FALL 2003 VOLUME 1 1 .SpecialPLACES NO. 4 of Reservationsions I A QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER FOR MEMBERS AND SUPPORTERS OF THE TRUSTEES OF RESERVATIONS www.thetrustees.org jm^^i, smarter—Strengthening Conservation in Massachusetts Conservation sounds simple: Take care of the land and the land will take care of you. In fact, it's becoming increasingly complex. To save our landscape, we need to work smarter, better, and faster. That's the idea behind the Putnam Conservation Institute. Beneath the tranquility of it first, conservation, seems deceptively Enter the Putnam Conservation Institute (PCI), simple: care of Damde Meadows is a Take the land and the land will take a groundbreaking initiative designed to share wisdom care of you. But in today's world, conservation is and resources with conservationists of all types complex story. Restoring a often complex, costly, and time-consuming. For across the state. Named in honor of George and 1 4-acre salt marsh at example, saving some 400 acres on Mt. Tom in Nancy Putnam, PCI will provide training, networking, World's End required more Holyoke required the federal government, the and resources to increase the conservation commu- than a dozen different Commonwealth of Massachusetts, The Holyoke nity's ability to protect, care for, and interpret the Boys and Girls Club, The Trustees, $3 million, and natural and cultural resources of Massachusetts. The agencies and entities. By all six years of negotiating. Managing protected institute will be housed in the Doyle Conservation accounts, it was a learning landscapes is equally complex. Restoring a 1 4-acre Center, the state-of-the-art environmental facility process for everyone historic salt marsh in Damde Meadows at World's The Trustees is building in Leominster. Roughly two- involved. Now, the challenge End in Hingham required the combined expertise of thirds of PCI's programs will be held on site, while the state, The Trustees, and more than 10 entities the remaining third will is finding a way to share that be held at locations around from the public and private sectors. the state. knowledge and empower "Conservation is an intricate web of knowledge "There's so much knowledge and experience in other conservationists. and activities that takes place against a backdrop of the conservation community in Massachusetts but increased threats from development and sprawl," too few opportunities to share what we know. The says Executive Director Andy Kendall. "Looking Putnam Conservation Institute will be a tremendous beyond our organization, we realized that what was asset to Mass Audubon and the Commonwealth. I required is a clearing house of training opportunities suspect that in time, other states will emulate it," and a convenient, inspiring meeting space for the says Gary Clayton, Vice President for Programs, greater conservation community to gather." Massachusetts Audubon Society. ON TENTS CONTINUED ON PAGE 4 Kendall's Corner FALL 2003 VOLUME 1 1 N0.4 Founded in 1 Trustees of I KENDALL'S CORNER 89 1, The Reservations is a member-supported nonprofit conservation organization that preserves, for public use and enjoyment, properties of exceptional scenic, historic, and ecological value in Massachusetts and works to protect special places across the state. Today, The Trustees owns, manages, and A Four-Star Rating interprets 94 reservations totaling over 23,300 acres of land, and protects more than 1 4,200 for The Trustees acres through the use of conservation restrictions on over 200 parcels of private land.The Trustees of Reservations is not an agency of state government We rely for support entirely upon membership In this issue of Special Places, we're pleased In a time when a Harvard Business dues, contributions, grants, reservation receipts, special events, and endowments. to announce an exciting initiative that will Review report claimed that America's help take conservation in Massachusetts to charities are wasting $100 billion a year, For information about becoming a member or to request a change of address, please contact the next level—the Putnam Conservation we're proud to have earned such an - the Membership Office at 978/92 1 1 944, email Institute. By providing improved training and exceptional rating. But more importantly, us at [email protected], or visit our website shared resources, the institute will help we're proud we are able to focus the at www.thetrustees.org. conservation organizations across the state majority of our efforts and resources on Special Places, November 2003. Volume I I . Issue become even more effective. our mission. For every dollar we raised, Number 4. Special Places (ISSN 1087-5026) is published quarterly and distributed to members Operating as effectively as possible is, just seven cents were spent on fundraising and donors of The Trustees of Reservations. of course, the obligation of every charity efforts the rest went toward the special — Copyright © 2003. All rights reserved. Printed that has been entrusted with donations project. Only 10.4% of our total functional on recycled paper from supporters and members. But for a expenses were spent on administrative We invite your articles, photographs, conservation organization such as ours that costs. And we used more than half our comments, and suggestions. acquires and protects landscapes for people primary revenue growth to fund the Please send them to: Special Places to enjoy, effectiveness is doubly important. expansion of our program. Long Hill There is a finite amount of open space in Between the accomplishments of the 572 Essex Street 5- Beverly, MA 01 9 1 1 530 Massachusetts, and we must make the most past year and the rating from Charity tel 978/921-1944 of every dollar if we are to win the race for Navigator, I hope we've sustained your fax 978/921-1948 space and save the best of our remaining faith in our ability to carry out our mission. EMAIL mrussell@ttororg landscape from development. As the cover story shows, we're not resting Providing accountability and transparency on our laurels—we're hard at work to Andy Kendall Jonathan Goldberg Executive Director Southeast in to our members and supporters helps us stay secure the future of conservation Regional Director focused on the effectiveness of our work. Massachusetts. And we won't succeed John Bradley Director of Membership Chris Kennedy That's why we include a summary of our 2003 without our members and supporters. Islands Sarah Carothers Regional Director fiscal year annual report in this issue of Special From all of us at The Trustees, and for Director of Planned Giving Steve McMahon Places. The entire report is yours to explore everyone who enjoys open space, thank Western Tom Foster Regional Director on www.thetrustees.org, but this summary you for your support. Director of Wayne Mitton alone is evidence of an impressive year. Field Operations Northeast Director Equally impressive is the news that The John McCrae Regional Director of Finance & Trustees has received a four-star rating from Administration Dick O'Brien Central Charity Navigator (www.charitynavigator.org), Ann Powell Regional Director the nation's premiere independent charity Andy Kendall Director of Development evaluator. Based on 2001 financial data, we Executive Director WesWard Director of scored 68.19 of a possible 70 points for our Land Conservation performance. Nationally, charities received Editor Mark Russell a median score of 56.4. Design Kate Wollensak Please recycle this newsletter by passing it on to a friend or donating it to a school, library, business, or wherever it might be read. www.thetrustees.or SpecialPLACES I FALL 2003 " annual r\r\~^ make , appeal/003 1 THE TRUSTEES OF RESERVATIONS KJ S3 S Each fall, we ask you to consider making a contri- bution over and above your much-appreciated Your gift to the 1891 Society, The Charles Eliot Society, or at any membership dues, to support The Trustees' level that you can afford (no contribution is too small!) will allow us conservation efforts. to sustain and expand our vital efforts to protect special places across the Commonwealth. If you have not yet made your tax- Contributions to the Annual Appeal provide the vital funding deductible contribution to this year's Annual Appeal, please consider needed to sustain stewardship efforts at our ever-growing network doing so now. Remember—you can designate your contribution to of 94 reservations, to undertake new land conservation projects the reservation or program of your choice. like the effort to save Mt.Tom from development, and to expand Thank you for your continued support. With your help, we'll our education programs to ensure that our children and grand- ensure a bright future for our natural and historic treasures. children will become informed and inspired stewards of the Massachusetts landscape. Look for the Annual Appeal (shown above) in your mail. Use the Despite considerable progress, so much more needs to be contribution reply slip or simply mail a check to The Trustees of done! That is why your support for the 2003 Annual Appeal is so Reservations marked "Annual Appeal." You can also contribute very important. online at www.thetrustees.org. Covering the Bryant Homestead BRYANT HOMESTEAD CUMMINGTON the 18th and early 19th centuries, it was consisting of a flat woven carpet with hand-made by painting and varnishing brightly died warp threads. Again, Bryant tough canvas. By the late 19th century, it allowed his agent to select the pattern and Artist Regina Wenzek painting the floorcloth was made in factories using large printing the original does not survive. The present which now graces the front hall floor of blocks to speed the process, making it reproduction wool carpeting was woven the Bryant Homestead in Cummington. widely available and inexpensive—perfect on an original loom by Thistle Hill for Bryant's country house.