
MLTN Infoline – January 19, 2023
2023 Conference Plans Coming Together | |
It’s the time of year when we are busy (and excited!) as we pull together plans for the annual Maine Land Conservation Conference. This year we’ve decided on a hybrid format. We will present eight webinars from March 9 through March 30 but we’re also planning to gather in person on May 3rd at the Samoset in Rockport for a celebration of reconnection that will include speakers, small group discussion, plenty of networking time, and dinner, so please save that date! Registration for these two components of the Conference will be handled separately. Registration for the virtual Conference will open in early February and the cost will remain $25 for admittance to all webinars. Keep an eye out in future Infolines and on our website for more information and announcements. Can’t wait to finally see everyone together in person again! Whit, Jeff, and Donna | |
Congress Omnibus Bill to Benefit Maine | |
At the end of 2022, Congress enacted a comprehensive Omnibus Spending bill that President Biden signed into law. In addition to funding the federal government, the bill included a variety of policy changes that will benefit land conservation activities in Maine and across the country. The Omnibus bill included the Charitable Conservation Easement Program Integrity Act (reported in our last Infoline), but it also included a provision to create the Downeast Maine National Heritage Area. This designation recognizes the national contributions of Downeast Maine’s natural resources industries – including wild blueberries, fishing, and forestry. And that’s not all! The end of the year appropriations measure designated the York River as a National Park Service “Wild and Scenic” river. Huge thanks to the state’s four congressional leaders – Senators Susan Collins and Angus King and US Representatives Jared Golden and Chellie Pingree – who played pivotal roles throughout! Read the full article on our website. | |
Maine Legislature Getting to Work | |
In mid-January, the Maine Legislature’s nonpartisan Revisor of Statutes’ office released the session’s list of legislative bill requests. This list includes more than 2,200 bills by title only. While not all of these will become formal proposals, most will surface as bills between now and late April. Although it is difficult to evaluate legislation when only the title is known, this initial list provides some clue as to which subject areas legislators are looking to address. Visit our website for a snapshot of conservation and land trust-related subject issues likely to surface over the next few months. Stay tuned in the weeks and months ahead for updates as actual bills are printed, evaluated for their potential impacts, and scheduled for public hearings. | |
Diversity Hiring Coalition of Maine | |
Diversity Hiring Coalition of Maine (DHC) is a non-profit affiliate of Maine Society for Human Resource Management that focuses on providing leadership, connections, education, and resources to Maine employers to promote diversity in the workplace. Organizations can join DHC for just $150 per year and there is no limit to the number of participating individuals within that organization. Here are a few highlights of the many benefits of being part of the Diversity Hiring Coalition:
Registration is open for DHC’s February Bi-Monthly Meeting on Creating Your Organization’s DEI Policy: Practical Steps to Effectuate Change on February 7th from 9-11am. While meetings are intended for members only, DHC is offering land trusts a one-time opportunity to attend this session at no cost. They are confident that once you experience the group, you’ll believe in the value of a membership! If you have questions or want to talk more about membership, contact Membership Director, Cory Tilley at or 207-762-1233. | |
Creating Value and Saving Money on Nonprofit Tech | |
Tuesday, January 24, 2023 12:00-1:00pm Cost: FREE Hosted by the Nonprofit Learning Lab Start up and small nonprofits can usually manage their own IT using free and low-cost tools for email, cybersecurity, file sharing, and online marketing. But as you grow, you will need to think about the role IT can play in the success of your nonprofit and the IT staff you will need to keep your nonprofit functioning. Join Community IT CEO Johan Hammerstrom, an expert with 20+ years of experience supporting nonprofit IT, to learn how to save money on tech and still plan for your nonprofit’s future. You will learn how to grow your internal staff skills, how to write job descriptions and hire for IT positions, and when to save money by outsourcing your IT. With new cybersecurity threats able to force you out of operations, it is never too early to build your IT roadmap and learn what tech expertise you can’t live without. Visit Community IT’s website to register. | |
Show Me the Money | |
