Three members of the Granby Land Trust (GLT) participated in the Connecticut Land Conservation Council Conference held on March 21 at Wesleyan University in Middletown. GLT President Rick Orluk, Board Member Shirley Murtha and Consultant Trish Percival had a difficult time choosing among the 57 different workshops available but were finally able to select four each to attend after listening to a keynote address in the University’s majestic Memorial Chapel given by Connecticut native Wanjiku Gatheru, National Climate Justice Leader.
Orluk chose workshops befitting his leadership role as the president of the GLT, such as building community action around shared conservation values, explaining tax benefits of conservation donations and advanced topics in land conservation.
Percival, who wears many hats in her work with the GLT, attended sessions focused on effective fundraising, grant opportunities, property stewardship and land management, and practical applications of artificial intelligence in land conservation.
Murtha, whose background is in the biological sciences, chose workshops that involved flora and fauna: bird-friendly forestry for land trusts; firefly sanctuaries; updates on legislation to protect vegetation on stream and riverbanks; and the White Oak, Connecticut’s state tree. Murtha plans to have articles about why forests are important for bird safety and reproduction, how we can stop the decline of firefly populations, and the historical and current importance of the White Oak in future issues of the Drummer.
The Granby Land Trust is proud to be a member of the Connecticut Land Conservation Council (CLCC) and regularly sends board members to the annual conference as part of its commitment to continuing education.