MLTN Infoline – September 30, 2020
Would Your Land Trust Like to Host an Intern Next Summer?The Richard G. Rockefeller Conservation Internship Program engages Maine college-aged people in the land conservation world, developing their skills and knowledge of land conservation in Maine (especially stewardship of the land) and helping participating land trusts with their workload. Organizations that have not hosted before are encouraged to apply! Hosting an intern is highly rewarding but don’t just take our word for it. Join us for an information session on Thursday, October 29th, at 9:00am. You’ll learn what’s expected of host organizations, hear about some projects that worked well, and get get a chance to ask program coordinators and past host organizations your questions. Contact Donna to register for the Zoom session. If you’d like to learn more about the intern experience in the meantime, hear from one of the 2020 interns who spent the summer in Blue Hill. Catch those fall colors while they last! |
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Child Abuse and NeglectEarlier this year, MCHT’s insurance carrier announced changes to our coverage, requiring the organization to approve a policy related to child abuse and neglect. In response, MCHT has implemented a new policy that requires at least two non-related adults at events where children are present, criminal background checks and training for employees who work with children, and other provisions to express zero tolerance for child abuse and neglect. If your land trust works with children and has been approached by your insurance carrier, feel free to contact Jeff Romano to learn more about MCHT’s experience with this issue. |
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Stand Up for ForestsThe Northeast Forest Network, a coalition of conservationists and advocates across New England and New York dedicated to furthering forest conservation, ensuring a livable climate, protecting clean air and water, enhancing wildlife habitats, and supporting local economies and communities, recently announced the Stand Up for Forests campaign. Visit their website to learn more about this effort and discover ways your organization can participate and spread the word about the value of forest conservation. While there, you can add your organization’s name to the campaign and access the “Forests Keep Us Healthy” toolkit, the first of a series of toolkits that will highlight economic benefits, climate benefits, and more. This campaign is designed for flexibility so that conservation organizations can use what they feel will resonate with their audiences. Anyone can join in the campaign by posting a photo of themselves in nature on Twitter or Instagram with the hashtag #StandUpForForests |
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Collective Healing: Breaking the Cycle of White SupremacyFridays, October 9-23, 2020 11:00 am – 1:30 pm Cost: $105 for MANP members (most MLTN members are MANP members*) This program is offered through a partnership between MANP and the Minnesota Council of Nonprofits (MCN) During this highly interactive multi-part training, participants will look at how to break the cycle of white supremacy and take practical action towards equity. Throughout our time together, we will dig deep into how white supremacy shows up in us and affects our work. In between sessions, we will put into practice what we learn and connect consistent action with our work and workplaces. Visit MANP’s website for more on this series and registration link. *MLTN who are current with their membership receives a complimentary members in MANP. Contact Donna to check on your land trust’s status. |
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Land Trust Alliance Webinars on Fundraising, Transactional Communication, and Community RelevanceLTA is an invaluable partner for bringing you the training you need to brush up on basics and stay up to date. They’ve added some great webinars for fall, and because they know gathering together to maximize the learning is much harder now, everyone who registers gets to invite three additional staff or board members to participate in the live webinars (as usual, no restrictions on sharing the recording with your teammates). There are three webinars in October but you may want to plan out your training schedule through the end of the year to take advantage of all their timely offerings. Tuesday, October 20, 2020 2:00 – 3:00 pm Learn to effectively communicate to landowners what they need to know when they’re considering conveying land or a conservation easement to your organization. Thursday, October 22, 2020 2:00 – 3:30 pm Explore practical strategies for creating mutually beneficial partnerships with the bird conservation community. Tuesday, October 27, 2020 2:00 – 3:30 pm Learn about messages, strategies and tactics to connect to new audiences and hear about land trusts who have successfully embraced new individuals and groups in the communities they serve. |
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Self-paced Low-cost (or free!) Courses from TechSoupLearn the basics or brush up on old skills with great courses from the TechSoup Microsoft Digital Skills Center. These courses are self-paced and available on-demand whenever learning is best for you. Word 101: Learn the Basics (the first of a four-part track of Word courses) View all TechSoup Courses here. |
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Sebago Clean Waters (SCW) reached a significant milestone along its path to protect the Sebago Lake watershed when the coalition received an $8 million U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) grant. Portland Water District is the lead partner for the five-year grant. In 2018, Portland Water District was presented the Espy Land Heritage Award for its vision and leadership on the regional initiative. The new grant will help forward that work, which in addition to protecting drinking water will improve aquatic habitat for wildlife, boost local and regional economic benefits through the forest products sector, and provide public health benefits through increased recreational access. Read more here. |
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Job Openings in the Conservation SectorLooking for fall employment? These positions are available NOW. View the full list here. Backcountry Trekking Program Director – Maine High Adventure Development Assistant (part-time) – Maine Audubon Volunteer Coordinator for Beach Profiling Program – Wells Reserve and Maine Sea Grant |
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Quadratec ‘Energize the Environment’ Grant ProgramApplication Deadline: October 30, 2020 Quadratec, a leading online retailer of Jeep parts and accessories in the aftermarket, is inviting applications for its Energize the Environment Grant Program. Through the program, a single grant of $3,500 will be awarded to an individual or group currently pursuing a program or initiative designed to benefit the environment in their community. Examples of eligible projects include trail building or restoration projects; park beautification events; litter prevention initiatives; Earth study projects; sustainable land management activities; community educational projects; and youth educational engagement events. Any individual, group, or organization in the United States is eligible to apply for the program. See the Quadratec website for complete program guidelines and application instructions. |