President's Message - Clare Oskay
Partnering in Preserving Nature - Mary Wollitz-Dooley
Welcome New Board Members
CILTI Annual Meeting 2001
Thank You For Your Generosity
For properties to find us, we must make ourselves known to the people who own and manage property and are looking to protect it. Projects don't just fall into our lap, we work to put our lap in place to catch them when they fall. This includes contacting landowners and educating them about conservation options and the crucial role land trusts play in offering permanent land protection and tax incentives. We increase public awareness through presentations to community groups, introducing ourselves and maintaining contacts with local parks boards, government agencies and other conservation and community organizations.
Unfortunately, CILTI cannot accept every potential land project. Each property referred to us must be evaluated as to how it fits our criteria and standards, through consideration of its size, species diversity, management needs, and, of course, its cost/benefit relationship.
To further develop CILTIs land protection strategy, long-time Land Committee member Ted Harris recently developed a list of CILTIs Land Protection Priorities as follows:
1) Tipton Till Plain Flatwoods Restoration;
2) Tipton Till Plain Forest Remnants;
3) Quality Forest Remnants of Other Types;
4) Riparian Areas near Good-Quality Streams;
5) Unusual Biological Communities, and
6) Strategic Greenspace.
This list of priorities was adopted by CILTI's Board of Directors at its January meeting and will serve as a blueprint for consideration of future acquisitions. If you are aware of a property which might fit into one of these categories or a land owner who is looking to permanently protect his or her land for future generations to enjoy, please contact us. We look forward to hearing from you!
Central Indiana Land Trust Inc. has been proud and glad to be a non-state partner with IHT, whose financial assistance along with other contributions enabled us to purchase Burnett Woods making it the first nature preserve in Hendricks County. We expect to maintain our active relationship with Indiana Heritage Trust, becoming again a partner in future land acquisition. Our shared purpose is a living legacy.
Both IHT and CILTI are aware that land and water conservation opportunities will become increasingly scarce and expensive as population and economic expansion continues to proceed rapidly. It is why we need urgently to invest in land acquisition today. There are central Indiana lands and waters worthy of saving for the diverse plant and animal life they support.
The voluntary purchase of Environmental License Plates -- the eagle and sun motif you've seen -- is a major source of support for IHT. The brochure enclosed with this newsletter tells you more. Continued protection of Indiana's natural heritage will draw on our collaborative efforts.
Don Miller comes to us from Indy Parks where he is Land Stewardship Section Manager and has been proactive in seeking properties worth protection. Don is a co-winner of IPALCO's Environmental Professional of the Year Award in 2000, and an active supporter and member of CILTI.
Paul Kohloff, attorney, served on the Board of the Shirley Heinze Environmental Fund, a land trust in the Lake Michigan watershed of northwestern Indiana. He later became its first Executive Director. Now at the Indiana Chapter of The Nature Conservancy, Paul has also been active as chairman for the Indiana Land Protection Alliance, an organization of Land Trusts throughout our state.
Their leadership and commitment to saving natural areas make Don and Paul welcome team members as CILTI advances its resources and strategies for preserving land.
Come see one of the places members have protected, the first state designated nature preserve in Hendricks County.
This year our annual meeting will begin with a nature walk led by Tom Swinford. It will be Spring and Burnett Woods is likely to still be carpeted with wildflowers. Songbirds will have brought their music back to their forest nestsites. To take advantage of the sights and sounds before sunset, we'll meet at 6:00 and walk through the woods.
About 6:45 we'll convene indoors at adjacent Light & Life Methodist Church where we have graciously been provided both meeting space and parking area. Our brief business meeting will be accompanied by refreshments.
The Annual Meeting is voting time for election of Board Members. Members shsould watch for their ballots in the mail.
It's a pleasant opportunity to interact with others to enjoy shared interests and values. Meet CILTI friends and Board Members, and get the insider's scoop on what your land trust is up to!