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REGISTER ONLINE!ConserveLand.org/2018-conference

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Allegheny Land Trust

Brandywine Conservancy & Museum of Art

Chesapeake Conservation Partnership

The Conservation Fund, Pennsylvania Office

Development for Conservation

French & Pickering Creeks Conservation Trust

Natural Lands

The Nature Conservancy, Pennsylvania Office

Pennsylvania Game Commission

Thanks to Our Sponsors

Thanks to Our Local Hosts

Pennsylvania Recreation & Park Society

Pennsylvania Department of Conservation & Natural Resources

Pregmon Law Offices

Saul Ewing Arnstein & Lehr, LLP

Schiffman, Sheridan & Brown, P.C.

The Trust for Public Land

Western Pennsylvania Conservancy

Wildlands Conservancy

William Penn Foundation

Willistown Conservation Trust

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Thursday, April 12thPlease see seminars and roundtables for start and end times.

8:30 am Registration Opens

9:30 am Field Trips Depart

12:00 pm Lunch sponsored by The Nature Conservancy

2:30 pm Refreshment Break sponsored by Allegheny Land Trust

4:30 pm Reception

6:00 pm Dinner sponsored by Schiffman, Sheridan & Brown, P.C.

Friday, April 13th

Please see seminars and roundtables for start and end times.

8:30 am Registration Opens

9:30 am Field Trips Depart

12:00 pm Lunch sponsored by The Conservation Fund

2:30 pm Refreshment Break sponsored by PA Game Commission

4:30 pm Reception sponsored by Pregmon Law Offices

6:00 pm Dinner sponsored by Natural Lands

Lifetime Conservation Leadership Award and Keynote Address

Saturday, April 14th

7:00 am Registration Opens

7:15 am Breakfast

8:30 am Session I sponsored by Brandywine Conservancy

9:45 am Coffee Break sponsored by Chesapeake Conservation Partnership

10:00 am Workshop Session II sponsored by Wildlands Conservancy

11:30 am Lunch sponsored by Saul Ewing Arnstein & Lehr, LLP

Government Award

PALTA Business Meeting

1:00 pm Workshop Session III sponsored by Western Pennsylvania Conservancy

3:00 pm Close

Conference-at-a-Glance

The Pennsylvania Land Trust Association helps people conserve the lands needed for healthy, prosperous, and secure communities. The Association accomplishes this by helping nonprofits and local governments improve their effectiveness and efficiency in acquiring and stewarding land and easements, advancing sustainable land use practices, and connecting people to the outdoors. The Association also fosters public understanding of conservation, advocates for sound governmental policy, and leads state and national endeavors to achieve far-reaching advancements in conservation. Learn more at ConserveLand.org.

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Meals & Networking OpportunitiesThursday LunchSponsored by The Nature Conservancy12:00 - 1:15 pmThere is no formal program so take advantage of the networking opportunities. Included with Thursday registration.

Thursday Afternoon BreakSponsored by Allegheny Land TrustEnjoy refreshments and some time to chat with fellow attendees.

Thursday Reception4:30 - 6:00 pmA great opportunity to network with colleagues and presenters. Cash bar. Included with Thursday or Friday registration.

Thursday DinnerSponsored by Schiffman, Sheridan & Brown, P.C.

6:00 pmEnjoy a delicious sit-down dinner by awarding-winning Chef Chris Calhoun. Additional fee of $20.

Friday LunchSponsored by The Conservation Fund12:00 - 1:00 pmThere is no formal program so take advantage of the networking opportunities. Included with Friday registration.

Friday Afternoon BreakSponsored by PA Game CommissionEnjoy refreshments and some time to chat with fellow attendees.

Friday ReceptionSponsored by Pregmon Law Offices4:30 - 6:30 pmAn excellent networking opportunity that shouldn’t be missed. Free drink coupon included with purchase of Friday dinner.

Friday DinnerSponsored by Natural Lands6:00 pmA hearty dinner followed by the Lifetime Conservation Leadership Award and Keynote Address (see below). Additional fee of $20.

Saturday Breakfast7:00 - 8:30 amJoin roundtable discussions of your choice. Additional fee of $10.

Saturday LunchSponsored by Saul Ewing, LLP

12:00 - 1:00 pmLunch will include the presentation of the Government Conservation Leadership Award. Included with Saturday registration.

