2015 Regional Land Trust Board Summit Series

2015 Regional Land Trust Board Summit Series August 26, 2015 Prospect Library, Prospect, CT 7:00-8:30pm Co-hosted by: Prospect Land Trust

Attendees: Berlin Land Trust -- Joe Porcaro Bethany Land Trust -- Carol Lambiase, Linda Francois Cheshire Land Trust -- David Schrumm East Lyme & Niantic Land Conservation Trust – Ron Luich Guilford Land Conservation Trust -- Sarah Shrewsbury Land for Good -- Rachel Murray North Branford Land Trust – David Sargent, David Wakefield Middlebury Land Trust -- Scott Peterson Prospect Land Trust – Barney Kathan, Eric Koch, Bill Rinckel, John Triana, John Dyckman, Lorraine Dixon, Lois Redline, Larry Segal Shelton Land Trust -- Joe Welsh UCONN Extension --Kip Kolesinskas Wolcott Land Trust -- Tom Tella

Discussion: After brief introductions we listed off the topics we hoped to discuss: 1. Farmland leasing 2. Trail development 3. Regional alliance – shared services 4. Membership/Building interest in land trust 5. Parking lots and trail heads 6. Communications and outreach 7. Stewardship and monitoring – without people power 8. 164 acre active working farm 9. Maple sugaring 10. Drones

1. Farmland Leasing  Land for Good – Rachel Murray described the organization. She is available to give presentations to land trust boards on leasing land trust land to farmers (Note: Land for Good)  Resources to help match farmers with landowners willing to lease their land: New England Farmland Finder and CT Farmlink (recently improved).  Monetary resources are available for restoration and acquisition of farmland. See: Conservation Options for Connecticut’s Farmland (AFT et. al.) o Small lots may qualify up to $20k o State program with 1:1 match o Match may also be available through the federal NRCS o Landowner or a Lessee with lease of 5+ years term may apply

1  Rachel and Kip are available to assist with leases/language. Templates are posted on CLCC’s website HERE.  Land for Good Toolbox provides resources to learn about and take action on farmland access, tenure and transfer issues.  UConn Extension – Resources available to help including tenant selection o Easements/Infrastructure: DoAG will fund infrastructure. DEEP OSWA will not  Obstacles o Zoning: Work to have P&Z regs. more farm friendly o Cost of land/accessibility o Farm Transfer Workshop in November – in the New Milford area – will focus on farm succession. Amy will forward information.

 Contact info: Kip Kolesinskas and Rachel Murray

2. Trail Development  Wolcott Land Trust integrated a 2.5 mile trail within the Connecticut Forest & Park Association’s (CFPA) 840A blue-blazed trail system o CFPA’s standards are high and that is a good thing o Land Trust is not alone -- CFPA helps with stewardship and provides forest management advice o Stewardship has increased foot traffic o Tom is willing to help other land trusts that may want to integrate trail  Trail management - tough to catch those that cause nuisance activities/illegal uses o Land trusts lack people power – volunteer stewards o Contact police o Dumping

. Sort through garbage and look for identification!

. Signage/public awareness

. Remind neighbors and educate: what is dumping (grass clippings, etc.)

3. Regional Alliance  Majority in attendance are interested in exploring opportunities  Attending this Regional Summit is a first step  Interest in idea of a shared service arrangement. Discussed different ideas including: o Fundraising and/or outreach event for region to build exposure o Check out Northwest Land Trust Days

4. Building Membership/Fundraising  Look at annual reports of other local organizations for philanthropic people and other donors in your town  Host fun community events – look beyond traditional conservation events (hikes, etc.) and broaden the scope of who in the community you are trying to connect with

2  Community Conservation – what are the needs in your community that the land trust may help to serve?

 What are you raising money for?

o acquisitions

o stewardship

o general operating

 All agreed that “mass” mailing isn’t as effective as targeted, face-to-face meetings with individuals

 Sarah Shrewsbury (Vineyard Consulting): Professional fundraising assistance is available.

 Family Foundations

o Tie your message to their interests – what are they looking for?

 Community Foundations

o Community Foundation of Greater New Haven

o Valley Community Foundation

o Connecticut Community Foundation

5. Cheshire: 164 acre working farm (Ives Farm)  Many challenges, including need for funding to help with restoration  Looking for an FAQ to help landowners figure out the tax benefits of land conservation. Land Trust Service Bureau (predecessor to CLCC) used to have one.  Recommended he go to Steven Small’s Preserving Family Lands book series.  Discussed need for the land trust to be careful not to go beyond discussing general information with landowners. Each situation is different. Landowners should be encouraged to seek their own tax/legal advice.

6. Community Engagement - Communications  Facebook – North Branford posted a photo of a sunflower and got a huge response

o Thousands of likes, shares, etc.; 50 new organizational likes

 Discussion around Facebook

o Bethany Land Trust has more likes than members –posts include the week’s activities; lots of photos, etc.

3 o Does that translate into money and volunteers? Probably not, but it is an easy way to help raise awareness about the land trust and conservation

o Meetup is another social media option

o Facebook tracks everything

 Community Engagement Projects?

o East Lyme: Conservation project generates community interest

7. Standards & Practices (S&P)

 Shelton is going through guided self-assessment

o Downside of the exercise is that it is time consuming and takes the land trust board away from the other day-to-day work of the organization.

 Middlebury

o Committed to implementing S&P a little bit at a time

o Board picked one standard/practice a year to work on

. Addressing administrative backlog is done

. Addressing Baseline Documentation Report and Management Plan backlog is next and it will take “forever”

o Board recognizes the importance of the process of implementing S&P and is committed to getting the organization’s house house in order

 Prospect Land Trust – their method is to pick one property and focus on addressing different things for that one property

8. Closing minutes … last question: Has any land trust ever sold property!

 Agreed: complicated question

 Charitable trust issues to consider – what was the donor’s intent? Consult with the Attorney General’s office if thinking about divesting land trust interest

4 o If donor is giving property for the express purpose of the land trust selling it for revenue to use for the organization, make sure that is clear from the very start. Documentation of that intent is critical.

o Seek legal counsel!

9. CT Land Trust Listserv: sign up today!

Meeting adjourned at 8:35pm