MLTN Infoline – September 19, 2024
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Rally Travel Options
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Looking to finalize your Rally travel plans? The national land trust Rally in Providence is right around the corner. You may have heard that we were trying to drum up interest to hire a charter bus to take folks to Providence. Well, that didn’t work out but we want very much to encourage ride-sharing so instead, we have created a simple Google spreadsheet. If you’re driving to Rally and have a spare seat in your vehicle, or if you need a ride, fill out the spreadsheet with your name, email, city/town of departure, and any other pertinent information. This is a free resource and open to all. You’ll be able to see all the entries and then it’s up to individuals to contact potential rides and make arrangements.
From what we’re hearing, there is going to be a great turnout from Maine at this year’s Rally. We hope everyone has a great time and when it’s all over, we’ll plan an opportunity for you to share your experiences with those who couldn’t make it.
Safe travels!
Angela, Jeff, and Donna
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Sustaining Ash Partners Network Kick Off and Other APCAW News
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The Ash Protection Collaborative Across Wabanakik is excited to be partnering with the Forest’s Stewards Guild to create the Sustaining Ash Partners Network. APCAW is hosting a kickoff webinar on October 2nd from 9:30am-11:00am with a great lineup of speakers. The SAP Network will promote a collaborative approach to ash preservation in the Northeast, and this kickoff event will include learning and dialogue with experts across Tribal Nations, academia, governmental, and private organizations. Learn more and sign up here. Also, two ash seed collection events are happening next week:
Finally, registration continues to be open for the Future of Brown Ash gathering at UMaine Orono on October 8th-9th! Zoom streaming is also available. The event will include presentations, discussions, and a community dinner. Anyone who cares or wants to learn more about brown ash and EAB, including landowners, forest caretakers, Tribal Nation staff, students, educators and more, are encouraged to attend.
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Lunch + Learn: The Strategic Nonprofit Demo
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Wednesday, October 2, 2024 via Zoom 12:00-1:00pm
Cost: FREE
The Strategic Nonprofit is an online, on-demand program that guides small and medium-sized nonprofits through the process of creating and implementing a strategic plan. It’s designed to be flexible so any nonprofit can adjust it to meet their organization’s unique needs.
In this live demo, you will be walked through the program, the user experience, what the program covers, and how it works. There will be a Q&A session where you can ask any questions you have.
MANP members* receive a $250 discount on the Strategic Planning support through The Strategic Nonprofit. (MANP web account required.)
*Most MLTN members are MANP members. To check your organizations MLTN membership status, contact Donna.
Learn more at MANP’s website.
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Federal Tax Issues: Fall 2024 Update
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Thursday, October 10, 2024 via Zoom 2:00– 3:30 pm
Cost: $75 for LTA members, $115 for non-members
Explore three hot tax topics important to land conservation with attorney and Alliance Conservation Defense Manager Diana Norris. First, in recent cases, the Tax Court has relied on the role and expertise of the land trust in determining the impact of the exercise of reserved rights, such as fixing the location of build areas, but how does that work on an operational level for a land trust? Second, the Tax Court invalidated the Treasury regulation requiring a proceeds clause. How can land trusts protect their interests in the absence of the proceeds regulation? And finally, we have lived with the revised Form 8283 for a few months. What are the biggest changes and areas of confusion for land trusts when reviewing a donor’s form? The IRS isn’t currently providing more clarity so let’s wade through some of the murky issues.
Learn more and register at LTA’s website.
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DIY Trail User and Visitor Research
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Friday, October 11, 2024 via Zoom 10:00-11:00am
Cost: FREE
Join Michele Archie, Harbinger Consultancy principal, for this Zoom meeting to learn about the new Conducting and Using Visitor and Recreational User Research Do-It-Yourself Guide and Toolkit developed with support from MCHT and other partners.
After this 60-minute webinar, you will:
Click here to register for this workshop.
MLTN will offer a second webinar on October 25th at the same time that will build on the ideas discussed in this workshop. Learn more about the second workshop here.