Friday Evening Keynote7:00 pm - 8:00 pmVisionary and Strategic Leadership in a Rapidly Changing Conservation LandscapeMichael Gagné is an environmental leader and educator dedicated to building “democratic capacity” for positive change. With a background in facilitation, training, and grassroots organizing, Michael has worked on a range of environmental campaigns, including water issues, international trade, climate justice, and more.

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Thursday Tracks

Track Session 1 Session 2 Session 310:00 -12:00 1:15 - 2:45 3:00 - 4:30

Land

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tion Conservation Easements from A to Z

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Mapping Technolo-gies for Land Trusts: Three Perspectives

Engaging Youth in Stewardship: Conserving Lands, Transforming Lives

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Working with Rural Landowners

Women and Their Woods

Hunters are Conservation-ists: Allow Them, Track Them, Solicit Them!

Fund

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ing The Challenge of

a Challenge Gift Campaign

Introduction to Crowdfunding

Engaging Individual Donors

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Conservation Defense Insurance: Terrafirma at Five

Roundtable: Easement Violations

How Protected Are Parks and Open Space?

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Continuing Education CreditsPALTA is seeking the following credits for qualifying courses:

Attorneys (CLE): administered by the PA CLE Board. Fee: $50

Landscape Architects (LSA CEU): administered by the PA Park & Recreation Society. Fee: $10 for PRPS member/$20 for non-member.

Park & Recreation Professionals (PRPS CEU): administered by the PA Park & Recreation Society. Fee: $10 for PRPS member/$20 for non-member.

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Session 1FULL-DAY SEMINARConservation Easements from A to Z10:00 am - 4:30 pmTrack: Land ProtectionWhether a staff person or board member new to the field or a seasoned professional, you’ll walk away from this course with a better understanding of what a conservation easement is, how it operates, when it’s a good match for a project, and what it takes to make effective use of it. We’ll explore the easement development process from the points of view of landowners—those who are selling and those who are donating—and from the view of the easement holder. We’ll review the steps and decisions necessary in the process from the initial outreach and planning through to the acquisition, and we’ll address the repercussions of pre-acquisition choices on post-acquisition stewardship including enforcement actions and amendment decisions. You’ll be guided through the preparation of the easement document, and you’ll develop an understanding of which terms should be customized to the project and which should not. The Model Grant of Conservation Easement and Declaration of Covenants with Commentary (provided), including commonly used optional and alternative provisions, will be examined at length. (CLE Credits)

Patricia Pregmon, Esq., Pregmon Law OfficesLauren Pregmon Tetreault, Esq., Pregmon Law Offices

Ecological Assessments for Stewardship and Management10:00 pm - 12:00 pmTrack: Land StewardshipThis session should help participants gain an awareness of the value of more in-depth ecological assessment. All land trusts are different and have differ-ent missions, priorities and capacities. Protection may range from small frag-ments of marginal land to large expanses of high-quality forest. An under-standing of the resources that particular properties possess and the context of the property within the larger landscape is important. This course will offer guidance as to the level of assessment needed, the possible actions or policies related to management based upon the resources present, desired short and long-term outcomes, and the practical implications for steward-ship. We will move through a basic set of steps that will frame an approach to evaluating properties and areas set aside for conservation.

Jeffrey Wagner, Western Pennsylvania Conservancy

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Working with Rural Landowners10:00 am - 12:00 pmTrack: Outreach & EducationAccording to the Center for Rural PA, Pennsylvania has 48 rural counties in which 27% of the state’s population resides. Rural landowners are the key to protecting many of Pennsylvania’s most precious landscapes. So how do you begin the conversation? How do you build rapport and gain trust? You may know the lands you want to protect but do you know the landown-ers? Rural landowners have a significant connection to their lands as they are tied so closely to their identiy and their sense of worth. Whether it is agricultural best management practices, a conservation easement, forest management plans, or a riparian buffer, this session will explore strategies for effectively recruiting and engaging landowners. This work goes beyond selling an idea. It is about building and maintaining relationships, educating landown-ers on conservation options, and helping them to visualize their own legacy. Stewardship experts will share stories, insight, lessons learned, and guidance on building lasting relationships with farmers, woodland owners and other landowners.

