As part of REI's purpose to inspire, educate and outfit our members for a lifetime of outdoor adventure, we aspire to involve more individuals, groups and communities in outdoor recreation and outdoor volunteerism.

With the simple call to action of "Join us!", active stewardship is deeply embedded in the company and the way in which the co-op operates. Our goals are simple - invite and engage more people to enjoy the outdoors and the benefits of a healthy, active outdoor lifestyle; protect and enhance recreational lands and opportunities; and nurture a new generation of outdoor stewards.

To be effective we focus our efforts in the areas of conservation and recreation, with engaging youth as a priority. We also believe the most meaningful and powerful work can be done directly in the local communities working side-by-side with grassroots clubs and organizations. As such, all REI's giving and outreach is centered on strong community relationships.

We use many tools in our work. Just as the co-op shares its profits with members through the annual patronage dividend, we also share the co-op's success with our communities by setting aside a portion of our income for giving. In 2006 these donations exceeded $4 million. Since 1976 we have donated more than $20 million to nonprofit organizations that offer conservation and recreation programs

In addition, we leverage our retail stores, online presence and the passion of our employees and members in making a difference in every community in which we operate. With operations in more than 90 communities, our combined efforts make REI a growing and important supporter of conservation and recreation causes around the country.

While there is no lack of opportunity, we've steadily built on these efforts and are pleased to show the comprehensive results of our work in this report.

We welcome your thoughts about our progress and invite you to take our online survey or send us your comments to stewardship@rei.com.