Land Trust Alliance December eNews: Congress on the Verge of Extending Enhanced Easement Incentive

Policy

Congress on Verge of Extending Enhanced Easement Incentive

Thanks to your hard work, Congress is poised to extend the enhanced easement incentive for tax years 2010 and 2011, retroactive to the beginning of this year! At one point, Senate Democrats also included our estate tax incentives for land conservation, but they fell out of the latest version. Final action will likely come within the next few days, and we’ll be ready with materials to help you spread the word to landowners and the media. More

Feedback Needed: Grassland Reserve Program Rule Published

The U.S. Department of Agriculture recently published a final rule for the Grassland Reserve Program, the next step in implementing the 2008 Farm Bill, which for the first time allows land trusts to write, hold and enforce GRP-funded easements. We have only a short while to influence the manual, which will provide additional guidance to the NRCS field staff who implement this program, so please review the rule and send your comments today. A final rule for the Farm and Ranch Lands Protection Program is expected soon.

Tips, Tools and Trainings

Is Your Site Tangled in the Web?

How much website traffic is normal? Groundwire set out to answer this question by analyzing 43 of its clients’ website statistics and publishing behaviors. The 2010 Website Benchmarks Report, based on small- to mid-sized environmental organizations, tells us what nonprofits are doing with their websites, how much time they’re investing in them and how much they should be investing.

Building Communities with Farms

Discover the possibilities of integrating agriculture and development into your community. Building Communities with Farms by the Liberty Charity Foundation explores the potential benefits and challenges of agricultural urbanism and offers five case studies as models of success.

Great Online Fundraising Program (Special Price for Alliance Members)

Jumpstart your 2011 online fundraising in seven weeks with the Institute for Conservation Leadership’s spring “eDollars” webinar series and individualized consulting. Alliance members save $135 (member price: $550). Register by February 24 and enter discount code: LTAmember. Space is limited — register early!

The Best of 2010: Nonprofit Must-Reads

The busy schedule at your land trust might not leave much time for leisurely reading, but Joanne Fritz, a 30-year nonprofit veteran, has compiled her must-read list. Learn how to build and implement your brand, run a one-person marketing show, approach donors and more.

Conservation Defense

How to Be a Recordkeeping Super Hero

Want rock-solid records so when the IRS calls you can reply in a flash with action-packed atomic records that will vanquish all adversaries? With a little super hero training and a lot of discipline, you can have sleek, strong and snappy records! Start with Ten Super Hero Lessons revealed by the Vermont Land Trust.

Land Trust Review of Defense Insurance Structure

The next phase of creating the Defense Insurance Program includes land trust review of the proposed program’s tax, legal and governance structure. Land trusts that have already committed to the program are invited to participate. If your land trust hasn’t committed yet, please consider discussing it at an upcoming board meeting and join the 454 land trusts that have already signed on.

Interested in Legal Topics In Land Conservation?

Attorneys, senior practitioners, law school faculty and others interested in working on the complex legal issues of land conservation will want to attend the Second Symposium on Advanced Legal Topics in Land Conservation, February 7-8, 2011, in Boston, Massachusetts. The event is hosted by Isaacson Rosenbaum P.C. and the Land Trust Alliance. Register today.

Conservation News

Land Trusts on the Big Screen

The Alliance and six New York land trusts created and produced a Public Service Announcement ‘Give2Land’ campaign on behalf of the land trust community. From now through December 31, an estimated 269,000 people will view the 15-second PSA on the CBS big screen in Times Square. More

Call for Proposals: Conservation Innovation Grants

The Natural Resources Conservation Service has approximately $25 million ready to go! If your organization is working to stimulate the development and adoption of innovative conservation approaches and technologies, apply by December 28.

A Daily Dose of Green Space

American children ages eight to 18 are spending less time outdoors and more time in front of the computer screen — seven and a half hours a day! What’s the remedy for their “outdoor deprivation disorder?” A daily dose of green space. Jane Brody, a personal health columnist for The New York Times, tells us how a prescription for outdoor activity may reconnect our youth with their natural environment.