Rylan Coker, North Branch Land TrustJohn Goodall, Brandywine ConservancyAnnie Socci, Foundation for Sustainable ForestsJeffrey Swinehart, Lancaster Farmland Trust

The Challenge of a Challenge Gift Campaign10:00 am - 12:00 pmTrack: FundraisingA challenge gift is where a donor agrees to match new gifts from other donors. Are you and your organization ready? Participants of this workshop will learn how to: 1) evaluate whether their organization is ready to launch a challenge gift campaign; 2) identify major donors who are ideal for providing the challenge gift; 3) develop the campaign structure; 4) identify key donors likely to make your campaign a success; and 5) use the campaign’s success to advance your whole fundraising program.

Jim Engel, Tinicum ConservancyChris Beichner, Alletheny Land Trust

Conservation Defense: Terrafirma at Five10:00 am - 12:00 pmTrack: Conservation DefenseThe Land Trust Alliance’s conservation defense insurance program, Terrafirma, now has five years of experience. This roundtable will be an opportunity for the two dozen PA land trusts which are Terrafirma members to hear some lessons learned as well as to provide feedback about the program.

Grant Smith, Land Trust of the Eastern Panhandle

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Session 2Conservation Easements from A to Z10:00 am - 4:30 pm (continued)

Mapping Technologies for Land Trusts: Three Perspectives1:15 pm - 2:45 pmTrack: Land StewardshipIn today’s highly connected world, we can now collect data and quickly and easily share geographic information within our organizations and with the general public via the Internet. Interactive and dynamic web maps and appli-cations can be consumed by users on a variety of devices including desktop computers, mobile phones, and tablets. In this session, you will hear how three land trusts are using Google Maps, ArcGIS Online and mobile data collection tools to organize and share information with colleagues, partner organizations, and the general public.

Sue Costello, Willistown Conservation TrustMegan Boatright, Natural LandsMichele Gandy, Brandywine Conservancy

Women and Their Woods1:15 pm - 2:45 pmTrack: Outreach & EducationIn Pennsylvania, one-third of the woodland owners are women (making decisions for about 19% of the state’s private forest land). Anecdotally and through research we learn of a stronger emphasis on family legacy and hold-ing on to the land, yet, many women woodland owners indicate less willing-ness to attend traditionally offered programs on caring for woodlots. The Women and Their Woods initiative represents one model for engaging this unique and growing demographic of woodland owners. This session will ex-plore the potential for outreach and engagement opportunities at your own land trust or conservation organization.

Amanda Subjin, Delaware HIghlands ConservancyAllyson Muth, Penn State University

Introduction to Crowdfunding1:15 pm - 2:45 pmTrack: FundraisingIn this session, participants will learn the language of crowdfunding and discover the pros and cons of using various crowdfunding platforms. They will look at successful and unsuccessful environmental campaigns, discussing when crowdfunding might be a useful tool for fundraising and how it could fit into a larger fundraising model. Attendees will work in groups and leave with templates to help them launch their own crowdfunding campaigns.

Brittany Campese, Vision Driven Consulting

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Roundtable: Easement Violations1:15 pm - 2:45 pmTrack: Conservation DefenseThis roundtable will provide an opportunity for land trust board and staff to share violation stories and learn from others who have had to defend their easements. Discuss the protocol and policies other land trusts have in place; when to litigate; Terra Firma requirements, when and how to communicate with the landowner and the media; and more. This session will be moder-ated by an attorney and experienced land trust staff person.

Merritt Reitzel, Esq., Schiffman, Sheridan & Brown, P.C.Jeff Swinehart, Lancaster Farmland Trust

Session 3Conservation Easements from A to Z10:00 am - 4:30 pm (continued)

Engaging Youth in Stewardship: Conserving Lands, Transforming Lives3:00 pm - 4:30 pmTrack: Land StewardshipSo you want to create the next generation of conservation stewards while ensuring that you’re meeting the needs to today’s youth? We will share the success of various partnerships and the collective impact that these orga-nizations have in providing meaningful paid conservation opportunities for youth with disabilities, including autism, and from underserved communities. We’ll also share tips for building successful partnerships, staff training, on the ground support, and project selection that will help you as you design oppor-tunities to engage local youth in conservation projects. You’ll leave won-dering how you can tap into the experience of the young people who have served in these positions as you plan your next conservation project.

