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This page was last edited on November 27, 2007. Newest information is at the top.
WWLT
Current News 
St. Croix International Waterway Commission
November 5, 2007Mr. Elbridge G. Cleaves, President
Woodie Wheaton Land Trust
Forest City, ME 04413Dear Elbridge:
Please thank all the members of the Woodie Wheaton Land Trust board, on our behalf, for the very generous and critical contribution of $2,600 to the Trout Brook project.
Because of this gift, we are able to move ahead this fall to end the erosion that has clogged Trout Brook's smelt and salmon spawning habitat and deposited thick silt in the Trout Cove section of East Grand Lake over the last two years.
That the problem was not dealt with earlier is unconscionable — a clear gap in provincial law and diligence that has taken its toll on the lake and its fish stocks. Heightened vigilance by shoreowners and CLIC and the new-found ability to have cases like this addressed promptly through federal law should reduce the likelihood of such situations in the future.
As you and the Trust know all too well, conservation goals are achieved one piece at a time, Restoring Trout Brook, like acquiring another property, moves us all one step closer to protecting what we hold dear and want to pass on to future generations.
The Trust's name will be proudly displayed on the project sign to acknowledge its involvement in restoring Trout Brook and make New Brunswickers aware of the Trust's committment to conserving both sides of the Chiputneticook Lakes
Sincerely,
Lee Sochasky, Executive Director
President's Letter to the Membership
July 12, 2007
Dear Members,
With our Annual Meeting approaching, it’s time to update you on the recent efforts of the Woodie Wheaton Land Trust.
The Land Trust was recently presented with an opportunity to acquire a small conservation property located in the Town of Orient on North Lake, including 300 feet of waterfront. The property is strategically important, as it represents a foot-hold in the Chipuneticook Chain headwaters and positions the Trust as an abutter to the single largest privately owned tract of “at risk” shoreland in our area. Additionally, the property encompasses the tip of a wetland complex that according to Maine Inland Fisheries and Wildlife offers high value waterfowl and wading bird habitat. Currently, we are working to resolve a title issue which is holding up the Trust’s purchase of the property. Although it’s too early to say, we are hoping for a successful conclusion.
In other news, we are making progress on our conservation center. State building permits are finally within sight, and the board has reviewed a newly created vision statement that recognizes the Land Trust Center as a significant enabler of our future conservation work. In addition to generous member contributions to the project, in May we received a $5,000.00 grant from the Davis Conservation Foundation.
While we will soon be conducting a dedicated mailing for the Land Trust Center we remain diligent to our primary focus of land conservation. The Trust is continuing its “East Grand Watershed Initiative,” building a base of support along North, East Grand, Longley, Brackett, and Deering Lakes that we believe will inevitably be called into action. The Trust is also working hard to acquire some sensitive lake access points that are strategically important to the enjoyment of our area’s natural heritage.
One final item, this past May the board held a facilitated workshop to develop the content of our new strategic plan. We are now wrapping up the final edits prior to board adoption. The strategic plan will help ensure that WWLT is well positioned to meet the challenges ahead.
You are invited to come and celebrate with us at the 2007 Woodie Wheaton Land Trust Annual Meeting, to be held August 12th, at the Grange Hall in Weston, Maine. Dinner will be served at 5:00 to be followed by a one hour business meeting.
Most importantly, our board of directors would like to sincerely thank all of you for your past and continued support. Working together we can succeed in conserving many of the special places here in the Chiputneticook Lakes for future generations to enjoy and cherish!
Best regards,
Elbridge Cleaves
President
January 29, 2007
Friends and Neighbors,
As fellow stakeholders in the Chiputneticook lakes area, we believe the most critical economic and environmental issue to impact our world is at hand. It demands the attention of us all.
Waterfront property is now the most highly sought natural resource in Maine. Opportunities, consequences, and irreversible changes are inevitable. While regulatory oversight has some control over land use, current regulations and local resources are woefully inadequate for today’s pressures. It is imperative that we do not allow the value of our natural landscapes to be driven to extinction by the monetary value of development in the marketplace. The reality is that this demand will change our world and there is only one window of opportunity to “get it right.”