Census

Census 2010: Your Work Counts, Make Sure You Get Counted

As you busily prepare for year-end closings and holiday gatherings, place a reminder on your new 2011 calendar to participate in the upcoming 2010 National Land Trust Census. Your land trust’s input is essential in helping us share the exciting story of land conservation with policymakers, government agencies, researchers and national and local media. The survey link opens January 10. Keep an eye out for reminders. More

Accreditation

Seven Newly Accredited Land Trusts Announced

Congratulations to the seven land trusts that have just been awarded accreditation! This brings the total number of land conservation groups from across the country to 113, all members of the Land Trust Alliance. More

• Allegheny Land Trust (PA)
• California Rangeland Trust (CA)
• Conservation Foundation of the Gulf Coast (FL)
• Desert Foothills Land Trust (AZ)
• Foothills Conservancy of North Carolina (NC)
• Palmer Land Trust (CO)
• Wood River Land Trust (ID)

“Accreditation has proven to be an invaluable experience for the Palmer Land Trust. During the last three years, the organization has analyzed and filled policy and due diligence gaps in preparation for the final accreditation process – strengthening throughout the endeavor. … Use of the accreditation seal is not taken lightly, because all land trusts — across the country — are impacted by the actions and integrity of other land trusts, especially accredited land trusts.”

— Josh Tenneson, programs director at Palmer Land Trust (CO)

Take the first step on the path to joining the land trusts that have earned this important distinction by registering to apply. Registration for 2011 is now open.

Board Matters

Strategies for Resolving Conflicts

Not sure how to handle conflict during your board meeting? Are the voices of only a few members dominating? Richard Male, a leadership development consultant who has been featured on The Learning Center addresses these questions and others from land trust board members. Read the Q&A in the Winter 2011 Saving Land and other questions online.

Rally

Rally 2010: The Results Are In

Thank you to all of the Rally attendees who participated in the post-Rally feedback survey. We appreciated hearing about the successes of many of the events, as well as the candid suggestions for improvement. Some highlights:

At Rally:

• “I really appreciated the networking event for Urban Partners. I would have liked to see more networking events on other days or times.”
• “The advanced-level offerings were strong this year.”
• “The Board Member Summit was extremely engaging with a great opportunity to focus on board issues.”
• “At the buffet lunches, have interest group tables set up [by topic, region or specialty] that people can self-select without prior reservations."

Heard:

• “I love Rally; it's inspiring and absorbing and nourishes me personally and professionally.”
• “The most well organized, informative and transformational conference anywhere/ever. Simply the best.”

Catch up on videos, speeches and session materials; RallyNet has open access until January 31.

Save the date for Rally 2011 - October 13-16, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

In Our Community

• Randy Riviere was named the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation’s new director of lands, a key position in the organization’s work to conserve habitat for elk and other wildlife. (Photo courtesy of RMEF)

• Linda Sonnonstine Spery has joined the staff of the Nantucket Land Council (NLC) as development director. In her new position, Spery will be responsible for coordination of NLC’s overall fundraising and membership programs, special events and public relations. (Photo courtesy of Nantucket Land Council)

• Jonathan LaBonte, executive director of the Androscoggin Land Trust, was recognized by the National Park Service for his outstanding leadership and efforts to connect people to the land and conserve the heritage and landscapes of Maine. (Photo by Julie Isbill/National Park Service Rivers & Trails)

• The Hill Country Land Trust is moving into its first public space. Visit them at 320B W. San Antonio Street, Fredericksburg, Virginia. Their mailing address remains the same. (Photo courtesy of Hill Country Land Trust)

• Gloria Gossard, an Antelope Valley Trails Recreation and Environmental Committee founder, as well as author and historian, passed away on September 11, 2010, at the age of 83. Gossard wrote about regional trails, Joshua trees and horses. She was active in the Lakes communities, Antelope Valley and Tehachapi, and worked with the Palmdale Chamber of Commerce. (Photo courtesy of Antelope Valley Conservancy)