Rachel Lettre, Student Conservation AssociationRandall Rupp, Student Conservation AssociationPeter Gernsheimer, Student Conservation AssociationDiane Malley, Transition Pathways

Hunters Are Conservationists:Allow them, Track them, Solicit them3:00 pm - 4:30 pmTrack: Outreach & EducationThis session will walk through the development of ALT’s hunting policy, the description and process of the free permit (managed by our online donor tracking software), and will also address some of the IT bumps in the road. Lastly, we will talk about our most recent challenge, making those hunters give back. In 2017, we had almost 1,500 hunters and fewer than five had ever

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made a donation to ALT. Working with ALT Marketing and Development, we have directly solicited the Hunters in our database and are seeing some success. As of today, we have seen an increase of more than 500% and we hope this will continue over the next few months. This was a great learning process and something that did not happen overnight; it took many steps that we can easily lay out to guide other organizations through the process.

Emilie Rzotkiewicz, Allegheny Land TrustCarl Martin, Wildlands ConservancyJohn Tacher, PA Game Commission

Engaging Individual Donors3:00 pm - 4:30 pmTrack: FundraisingDuring this time of drastic government funding cuts and ever-changing foundation funding priorities, nonprofits of all sizes need to think creatively about engaging individual donors to keep our work going. In this important workshop, we will discuss the breadth of ways that individual donors can be engaged, even in organizations with small budgets that work in low-income communities. Workshop participants will have time to think through their own individual donor efforts, working with a partner to brainstorm future possibilities. Together, we will troubleshoot some common barriers to suc-cess, including a fear of asking for money and a board that “doesn’t fund-raise,” thinking outside of traditional fundraising boxes and learning from successful case studies.

Brittany Campese, Vision Driven Consulting

How Protected Are Parks and Open Space?3:00 pm - 4:30 pmTrack: Conservation DefensePeople rely on their parks and other public open spaces as stable, reliable places for rest and renewal. But just how permanent are they? And what are permissible and impermissible uses of the land? Join this session to learn about protections afforded to local parks and open spaces under Pennsylva-nia law and steps your community can take to strengthen these protections. We will discuss the various factors that come into play: state statutes, the PA Constitution, state deed restrictions, etc. We will also review recent PA Su-preme Court rulings, and tools for ensuring the permanence of these lands, including the Model Declaration Dedicating Land as a Public Natural Resource. Opportunity for open discussion and exploration of the issues will be pro-vided throughout the session. (PRPS CEUs and LSA CEUs and CLEs)

George Jugovic, Esq., PennFutureAndrew Loza, Pennsylvania Land Trust Association

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Thursday Field TripsBeyond Hikes Creative Approaches to Engaging the Public 9:30 am - 4:30 pmThis field trip highlights innovative strategies used by land trusts to deepen relationships with the community and build stronger connections between people and nature. The tour begins with at Rushton Farm where Willistown Conservation Trust (WCT) will discuss its community farm program and Community Supported Agriculture venture. Next, visit nearby Rushton Woods Preserve, where WCT facilitates a successful bird-banding program. The tour of the Brandywine Conservancy’s & Museum of Art will offer an appreciation and intersection of art, nature, and history. The museum was founded to protect the natural and cultural resources of the Brandywine Valley and today uses these unique characteristics of the community to engage and activate the public. Finally, the tour will arrive at the breathtaking Cheslen Preserve, owned and managed by Natural Lands, where participants will tour the nature playground and learn how the organization is utilizing the property to reach younger audiences and bring them outdoors through music and other forms of entertainment.

Reconnecting Philadelphia to the Delaware River9:30 am - 4:30 pmThe Delaware Riverfront in Philadelphia is undergoing a renaissance. Historically, the waterfront was an inhospitable place dominated by heavy industry and inaccessible from the neighborhoods because of major transportation corridors. Recognizing the value of the waterfront, the city sought assistance from non-profit partners to plan and transform the area into a vibrant destination for recreational, cultural, and commercial activities for residents and visitors. At the core of this vision was the creation of a system of accessible neighborhood and regional parks, at half-mile intervals along the length of the waterfront, connected by trails, that comprise the East Coast Greenway.

This field trip will explore four outstanding examples of this park system, guided by the non-profit development corporations and a land trust that made it possible. Each park has its own theme along with outstanding views of the waterfront, restored habitat, and recreational amenities.