Our immediate concern is the remaining undeveloped portions of East Grand, Brackett, and Longfellow Lakes (see attached map). In Maine, we have a private non-industrial landowner, who appears to be very close to capitalizing on this extraordinary waterfront demand. In Canada, even though the Province appears to be non-development minded, public demand may overcome the will to protect.
The Woodie Wheaton Land Trust is a group of local citizens, like you, working together to protect Maine’s Chiputneticook chain of lakes. We buy waterfront land and build conservation partnerships. Our conservation efforts on Spednic Lake, Mud Lake, the St. Croix River, and in the immediate Forest City area of East Grand have been very successful.
Now is the time to pursue a Greater East Grand Lake Conservation Initiative. We know success is possible only if diverse interests come together toward a common cause. We acknowledge that our organization alone does not represent all stakeholders, or necessarily the optimal outcome. But, the “right outcome” must be chosen by consensus and sought now.
Therefore, it is imperative that you become engaged in this effort. The stakes are extremely high. We welcome your input and ask that you join us in this challenge. We are committed to working toward a solution that betters local communities without jeopardizing our natural heritage. If we fail the outcome is predictable.
Enclosed you will find information about the WWLT and our ongoing conservation efforts. We hope that you will join us in a dialogue that will lead to action and success. Thank you.
Sincerely,
Elbridge G. Cleaves
President
President's Letter
December 13, 2006
Dear Friends,
It is a privilege to serve those who believe in preserving and protecting a portion of things natural from those made to fit our modern life style. This privilege is especially meaningful when the shared belief includes our natural heritage found along the shorelines and forests of the Chiputneticook chain of lakes.
Through the efforts of a few hard working people who are motivated and empowered by your faithful participation, the WWLT has enjoyed great success, extending conservation outward from its roots in Forest City to the shorelines of Spednic Lake and the St. Croix River.
It would be tempting to relax and enjoy the fruits of this collective labor, but life is not static and neither is the competition for those same natural values that we cherish and enjoy. The landscape on which we now concentrate is large, complex in use, and more at risk than ever before. Much land ownership is governed solely by return on investment with a major focus on those same natural resources that we value and cherish. This landscape, the goals of ownership, and the diverse and potentially conflicting uses, present both challenges and opportunities. Conservation has become very expensive, collaborative, and extremely business intensive--and so must our mission.
We are embarking on some ambitious endeavors to best position the WWLT to meet these present challenges and to be prepared for the future. Our Board will be undertaking a strategic planning effort this coming winter and spring to ensure that all of our resources from human capital to the fruits of our land trust Center project will be used most wisely in the mission of land conservation. We appreciate greatly your past and continued support of our efforts. Please do not hesitate to let us know if you have any questions, thoughts, or concerns about WWLT and these exciting times.
I hope that you enjoy our newly formatted newsletter. (reproduced below)
Sincerely,
Elbridge G. Cleaves
President
Woodie Wheaton Land Trust 2006 Newsletter
Inside this issue:
Meet Your Local Land Trust • Conservation News - Spednic Access & SCIWC’s Gleason Point success • Dale Wheaton retires as President and Elbridge Cleaves steps up - Dale Wheaton Honored • The Woodie Wheaton Land Trust Center • 2006 Contributors • Treasurer’s Report • Partner Profile: CLIC
Community Conservation Notes
Volume 1, Issue 1 - December 2006Your Local Land Trust Conserving The Land and Waters of the Chiputneticook Lakes
Meet Your Local Land Trust:
The Woodie Wheaton Land Trust (WWLT) is a group of citizens like you, who share a genuine affection for the Chiputneticook Lakes Region, and who are committed to conserving its remaining wildness.
We purchase conservation land on a willing-seller basis, and set it aside for public benefit. This may be land where the public’s traditional access and recreational uses are protected...or it may involve woodlands supporting sustainable forestry, low impact ecological areas and lands of historical, environmental or aesthetic significance.
Thanks to our devoted membership, during the past ten years we have succeeded in conserving nearly 100 miles of shoreline in our region. One of the Trust’s major milestones is the completion of a 500’ wide conservation easement along the U.S. shore of Spednic Lake, and continuing along the St. Croix River below Vanceboro, a project initiated by WWLT and accomplished in partnership with the State of Maine, the St. Croix International Waterway Commission, and the New England Forestry Foundation.
