 |
| |
|
CLCC Event Calendar
Is Your Drinking Water Safe?
Hartford, CT
More info HERE.
CT Land Conservation Conference
Middletown, CT
Registration opens next week!
|
1/13/16: Speaking at Senator Witkos's press event in support of a Constitutional Amendment to better protect public lands. View video
HERE. More under State News.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Executive Director's Message
Going Deep
With the NFL football playoffs dominating sports networks (and tv viewing in many living rooms), it's not all that uncommon to hear the phrase, "Go Deep!"
But for me (admittedly not a big NFL fan), when I hear "Go Deep!", the first thing that comes to mind is
"community conservation" -- an approach to land conservation that goes beyond traditional programming by offering experiences that reach a broader, more diverse cross section of our communities.
And, in that context, "deep programs" are designed to create more of an immersion experience where the same group of people spends several days, or more, of time together getting to know each other and the land trust, while using the natural environment to experience something in a new way.
Often these regularly scheduled programs are done in partnership with a non-conservation organization (a school, arts association, library, senior center, historical society, religious group, soup kitchen, etc.) working on different types of community issues or challenges.
Is your land trust offering deep programming or other non-traditional ways to reach more people in your town? If so, we'd love to hear more about what you are doing, where you are doing it, with whom you are partnering, and some of the successes and challenges you've experienced in building new and more creative programs.
When you share your stories you inspire others ... and you inspire us.
With warmest regards,
Amy
PS:
Photo credit: Bob Halstead, Bridgeport
|
|
|
|
|
2016 CT Land Conservation Conference Updates
On-line Registration Opens Next Week
32nd Annual
Connecticut Land Conservation Conference 
Saturday, March 19, 2016
8:00am - 4:45pm (followed by reception)
Wesleyan University, Middletown, CT
 Featuring esteemed journalist Tom Condon as Keynote Speaker, the 2016 Connecticut Land Conservation Conference is set to be our most exciting and innovative Conference yet -- with 34 workshops, 3 seminars, a new Humanities Track offering 5 mini-workshops, Office Hours, special exhibits and more!
- Become a Conference Sponsor! Increase your organization's visibility while showing your support for Connecticut's land conservation community. Limited exhibit space is still available. View our growing list of 2016 Sponsors and find out more about our sponsorship program HERE.
- Reminder: 2016 Excellence in Conservation Awards due February 8. More info HERE.
|
2016 Land Trust Directory & Mapping Project Underway -- We Need Your Updated Information!
CLCC is excited to announce that we are undertaking a project to update our website and create a 2016 Connecticut Land Trust Directory -- and we need your help! Your land trust's up-to-date information is needed! By filling out this 5-10 minute questionnaire, you will help us to ensure that your land trust's information is up-to-date and accessible for all who are interested. To make things even easier, we are coordinating this project with the Land Trust Alliance's Census project. For more information, read the full announcement HERE.
|
2016 Legislative Session Starts Next Week - CLCC Sets its Conservation Agenda
View CLCC's 2016 Conservation Agenda HERE.
Learn more about Project Green Space HERE.
|
Update: Proposed Gas Pipeline Impacting MDC and Land Trust Protected Lands --
Info Session tomorrow!
Think your drinking water is safe?
CLCC
and a coalition of organizations are participating in this information session,
h
osted by the
Connecticut Fund for the Environment
Please join us to
learn more about the proposed gas pipeline project through protected drinking water and land trust lands.
When: Wednesday, January 27; 5:30pm - 7:30pm
Where: Town & Country Club,
22 Woodland Street, Hartford, CT 06105
Registration Fee: Free
View more links to information and CLCC's Comments to FERC HERE.
Read a recent Hartford Courant article on the pipeline project HERE.
Photo credit: Metropolitan District Commission
|
Northeast Corridor Future Project -
Public Comment Deadline is January 30
The Federal Railroad Association has released the Tier 1 Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Northeast Corridor (NEC) Future Project, which sets forth three action alternatives for improvements to the NEC (against a no action alternative). CLCC shares the concerns of many towns, organizations and individuals around the state that these proposed alternatives may have significant adverse impacts on the environment including conserved lands.
The deadline for submitting comments on the Tier 1 Draft EIS is January 30, 2016. More information is
HERE
.
The CT Mirror published an excellent summary of the proposed plans and concerns in an article by Jan Ellen Spiegel earlier this month
HERE.
|
|
|
|
Photo Credit: Tom Koener, USFWS
|
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Proposes National Wildlife Refuge with Two Focus Areas in CT -- Comments due March 4
From U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
The USFWS recently announced a proposal to establish the Great Thicket National Wildlife Refuge
dedicated to managing shrubland habitat for wildlife and connecting existing conservation areas, with focus areas in southeastern New London and western Litchfield. Additionally, the agency identified nine areas in Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York and Rhode Island. The agency invites feedback on the draft land protection plan and environmental assessment. The deadline to submit comments is March 4.
To read the full release, including links to additional information and instructions on submitting comments, click HERE.
|
Contact information for Connecticut's Congressional Delegation is HERE.
|
How to Make an Awesome Facebook Page
From CharityHowTo
John Haydon will show you how to make your nonprofit Facebook page awesome in this live step-by-step webinar which will help your nonprofit to engage supporters, launch fundraising campaigns, enhance donor relationships, and spread awareness about your organization's cause. If you are unable to attend the live webinar, you will still have access to the webinar recording, slides and bonus materials.