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Drafting Fee Land Management Plans
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Thursday, October 17, 2024 via Zoom 2:00–3:30pm
Cost: $75 for LTA members, $115 for non-members
Drafting fee land management plans is key to protecting existing conservation values or restoring conservation values of a property. How do you consider a property’s unique value and features while planning? How do you ensure promises made to funders and the community are fulfilled even when staff members change? How do you draft a plan that meets the organization’s mission, Land Trust Standards and Practices and includes consistent information regardless of drafter? Join land trust fee land stewardship experts Autumn Phillips-Lewis (American Chestnut Land Trust) and Jen Zarnoch (Columbia Land Trust) as they share their approaches to drafting fee land management plans and discuss essentials to include. Here’s a look at what we will cover:
Learn more and register at LTA’s website.
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Beyond the 501(c)(3): Thinking Differently About Governance, Nonprofit Structure, and Social Change
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Tuesday, October 22, 2024 via Zoom 1:00-2:30pm
Cost: $45 for MANP members*, $65 for non-members
Our traditional nonprofit model — the 501(c)(3) organization — is a legacy structure dating back many decades. Does it still work in today’s world? If not, what are the alternatives? Join us for a provocative, interactive session where we consider a broad range of options: everything from modest tweaks to board composition to entirely different governance models and legal structures.
Come ready to learn about multiple examples from across the country, and feel free to bring examples and experiences of your own to share with the group!
Learn more and register at MANP’s website.
*Most MLTN members are MANP members. To check your organizations MLTN membership status, contact Donna.
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Insurance 101: Liability, Conserve-A-Nation & Terrafirma
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Tuesday, October 22, 2024 4:00–5:15pm
Cost: FREE
Do you know what kind of insurance policies your land trust needs? Do you know if your current policies adequately protect against your biggest risks? Do you know what the difference in coverage for general liability, property, title and Terrafirma insurances is?
Land trusts in the Alliance’s New England region are invited to join Meghan Mullee, first vice president of Alliant Insurance Services, and Tom Kester, Secretary of Alliance Risk Management Services LLC, for a crash course on the basics of insurance coverage, including policy must-haves and coverage considerations. The session will include ample Q&A time, so you can ask about your land trust’s most pressing concerns.
Learn more and register at LTA’s website.
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Jobs in the Conservation Sector
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We consistently hear that our jobs page is THE place to search for conservation and environmental jobs in Maine. Postings are free for Maine organizations. Check out the full list of open positions here. Membership Coordinator – Frenchman Bay Conservancy
Development Associate – Forest Society of Maine
Director of Operations – Maine Environmental Education Association
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L.L.Bean Maine Land Trust Grants
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Applications Due: September 27, 2024 by 11:59pm This will be your final reminder to apply for the L.L.Bean Maine Land Trust Grant program! This year we have $65,000 to distribute to Maine Land Trust Network members to enhance public access to the outdoors, thanks to L.L.Bean.
Priorities include traditional stewardship projects, such as preserve management planning and trail improvements, as well as programming to promote outdoor activities, especially for underserved populations.
Visit MLTN’s website for full guidelines, the list of past grantees, and to download the application.
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Bee Grants and Application Webinar
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Traditional Bee Grant Applications Due: Thursday, October 31, 2024
Application Webinar: Wednesday, September 25, 12pm ET Whole Foods Market Foundation works to nourish people and the planet by advancing food access, nutrition, and economic opportunities in local and global communities. Founded by Whole Foods Market, the registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in Austin, Texas, encompasses the work of Whole Cities, Whole Kids and Whole Planet. In partnership with the Bee Cause Project, Whole Kids invites applications for its Bee Grants program, which provides support for educational beehives and bee programming support to schools and nonprofit organizations so students can observe bees up close and learn about pollinators’ vital role in our food system. Recipients can apply for a monetary or equipment grant to support schools in bringing live bees to their campus or grow their existing educational hive program. Recipients will receive grant options of a $1,500 monetary grant or an equipment grant for an indoor hive.
Eligible applicants include K-12 schools or nonprofit organizations serving grades K-12 in the United States and Canada.
For complete program guidelines and application instructions , and to register for the application webinar on Wednesday, September 25th at 12pm ET, visit the Whole Kids Foundation website.
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