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Contents KLT Raises Funds on Several Fronts President's Message Welcome To Our Newest Members Board of Directors Advisory Board Memorable KLT Annual Meeting Held in August Stewardship Activities on Curtis Homestead Conservation Area Special Thanks to the Cobbossee Lake Campaign Donors Special Thanks to the Androscoggin Lake Campaign Donors Special Thanks to Mt. Pisgah Campaign Donors In Celebration of the Life of Diana Gibson Donating Land to the Kennebec Land Trust KLT Field Trips are Back Thanks to All Newsletter Contributors

When I attended a Land Trust Alliance rally in Portland, Oregon a year ago, one of the workshop speakers on fundraising made the point that fundraising in the land trust community needs to be chronic. Webster’s Ninth Edition defines chronic as “marked by long duration or frequent recurrence.” That certainly has been and continues to be the case for us.

In the autumn of 2000 we agreed to help our sister land trust, the Belgrade Regional Conservation Alliance, raise funds for their ambitious undertaking to protect 6,000 acres in Belgrade, Mount Vernon and Vienna, now known as the Kennebec Highlands. In doing so, we focused on the greater Augusta business community, a group that we had not consistently approached in the past. We raised over $42,000 from 27 donors, most of them first-time donors. This is an average gift of $1,555! We intend to continue building our relationship with these Business Partners for Conservation.

Earlier this year we quietly launched a fundraiser to help preserve a key part of Mount Pisgah. A critical part of Mount Pisgah was about to go on the market last year and we moved quickly, using our limited emergency acquisition money and a loan from the Maine Coast Heritage Trust to buy the property. The loan needs to be paid back in October and we want to replace our acquisition money. So far, 82 donors have given or pledged $25,757 towards our $42,000 goal, which has allowed us to repay the loan on time. Recently, the campaign expanded to the greater-Winthrop area business and professional community where we intend to develop more Business Partners for Conservation. (click here for a listing of donors for this and other campaigns.)

Finally, a few weeks ago we embarked on two area-focused campaigns to raise acquisition and stewardship dollars on Cobbossee and Androscoggin Lakes. As many of you know, we have been very active on both of these lakes in the past and we foresee several conservation opportunities in the future that these funds will help bring to reality. We are hoping to raise $20,000 from the residents on each lake. These campaigns are in their very early stages, but already we have received numerous donations.

As we look down the road at several spectacular conservation opportunities, it becomes more and more apparent that fundraising will continue to be chronic. Thanks for your generosity and foresight.

Norm Rodrigue
Development Committee Chair

Dear Members,

Being a newcomer to Maine, I'm still a bit incredulous about my family's new home state. Not only because we are fortunate enough to have found our way to such a beautiful place, but also because Maine is simultaneously such a big place and such a small place—both of which provide example and inspiration for the work of the Trust.

Maine is a big place, really big. Our expansive geography and large landholdings have allowed for many big deals to come to life over the last century—Baxter State Park, the Allagash Wilderness Waterway, Bigelow Preserve, Nahmakanta, Pingree Family Partnership, and most recently, the now in-progress West Branch Project.

We are also home to an impressive number of local land trusts. There are presently over 80 active land trusts here in the State which have protected thousands of acres between Fort Kent and Kittery. That's a big number and a big achievement for a place with not a whole lot of people. That brings me to the small part.

We are a state of small towns and cities where you quickly learn your neighbors and quickly meet the many people who are working in so many different ways to make Maine a better place to live. What I have come to learn and appreciate is how many special local places there are that we hold dear. Our neighbors and friends have sought out, used, and come to cherish the small spots that have never figured in to the bigger plans and schemes. We saw this once again in our most recent campaign on Mount Pisgah, where many new supporters gave so generously when they saw an article in the local paper.

They gave because they've walked on Pisgah forever, they fondly recalled visiting there in their youth, or even just because they knew it was there. They gave what they could whether it was one, one thousand, or many thousands of dollars—because a small mountain in a small town whose views, trails and memories reached through the newspaper to touch them again.

That's our job here in this big place. Working with our neighbors, friends, and fellow citizens to keep the small places around because they're such a big part of our lives.

The Trust continues to be part of that big deal here in Maine, which is preserving our lifestyle and landscape for the future. And we are working at it one small, special — significant parcel at a time. Keep with us. There is a lot more good work to be done, and we continue to need your help.

In Trust,
Andrew Fisk

This year’s field trip was a boat tour on Androscoggin Lake to enjoy the lake’s natural features and view protected properties, including the Perkins shoreland donation.

The Trust recognized the generous gifts of two very significant island and shoreland properties. In the last days of 2000, Robert Peck donated a five-acre parcel on the west arm of Horseshoe Island on Cobbossee Lake. Conserving this property helps protect both the ecosystem of the island and the scenic beauty of the lake. Not far away on Lake Androscoggin, John and Patsy Perkins conserved a 14-acre parcel with 2700 feet of shoreline. Tucked into the northwest corner of the lake, this property includes mature stands of white pine and hemlock, mixed hardwoods, and clusters of jack pine as well as a beautiful lake shore. John and Patsy Perkins and Robert Peck were awarded gold-lettered slate plaques commemorating their gifts and expressing the sincere gratitude of the KLT.

