MLTN Infoline – October 19, 2023
Call for Host Organizations: Richard G Rockefeller Conservation Internship Program | |
Are you interested in hosting an intern at your Maine land trust this summer? Maine Coast Heritage Trust’s Richard G. Rockefeller Conservation Internship Program pairs 11 Maine college-aged students with land trusts throughout Maine. Interns gain valuable experience in conservation work, while providing critical support for your summer stewardship tasks. In the past, interns have assisted with building trails, volunteer workdays, invasive species removal, outreach, and more. On Thursday, November 2nd, at 11:00am you are invited to learn more about the Program. We’ll be hosting an information session on Zoom. Learn more and register on our website. Here’s a little preview about how the program works: MCHT provides funding, recruitment, training, and general support throughout the duration of the intern’s tenure at your organization. Interns are compensated at a rate of $14.00 per hour. MCHT recruits and screens intern applicants, and then matches them up with your organization based on their stated preferences and the specific needs of your organization. The application deadline is December 1, 2023. To learn more, check out this video and:
Help nurture the next generation of land conservationists! Angela, Jeff, and Donna | |
Midcoast Regional Land Trust Meeting Scheduled | |
We continue to schedule and hold our annual regional land trust meetings. Downeast and Penobscot Bay meetings have been held, and we’ve recently scheduled the Midcoast meeting for 10:00am-12:00pm on Wednesday, December 6th, at Coastal Rivers Conservation Trust headquarters in Damariscotta. Email us if you would like to attend. Over the next month we’ll be scheduling the remaining meetings. Keep an eye on Infoline and our events page for details. | |
Save the Date for the 2024 Maine Land Conservation Conference | |
Saturday, April 13, 2024 Mt. Ararat Middle School and Orion Performing Arts Center, Topsham We are happy to announce that in response to your feedback, we will return to our tried and true in-person conference format in 2024. We’ll be back at the Mt. Ararat Middle School and Orion Performing Arts Center and we look forward to seeing you all there! It’s been five years since we’ve held this event AND we have a new Land Trust Program Director so if you’ve attended before you’ll notice some changes, but the essence of the event will be familiar. If you haven’t been to our conferences in the past, we look forward to welcoming you for the first time. As details become available, we’ll announce them here in Infoline and on our website. For now, we hope everyone will save the date and plan to join us. | |
Tapping Clean Water State Revolving Funds for Conservation | |
Tuesday, October 31, 2023 2:00-3:30pm Cost: FREE Recent federal legislation greatly increased the resources available to fight climate change and improve water quality through conservation. The Clean Water State Revolving Funds provide many of these resources to communities throughout the country. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law appropriates more than $11.7 billion to the SRF over the next five years. In addition to traditional ‘grey’ stormwater infrastructure and treatment facilities, these funds will support ‘green’ infrastructure in the forms of rain gardens, land protection and other ‘nonpoint source’ pollution reduction projects. Learn how your land trust can tap into this underutilized source of federal funding to protect land and improve water quality in your community. Visit LTA’s website for more information. | |
How To Select a Fundraising Database That Works | |
Wednesday, November 1, 2023 2:00-3:30pm Cost: $70 for LTA members, $100 for non-members In this webinar, software selection expert Erica Blake from TechImpact will share an overview of features and pricing models, some common fundraising systems and discuss their strengths and weaknesses. The session will include a discussion of the process you can use to help you choose the system that’s right for you. Whether you are thinking of purchasing your first fundraising database or have outgrown your current database, this webinar is for you. Visit LTA’s website for more information. | |
Digital Recordkeeping: What Land Trusts Need to Know | |
Thursday, November 2, 2023 2:00-3:30pm Cost: $70 for LTA members, $100 for non-members Recordkeeping on its own can be a challenge and layering on a move to digital may seem too overwhelming to contemplate. But if done right, digital recordkeeping has the potential to save countless hours, dollars and trees. Jessica Clough, Land Conservation Specialist at the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation, will share her land trust’s story and lessons learned when they moved from a spreadsheet-paper system to one centered around a robust database. Spoiler: they are loving the time saved from the new system! Visit LTA’s website for more information. | |
Trainer Lessons from the First Peoples Principles of Learning | |
Tuesday, November 14, 2023 3:00-4:30pm Cost: $63 for MANP members*, $70 for non-members This session is part of the 2023 Fall Nonprofit Learning Series hosted by Nonprofit Learning Center and is possible thanks to a partnership with Maine Association of Nonprofits Indigenous Elders, scholars, and knowledge-keepers articulated nine learning principles to guide the development of curriculum and teaching in British Columbia, Canada. These First Peoples Principles of Learning identify common elements in the varied teaching and learning approaches that prevail within Indigenous societies. Join this conversation about the First Peoples Learning Principles, how they are experienced by Indigenous people, and what any teacher can learn from them. We will explore knowledge and knowing, the role of land and space in learning, the non-linearity of time, and storytelling as teaching, among other topics. You will gain a general appreciation for the Principles and leave with concrete steps to take as you design effective, inclusive learning experiences for whatever community you serve. Learn more at Maine Association of Nonprofit’s website. *Most MLTN members are MANP members. Contact Donna to check your organization’s MLTN membership status. | |
