MLTN Infoline – May 25, 2022
Help Us Support Your Efforts to be More Diverse, Equitable, and Inclusive | |
Last fall, MLTN presented three episodes in support of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) at Maine conservation organizations. We offered these episodes in tandem with some Zoom meetings where we shared our experiences working with a small, diverse group and a facilitator as we endeavored to provide help to land trusts and offer some resources around DEI. As we think about what next steps we take might take, we would really appreciate some input from all of you. If you can help out, please take a few minutes to fill out this short survey. Our goal is to check in with you, see if you’ve used any of the resources we gathered last year, and hear how you think we can support your work going forward. It shouldn’t take more than 10-15 minutes and it would be a great help to us. Thank you in advance, | |
Ellsworth Meet Up Added | |
Thursday, June 9, 2022 5:30-7:30pm Fogtown Brewing, Ellsworth This spring, the Maine Land Trust Network is organizing some casual gatherings for land trust folks who are really feeling the need for some face-to-face interaction. We’re calling them meet ups and we just added one more to the schedule. For our friends who are a bit further Downeast, we’ll be gathering at Fogtown Brewing in Ellsworth on Thursday, June 9th. Come on down and join us! MCHT’s new President Kate Stookey will also be there. Pre-registration is appreciated by clicking here. We also have a meet up scheduled for Newcastle, and we’ll be rescheduling the Biddeford meet up that had to be cancelled. Visit the MLTN website for details on all these events. | |
Waterfront Access Challenges | |
Lack of adequate parking is an issue in many parts of Maine, from busy downtowns to popular outdoor recreation destinations. For many of us, this is annoying but for folks who need access to the waterfront for their job, it’s worse – it can impact their ability to earn a living. Storage space and access to the intertidal are also issues of concern. Land trusts, with their expertise in community conservation and land transactions, have a role to play in supporting Mainers who depend on the ocean and shorelines for their living. To learn more, check out this blog from Maine Coast Fisherman’s Association, as well as their State of Maine’s Working Waterfront report. Want to take an even deeper dive into this topic? Check out the recently released Preserving Access to the Intertidal: A guide for coastal stakeholders and municipalities. This guide is intended to be used on a local level and provides tools that can be tailored to the specific needs and resources of each community. | |
2022 Survey on Maine Nonprofit Wages + Benefits | |
One of the most frequent inquiries we get at the Land Trust Program is questions about salaries and benefits. One of the best sources of data on salaries and benefits in Maine is Maine Association of Nonprofits’ biennial Wages + Benefits report. Their 2022 Survey is now open. By participating and filling out the survey, member organizations* will get a free copy of the survey report. This report is a critical tool for attracting and retaining highly qualified staff, and for complying with IRS regulations requiring nonprofit boards to document the decision-making process for setting executive compensation. The deadline to participate is Wednesday, June 8th, at 5:00pm. To learn more about the survey, visit MANP’s website. Thank you!! *Most MLTN members are MANP members. To check on your MLTN membership status, contact Donna. | |
QuickBooks Fundamentals | |
QuickBooks Made Easy (TM) is a leader in QuickBooks training. Founder and primary trainer, Gregg S. Bossen, CPA, is the nation’s leading expert when it comes to nonprofits that use QuickBooks®. In partnership with Maine Association of Nonprofits, they are offering a special price on their webinar series for both desktop and online users.
Each series includes three sessions – you can sign up for individual session ($109 each for MANP members) or the entire series for even more savings ($229 for MANP members). Most MLTN members are MANP members. Contact Donna to check on your MLTN membership status. | |
Find Your Focus and Take Action! | |
Thursday, May 26, 2022 1:00-2:00pm Cost: Free The best plan in the world doesn’t matter if it sits on your shelf. In this upcoming webinar from Conservation Impact, you’ll learn how to help your organization find its focus and take a deep dive into using that focus to take effective action. Learn more about:
If you are unable to join live, the webinar will be recorded and available afterward to all registrants. This webinar is great for teams – consider sharing with a colleague! Register here. | |
Webinars from Land Trust Alliance | |
The Land Trust Alliance has some great webinars lined up. Each one:
Wed, May 31, 2022 Leadership Lessons from “The Boss” Yes, they mean Bruce Springsteen! Allow yourself to suspend judgment and you will take from this webinar new insights about your sense of purpose and values, learn what’s really behind “The Great Resignation,” learn concrete strategies for hiring and retaining staff, build a more inclusive culture, and start to map out your plan. Elise Annes prepares, seeds, and cultivates your thinking and helps you problem solve the pervasive challenge of recruitment and retention. Wed, June 8, 2022 Thinking Creatively About Branding Between the accelerating impacts of climate change, a greater focus on equity, and the impacts of the pandemic, many land trusts have fundamentally evolved their approach to their work. As a result, they’re often left feeling like their branding just doesn’t quite reflect the work they’re doing for their communities today. In this highly interactive and engaging workshop, you’ll learn what branding is and isn’t; think through strategies to assess the strengths and weaknesses of your brand; share a perspective on how to approach a brand update within your land trust; and more. Thurs, June 9, 2022 Intro to Land Trust Work for New Board Members You’ve joined the board of a land trust – wonderful! But what do you need to know to translate your passion for conservation into impactful participation within your new governance role? Take a look under the hood at what land trusts do, how they do it, and how you fit in. Learn the lingo, connect with colleagues and understand the rich diversity, responsibility and ongoing contribution of land trusts. | |
New Report and Mapping Tools Highlight Inequities in Access to Conserved Land | |
A new study published in Environmental Research Letters shows striking disparities in the distribution of conserved land across multiple dimensions of social marginalization in New England – and creates a tool to help address these inequities in conservation. Harvard Forest and Amherst College researchers found that communities in the lowest income bracket, and communities with the highest proportions of people of color, have access to only about half as much protected land near where they live. These disparities persist across urban, suburban, and rural communities, and across decades. But the study’s authors didn’t stop at identifying the inequities in conservation. They also created a free, online mapping tools to identify priority opportunities for future conservation. Read the article on the Wildlands and Woodlands website and get the link to view the mapping tool, which includes Maine! | |
Jobs in the Conservation Sector | |
Exciting opportunities are waiting for you! New additions here and view the full list at mltn.org. Development/Outreach Coordinator – Upper Saco Valley Land Trust Education Program Coordinator – Cape Elizabeth Land Trust Policy and Research Director – Maine Farmland Trust Development Coordinator – Coastal Rivers Conservation Trust Northeast Region Manager – Forest Stewards Guild Herd Manager, Aldermere Farm – Maine Coast Heritage Trust | |
Clif Family Foundation Grant Program | |
Applications Due: June 1, 2022 The Clif Family Foundation was established in 2006 to support grassroots groups with inspiring ideas and limited funds. To that end, the foundation invites applications for its grants program, through which operational support grants will be awarded. Priority will be given to applicants that address two or more funding priorities at the same time, which may include strengthening the U.S. food system, enhancing equitable community health outcomes, safeguarding the environment and natural resources, demonstrating strong community ties, and operating within viable and clearly defined plans for positive change. For complete program guidelines and application instructions, see the Clif Family Foundation website. | |