MLTN Infoline – April 25, 2024

In the days leading up to their statutory adjournment date, Maine lawmakers from both sides of the aisle overwhelmingly approved two initiatives backed by the state’s land trust community: a blanket nonprofit sales tax exemption and a $30 million Trails Bond. Legislators from both parties in both houses came together with the Governor to support these two pieces of legislation. Each will help enhance the work of land trusts across the state for years to come. 

 

Beginning on January 1, 2025, all nonprofits in Maine will be exempt from paying sales tax and as the bill is implemented over the next eight months, MLTN and Maine Association of Nonprofits will be providing information on how land trusts can take advantage next year. And now that Maine’s legislature has cleared the way for a Trails Bond, Maine voters will be asked to ratify the proposal in November. A campaign to promote bond passage will be formed in the weeks ahead. Stay tuned for updates on both issues and special thanks to all who reached out to your legislators in support of these critical pieces of legislation. Read our latest state policy report on the website here. 

 

Let’s take a moment to celebrate these amazing wins!

Angela, Jeff, and Donna

 

The Maine Geospatial Institute (MGI) of the University of Maine System is piloting a self-paced, online Intro to GIS Mapping micro-credential. The pilot will be available for no cost until June 30, 2024, and the first 40 Maine-based (live and/or work) participants who complete two levels of the training may be eligible for a $250 incentive to provide feedback to help in its further development, thanks to a generous grant from the Maine Jobs Recovery Program. Here’s what some of the learners who have completed the micro-credential are saying:

 

 

 

 

Learn more and sign up here. If you have questions, contact MGI via Eileen Moran at .

8:30am-3:30pm

 

 

In October 2023, land returned to Bomazeen Land Trust from Land in Common. You’re invited to join partners from Bomazeen Land Trust, Land in Common, and First Light in a conversation about the process and learnings from this land return, and how it connects to the broader movement of land return across Wabanaki homelands.

 

Speakers include Mali Obomsawin (Bomazeen Land Trust), Lokotah Sanborn (Bomazeen Land Trust), Isaac St John (Wabanaki Commission), Ethan Miller (Land in Common), & Brett Ciccotelli (First Light), moderated by Ann Pollard Ranco (Bomazeen Land Trust).

 

Register for this panel here. You will receive an email with the link to join. 

2:00-3:30pm

Cost: $75 for LTA members, $115 for non-members

 

The ability to build deep and meaningful connections is a necessary and valuable skill for land trust staff, volunteers and board members. Effective cross-cultural communication enhances our ability to interact with and create impactful programming across cultural similarities and differences related to race, age, ethnicity, nationality, class, working style, sexual orientation or other aspect of cultural identity. Jasmine Williams of Parson Williams Group will help land trusts that are seeking to expand their knowledge and build skills around community-centered conservation practices that engage the principles of diversity, equity and inclusion. There will be time to discuss perceived barriers and challenges to effective cross-cultural communication, as well as a skill-building activity.

 

Visit LTA’s website for more information and to register. 

 

If your goal is to reduce stewardship and trespass issues, find new projects on adjacent land or simply to start off on the right foot with landowners in your area, this webinar is for you.

​Judy Anderson of Community Consultants will guide you through how to create an effective communication strategy to build better relationships with landowners and neighbors. Executive directors, acquisition, stewardship and communications staff should attend to learn what to advance and avoid when reaching out. This session will be interactive, so come prepared to discuss example communication pieces and ask questions.

 

Visit LTA’s website for more information and to register. 

95% of nonprofit leaders are concerned about burnout but only 18% of leaders feel confident in helping their team members avoid it. Elevate yourself beyond the average nonprofit professional by learning the research-backed approach to reducing burnout in those you oversee.

 

This training is a deep dive into the practical application of burnout and prevention science principles. Takeaways include learning how to determine the specific causes of burnout in your organization (there’s more to it than you think) and creating a custom plan for taking action in your own organization or team.

 

Learn more and get the link to register on partner website here. 

 

*Most MLTN members are MANP members. Contact Donna to check your organization’s MLTN membership status. 

Highland Lake Resort, 115 North High Street, Bridgton

Seasonal Recreation Technician – Inland Woods + Trails

Development Coordinator – Brunswick-Topsham Land Trust

Maine Land Stewardship Technician – Appalachian Trail Conservancy

Operations Assistant – Hancock County Planning Commission

Land Conservation Manager – Georges River Land Trust

Seasonal Retail Associate – Maine Audubon

Seasonal Canoe and Kayak Assistant – Maine Audubon

Seasonal Assistant Director – Maine Audubon

Assistant Park Ranger – Holbrook Island Sanctuary State Park

Land Steward (seasonal) – Frenchman Bay Conservancy

Custodian and Facilities Assistant – Maine Audubon

Seasonal Youth Program Leader, Outreach – Maine Audubon

Seasonal Naturalist – Greater Lovell Land Trust

Seasonal Land Steward – Greater Lovell Land Trust

Finance Associate – Forest Society of Maine

Naturalist/Nature Center Manager – Maine Audubon

Summer Intern (Stewardship) – Greater Lovell Land Trust

Conservation District Technician – Washington County Soil and Water Conservation District

The Momentum Conservation Land Trust Grant Fund will be awarding a total of $415,000 in general operating funding to Maine land trusts this year. This is a competitive grant program, open to all land trusts in Maine, and not all applicants will be awarded funding. We will prioritize applicants that are: working to center justice, open to trying new things, expressing vulnerability through sharing learnings, and committed to challenging colonial systems in conservation.

 

To apply, you must be a Maine land trust. Organizations must be certified as tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code or use a fiscal sponsor with 501(c)(3) tax status. Applications must contain a valid EIN (tax ID) number to be considered.

 

For the purpose of this grant program, Momentum Conservation defines a land trust as an organization whose mission and focus is to actively conserve land through easements or acquisition for purposes that may include: providing public access and housing, protecting agricultural land, ecosystems, land of cultural significance, water quality, and/or addressing climate resilience in perpetuity.

 

Learn more at https://momentumconservation.org/grants/.