Members elected three new board members, and the presidency passed on to new leadership. Leaving the board, with warm thanks for their dedicated efforts, were Matt Dwyer, who served as treasurer, and Collin Therrien, who served as chair of the stewardship committee. David Gomeau of Augusta, Jodi Federle of Manchester, and Amy Trunnell of Readfield, who will serve as the new treasurer, were elected to board positions. Andy Fisk of Pittston became the new president of KLT.

Many thanks and much admiration go to Ann Judd for organizing the meeting, dinner and field trip, also to the board member/tour guides and the boat owners who provided their craft for tours of beautiful Lake Androscoggin.

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Improvements include: raking and seeding the former house site with a grass mixture to re-establish vegetative cover; removing barbed wire fencing from roadside stretches to allow safe entry to the property; and recycling large pieces of metal junk at the local transfer station.

In July, nearby neighbor Joe Murphy helped build a parking area. Joe trucked in nearly 100 cubic yards of gravel to level up the site and create a firm base for vehicles. The 60 ft by 50 ft gravel parking area will easily accommodate 6 – 8 cars. Large rocks were placed to direct traffic into the parking area.

In keeping with the wishes of the Curtis family, the KLT crew erected a wooden sign identifying the property as the Curtis Homestead Conservation Area. The construction of a 4x6 foot natural finish, routed sign was arranged by Trust member Steve Curtis (no relation). Maranacook Community School shop students have constructed a companion registration box, which is ready to be installed.

Following some final cleanup, planning for a network of trails will begin in earnest. If you are interested in helping, please call Andy Bosworth at (207) 933-6023.

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Diana Gibson, of Hallowell, one of the Kennebec Land Trust’s very best friends, passed away on Memorial Day, May 28th, 2001.

A founding member of KLT and its Advisory Board, Diana often provided wise counsel while enthusiastically supporting the Land Trust’s work. Diana’s profound conservation-mindedness and generosity were powerfully expressed in her gift to KLT of the Conservation Easement that today permanently protects the 160-acre Vaughan Woods in Hallowell. The Woods are laced with a network of more than 2 miles of publicly accessible foot trails, built and maintained by generations of Vaughan descendants and their families since Benjamin and Sarah Vaughan first moved to their Hallowell Homestead in 1797.

The Vaughan Woods are the vestige of the original Kennebec proprietorship granted by the King of England to Benjamin Hallowell, grandfather of Benjamin Vaughan and seventh generation ancestor of Diana Gibson. By all accounts, the Vaughan Woods are outstanding for their unique combination of historical and natural significance. The Woods are treasured by many residents and visitors of Hallowell and surrounding communities, who walk the trails and pause for reflection along the waterfalls and artistic footbridges of Vaughan Brook.

As her life touched many of us, Diana was true to her principles of thoughtfulness and generosity, gentle wisdom and humility, commitment to family, friends and community, and determined dedication to conservation. Her donation of the Vaughan Woods Conservation Easement was only one expression, albeit a most inspiring and lasting one, of her lifetime of giving.

Diana is survived by her husband George Gibson, also a founding member of KLT and its Advisory Board, and their three children, David, Ellen and Geo, as well as many friends for whom her memory will always be cherished. The Vaughan Woods are Diana’s legacy for all of us, and for all time.

A Walk Through The Vaughan Woods, in celebration of Diana’s life, will take place at 1 PM on Saturday, November 10. We will gather at the trailhead at the intersection of Middle Street and Litchfield Road in Hallowell. The walk is about two miles on relatively light (but potentially wet) terrain and will last about an hour and a half. Rain date will be Sunday, November 11. For more information, please call Jeff Pidot at 207-622-4394 (home) or 207-626-8583 (office).

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As a member of The Kennebec Land Trust (KLT) you are, no doubt, already concerned with the future of special lands in our area. You want to make sure that there are always woods for you and your grandchildren to walk in. You think it's important to be able to canoe to undeveloped islands. Some members and friends of KLT have felt so strongly about conserving land that they have donated their land to us. KLT has been lucky enough to receive many donations of land since our founding in 1988. In fact, 21 of our 27 parcels were donated by conservation-minded local citizens.

Every year we receive many inquiries from local landowners about donating land or conservation easements (where ownership of land is retained by the donor and development rights are given to KLT). The Lands committee of KLT handles most of these inquiries. People are typically interested in learning more about the details and tax benefits of donating land. Some people will take years to make a decision while others have already made their decision.

The KLT depends heavily on donations of land to help us fulfill our mission. If you are interested in assuring that your land will be kept forever in an undeveloped state, please contact us. We will send you information to help with this important decision.

For information on donating land, please contact Lands Committee Chair Glenn Hodgkins (207-582-4133, gah@mint.net , 771 High St., W. Gardiner 04345) or your favorite KLT board member.

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The KLT will be holding several "field trips" this year. These are opportunities to visit and learn more about some of the land that KLT has helped to preserve. All outings will be laid-back opportunities to learn about the properties and to meet other KLT supporters. Watch the newsletter and your mailbox for further details.

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