Sally is a lifelong conservationist and seventh-generation Vermonter who lives in Cambridge, VT with her husband Peter Krusch. She was a founder of the Vermont Institute of Natural Science and served as executive director for 18 years (1974 -1992); was a member of the Vermont Endangered Species Committee (ESC) for 31 years (many as chair or vice chair), stepping down in 2012; and is also past chair of the ESC’s Scientific Advisory Group on Birds. She directed the first Vermont Breeding Bird Atlas and co-edited North America’s first atlas book, The Atlas of Breeding Birds of Vermont, published in 1985. She has served on many boards, including the Association of Field Ornithologists (17 years as Secretary) and the North American Ornithological Atlas Committee, which she chaired for 20 years. She compiled and edited the 1997 A Guide to Bird Education Resources: an Annotated Bibliography. In December 2013, she coordinated the Woodstock Christmas Bird Count for the 39th consecutive year. She is currently President of the Friends of Green River Reservoir, a Lamoille County conservation organization.
Since their marriage in 1992, Sally and Peter have traveled widely, including an around the world trip, consulting work in Bolivia, and travel in Europe and Vietnam. In her non-conservation life, Sally was Director of Development and Alumni Relations at Johnson State College for 18 years, retiring in 2012. She now enjoys retirement, travel, quiet time with nature, and the company of her granddaughter Adeline.
In 2010, Sally was awarded the first CVPS Zetterstrom Environmental Award, presented annually to a person, business, group or non-profit to honor a significant contribution to Vermont’s environment. In presenting the award, CVPS officials and Vermont Fish and Wildlife representatives said, “As we considered more than a dozen nominees, Sally Laughlin’s tenacity, focus and strength reminded many of us of Meeri, who exhibited tremendous determination and grace. They have both demonstrated a love for Vermont and its wildlife that few can match, and a willingness to go to great lengths to protect and assist birds, for their sake and ours. Sally is a leading wildlife advocate and scientist whose work was instrumental in restoring three species of endangered birds in Vermont. Sally has not only done great things for Vermont wildlife, she’s done them on a continuing basis over several decades.”
