| May 8, 2008 - NFA Board Holds Its Annual Meeting, Elects New By-Laws and Charter Amendments Back to News Index |
Whispers in the Forest
Newtown Forest Association
Connecticut's Oldest Private Land Trust
Connecticut's Oldest Private Land Trust
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On May 8th, 2008 the Newtown Forest Association, Inc. (NFA) held its Membership’s Annual Meeting, at the Cyrenius H. Booth Library. The NFA is
a private not-for-profit land trust that owns over 1000 acres of forest, meadows, ponds and wetlands in Newtown that it will protect in perpetuity to
enhance our community for passive recreation and wildlife sanctuaries.
The NFA board got the memberships approval to adopt a revised set of by-laws, the slate of officers and directors and presented a summary of the
activities they had conducted over the past year and its plans for the balance of 2008.
The board slate remained consistent year over year with the only change being R.T. (Bob) Eckenrode, former Secretary, assumed the responsibility
of President and Martha Wright, formerly President, assumed the responsibility of Secretary. The Board expressed its appreciation and thanks for
Mrs. Wright’s leadership over the past 3 years. In addition to Mr. Eckenrode’s role as Secretary he was co-chair of the Stewardship Committee
where he developed stewardship plans and property management for several properties. He was the visionary for creation of the Holcombe
Memorial Garden, honoring the property donor Joesephine Holcombe, which will serve to demonstrate use of native plant species for a low
maintenance educational garden surrounding our offices.
Under Mrs. Wright’s leadership the NFA and its Board have focused heavily on governance activities and have established a platform for the
organization to grow and has adopted many land trust best practices including the adoption to ascribe to the Standards and Practices established
by the Land Trust Alliance (a nationally recognized not-for-profit established to serve as a resource to the land trust community).
Mr. Eckenrode plans included the continued the efforts of strengthen the NFA’s infrastructure and developing long-term stewardship plans for each
of our properties, much of which is focused on wildlife habitat enhancement, encouraging biodiversity, and good forest health, addressing abutting
property owners property line posting and encroachment and invasive species control are also issues that will continue to be addressed. In
addition, the NFA is seeking additional assistance in these stewardship efforts by contacting neighbors adjacent to NFA lands who benefit the most
by their proximity to NFA properties. If you are interested working outdoors and want to get involved in these efforts we look forward to hearing from
you. The revised by-laws replace the existing organizational document that had essentially gone unchanged for over four decades. The revision of
the by-laws incorporated the effects of changes in corporate law, established board member term limits, and provides for the ability to expand its
board to 15 members. Expansion of the Board also gives the NFA the opportunity to identify resources that can offer additional areas of expertise
to our group. With no employees, and the limited use of interns and other part-time resources, the NFA Board is a mostly a “roll-up your sleeves”
working board and doesn’t just providing direction. In addition to now having open board positions we also have a need to volunteers on our
Membership, Stewardship and Land Acquisition Sub Committees.
In addition to our annual business meeting, the NFA invited guest speaker Larry Weaner to present a talk called “WHAT COMES AFTER
PRESERVATION”. The talk and slide show discussed how we can manage open space and backyard (p.2) habitats in a manner that is ecologically
sound, easy to maintain, and aesthetically pleasing. Illustrated methods and techniques for planting and land management were presented using
naturally occurring patterns and processes found in our Native Woods, Meadows, and Wetlands. Mr. Weaner is a leader in the natural landscape
field, offering design, and consulting and installation services. Since 1982 he has created unique natural spaces for residential, commercial and
public clients. He has a national reputation for the unique ability to combine environmental science with the rich horticultural and artistic traditions of
garden design. His projects have been featured in tours sponsored by the Association of Professional Landscape Designers, the American
Horticulture Society, and the Garden Conservancy.
After hearing his presentation, the NFA was reassured that many of the NFA’s existing practices were validated and took away some other practices
that Mr.Weaner uses. Probably the most important take away was that nature has a way, just with the passage of time, to reveal the grandness a
property has to offer as well as less desired outcomes – such as the influx of invasive species. Careful attention, and a plan, can mitigate those less
desired outcomes with minimal efforts. The NFA is dedicated to, and responsible for, the perpetual stewardship and property management of its
land parcels throughout Newtown. The NFA will continue to explore these methods to maximize its results in making our preserves more ecologically
diverse while minimizing the use of the NFA resources. This will permit us to do more with less cost and allow us to execute projects on more of our
properties.
The NFA also took the time to recognize two special volunteers, Howard Bowles (see page 6) and Dave Thompson, who were acknowledged with
Good Neighbor Certificates and gift certificates. Each of these individuals, over many years, have been volunteering their time to take care of NFA’s
Nettleton and Holcombe Memorial Trail Preserves, respectively. Over the years each have volunteered their precious time and used their own
equipment and asked for nothing in return. The NFA has come to rely on each to help us with our property stewardship efforts.
