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The Massachusetts Land Trust Coalition
is a voluntary association of land trusts founded to provide a forum for the exchange of ideas and information, to increase the effectiveness of Massachusetts land trusts in working with the state legislature and environmental agencies, and to promote high professional standards. The Coalition has played a crucial role in supporting key conservation legislation and has become an important networking resource for the state’s land trusts. MLTC counts over 130 organizations as Members and Friends, land trusts as well as watershed associations, open space committees, and advocacy groups.
*Photo credit
Contact the Coalition
Bernie McHugh Kathy McGrath
Director Programs Manager
e-mail: bmchugh@massland.org e-mail: kmcgrath@massland.org
Massachusetts Land Trust Coalition
18 Wolbach Road
Sudbury, MA 01776
phone: 978-443-5588 x24
fax: 978-443-2333
e-mail: info@massland.org
Purposes of the Massachusetts Land Trust Coalition
- Increase the effectiveness of land trusts and conservation
organizations in Massachusetts in working with the legislature
and governmental agencies on issues of direct interest to the
conservation movement.
- Promote high ethical and professional standards as outlined
in the Land Trust Alliance Statement of Standards and Practices
for Land Trusts. Members agree to support this Statement as a
general guide for their work.
- Provide a forum for the exchange of ideas, skills, and information
within the conservation movement.
OrganizationUp to 32 members of the Coalition are elected
annually to the Steering Committee, which meets regularly (two to four times a year)
to discuss the business of the Coalition and matters of mutual interest.
The Annual Meeting is held in January or February; the annual Land
Conservation Conference is held in the spring; and a late summer meeting
of the Steering Committee is held in September. In addition, the Coalition
holds a meeting at the national Land Trust Alliance annual Rally in
the fall. The Coalition's Bylaws are posted
on this site or are available at info@massland.org.
Legislation and Public Policy
A primary purpose of the Coalition is
to increase the effectiveness of Massachusetts land trusts and
conservation organizations with the legislature and government
agencies on issues of direct interest to the land conservation
movement. The unified voice and efforts of the Coalition were
crucial in securing passage of the 1996 Open Space Bond Bill and
the 1996 Rivers Bill.
Written or oral testimony or position statements offered by
the Coalition will contain either a statement of the extent of
support by Coalition members of a disclaimer to the effect that
the views expressed do not necessarily represent every member
of the organization.
The Coalition does not endorse political candidates. As a general rule,
the Coalition does not take positions on purely local matters. Current Legislative Issues
Membership
The Steering Committee has voted to assess
annual dues of $30 as a condition of membership. These funds are used
to defray the costs of running the Coalition, including the administrative
costs of maintaining an accurate mailing list, calling and holding meetings,
and managing the web site. Types of Membership
Become a member today! 2008-2009 membership form (pdf)
The Coalition's Bylaws state: Member organizations
shall agree to support the Land
Trust Alliance Statement of Standards and Practices as a general
guide to high ethical and professional standards in the conservation
field. Copies of the Statement are available from the MLTC Coordinator
at info@massland.org.
Officers for 2008 are:
Bob Wilber, Chair
Massachusetts Audubon Society
Edward O. Becker, Vice Chair
Essex County Greenbelt Association
Mark Robinson, Treasurer
The Compact of Cape Cod Conservation Trusts
Cynthia Henshaw, Clerk
East Quabbin Land Trust
Officers and Steering Committee members are elected each year at the
Annual Meeting.
*Photo: Autumn in New England is a special experience. The members of the Massachusetts Land Trust Coalition recognize that the New England landscape offers many special experiences that are worthy of preservation. Broad Brook Coalition co-manages the Fitzgerald Lake Conservation Area with the City of Northampton. Photo taken by Jody Larson.
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