Today we look northward to those undeveloped areas in and around the headwaters and westerly shores of East Grand Lake.
**
Conservation News - Spednic Access & Much More
It’s an exciting time. This summer and fall we’ve been exploring conservation opportunities from the headwaters of East Grand Lake to the Spednic landing sites in Forest City. Both boat launch sites to Spednic Lake in Forest City are currently at risk. Although the history of public use at these sites is extensive, they lack formal access agreements with the landowners. Clearly, it is imperative that we work together to achieve formal access agreements. The Trust is actively discussing options with the land owners. We look forward to a positive outcome for all parties, securing public access to a unique wilderness resource and reinforcing an important piece of our community’s economic vitality. Given the sensitive nature of these discussions, at this time we are not at liberty to say more.
Breaking News from Lee Sochasky, Executive Director, St. Croix International Waterway Commission (SCIWC). According to Lee, “A large conservation easement involving 2,313 acres and 2.2 miles of Canadian shoreline along the St. Croix River at Gleason Point, near Grand Falls Flowage, has recently been donated to the Nature Trust of New Brunswick by the Orser family of Ohio. The St. Croix International Waterway Commission acted as a partner in the transaction, for tax reasons, and was pleased to assist. This represents one of the largest ecological gifts of its kind in Canada and fits well with the efforts by the State, Province, Woodie Wheaton Land Trust and others to preserve undeveloped sections of the St. Croix.” We would like to extend our heart felt thanks to everyone involved in realizing this fine achievement!
Building on last season’s efforts to secure a conservation solution for the ‘Million Dollar View,’ a large shorefront tract of land in the Town of Weston, the land trust continues to explore community and conservation partnership and build organizational capacity.
Last summer we embarked on a new outreach initiative. Executive Director Paul First, volunteer Brian Madigan and Director Bill Walton took the Trust to visit local cottage owners via a traditional Grand Laker Canoe. These visits provided an opportunity to ask local cottage owners what they enjoy most about living here in the Chiputneticook Lakes, to share information about the Trust and for us to learn how we can best address our greater community’s land conservation interests. Many people cited factors related to the lake’s remaining wildness as what they enjoy most about living on the lake. We enjoy those visits, and plan to continue this outreach during summer ’07.
This fall/winter we will be visiting the offices of many Maine and regional conservation organizations, promoting the importance of conserving the Million Dollar View [area], and sharing the details of last fall’s East Grand land use and valuation study conducted by consultant Keith Ross. This study was supported by L.L. Bean grant funding. The time will come when the owner of this 5,000 acre parcel, including over 20 miles of East Grand shorefront, will look to capitalize on their investment. We must stay engaged and build a credible conservation alternative with strong partnerships.
You are our eyes and ears on the ground. So, help us identify new conservation opportunities and find ways to permanently protect lands that are special to you.
To keep the resources of your land trust working effectively to achieve our goals, the Board of Directors is currently working to develop a strategic plan for the Trust. As the Trust grows, this blueprint is an important element toward ensuring that we are able to fulfill our mission of conserving the land and waters of Maine’s Chiputneticook Lakes.
**
The Proof Is In The Pudding
Dale Wheaton stepped down as President of WWLT this past May, following 12 years of distinguished service. Director Wheaton’s leadership and vision were instrumental in forming the Land Trust. As President he successfully advanced the conservation of over one hundred miles of shorefront in our region. As they say, ‘the proof is in the pudding.’ His legacy of service is permanently embossed on the landscape and will be enjoyed by many generations to come.
Director Wheaton was recently presented with a four piece G. Loomis eight weight fly rod and a photo etched plaque to commemorate his outstanding service to our community. His long dedication to conservation was given while conducting the business of Wheaton’s Lodge. A professor at the University of Maine, guide, and family man, both Dale and Jana have our sincere thanks for their huge sacrifice. The Trust is fortunate that Dale’s experience and vision are still available to us, as he will continue to further our mission as a respected and honored member of the Board of Directors.
