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MLTN Infoline – December 20, 2021

Hi All, we know this is a busy time of year but here are a few items with deadlines that are quickly approaching. We didn’t want you to miss out! Hope you will take a moment to breathe and appreciate nature’s beauty at this special season,
WhitJeff, and Donna

Remote Monitoring Grant Program

The Land Trust Alliance, in partnership with The Nature Conservancy, is excited to offer this grant program to support land trusts in exploring how remote monitoring solutions can help to enhance their work. One-year grants of up to $20,000 will be awarded to help land trusts identify remote monitoring solutions that will address their unique needs and build capacity to implement new technologies. The program will also provide an opportunity to gather perspectives and evaluate results of different approaches to identify the most effective and accessible tools for the land trust community’s diverse needs. 
 
Applications are due January 14th, 2022. Applicants must be a qualified organization under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code for at least two years, maintain accredited status or submit a board-approved plan to pursue accreditation within the next two years, and be a current member in good standing of the Land Trust Alliance. You must view also view the recorded information session before applying.
 
View the program guidelines here and check out previously funded projects here.

Succession Planning Webinar Series

Three Wednesdays, January 26, February 2, and February 9, 2020
Time: Variable, view specific agendas for session times
Cost: $95 for Land Trust Alliance members; $125 for non-members
Tracks for both staffed and all volunteer organizations
Registration closes January 21
At its heart, succession planning is a way to facilitate change and growth, making your mission more enduring. It isn’t about “replacing people.” It’s about having a vision of where the organization is headed and adopting clear policies and procedures to nurture new leadership. Creating and following a thoughtful succession planning process can reduce tension and anxiety, strengthen your organization to be more stable and sustainable and allow you to focus on increasing your long-term impact.
 
In these 90-minute sessions, participants will learn the why, what and how of succession planning. Topics will include:
  • The purpose and impacts of succession planning and the risks of not having a thoughtful process.
  • The power of embracing a culture and values for transformational and emergent leadership.
  • The importance of strategy in guiding succession efforts.
  • How prioritizing diversity, engagement and empowerment can impact succession.
  • Policies and procedures for both emergency and planned successions.
  • Role clarity in succession planning, including the roles of the board chair, board members and staff.
  • Internal and external communication best practices.
  • Tools, materials and timelines for thoughtful succession processes.
Why not make a commitment to step up your succession planning in the new year? Visit the Alliance website for more information, including agendas for staffed and all-volunteer tracks.

Trails for Everyone: Planning Inclusive Trails From The Ground Up

Wednesday, January 19, 2022
2:00-3:30pm
Cost: $70 for Land Trust Alliance members, $100 for non-members
People often say that getting outdoors is now one of their favorite activities. However, many people interested in nature and the outdoors face limits when they try to do just that. Unfamiliarity with the outdoors, poor fitness, health or disabilities, do not necessarily eliminate a person’s desire for outdoor experiences, just as one’s economic or cultural background do not. We all deserve access when it comes to experiencing nature, so how can land trusts develop trails that seek to meet the widest range of needs for their community while at the same time protect a property’s conservation values? Join Larry Knutson and Sarah Walter, from Penn Trails LLC, co-authors of Trails for All People: Guidance for Accessibility and Inclusive Design (2021) as they lay out strategies land trusts can use to make their trails more universally accessible. Providing examples of successful projects, this webinar is a must for land trusts who want to ensure their trails are welcoming and accessible to all.
 
For more information and to register, visit the Alliance website.

Holiday Discounts from Harbinger Consulting

If you have had your eye on any of the great courses from Harbinger Consultancy, now is a great time to commit. They are offering a 25% holiday discount – use the code “Holiday” at check out. Their Winter/Spring 2022 slate of courses includes two Tell the Economic Story courses, a do-it-yourself approach to economic analysis stemming from over 20 years of work with rural communities, parks and protected areas, trail networks and land conservation initiatives.
 
Also on tap are two “Roadmap” courses: Outdoor Recreation Roadmap, and The New Community Project Roadmap. Both are designed for people who work hands-on in community building and community economic development.
 
In January, they’ll offer Do-It-Yourself Trail Research You Can Start Right Away, and in June 2022, their Creative Placemaking course is back on the schedule.

Jobs in the Conservation Sector

Some wonderful job opportunities have been recently added. Click here for full list.
Aquatic Restoration Manager – The Nature Conservancy, Maine
Summit Steward – Friends of Acadia
Communications Manager– Maine Island Trail Association
Eastern Maine Land Protection Assistant – Maine Coast Heritage Trust
Garden Coordinator – Kittery Land Trust
Farm Program Coordinator – Maine Coast Heritage Trust