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Friday Tracks

Track Session 1 Session 2 Session 3 Session 49:00 - 10:15 10:30 -12:00 1:00 - 2:30 3:00 - 4:30

Land

Pr

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tion Land Conservation 101 Tools to

Firm Up LandownerCommitments

Conserva-tion Acquisition Roundtable

Land

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p Land Stewardship Roundtable Stewardship Recordkeep-ing & Tools

Monitoring Land and Easements with U.A.V. Technology

Out

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ion Conservation

Campaigns That Work

Expand Your Impact with Ally Acquisition

Half-Day: Effective Branding in a Changing World

Boar

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evel

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ent Managing Staff

for SuccessSharing Resources in Time of Limited Re-sources

21st Century Recruitment Strategies

Roundtable: Nonprofit Challenges in the 21st Century

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Introduction to Trail inventory & GPS Assessment

Utilizing a Place-Based Approach to Trail Planning and Management

Sustainable Trails for All: Implement-ing Universal Access

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Sustainable Forestry for Conservation

Farmland Preservation and BMP Implementa-tion

Protecting Working Lands in a Changing Climate

Farming on Land Trust Lands

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The Law of Farmland Preservation

Review of Recent Federal Tax Court Cases

Understanding the Environmental Rights Amendment

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Session 1

HALF-DAY SEMINARLand Conservation 1019:00 am - 12:00 pmTrack: Land ProtectionNew to land conservation? Whether you’re a new board member, staff, or volunteer, this session will bring you up to speed on land conservation concepts. Learn the basic tools of the trade - how land trusts responsibly acquire and steward land and easements. Find out how land trusts are going beyond land protection to help facilitate better land use policies, sustainable management strategies, and large landscape conservation initiatives.

Kate Gonick, Lancaster County ConservancyPeter Williamson, Natural Lands

HALF-DAY ROUNDTABLELand Stewardship Roundtable9:00 am - 12:00 pmTrack: Land StewardshipThis interactive session provides structured and unstructured discussion opportunities and mini presentations for conservation professionals and volunteers working on stewardship of eased and owned properties.

Conservation Campaigns That Work9:00 am - 10:15 amTrack: Outreach & EducationStudies show these tried-and-true approaches rarely budge the behavioral bottom line. So how can you get people to care -- and more importantly, to change their behavior? Join this session to learn how to create a conserva-tion campaign that works. We’ll show you how to define your target audi-ence, choose a target behavior, and develop a strategy to spark measurable changes in behavior. This session will draw on successful case studies.

Meg Sansivero, Marketing for ChangeKaren Ong, Marketing for Change

Managing Staff for Success!9:00 am - 10:15 amTrack: Board/Organizational DevelopmentOne of the most important tasks any staffed land trust does is hire good people with the skills and strengths that match the needs of the organization. Staff that fit the land trust well allow the organization to most effectively achieve its mission and make the board’s job more focused on the issues most important for organizational success, sustainability, and impact. This session will provide an overview of a supervisor’s responsibilities and skills; communication styles; and an exploration of strengths-based leadership. The

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session will be rounded out with interactive discussion, including role-plays and large and small group discussion.

Sybil Stewart, Land Trust Alliance

HALF-DAY SEMINAR Introduction to Trail Inventory and Assessment with GPS9:00 am - 12:00 pmTrack: TrailsThe collection, storage, and management of trail-related data are important components of everyday business activities in many federal and state land-managing agencies, trail organizations, and businesses. From a management perspective, trails data must often mesh closely with other types of infrastructure, resource, and facility enterprise data. Data collection is the process of gathering information in an established systematic fashion but, before collecting data in the field one must understand what information needs to be collected and how it’s to be collected. This workshop will focus on basic understanding and use of GPS technology for trail assessment. Background theory and fundamentals will be shared, along with examples of using the technology.

Amy Lutsko, Penn Trails, LLC

Sustainable Forestry for Conservation:Beginning a Path to Proactive Management for Forest Health9:00 am - 10:15 amTrack: Protecting Working LandsPenn’s Woods face many stressors, even when they are protected from de-velopment. From climate change and invasive pests to over-browsing by deer and degrading management practices, our forests are no longer “untouched”, even if they are not under active management. Here we will present our founding sustainable forestry principles as tools for cultivating native diversity, taking a more holistic approach to wildlife management, and building ecosys-tem resiliency in a changing world. We will also provide resources for avoid-ing some of the common pitfalls of forestry.