Our new President is Elbridge G. Cleaves of Weston, whom many of you know as proprietor of First Settlers Lodge and respected land use manager from one of Maine’s premier forestry management firms. President Cleaves is very skilled in organizational leadership, promoting unity and has a clear focus on our goals. The Trust is currently undertaking an exciting strategic planning process. In addition to his fine leadership skills, commitment to conservation, and dedication to service, Elbridge’s background in forestry land transactions is demonstrated on a near daily basis here at the Trust. We are endowed with another committed, strong and effective leader.
Director Art Wheaton continues his dedicated service as WWLT Vice President.
Treasurer Robert Kay has also retired from his WWLT officer position this year, following twelve years of unselfish service. Bob’s tireless efforts have been critical to the success of the Trust. With much of his work conducted behind the scenes, Bob’s duties included keeping the books, making sure the bills get paid and filing our annual 501 (c) (3) IRS tax reports. Director Kay remains a WWLT Board Member.
Former Secretary Bill Walton, has stepped up to fill the void left by Bob’s departure. In addition to Bill’s dedicated service as Secretary, he brings his many years of experience as a small business owner to the position.
Bill’s former duties have been assumed by our newly elected Secretary, Director John Gaskins. Many of you know John as guide extraordinaire from Wheaton’s Lodge. The other hats John wears include retired biology teacher, family man, and good humored neighbor.
**
The Woodie Wheaton Land Trust Center
Great feats have been accomplished by our volunteers working from their homes and local fishing lodges. However, as our organization continues to grow, develop new partnerships, and position itself to meet the challenges ahead, we are in need of the basic infrastructure for conducting business. To accommodate these needs, our Board of Directors has resolved to construct the Woodie Wheaton Land Trust Center in Forest City, Maine, a step vital to ensuring that the Woodie Wheaton Land Trust will be engaged in conserving our community’s natural resources far into the future.
This modest building is planned to accommodate: the meetings of our Board of Directors; annual membership meetings; a staff office; environmental/natural heritage interpretation displays; and given our remote location, a small guestroom for visiting collaborators. It will be designed to nestle into the environment, making a statement that enhances and complements the natural heritage of Forest City.
The Woodie Wheaton Land Trust Center will:• Provide a facility for conducting WWLT business
• Strengthen the nature-based tourism appeal of our community
• Provide a permanent place for community residents to meet and discuss local land use issues
• Assist in nurturing our next generation of community leaders
Ruth Wheaton has generously donated an ideal parcel of land for the project. Across from the village green, this site serves as a gateway to our community that visitors will see after crossing the international border.
We have completed a building design and site plan, the result of regular meetings of our Building Committee supported by design professionals. This past fall and summer much of our progress has revolved around developing a final site plan that fulfills the project’s vision within a perfectly situated yet compact site. The final plan is sure to enhance our community and neighboring properties while thoughtfully serving the organization’s needs.
Now, having completed our septic engineering and a long list of supporting information required by LURC, we are ready to submit our final permit application.
The Trust has already secured over $100,000 in generous project Center Design Perspective funding commitments. We seek to raise a large portion of the project budget by targeting foundation grants and sources not intended for land conservation. However, your member contributions are still very important, as they help us to leverage contributions from other sources. All funds donated to the Trust for the Center are managed separately from conservation donations.
To help us bring this exciting project to fruition, we have begun to work with a highly skilled fundraising consultant, with a demonstrated track record for getting bricks and mortar projects such as ours funded.
We look forward to keeping you well informed of our progress to bring this vision to life.
**Arsenault, David
Arsenault, Dean
Baker, Herb & Marge
Baker, Horace & Phyllis
Barnett, Ben & Sue
Beardsley, Don & Susan
Bennison, John & Kate
Boardman, Dr. Doug & Cecilia
Boardman, Norm & Francie
Borzone, Bob & Beth
Breitenbach, Bob
Brody, Dr. Martin - In Memory of Dr. Norman Brody
Bucher, Jamie
Bucher, The Family - In Memory of Robert W. Bucher, Sr.
Burnaford, Don & Deborah
Bursaw, Jeff - In Honor of Shaunna & Kaitlyn Beaudoin
Cafferata, Chris
Callahan, Jim & Diane
Canada, Andrew & Jean
Cesaro, Rick
Cliggott, Dick
Cohn, Dr. Harold & Mrs. - In Memory of Dr. Heber Yeagley
Conforti, Frank
Cracknell, Andy & First, Karen
Crowe, Hartley & Janet
Davis, King & Suzanne
Deragon, Don & Lena
Dombek, John
Drislane, Dennis & Elena
Druce, John & Charlotte
Dunham, Larry & Nancy
Environmental Systems Research Institute
Eykel, Norm & Sally
Fabian, Al Jr.