Effective Boards: Understanding Board Purposes and Planning | |
Wednesday, November 15, 2023 10:00am-12:00pm Cost: $45 for MANP members*, $65 for non-members This event is possible thanks to a partnership between Maine Association of Nonprofits and Minnesota Council of Nonprofits This workshop will go beyond the fiduciary duties to explore a common lifecycle that every board of directors travels through and the different purposes that boards fulfill at each stage. Participants will reflect on their board’s current stage and how it matches their organization’s needs. A stage-based perspective helps boards and organizations normalize their board experience and consider what it will take, at this particular point in time, to be effective. Board effectiveness at any stage is bolstered by proactive board planning. We will review strategies and templates for board annual planning and meeting planning. This workshop is valuable for individuals holding leadership positions on or with the board, such as board chairs, officers, committee chairs, executive directors, and leadership staff. Learn more at Maine Association of Nonprofit’s website. *Most MLTN members are MANP members. Contact Donna to check your organization’s MLTN membership status. | |
Gaining Ground Campaign Launched | |
Land Trust Alliance (LTA) recently launched their Gaining Ground campaign. The campaign is a core component of the LTA’s current strategic plan and is designed to elevate the importance of land conservation as a priority in every community. Market research helped them identify an audience they have dubbed the “new power base,” which is made up of some 33 million Americans who care deeply about conservation but have not yet engaged with land trusts. Critically, this audience wants to make a difference and is eager for information about how they can positively impact the issues they care about, including climate change, biodiversity loss, equitable access to the outdoors, clean water and sustainable, local food. This is not a Land Trust Alliance campaign; this is a land trust campaign. The campaign kicks off with an eight-week national digital paid media campaign, which includes advertising on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Spotify and more, and they’ll be conducting an ongoing Google ad campaign. The Alliance will also be doing an extensive earned media push, with individual outreach to select national outlets followed by a press release going to roughly 600 national and regional reporters, bloggers, podcasters and other influencers. Finally, they will be using our own media channels to engage these new audiences. We encourage you to learn more and consider participating in the campaign. LTA has created a suite of communication assets for their member land trusts, including messages to engage the new power base audience, social media posts and templates, website and email copy, op-ed templates and more. | |
Jobs in the Conservation Sector | |
Our jobs page continues to be busy. Newest additions are listed here or view the full list on our website. Southern Maine Community Outreach Manager – Maine Coast Heritage Trust Northern New England Manager – East Coast Greenway Alliance Land Steward – Maine Audubon Land Acquisition & Grants Biologist (IF&W Senior Resource Biologist) – Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Government Affairs Manager – Friends of Acadia Outreach & Education Director – Harpswell Heritage Land Trust Community Tree Steward – Maine Conservation Corps Philanthropy Director – Northeast Wilderness Trust Donor Impact Coordinator – Northeast Wilderness Trust Camp Director – Brunswick-Topsham Land Trust Program Officer, Conservation – Fidelity Foundations Environmental Specialist III / Volunteer Monitoring Specialist – Maine Department of Environmental Protection Development Lead – First Light Maine | |
Browntail Moth Mitigation Fund | |
Applications Due: 11:59pm, November 1, 2023 The Browntail Moth Mitigation Fund is a grant opportunity available to local government or nonprofit organizations in Maine to fund activities that will reduce browntail moth impacts. The DACF is now accepting applications from government entities or nonprofit organizations in areas with significant browntail populations, which, if approved, will receive reimbursement for mitigation efforts through the Browntail Moth Mitigation Fund. Up to $35,488 in total funding is available. The number and size of awards will be determined based on the applications received and according to the best value to the State. Eligible activities are those that may help reduce the impacts of browntail moth:
Learn more including application instructions here. | |
Legacy Trails Grant Program | |
Applications Due: December 1, 11:59pm Pacific Time American Trails is pleased to partner with the U.S. Forest Service in continuing the Legacy Trails Grant Program. This program is funded through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and supports partner trail projects that further the Legacy Roads and Trails criteria on National Forest System trails throughout the nine Forest Service Regions. The goal of the program is to support projects that restore, protect, and maintain watersheds on our national forests and grasslands. American Trails is administering this grant program, and is soliciting applications for funding, with awards up to $100K per project. The application portal is now open! | |