eNews | August 30, 2022
Sandy would be kvelling
Greetings!

Sandy Breslin (1954-2017) was a founding member of CLCC who made enduring contributions to land conservation, the environment, and politics at every level. To honor her legacy, CLCC created the Sandy Breslin Conservation Fellowship, a one-year staff position for students interested in advancing land conservation efforts across the state.
This month, we said goodbye to Sylvie Boucher, CLCC’s third Fellow, as she moved on to further her graduate studies in environmental policy and sustainability. Sylvie assisted with all facets of CLCC’s outreach and communications including compiling our monthly #LoveYourCTLandTrust eNews and bringing her insights around environmental justice and urban health issues to our Advancement Initiatives and conference roundtables.
As we extend our gratitude and best wishes to Sylvie, we are delighted to welcome Emely Ricci to our staff. Like all previous Fellows, Emely comes to CLCC through UCONN’s Master of Public Administration program. We are excited to tap into Emely’s impressive skills in expanding CLCC’s programming to foster inclusive conservation, enhance community engagement, and advocate for strong conservation policy.

Last month at the Seaside Sounds for Environmental Justice event, CLCC staff bumped into Emely. As I watched Emely, Sylvie, and Yaw enthusiastically talk about working at CLCC, I thought a lot about Sandy.

If you were fortunate to know her, you likely remember that Sandy was fluent in Spanish. However, what you may not know is that Sandy also had a fondness for the Yiddish language.

She would be kvelling!
Sincerely,
Amy
Amy Blaymore Paterson
Executive Director

P.S.  You can read more about Emely here. Better yet, please reach out to her, say hello - ella habla Español - and share a story or two for an upcoming #LoveYourCTLandTrust eNews
Sandy Breslin, CLCC Board Chair Elisabeth Moore (CT Farmland Trust), and I enjoying time together in August 2016.
CLCC Welcomes Vanessa Giannasi
CLCC is delighted to welcome Vanessa Giannasi to our growing team. As CLCC's first Development Director, Vanessa brings over twenty years of experience in nonprofit philanthropy.

Vanessa’s love of Connecticut’s environment and her desire to protect its natural resources for future generations are what drew her to CLCC.

Upcoming Events
Celebrate '22 Excellence in Conservation Awards
Collage of 2022 Excellence in Conservation Award Winners
CLCC has been delighted to use our annual Conservation Conversations with legislators in regions across the state as an opportunity to celebrate 2022 Excellence in Conservation Award honorees. In making these awards, CLCC seeks to recognize organizations and individuals who have made a substantive contribution to the ongoing success of land conservation and projects that may serve as a guide to or be replicable by other land trusts and communities in Connecticut.
RSVP to join us for this week's celebrations!
TODAY! August 30th - 4pm in Branford, recognizing Bill Horne (Branford Land Trust) with the 2022 Katchen Coley Award for Excellence in Conservation.

September 1st - 1pm in Stafford Springs, recognizing the Whip-Poor-Will Woods Forest Legacy Project with the 2022 Excellence in Conservation Organization Award for Outstanding Project.

Rally 2022 banner
Going to Rally? Join Aaron and Yaw for Dinner in the Big Easy!
Rally is in New Orleans Sept. 15 - 17. As we have done at past Rally events, we would love to get together with our Connecticut friends for an informal (dutch treat) dinner. We will gather on Friday, Sept. 16 at Coterie Restaurant and Oyster Bar (menu here) and hope you can join us!

Please RSVP to Aaron by Sept. 12 to confirm your spot.
Conservation Funding News
CT Conservation Partnership Program
Projects Now Being Accepted
Project intake forms are now available for the Connecticut Conservation Partnership Program (CCPP) for land trusts seeking to purchase conservation easements and/or to match funds for Open Space and Watershed Land Acquisition Grant Program.