Ferrari, Bob
Figure Foundation
Filkins, Jim & Ginny - In Memory of Ruth Filkins
Filkins, Jim, Ginny & Wesley- In Memory of Ruth Filkins
First, Lisa Kay - In Honor of Paul First
First, Joan
First, Paul & Tina
Fletcher, David & Marcia
Furman, Jack & Kathy - In Memory of Sarah Furman & John J. Furman
Gagliardi, Mike
Gallant, Gordon & Traci
Gizinski, Robert
Glaubinger, Lawrence & Lucienne - In Memory of Alvah Harriman
Gorton’s Seafood
Greene, Robert - In Memory of Jack E. Greene
Griggs, Allen - In Memory of Jim Stoneberger
Gwirtzman Foundation, The Burton & Sarina - In Memory of Ruth Wheaton
Hannigan, Debbie
Hector, Bob
Heinselman, Rus
Herz, Russ - In Honor of Sarina W. Gwirtzman
Hescock, Richard & Sally
Hodgdon, Tony & Trudy
Jacobs, Joe & Joan
Johnson, Hale & Lorraine
Jones, Greene & Monica
Kaufmann, George
Ketchum, Brian & Diane
Kindblom, Erik & Anne
Kindblom, Lillian - In Memory of Ralph M. Kindblom
Kopko, Joe
Kump, Lee & Wendy
Lagemann, Manfred
Laing, Don
Laney, Paul
Latham, Bill & Shirley
Ledwin, Norm & Mary Ellen
Legare, Omer & Estelle
Levy, Michael
Liston, Barbara - In Honor of Bob Kay
Littman, Bruce - In Honor of Norman Brody
Lord, Wes
Love, Frank & Mary Jo
Lucey, Bill - In Memory of Bernard Albers
Lukow, Terry & Kathy
Madigan, Brian
Madigan, Chris & Cathy
Manning, Bill
McKinny, Dick
McLaughlin, Mike and Kathy
Medynets, Andy
Milliken, Roger & Margot
Mittelman, David & Sonia
Moody, Neil & Ruth
Moore, Liz
The Old Pat’s Society
Olejnik, Nicholas
Paras, Tom - In Memory of Jim Stoneberger
Patten, Carter, III
Pekich, Stephen - In Memory of Florence B. Wallace
Plunkett, Jamie & Marcia
Pylkas, James & Laird
Quebec, Rob & Sharon
Quinn, Bob - In Memory of Woodie Wheaton & Lance & Georgie Wheaton
Reis, Jud & Lisa
Ricco, Ron & Joanna
Rosenman, Mark & Robby
Ross, Judith - In Memory of Art Ross
Ross, Kay
Ross, Sally
Rowan, Fred Jr. - In Memory of Woodie Wheaton
Schenck, Allen
Schlesinger, Michael & Brothers
Seremeth, Joe & Nancy
Shactman, Alan & Ruth - In Memory of Louis Frisch & Donald Bailey
Shane, Louis
Sherrill, Charlie & Christine
Smith, Chuck - In Memory of Pat Smith
Snow, Dr. Dave & Edna
Snow, David & Lynette
Stark, Greg Sr. - In Memory of George Davis
Stocking, Marion
Stoneberger, Bob & Jacquie - In Honor of Lance Wheaton
Tongren, Hale & Sally
Upham, Bob & Jimmie - In Memory of Alvah Harriman
Vilbrin, Bud & Kathy
Walton, Bill & Heather - In Memory of Jean Tozier, June B. Cooper & Lois Gentle
West, Chris & Rosemary
Wheaton, Dale & Jana
Whitman, Steve & Linda
Zesiger, Rick & Mary - In Memory of John Z. MacKenson
An Unnamed Donor2006 Treasurer’s Report (As of 11/28/06)
INCOME (Grants. Member Contrib’n’s & Misc):
Conservation Limited $6,950.00
Building Limited $9,625.00
Discretionary $32,776.00
Interest & Misc. $4,223.42
Total Income $53,574.42
EXPENSES (Operating Expenses and Services):
Admin, Fundraisng, Outreach $21,514.85
Project Work $13, 265.45
Total Expenses $34,780.30
ACCOUNT BALANCES (All Accounts)
End ‘05 Account Balance $124,105.79
Net Income + 18,794.12
Balance of All Accounts $142,899.91
as of November 30, 2006
**Chiputneticook Lakes International Conservancy
(Submitted by Bob Quebec, CLIC President)The Chiputneticook Lakes International Conservancy (CLIC) is an international organization whose members are advocates for those “in” and around the upper St. Croix Basin Waterway, the Chiputneticook Lakes are North, East Grand, Mud, Spednic, Palfrey, Brackett, and Deering Lakes.