Dave Thompson also was a former Board Member and much of the excellent property documentation and history that the NFA maintains on each of
it properties is directly attributable to his efforts. The gifts certificates represented a small token of the NFA’s appreciation and were largely to help
defray some of the maintenance cost each incurred helping us.
a private not-for-profit land trust that owns over 1000 acres of forest, meadows, ponds and wetlands in Newtown that it will protect in perpetuity to
enhance our community for passive recreation and wildlife sanctuaries.
The NFA board got the memberships approval to adopt a revised set of by-laws, the slate of officers and directors and presented a summary of the
activities they had conducted over the past year and its plans for the balance of 2008.
The board slate remained consistent year over year with the only change being R.T. (Bob) Eckenrode, former Secretary, assumed the responsibility
of President and Martha Wright, formerly President, assumed the responsibility of Secretary. The Board expressed its appreciation and thanks for
Mrs. Wright’s leadership over the past 3 years. In addition to Mr. Eckenrode’s role as Secretary he was co-chair of the Stewardship Committee
where he developed stewardship plans and property management for several properties. He was the visionary for creation of the Holcombe
Memorial Garden, honoring the property donor Joesephine Holcombe, which will serve to demonstrate use of native plant species for a low
maintenance educational garden surrounding our offices.
Under Mrs. Wright’s leadership the NFA and its Board have focused heavily on governance activities and have established a platform for the
organization to grow and has adopted many land trust best practices including the adoption to ascribe to the Standards and Practices established
by the Land Trust Alliance (a nationally recognized not-for-profit established to serve as a resource to the land trust community).
Mr. Eckenrode plans included the continued the efforts of strengthen the NFA’s infrastructure and developing long-term stewardship plans for each
of our properties, much of which is focused on wildlife habitat enhancement, encouraging biodiversity, and good forest health, addressing abutting
property owners property line posting and encroachment and invasive species control are also issues that will continue to be addressed. In
addition, the NFA is seeking additional assistance in these stewardship efforts by contacting neighbors adjacent to NFA lands who benefit the most
by their proximity to NFA properties. If you are interested working outdoors and want to get involved in these efforts we look forward to hearing from
you. The revised by-laws replace the existing organizational document that had essentially gone unchanged for over four decades. The revision of
the by-laws incorporated the effects of changes in corporate law, established board member term limits, and provides for the ability to expand its
board to 15 members. Expansion of the Board also gives the NFA the opportunity to identify resources that can offer additional areas of expertise
to our group. With no employees, and the limited use of interns and other part-time resources, the NFA Board is a mostly a “roll-up your sleeves”
working board and doesn’t just providing direction. In addition to now having open board positions we also have a need to volunteers on our
Membership, Stewardship and Land Acquisition Sub Committees.
In addition to our annual business meeting, the NFA invited guest speaker Larry Weaner to present a talk called “WHAT COMES AFTER
PRESERVATION”. The talk and slide show discussed how we can manage open space and backyard (p.2) habitats in a manner that is ecologically
sound, easy to maintain, and aesthetically pleasing. Illustrated methods and techniques for planting and land management were presented using
naturally occurring patterns and processes found in our Native Woods, Meadows, and Wetlands. Mr. Weaner is a leader in the natural landscape
field, offering design, and consulting and installation services. Since 1982 he has created unique natural spaces for residential, commercial and
public clients. He has a national reputation for the unique ability to combine environmental science with the rich horticultural and artistic traditions of
garden design. His projects have been featured in tours sponsored by the Association of Professional Landscape Designers, the American
Horticulture Society, and the Garden Conservancy.
After hearing his presentation, the NFA was reassured that many of the NFA’s existing practices were validated and took away some other practices
that Mr.Weaner uses. Probably the most important take away was that nature has a way, just with the passage of time, to reveal the grandness a
property has to offer as well as less desired outcomes – such as the influx of invasive species. Careful attention, and a plan, can mitigate those less
desired outcomes with minimal efforts. The NFA is dedicated to, and responsible for, the perpetual stewardship and property management of its
land parcels throughout Newtown. The NFA will continue to explore these methods to maximize its results in making our preserves more ecologically
diverse while minimizing the use of the NFA resources. This will permit us to do more with less cost and allow us to execute projects on more of our
properties.
The NFA also took the time to recognize two special volunteers, Howard Bowles (see page 6) and Dave Thompson, who were acknowledged with
Good Neighbor Certificates and gift certificates. Each of these individuals, over many years, have been volunteering their time to take care of NFA’s
Nettleton and Holcombe Memorial Trail Preserves, respectively. Over the years each have volunteered their precious time and used their own
equipment and asked for nothing in return. The NFA has come to rely on each to help us with our property stewardship efforts.
Dave Thompson also was a former Board Member and much of the excellent property documentation and history that the NFA maintains on each of
it properties is directly attributable to his efforts. The gifts certificates represented a small token of the NFA’s appreciation and were largely to help
defray some of the maintenance cost each incurred helping us.
