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MLTN Infoline – July 27, 2020

July 29, 2020|

Learn about the First Light Collaboration

First Light is an ongoing collaborative effort, begun in 2017, between Maine conservation organizations and Wabanaki Tribes to expand Wabanaki access and stewardship of land. On Wednesday, August 5th, from 2-3 pm, you are invited to join Peter Forbes and Ciona Ulbrich, MCHT Project Manager, for a Zoom meeting  to discuss why they suggest land trusts should care about Wabanaki sovereignty and access to land. They’ll talk about First Light’s work to raise awareness  in the conservation community  about Wabanaki history and land loss. They’ll cover the collaborative efforts to build capacity, voice and power of Wabanaki leadership to address their needs around land stewardship, as well as to organize leadership from Maine’s conservation community to respond to Wabanaki requests. Peter and Ciona will also describe the process of committing your organization to their   2020-2021 Learning Journey Cohort and field any questions you may have about this work or First Light.
 
To register, fill out this form and we’ll send you the Zoom link and more information about participating.
 
We humbly hope you will be able to join us and commit to the journey,
Whit , Jeff , and Donna

Congress Passes Great American Outdoors Act

On July 22, a strong bipartisan coalition in the US House of Representatives passed the Great American Outdoors Act. This vote came a month after the US Senate had done the same. The bill now sits on President Trump’s desk. Earlier this year, the President encouraged Congress to send him the bill for his signature.
 
The Great American Outdoors Act has two components. The first calls for full and permanent funding of $900 million each year for the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF), the amount it is authorized to receive each year from offshore oil and gas revenues. LWCF has been used in every state for more than 50 years to protect places such as national wildlife refuges, historic sites, state parks, and municipal recreational areas. The other component of the bill would invest $1.9 billion annually for the next five years to address deferred maintenance issues on federally-owned public lands, including Acadia National Park and the White Mountain National Forest.
 
Both of Maine’s Senators (Susan Collins and Angus King) and the state’s two Representatives (Chellie Pingree and Jared Golden) were strong supporters of the measure. Contact their offices and/or tag them in social media posts today – thank them for their support!

Maine Nonprofit Wage and Benefit Survey

MANP’s biennial survey of nonprofit wages and benefits is now open and we encourage all Maine land trusts to participate. Why?
  • COVID-19: This year, the survey will collect vital data about the impacts of the pandemic on nonprofit staffing, wages and benefits.
  • Equity: This survey will provide valuable insights to how executive director wages compare by both race and gender so we can ensure fair, equitable practices.
  • Workforce: People power our missions. The more organizations that participate in this survey, the more relevant and statistically significant data available to shape compensation strategies that attract talent.
  • Rewards! Participating MANP members earn a free copy of the report! (Participating non-members save 50%.)
Get started at www.NonprofitMaine.org/Compensation. Deadline to participate: August 21, 2020.

Forestry for Maine Birds Workshop

Friday, August 7, 2020
Downeast Lakes Community Forest, Grand Lake Stream
9:30 am – 2:30 pm
Cost: FREE but you must register
Maine Audubon and the Forest Stewards Guild are joining the Downeast Lakes Land Trust to host this Forestry for Maine Birds (FFMB) workshop.  This workshop will highlight the forest management goals and recent forestry activities of the Downeast Lakes Land Trust, and introduce participants to the FFMB goals of managing woodlands “with birds and other wildlife in mind.”
 
The entire workshop will be outdoors, rain or shine. Bring your own water, snacks, lunch, sunscreen and bug repellent as well. Lunch is available from the Pine Tree Store, and you can order ahead of time if you like.
 
To protect yourself and others during the COVID-19 pandemic, please wear a face covering and remain at least 6′ apart from anyone outside your household throughout the workshop. If you are feeling at all unwell, please stay home.

For additional information and registration details, click here. 

Rally 2020 – National Land Conservation Conference

Virtual Event
Tuesday – Thursday, October 6-8, 2020
Tiered pricing and early bird discounts available
This year the annual land trust Rally will be a virtual event!  Connect with other land trust professionals and learn more about strategies, training and tools you can use in your land conservation work. Rally will offer over 60 workshops and lots of wonderful speakers, including keynote speaker Nina Simon, the Spacemaker & CEO of OF/BY/FOR ALL, a global nonprofit that creates digital tools to help civic and cultural organizations become more inclusive, relevant and sustainable. The online platform allows access to interactive events, roundtables, discussion forums and one-on-one chats, a nd since the event will be virtual, the Alliance is able to offer generous tiered group pricing .  That means, the more staff and board within an organization that register, the more you save!
 
Learn more today, and register on or before September 11th for early bird discounts. 

MCC AmeriCorps “Conserve Maine Energy” Campaign

Maine Campus Compact’s (MCC) Maine Partnership for Environmental Stewardship (MPES) Program is a dedicated team of passionate individuals looking to raise awareness about the importance of energy efficiency through grassroots community outreach. The COVID-19 pandemic has brought daily life to a halt and has rightfully dominated the forefront of our national concern. As we envision how to re-establish ourselves in a post-COVID world, we have a rare opportunity to shift our values towards a cleaner, greener, and more environmentally conscious society.  That is the goal of the  Conserve Maine Energy  Campaign. Through a collaboration of community partnerships, this public awareness campaign aims to increase energy efficiency awareness and its cost-saving benefits for all Mainers; especially economically disadvantaged residents. 
 
Key highlights of the Conserve Maine Energy Campaign include: 
  • Energy Efficiency Activity Sheets for Kids:  Each week, a new energy efficiency activity sheet will be shared at summer food programs in many communities throughout the state and available via the ConserveMaineEnergy.org website. Activities include: learning about “Phantom” power and how energy checklists can make a positive impact.
  • Neighborhood Activity Program:  Paving the way for the next generation of environmental stewards, this program encourages youth and their families to participate in engaging and fun activities designed to raise awareness about energy use and efficiency practices that can help protect the environment and save money. 
  • Home Energy Efficiency Care Packages:  Bridging the economic gap to provide access to sustainable, energy-efficient tools, such as LED bulbs, to help lower monthly bills for families who spend a disproportionate amount of their income on energy, a limited number of energy efficiency care packages will be available for qualifying households.
To learn more about these and other projects of the Conserve Maine Energy campaign, v isit ConserveMaineEnergy.org.

Job Openings in the Conservation Sector

Great positions available, both on the coast and to the west. View the full list  here .
 
Membership Database Specialist – Midcoast Conservancy
Executive Director – Island Heritage Trust
Consultant to Develop Outdoor Education Plan – Pierce Pond Watershed Trust
Associate Development Director – Western Foothills Land Trust