CLIC began on a warm summer evening in 1992. Two men sat on a porch overlooking East Grand Lake, talking about how lucky they were to have such a great place to spend their free time. One was a Canadian and one an American and they both loved to fish, especially on East Grand. It was obvious to both of them that or some unknown reasons, the salmon fishing was very poor. After some discussion, they decided to try and do something about it. They called a couple of friends and suggested that if they formed a “Lake Association” it could give some “power to the people” and get some action from the fishery authorities. Many of the problems that needed attention in 1992 are still with us today, although we have made significant progress.
Today CLIC is 256 members strong. Our efforts focus on monitoring water quality, environmental education, and fisheries. Ongoing projects include: offering scholarships to area students to attend Maine Conservation Camp; a fish rearing project in partnership with the Danforth, Hodgdon, and Houlton Schools; and engaging fisheries managers from New Brunswick and Maine in dialog. Other recent efforts include the installation of a binocular viewing station at the Million Dollar View lookout in Weston, in memory of our deceased members, local community bulletin boards, and loon nesting platforms.
CLIC actively supports the efforts of the Woodie Wheaton Land Trust to purchase conservation property in the Chiputneticook Lakes. With CLIC’s focus on environmental education and the Land Trust’s focus on conservation purchases, we can achieve great things together.
So, come and join us at one of our free annual cookouts, held on Halfmoon Island, or our annual meeting. If you have any questions or would like additional information about CLIC, please feel free to contact me, Bob Quebec, at (978) 263- 3629 or rsquebec<AT>verizon.net
The WWLT Would Like To Hear From You
• Do you have conservation project ideas that you would like to share?
• Would you be interested in spending a day in a Grand Laker, joining us as a volunteer for next summer’s Lakes Initiative?
• What are your local conservation priorities?
• Do you have favorite photos of the Chip Lakes that you would like to share ? We need your pictures for our on-going promotional efforts.E-Mail us at: info<AT>woodiewheaton.org
**
For General Inquiries:
Paul First, Executive Director
Woodie Wheaton Land Trust
389 Swamp Road
Durham, ME 04222
Phone: (207) 319-7652
Email: info<AT>woodiewheaton.org
**
Join Us!
A contribution in any amount, automatically makes you a member.
Your continued support makes our conservation achievements possible.Contributions may be mailed to:
Woodie Wheaton Land Trust
William P. Walton, III, Treasurer
P.O. Box 2
Orient, ME 04471-0002You may contact the treasurer online at
WWLTmembers<AT>aol.comA NOTE ABOUT E-MAIL ADDRESSES: This site observes the convention of replacing the @ symbol in all e-mail addresses with the four characters: < A T > . If you copy any e-address for your own e-mail use, be sure to use the standard convention with the @ symbol replacing the <AT> that is used in e-addresses on these pages.
July 10, 2006
Dear Friends,
On behalf of the Board of Directors, I would like to invite you to the 2006 Annual Meeting of the Woodie Wheaton Land Trust, to be held Saturday, August 19, 2006, in Forest City, Maine. The meeting will begin at 1:00 p.m. at The Village Camps, on the shore of East Grand Lake. We’ll have refreshments.
Our Guest Speaker will be Jim Leavitt, author of Walden to Wall Street: Innovations in Conservation Finance, and Director of the Harvard Forest Program on Conservation Innovation. Mr. Levitt will give a presentation on creative conservation finance and share his insights on financing local conservation projects. His books will be available for purchase at the meeting.