Annie Socci, Foundation for Sustainable ForestsGuy Dunkle, Foundation for Sustainable Forests

The Law of Farmland Preservation9:00 am - 10:15 amTrack: Conservation LawThis session will cover the main legal issues in preserving farmland, both from the perspective of the landowner and the land trust or government agency that is acquiring and managing the conservation easement. These is-sues include: federal income tax deductions for donations and bargain sales, options for easement payments, some case law, partnerships between land trusts and government agencies, the federal ACEP program, drafting and

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amending an agricultural conservation easement, and what the IRS looks for in an audit. The seminar is based on a new book by Tom Daniels and John Keene, The Law of Agricultural Land Preservation in the United States.

Tom Daniels, University of PennsylvaniaGeorge Cook, Esq., Blakinger Thomas

Session 2Land Conservation 1019:00 am - 12:00 pm (continued)

Stewardship Roundtable9:00 am - 12:00 pm (continued)

Expand Your Impact with Ally Acquisition10:30 am - 12:00 pmTrack: Outreach & EducationEcho chambers, bubbles, choirs. Whatever you call your inner circle, it’s com-fortable territory -- but speaking only to true believers limits your universe of support. How can you bring new people to the cause? In this session, we will provide an overview of ally acquisition strategy, using case studies from successful water conservation and stewardship initiatives, as well as a national advocacy campaign that reached both left and right-leaning Americans. We’ll then lead you through a hands-on workshop to help you identify potential allies, think through their needs-states, and map new frames of engagement that align your cause with their values.

Karen Ong, Marketing for ChangeMeg Sansivero , Marketing for Change

Sharing Resources in a Time of Limited Resources10:30 am - 12:00 pmTrack: Board/Organizational DevelopmentFive environmental nonprofits came together in 2015 to begin discussions and create a joint operations agreement to shared a chief financial officer (CFO) position. With the support of the Richard King Mellon Foundation and the McCune Foundation, these organizations have worked closely and tire-lessly together to form the Environmental Education Finance Cohort (EEFC) and hired a shared CFO. Representatives of the EEFC will discuss the pro-cess of how the organizations came together, the process taken to agree on sharing a high-level, important position like a CFO, and some perspectives on the process and results to date.

Chris Beichner, Allegheny Land TrustSean Brady, Hollow Oak Land TrustJustin Stockdale, Pennsylvania Resources Council

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Introduction to Trail Inventory and Assessment with GPS9:00 am - 12:00 pm (continued)

Farmland Preservation and BMP Implementation: A Winning Combination for Protecting and Improving Water Quality10:30 am - 12:00 pmTrack: Protecting Working LandsPreserving farms with agricultural easements will not protect surface waters by itself, let alone improve them. The key to water quality protection and ultimately water quality improvement is better stewardship on farmland. The Brandywine Conservancy works with farmers to protect their land and improve management practices and has found this dual approach is mutually supportive. This workshop will give an overview of the DRWI activities in the Brandywine – Christina Watershed focus on the dual approach of land pres-ervation and BMP implementation. Education Level: This workshop assumes that practitioners have a working knowledge of preserving land with agricul-ture and conservation easements.

Grant DeCosta, Brandywine ConservancyDavid Shields, Brandywine Conservancy

Review of Recent Federal Tax Court Cases10:30 - 12:00 pmTrack: Conservation LawThis session will review cases coming out of the tax court and put them in the context of prior cases and the changing legal environment. (CLE Credits)

George Asimos, Esq., Saul Ewing, LLP

Session 3Tools to Firm Up Landowner Commitments1:00 pm - 2:30 pmTrack: Land ProtectionSometimes you can lock down a landowner’s commitment to sell or donate land or an easement to your organization. Other times, the best you can hope for is to get a foot in the door. This session will explore the tools avail-able to meet the various situations you may encounter: rights of first offer, rights of first refusal, purchase options, sales agreements, and donation agree-ments. It will review key standard and optional provisions in PALTA’s model legal forms (which will be provided). The session will include both instruc-tion and discussion with participants considering how these tools might be applied to their own circumstances and the pros and cons of pursuing formal versus informal arrangements.