Contact Yaw with questions and for assistance with the forms.
State Open Space and Community Garden Grant Programs
CT DEEP is accepting applications for the next round of the competitive Open Space and Watershed Land Acquisition and Urban Green and Community Garden Grant Programs. Applications due September 30.

Undecided about applying to OSWA or UGCG? Please contact us!

USDA - NRCS Conservation Funding Programs 
Wetland Reserve Enhancement Partnership supports efforts to mitigate climate change by restoring wetlands while also prioritizing assistance to underserved communities. Applications due September 23.
Environmental Quality Incentives Program offers financial and technical assistance to implement conservation practices on eligible agricultural land, including for forestry. Applications due October 31.
USDA - Forest Service Landscape Scale Restoration
Proposals now being accepted for the State and Private Forestry Landscape Scale Restoration competitive grant program which funds collaborative, science-based restoration of priority rural forest landscapes for fish and wildlife habitat, water quality and watershed function, invasive plant mitigation, etc.
TechSoup Grantstation Limited Offer
TechSoup, a provides technical support and technological tools to other nonprofits. is offering a one-year GrantStation membership for $99. GrantStation helps nonprofits find funders to support nonprofits. The special pricing ends at 5pm PST on Wednesday, September 21.
Sorting out the Inflation Reduction Act
The federal Inflation Reduction Act, passed by Congress and signed into law by President Biden this month, sets aside billions of dollars for “nature-based” climate solutions, including for NRCS and U.S. Forest Service programs for forest conservation, climate-smart farming practices, and urban tree planting. Some helpful summaries we've read include:
Resources & Opportunities
Alliance Land Trust Salary Survey is Open
How much should you pay your hard-working land trust staff? The Land Trust Salaries and Benefits Survey is the only comprehensive source of staff compensation data exclusively for the land trust community. Deadline to share your land trust's data is September 23.

New Water Quality Guides for Land Trusts

Native Trees Available for Donation
Brett Lehner runs a nursery in Southwestern CT and manages a grant fund which donates trees to conservation organizations in the state. If your land trust is interested, contact Brett at 203-994-9641 or bclehner1@gmail.com.
Spotted lanternfly on branch
Watch for Spotted Lanternfly
CT DEEP has identified the spotted lanternfly, a highly invasive species, in the state. If spotted, CT DEEP recommends killing the insect and following the instructions on the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station Spotted Lanternfly sample submission form.

Job Opportunities
Executive Director – Friends of Keney Park

Multiple Positions – Northwest Connecticut Land Conservancy

Multiple Positions – New Canaan Land Trust

Land Steward – Greenwich Land Trust

Vice-President of Programs – Save the Sound

Land Protection Manager – Joshua's Trust

Executive Director – Land for Good

Outdoor Educator/Team Building Facilitators – Bushy Hill Nature Center

Stewardship and Intern Manager – Wilton Land Conservation Trust

Your gift at any level makes a difference
Peaches growing on tree
The Connecticut Land Conservation Council is Connecticut's only statewide land trust service organization. Your tax-deductible gift will help Connecticut's land trusts to connect with more people, save more land, build stronger organizations, foster partnerships, and steward lands to make them more accessible and resilient now, and for generations to come.
CLCC land and wave
Photo Credits - CLCC except as follows:
Award photos top (L to R) - Shelley Harms - courtesy of Shelley Harms; Whip-Poor-Will Woods Miller Family Property - courtesy of Mary Ann Miller Baker
Award photos bottom (L to R) - East Granby Land Trust Intern - courtesy of East Granby Land Trust; Bill Horne - courtesy of Branford Land Trust
Spotted Lanternfly - Lawrence Barringer, PA Dept. of Agriculture, Bugwood.org
Peaches - Stock Photo
Connecticut Land Conservation Council
deKoven House
27 Washington Street
Middletown, CT 06457
860-852-5512
The Connecticut Land Conservation Council advocates for land conservation, stewardship and funding, and works to ensure the long term strength and viability of the land conservation community.


©2022 Connecticut Land Conservation Council. All rights reserved.