During the past year, the Trust has vigorously pursued a major conservation project for East Grand Lake, but has been unable to bring the landowner to negotiations. With the endorsement of other local and regional organizations, we engaged the services of a Boston-based consulting firm and developed an in-depth database and market valuation of key properties along and overlooking the lake. In the end, the landowner elected not to sell, but suggested they would reconsider in two years. The lands in question hold enormous conservation interest to all of us, and we are prepared to act.
Our Executive Director, Paul First, has also worked diligently with our Building Committee to develop a design and site plan for a new Woodie Wheaton Land Trust Center in Forest City. The design stage is nearly complete, and we will enter a permitting and fundraising phase soon. Several significant pledges and grants have already been secured, along with Ruth Wheaton’s generous gift of land. Your Board is committed to raising the necessary construction monies independent of those donated for conservation purposes.
In May, I stepped down as your President, having served since 1994 at the post. Your new President is Mr. Elbridge Cleaves of Weston, whom you may know as proprietor of First Settlers Lodge and a respected employee in the forest products industry. Elbridge brings a strong resume of integrity, competence, and connection; and we are very pleased that he has agreed to serve. Bill Walton takes over the Treasury from Bob Kay, who has served nobly in that post since the group’s inception. Art Wheaton continues to serve as Vice President, with John Gaskins assuming the Secretary’s position.
In the months ahead, the Trust will conduct strategic planning to further its conservation mission in the Chiputneticook Lakes region, and will attempt to identify prospective projects for protection. We are also helping to finance conservation training for local high school educators.
I want to personally thank each one of you for your enormous generosity and commitment over the past twelve years. We have accomplished many good things—far more than might be expected of a small group such as ours. Our successes will benefit generations to come, and you can be proud of that. I believe your organization is on a good foundation, and that the passion to protect the remaining wildness of our region will continue to serve us well.
Yours sincerely,
Dale Wheaton
February 18, 2006
Dear Friends,
I will bring you up to date on our work, and extend a welcome to many new members who have recently joined the Woodie Wheaton Land Trust.
During 2005, our land trust underwent a purposeful organizational upgrade to prepare itself for the conservation challenges ahead. In June, we hired Mr. Paul First to serve as our first Executive Director. Paul brings impressive credentials in community land use planning and environmental science, and an enthusiasm for grassroots land conservation. He has established a WWLT office at his home in Durham, ME, and travels to the lakes area as needed. Paul has been integrally involved in the projects described below, worked with director Bill Walton to create our own website and URL, secured comprehensive GIS mapping software, and has established a functional and efficient office for conducting business. He can be reached at 207-319-7652 or prfirst@woodiewheaton.org.
In October, the Board of Directors adopted the Land Trust Alliance's Land Trust Standards and Practices to guide us in governance and decision-making. While full compliance with LTA's recommendations is financially and logistically difficult for a land trust as small as ours, it serves as a template to conduct our operation with high ethics and professionalism. It will also give us credibility for future public and private funding.
Early 2005 found us actively engaged in the Down East Forest Conservation Easement, spearheaded by the Downeast Lakes Land Trust and New England Forestry Foundation. The success of that project was critical for this area--for its direct and immediate conservation impact, for its importance to the traditional resource-based economy, and to the political future of land conservation in eastern Maine. The vast project (311, 684 acres) was an outgrowth of something we started (the Spednic Lake/St. Croix River Project), and something we believed in. With trepidation, the Board made an eleventh hour appeal for your help, and you responded. WWLT and its individual members were able to inject over $50,000 to the project as the deadline loomed. We made it. Thank you.
Since June, we have expended most of our energy on two fronts: (a) development of a major conservation initiative for East Grand Lake, and (b) planning for a new building in Forest City to serve as our headquarters. Both items are works in progress.
Following months of discussion, in October the Board hired a Boston-based consultant to identify priority conservation land on and around East Grand Lake, to establish fair market value, and to help define a conservation strategy. That work is now complete, and we enter a sensitive period of discussion and evaluation to determine if our goals fit those of the landowner. This is going to take a while to play out, with significant public values at stake. I wish I could be more forthcoming.
