987 Regional Plan. Thereafter, he represented TRPA in the 2002 US Supreme Court decision upholding the agency’s restrictions on developing on high hazard lands as well as defending TRPA’s successful prohibition on two stroke engines.
“As a lawyer and policymaker, I have been involved in many controversial issues at Lake Tahoe for decades,” said Clem Shute. “It is an honor to join this growing organization which has the non-controversial purpose of supporting projects and programs that will be of great value in sustaining this unique lake.”
The Tahoe Fund has raised private funds for 15 projects in the Tahoe Basin, including a new bike path from Incline to Sand Harbor that will break ground this year. The organization will launch fundraising campaigns for its 2016 projects in early summer. They will feature the acquisition of 200 acres in South Lake Tahoe on the area’s highest priority watershed, a new overlook at Taylor Creek to help improve the visitor experience during the popular salmon run, a restored section of hiking trail on the famed Rubicon Trail on the West Shore, and a new section of Lake Tahoe Bikeway near Dollar Point.