Wednesday, February 8, 2023 1:00 – 4:00pm Cost: $75 MANP members*, $100 Nonmembers Use the code TEAM25 to save 25% when registering two or more from the same organization. This event is possible thanks to a partnership between Maine Association of Nonprofits and North Carolina Center for Nonprofits Show Me the Money is designed to give board members and the people who work with them the knowledge and opportunity to practice what they need to strengthen their organization’s financial literacy. By the end of the session, you will be able to show your colleagues what you know about your organization’s financial story including:
Visit MANP’s website for more information and to register. *Most MLTN members are MANP members. Contact Donna to check on your MLTN membership status. | |
Drafting and Managing Baseline Documentation Reports | |
Thursday, February 16, 2023 2:00 – 3:30 pm Cost: $70 for Land Trust Alliance members, $100 for non-members Baseline documentation reports form the foundation of an effective land conservation program. By recording the condition of the land at the time of an easement signing and supporting the terms of the easement, documentation is critical in identifying conservation values as well as changes to the land over time, whether human or natural. Baselines also serve as a great educational tool for successor owners of easement properties and are a critical component to defending your easement in court. This webinar will cover:
Visit LTA’s website for more information and to register. | |
The Role of the Board Chair | |
Four Wednesdays, February 22 – March 15, 2023 3:00-4:00pm Cost: $60 MANP Members* / $120 Nonmembers This event is possible thanks to a partnership between Maine Association of Nonprofits and the Nonprofit Association of Washington Leading a group of governance volunteers can be challenging as well as rewarding. Serving as the chair of the board is not a role for the uninspired and undecided. In this workshop, participants will learn about the chair’s responsibility in strengthening and improving the leadership work of the board as a whole. This four-part webinar series is a great primer for new board chairs and excellent refresher for more seasoned board members! Whether you’re a current chair, chair-elect, or head up a committee, this workshop covers leadership skills every board member needs. Topics include: leadership characteristics of effective board leaders, key relationships in and out of the board room, your leadership legacy, facilitating meetings that matter, and ways to engage individual board members. Visit MANP’s website for more information, including course outline, and to register. *Most MLTN members are MANP members. Contact Donna to check on your MLTN membership status. | |
Jobs in the Conservation Sector | |
The new year always brings a slew of new job openings. See new postings below or view the full list here. Lands & Stewardship Director – Harpswell Heritage Land Trust Caring for Coastal Waters Intern – Coastal Rivers Conservation Trust Seasonal Steward – Greater Lovell Land Trust MDI Regional Stewardship Manager – Maine Coast Heritage Trust Office Manager – Coastal Rivers Conservation Trust Carbon and Transaction Specialist – Northeast Wilderness Trust Stewardship Director – York Land Trust Executive Director – Friends of Katahdin Woods & Waters Gero Fellowships – Schoodic Institute Erosion Control Director – 7 Lakes Alliance Ecology Field Technician – Schoodic Institute Development + Communications Coordinator – Inland Woods + Trails Trail Steward – Roosevelt Campobello International Park Land Trust Program Director – Maine Coast Heritage Trust | |
State of the Birds Program Funding Request | |
Applications Due: February 10th, 2023 The Maine Field Office of the US Fish and Wildlife Service has received a Request for Proposals for the USFWS State of the Birds Program. The USFWS Northeast Region can submit up to three proposals to compete nationally for $1.25 in funding. There is no funding cap, and projects may propose a performance period of up to 3 years. Eligibility is limited to proposals for recovery of bird species federally listed as endAnchorangered or threatened. For Maine, these species are roseate tern, piping plover, and red knot. Proposed projects may not include land acquisition and may only include one discrete project. The Request for Proposals includes the application, merit review criteria, and reporting requirements. Applicants should follow the proposal formant, adhere to word and page limits, and address every question clearly and directly. Please return the application materials to Hannah Mullally () and Mael Glon () by February 10th, 2023. They will compile the application materials and send them along to their Regional Office for consideration. Please feel free to also contact them with any questions about the application process. |