MLTN Infoline – February 20, 2019
Andy Robinson is returning to Maine!
April 30, May 1, and May 3
Andy Robinson, fundraising consultant extraordinaire and all-around good guy, will be returning to Maine for three workshops – in Bangor, Bar Harbor, and Waterville – with Maine Association of Nonprofits (MANP). His theme will be “It Takes a Team.” In our experience, Andy’s workshops are fun and interactive, and there’s a real benefit to doing these courses along with non-profit organizations beyond land trusts. MANP offers discounts when more than one person from your organization attends, and everyone who participates receives a free copy of one of Andy’s books. Click here for more information.
Speaking of MANP, now’s a good time to remind you to renew your membership in the Maine Land Trust Network because organizations renewing by April 1st receive a complimentary membership with MANP. This offer applies to organizations with operating budgets $500K or less. If you have questions or need help renewing, contact Donna by email () or phone (207-607-4577).
Hang on – it’s nearly spring!
Task Force LMF/State Park Recommendation Introduced
Senator Cathy Breen (Democrat – Cumberland County) recently introducedLD 911, “An Act to Authorize a General Fund Bond Issue To Promote Land Conservation, Working Waterfronts, Water Access and Outdoor Recreation.” LD 911 furthers two of the recommendations being made by the Conservation Task Force, which Senator Breen served on over the past year. Co-sponsoring the bill are Representatives Pat Corey (Republican – Windham) and Dennis Keschl (Republican – Belgrade), both of whom also served on the Task Force, as well as 102 other state legislators.
The bill calls for $75 million in funding for the Land for Maine’s Future (LMF) Program and a $20 million investment in Maine’s State Parks. Both allocations would be spent in equal amounts over five years: $15 million/year for LMF and $4 million/year for State Parks. This is just the first step in the process. Later this session there will be a hearing on the bill and then the full legislature will be asked to weigh in. If at least two-thirds of both the House and Senate support the bond, it would go to voters this November. The last time Maine voters were asked to support a LMF or State Park bond was 2012. For more information or questions contact MCHT’s Jeff Romano .
Conservation Lands Registry Reminder
Deadline: March 30, 2019
As per 33 MRS §479C, A holder of a conservation easement or a fee owner of land held for conservation purposes that is organized or doing business in the State shall annually report to the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry. Accounts must be renewed annually between January 1st and March 30th.
The online Registry enables account holders to directly manage and update their account information and records. The annual fee per organization/account holder is $80.
Access the Registry at this link.
For questions about your organization or agency’s account or about the registration renewal process, please telephone (207)287-3200.
Certified Interpretive Guide (CIG) Training
Monday – Thursday, March 18 – 21, 2019
Maine Audubon Gilsland Farm Center, Falmouth
Cost: $380 includes certification, $230 without certification
Do you give public presentations or tours of the place where you work, or a place you love? Creating meaningful programs that leave a lasting impact on participants is a vital role in understanding and protecting our resources/understanding our history. Helping to connect visitors to the natural and historical world is quite a task.
The National Association for Interpretation (NAI) offers a certification course that helps to break down the elements of relevant presentations, provides tools to engage the audience in a meaningful experience, and fosters techniques to connect the visitors to the place/resource. This Certified Interpretive Guide (CIG) Training encourages the skills to inspire the next wave of interpreters. The CIG course required to receive this certification is 4 days of meeting new people, working together in learning the steps to planning and implementing an interpretive program for any audience, and practicing these skills.
The certification is good for 4 years, and provides you with access to resources, networking with others in the field, conferences, webinars, etc. to continue with your interpretive career. Get all the details and register at https://www.interpnet.com/nai/nai/_events/Event_Display.aspx?EventKey=CIG031819.
To learn more about NAI, visit their website. Any questions at all please contact, Jessica Woodend.
Social Science for Natural Resource Managers
Wednesday, March 27, 2019
8:30 am – 4:30 pm
Mather Auditorium, Wells Reserve
Cost: $25
The social sciences are a valuable but often overlooked element of coastal zone management. Issues from marsh restoration to flood mitigation all involve critical human elements- knowledge, values, and attitudes-of the people that live, work, and play in these areas. This training provides the basic knowledge and skills to help coastal managers understand their stakeholders.
More information and registration here.
2019 Maine Sustainability & Water Conference
Thursday, March 28th, 2019
Augusta Civic Center
Full Day Cost: $55, $30 for students Don’t miss this important annual conference! This year’s keynote address will be, Thinking with Rivers: Communication for conservation and sustainability. In this talk, Bridie McGreavy shares how thinking with rivers provides one means for such communication. McGreavy draws from her research and experiences in and beyond Maine, as well insights from communication studies, environmental communication, and sustainability science, to describe specific approaches for communicating conservation, sustainability, and justice efforts. From the Saco to the Penobscot to the St. Croix, thinking with rivers helps identify how to connect across differences in perspective, find common ground, and enrich our imaginations for what communication is and how it matters for this place we call home. Registration now open! More information at the UMaine website .
Results-Based Management using the Open Standards for the Practice of Conservation
Wednesday & Thursday, April 3-4, 2019
CEI Enterprises, 30 Federal Street, Brunswick
Cost: $495 through Feb. 28, includes all materials, snacks and lunch
Instructors: Drs. Quinn Shurtliff and Andrew Bridges
This workshop will teach participants the overarching philosophy, underlying principles, and specific steps of effective conservation planning based on the globally used Open Standards for the Practice of Conservation. Participants will learn and practice how to identify key conservation and human well-being outcomes, prioritize threats and potential interventions, develop conceptual models that describe the ecological and social context of the project, incorporate empirical data and expert knowledge, and establish a monitoring program that supports adaptive management. In addition to improving attendees’ effectiveness in planning and practicing management and conservation, the workshop will provide valuable tools for preparing grant applications, evaluating project plans, and communicating with funding agencies, the scientific community, and laypersons.
View the workshop flyer here. Questions? Email Quinn Shurtliff at .
Unity College Summer Drone Classes
June 3 – July 6, 2019
Two online drone courses are being offered this summer through Unity College . Early registration will ensure the courses are a go.
Drone Technology and the Environment – introduces drone use in Environmental Science and also takes students through the Part 107 Rules (but not all knowledge items for the Pilot Certification test). They will learn basic flight skills using small training drones as they fly them using Recreational Drone rules. Students also produce a drone use Policies and Procedures Manual including a preflight checklist, site and hazards evaluation and mission planning procedure. This is a great course to introduce students to drone technology and its use as a remote sensing device.
Advanced Drone Skills: Data Post-processing and Remote Pilot Certification– brings students through all the knowledge areas covered in the Remote Pilot certification test as well as walks them through workflows to automate flight plans, post process remotely collected data and import the mosaiced data into ArcGIS online to be used for a data analysis final project.
Climate and Conservation eNews
Nationally recognized land trust consultant Judy Anderson has created a new resources for anyone looking to learn all they can about climate and conservation. Sign up to receive the twice-monthly email, which include articles, commentary, and research with tips on communication, impacts and what land trusts/conservation groups are doing to slow climate change down. Click to learn more.
Job Openings in the Conservation Sector
Lots of new positions continue to come through the door! Full list here.
Multiple openings – Friends of Acadia
Director of Communications & Outreach – Small Woodland Owners
Development Officer – Maine Farmland Trust
Multiple positions – Island Heritage Trust
Nature Day Camp Assistant Leader – Harpswell Heritage Land Trust
Island Caretaker (2 seasonal positions) – Maine Island Trail Association
Director of Strategic Communications – The Nature Conservancy
Island Caretakers (apply as a team) – Boothbay Region Land Trust