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Contents Annual Meeting August 22, 1999 President's Message Added Value from your Appreciated Securities KLT Slide Show Debuts Board of Directors Advisory Board Summer and Fall Field Trips KLT Represented at National Land Trust Rally in Wisconsin Dedication at Besse Historical Conservation Area Kennebec Highlands Proposed for Purchase

Photo by Jym St.Pierre

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So writes a fourth-grader to the donor of Kennebec Land Trust's most recently acquired property. Last fall, Albion Besse, whose family long resided on a historical farnstead in Wayne, gave 55 acres of the farm's woods to the KLT as a legacy for future generations. This winter, Theresa Kerchner, who helped with the creation of the Besse Historical Conservaton Area, joined teacher Jennifer Baack on a field trip to this property for 20 fourth-graders from the Wayne Elementary School. The result is a protfolio of hand-written letters and pictures given to Mr. Besse by these students. These letters define what it has meant to me working with our land trust for the nearly 10 years I have served on the KLT board, almost from its beginning. This experience has brought me great satisfaction, as it links the landscape of our community with a sense of purpose larger and more enduring than I am.

As my term approaches an end after two years as your land trust's president, I realize that this may be the last chance I have to correspond with you in this capacity. Since I want to make this message count, I can do no better than recite from the letters of the fourth-graders written following their visit to Mr. Besse's property.

"Thank you for saving some of the land to give to the land trust."

"Today we walked in the woods and saw many of the old trees and rocks that were moved by the glaciers."

"I picked out this tree as my favorite... I hope that the land is there forever."

"I am having fun researching your land. Thank you for taking care of this land."

"I like how you gave the land to the land trust instead of having house lots. It is cool to learn about history when it is about a certain place."

"We have been learning a lot about your farm. We hope the Besse farm stays here in Wayne a long time!"

"I like your farm because you put a lot of work into it."

"I think it was very nice of you to give some of your land to the Kennebec Land Trust because everybody can come and enjoy it and it will be saved forever."

That about says it all. Thank you, Mr. Besse. And thanks to each of you who, like him has given some of your precious land to KLT, and through KLT to all who live or visit here in the future. Thank you, Diana and George Gibson, the Avery/Smith Family, the Wyman Family, Ruth Grauert, the Elliott Farr Family, Dr. and Mrs. Robert O'Mally, John and Bep St. Andre, the Weston Sudds Family, the Alice Mathews Family, Jon Jund and John Jannace.

And thank you, dear member and KLT supporter, for you have made this land trust thrive.

Jeff Pidot

Many people don't realize the advantages of contributing appreciated securities to a charity instead of making a cash donation. If you are thinking about making a significant donation (say, $1,000 or more), you might consider the benefits of contributing appreciated securities from your inventment portfolio. It is easy to do, involves no additional cost to you, and can afford you significant tax savings that actually reduce the financial impact of the donation. Your can ask your broker or investment advisor for help in selecting securities in the amount you wish to give but with the lowest cost basis so as to maximize your tax savings. Once you've made the decision, call us at 377-2848 or have your broker do so and we can help work out the details.

An example tells the story. Say you want to make a donation of $1,000 to KLT. Of course, you can make out a check for this amount, and you will receive a tax deduction accordingly. But let's say you bought stock a few years ago that has significantly appreciated in value, If you sell $1,000 worth of that stock, you will pay a hefty capital-gains tax. Instead, if you instruct your broker to transfer $1,000 worth of that stock to KLT, you pay NO capital gains tax AND you get the full amount of the appreciated value of the shares ($1,000) for purposes of an income tax deduction. The value of the donated securities to a charitable organization is the same as cash, but you realize the extra advantages of avoiding capital gains tax and getting a tax deduction based on the appreciated value of the shares.

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KLT is pleased to present this slide show and talk (which can be tailored to suit, running 15 to 30 minutes) to area organizations, including lake associations, schools, conservation commissions, planning boards and other community groups and clubs. Let us know when and where, and we'll be there.

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Each year KLT sponsors one or more board member to attend the Land Trust Alliance (LTA) annual Rally. The LTA serves as a national voice for the land trust movement by providing technical advice and resources to private land trusts such as ours. Last Oct. 17-20, 1998, KLT board member, Jeff Musich attended the rally in Madison, Wisconsin.

Jeff, what events did you attend at the Rally?

"I attended several workshops which focused on growth issues and land trusts. Among these was a workshop discussing various non-traditional financing strategies for acquiring land through use of limited development plans. Other workshops I attended included one on tax and estate planning, one on writing successful grant proposals and one on writing and interpreting conservation easements. All the workshops were well organized and interesting."

"The most striking things I learned from my conversations with trusts from different regions of U.S. is that the availability of funding for stewardship activities and professional staff is more readily available in other states, particalarly in areas where land values are higher than in Maine. There are many trusts the size of KLT with a full-time staff or an executive director. I believe this will be an issue that KLT will need to address in the future."

"For me, the rally was one of the most invigorating experiences I can recall in recent memory. It was quite different than a typical conference. The commonality among the attendees and commitment to the land trust movement was very motivating. I encourage any conservation-minded person interested in land protection to attend one of these rallies."

For more information about the Land Trust Alliance, you can contact the Alliance's website at: www.lta.org or call our office at (207) 377-2848.

The 1999 rally will be held in Snowmass, Colorado in October.

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Dedecation at Besse Historical Conservation Area Special thanks to all who helped There will be a dedication ceremony at the Besse Historical Conservation Area in Wayne on Saturday, June 12 at 10 AM. Present will be Wayne Elementary School students who recently visited the property and studied its history (see President's Message). KLT recognizes and thanks, in addition to Albion Besse, all those who participated in this project, including Steve Webb (who crafted the property's sign to be unveiled at the ceremony), Art Poole, Sean Siragusa, Bob Engdahl, Bob Clunie, Betty Bennett, Neala Jennings, Jennifer Baack, Jim Perkins, Theresa Kerchner, Jim Connors and Howard Lake.

Photo by Jym St.Pierre

The Belgrade Regional Conservation Alliance (BRCA), of which KLT is a member, has initiated an ambitious effort to publicly acquire the spectacular 6,100-acre Kennebec Highlands tract, within the towns of Rome, Vienna, and Mount Vernon. The Highlands extend from McGaffey Mountain north to Watson Pond, east to lands that abut Long Pond, Blueberry Hill, and French's Mountain (two existing publicly-owned areas), and west to land around Boody Pond. The Highlands include the highest peak in Kennebec County, five completely undeveloped ponds, miles of pristine streams, extensive wetlands and six deer wintering areas. The area has a long tradition of public use including fishing, hunting, hiking, biking, and snowmobiling. It is remarkable that such a large undeveloped tract with such a sense of remoteness still exists in central Maine, a short distance from Augusta, Waterville and Farmington.

The BRCA has joined in partnership with the Maine Bureau of Parks & Lands which will eventually hold title to the lands and coordinate management. The lands will be permanently protected from development, forests and wildlife habitat will be sensibly managed and the public can be assured of continued access for fishing, hiking, skiing, snowmobiling and other outdoor recreation. When complete, the Kennebec Highlands will be the largest tract of public land in central Maine.

In March, $200,000 for Phase I (1,100 acres) of the protect was granted by the Land for Maine's Future Board, pending a $100,000 match from private donations. With help from KLT, BRCA is moving ahead with a campaign to secure the private funding. Phase II of the project will be dependent on the availability of land acquisition funds currently being debated in the Legislature. Back to top

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