Incidentally, Paul First was able to secure a grant from LL Bean in the amount of $3,750 to help pay for the consultant fees, and another $3,500 grant from ESRI for the GIS software. He is two for two.
The Board of Directors has resolved to construct the Woodie Wheaton Land Trust Center in Forest City to serve as our headquarters. Our organization has outgrown its physical needs: space to keep records, a local office for the conduct of business, a place for meetings. In December, Ruth Wheaton generously donated a 40,000-square-foot-corner lot gracefully overlooking the village center in Forest City to host the building. We have received a favorably Advisory Ruling from the Land Use Regulation Commission as to its compliance with zoning and building standards, and an excellent soil evaluation regarding suitability for septic disposal. A Building Committee has been working with Paul First to develop a site plan and building design.
To honor the integrity of member donations, the Board is establishing a Building Fund to earmark contributions made for this purpose and not dilute any past donations intended for conservation. When we are settled upon a building design, we will be better able to budget the project for fundraising purposes. Members and others will be asked to specify how they wish their contributions to be applied. Mr. Robert Hector or Farmington, CT, has pledged $50,000 as a challenge grant, and will match contributions up to that level. More information soon.
We have engaged in many other discussions regarding land conservation and stewardship, with private landowners and public agencies. WWLT has tried to be sensitive to the needs of the various communities we serve, with fairness and foresight. The natural fabric of our area, its public importance and fragility, remains at the center of our mission.
Your support has been of profound importance to our work, and again we thank you.
Sincerely,
Dale Wheaton
President
July 28, 2005
Dear Friends,
I invite you to attend the 2005 Annual Meeting of the Woodie Wheaton Land Trust, to be held August 20 at 1:00 p.m. at Wheaton's Lodge in Forest City, Maine. Our guest speaker will be Donald Soctomah, Historical Director for the Passamaquoddy tribe, and one of its most recognized leaders. Mr. Soctomah will give a presentation on the Native American history of our lakes region.
The Board of Directors wishes to express its appreciation to each of you who donated to the Forest Conservation Easement spearheaded by the New England Forestry Foundation and Downeast Lakes Land Trust. Despite considerable residual debt, this project successfully closed on May 25, marking one of the greatest conservation achievements in the state of Maine. Locally, the project's impact included the permanent protection of thousands of acres of working forest behind the Spednic Lake/St. Croix River corridor, the retirement of development rights along over 6500' of East Grand Lake, and the preservation of significant wild habitat. WWLT's participation brought over $50,000 to the project, including $15,000 from the recent mailing. Thank you for your invaluable support to this magnificent project.
In June, Mr. Paul First joined WWLT as Executive Director, marking our organization's growth to permanent staffing. Paul has a very strong background in Natural Resource Management and Land Use Planning with degrees from the University of Maine (B.S) and State University of New York (M.P.S.). Paul is multi-dimensional, and brings many skills important for building a strong land trust and achieving results on the ground. He and his wife live in Durham, Maine.
Your Board of Directors recently resolved to move forward toward construction of an office and meeting facility on land donated by Ruth Wheaton in Forest City. The building shall be funded as a stand-alone project, separate from all contributions that have been made for land conservation. A building committee has developed a mission statement to help guide the building's planning and usage, with work still in its early stages.
We are becoming more active in furthering land protection in several areas around East Grand Lake. A strategy session was held recently to map ways to protect a critical area from imminent development pressures. At some point soon, we may ask your help in writing letters to advance our conservation initiative. I'll elaborate at that time. Having an Executive Director gives us capabilities that were not possible as a strictly volunteer group.
Our new brochure is at the press. The pamphlet describes a pretty impressive decade of accomplishment for such a small group! I think you will like both the brochure and the successes it describes. You have been part of it. We'll send you one with our next mailing.
I hope you will be able to join us August 20, for the election of several Directors and an informative afternoon. Light refreshments will be on hand. Thank you again for your sustaining support.
Yours truly,
Dale Wheaton
President
And Letters of January and March 2002 and Spednic/SCR Project Completion
Woodie Wheaton Land Trust
Business Office
Paul R. First, Executive Director
389 Swamp Road
Durham, Maine 04222207-319-7652
E-Mail: info<AT>woodiewheaton.org
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