Sessions are February 2 and February 16. Find more info and registration details
HERE
.
|
Winter Trails Workshop
From Connecticut Forest & Park Association
When: Saturday, February 27, 2016; 8:30am - 1:30pm
Where: CFPA Headquarters, 16 Meriden Road, Middlefield, CT 06481
Registration Fee: Free
Join us for CFPA's annu
al winter trails workshop. Meet other trail enthusiasts, learn new skills and advance your own understanding of best practices in trail stewardship. Find more details and registration info HERE.
|
RCP Handbook Now Available
From RCP Network, Wildlands and Woodlands Initiative and Highstead Foundation
A new handbook aimed at driving collaborative conservation in New England, New York and beyond has been released by Highstead and the Regional Conservation Partnership (RCP) Network. The RCP Handbook captures the experiences of RCPs to date and outlines 10 steps identified as important RCP success. The Handbook is organized around the three fundamental stages of RCP growth: Emerging, Maturing and Conserving. Download a pdf copy HERE.
|
|
CT Wetland In-Lieu Fee Program for Land Conservation & Wetland Enhancement
The Connecticut Wetland In-Lieu Fee (ILF) Program established in 2013 has accrued sufficient funds that will be soon made available for the preservation, restoration and protection of wetland and watercourse resources and associated upland buffers in the state. A request for Letters of Interest for funding through this program is anticipated to be released by February 1st, 2016. Full details about the program are available HERE.
|
|
|
| Photo Credit: Brian Russell, Fairfield-Sun |
Aspetuck Land Trust Purchases Open Space Near Southport Beach
Thanks to community donations of all sizes, Aspetuck Land Trust has purchased a nearly one acre building lot at 1400 Pequot Avenue, directly across from Southport Beach in Fairfield that was threatened by residential development, according to David Brant, executive director of the land trust. Read the full story HERE.
|
Cheshire Land Trust Wins Eviction Suit
Betty Ives bequeathed her farm to the Cheshire Land Trust and the seven greenhouses on the farm to a tenant. What happened when the tenant was unable to pay rent and had to be evicted?
Read more about Cheshire Land Trust, LLC v. Casey, 156 Conn. App. 833 (Conn. App. 2015) HERE
This ruling could have implications for conservation easements, where disagreements over what kinds of agricultural structures are permitted or prohibited are common.
|
|
Conservation Job and Volunteer Opportunities
|
Major Gifts Manager, Northeast & Mid-Atlantic - Conservation Fund
The Conservation Fund is now hiring a Major Gifts Manager. Reporting to the VP of Development, the Major Gifts Manager is responsible for creating, managing, and implementing donor strategies for a large portfolio of major donors.
S/he will provide fundraising support to field staff, meeting regularly with colleagues across the country to coordinate and execute fundraising strategies using experience and knowledge to build consensus and align fundraising initiatives. Read the full listing and application instructions HERE.
|
Become a Plant Conservation Volunteer - New England Wild Flower Society
New England Wild Flower Society is seeking enthusiastic people interested in plan identification and exploring interesting natural habitats to participate in their Plan Conservation Volunteer (PCV) Program. PCVs put the skills of citizen science to work collecting information on rare plants and their habitats across all six New England states. For more information and to apply visit our website or contact Larry Widener at [email protected] or 508-877-7630 ext. 3204.
|
Operations Manager - New Haven Land Trust
The New Haven Land Trust seeks an Operations Manager with strong organizational skills and a passion for community and environment, who can both manage the administrative tasks of the organization and play a supporting role to the many ongoing projects and strategic initiatives that the Land Trust is implementing. More info and application instructions are available HERE. Application deadline is January 29, 2016.
|
Dr. Marc J. Taylor Internship - Pomperaug River Watershed Coalition
The Pomperaug River Watershed Coalition is proudly accepting applications from highly motivated undergraduate students pursuing environmental careers for its Dr. Marc J. Taylor Internship position. If you are an undergraduate student pursuing an environmental career, you may consider applying for this 10-233k, full-time, paid internship position. Find more details and application instructions HERE. Application deadline is March 31, 2016.
|
Executive Assistant - Save the Sound
The Executive Assistant performs confidential functions for and reports to both the Save the Sound Executive Director and the Director of Advocates and Special Gifts. This is an administrative position that supports major donor fundraising activities. Click HERE for more details.
Please send a cover letter, resume, two writing samples, salary requirements, and professional references to Valerie Wormley-Radford at [email protected]. The position will remain open until filled.
|
The Connecticut Land Conservation Council's mission is to advocate for land preservation, stewardship and funding, and ensure the long term strength and viability of the land conservation community.
|
We count on your support!
|
|
Connecticut Land Conservation Council
Steering Committee and Staff
|
Alicia Sullivan, Chair (Trust for Public Land); Catherine Rawson, Vice-Chair (Weantinoge Heritage Land Trust); Tim Abbott (Litchfield Hills Greenprint); David Bingham (Salem Land Trust);
Sandy Breslin (Bethany Inland Wetlands Commission);
David Brown (
Middlesex Land Trust
); Margot Burns (
Lower Connecticut River Valley Council of Governments
); Kevin Case (
Land Trust Alliance
); Eric Hammerling (
CT Forest & Park Association
); Michael Hveem (
Joshua's Tract Conservation and Historic Trust
); Elaine Labella (
Housatonic Valley Association
); Connie Manes (
Kent Land Trust
); Elisabeth Moore (
CT Farmland Trust
); Shirley Nichols (
Darien Land Trust
); Tom ODell (
CT Association of Conservation and Inland Wetland Commissions
); David Sutherland (
The Nature Conservancy
); Humphrey Tyler (
Lyme Land Conservation Trust
)
Amy Blaymore Paterson, Executive Director
Cristina Gastador Hayden, Communications Coordinator
|
|
|
|
|
|