Andrew Loza, Pennsylvania Land Trust AssociationPatricia Pregmon, Esq., Pregmon Law Offices

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Stewardship Recordkeeping & Tools1:00 pm - 2:30 pmTrack: Land StewardshipA key element of effective conservation easement stewardship is the practice in which land trusts collect, organize, and store data and records related to each easement. Different organizations have different approaches to steward-ship record keeping. What is the best approach for your organization? How are land trusts taking advantage of new tools and technologies? What does Land Trust Standards & Practices and accreditation require? This session will explore the recordkeeping practices of four land trusts and how these prac-tices have been improved over time.

Nancy Long, French & Pickering Creeks Conservation TrustEmilie Rzotkiewicz, Allegheny Land TrustAmanda Subjin, Delaware Highlands ConservancyAndrew Zadnik, Western Pennsylvania Conservancy

HALF-DAY SEMINAREffective Branding in a Changing World1:00 pm - 4:30 pmTrack: Outreach & EducationWho are you? What do you do? We answer these questions about our land trusts day in and day out in every interaction, in everything we do. But what is that identity? How do current and potential constituents perceive us? Is our identity relevant in a changing world? In this seminar, we’ll explore the key elements of an organization’s brand, learn how people form perceptions of organizations, and consider whether our current brands are as relevant and powerful as they could be. Then, two Pennsylvania land trusts will share their recent experience with refreshing their respective brands. Mark Minelli - president of Minelli, Inc., a respected branding firm located in Boston - will share insights from his nearly 30-year career helping clients to develop compelling brands and strategies. Along the way, he’ll help participants assess the effectiveness of their current brand. Natural Lands and Allegheny Land Trust will then share case studies, highlighting the strategic reasoning behind their decision to update their brands and lessons learned from implementing the changes, and also display and discuss tools and tactics used to communicate their updated brands.

Oliver Bass, Natural LandsMark Minelli, Minelli, Inc.

21st Century Nonprofit Recruitment Strategies1:00 pm - 2:30 pmTrack: Board/Organizational DevelopmentRecruiting talented and enthusiastic workers is an essential element to man-aging a nonprofit organization. Simply placing an ad and hoping for the best is not the best strategy for your organization. How can you connect with qualified candidates, who share your organization’s vision and mission, in a competitive hiring world. This session will provide guidance on sound recruit-

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ment strategies that have you thinking proactively, rather than reactively. Two land trusts will share their experiences and lessons learned while a college career professional will offer insight on how universities connect students with employers.

Chris Beichner, Allegheny Land TrustGwen Lacy, The Land Conservancy for Southern Chester CountyLou Lamorte, Penn State University Career Management ServicesSybil Stewart, Land Trust Alliance

Utilizing a Place-Based Approach to Trails Planning and Management1:00 pm - 2:30 pmTrack: TrailPlace is the fundamental means through which we make sense of the world and through which we act. Managing a trail as a unique and special place within the context of the larger natural resource that hosts it, measuring its place attachment among visitors and local community, and instituting a collaborative place-based planning process offers a dynamic, inclusive way to frame conservation practices, including trails management. Place-based trails management and planning offers opportunities for diverse stakeholders to be involved in problem-solving, identifying common values that different individuals and entities assign to natural resources, and thus helping to foster a sense of shared ownership of their trails and the surrounding natural re-sources. This session introduces participants to the concepts and utilization of a place based approach to trails management and planning. (PRPS CEUs and LSA CEUs)

Larry Knutson, Penn Trails, LLC

Protecting Working Lands in a Changing Climate1:00 pm - 2:30 pmTrack: Protecting Working LandsClimate change has already begun to manifest itself in Pennsylvania in the form of higher temperatures, increased annual precipitation, more large storm events, decreased snow cover, and the movement of species to the north and to higher elevations. In addition to these direct impacts, climate change magnifies other environmental stressors such as invasive species, habitat fragmentation and conversion, and deer overpopulation. What should land trusts consider when it comes to protecting and stewarding forested lands? Forest owners and easement holders will share their conservation strategies to address these impacts and discuss long-term stewardship and management policies.

Charles Bier, Western Pennsylvania ConservancyGreg Czarnecki, PA Department of Conservation & Natural ResourcesJosh Parrish, The Nature Conservancy

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HALF-DAY SEMINARUnderstanding the Environmental Rights Amendment:The Intent, Interpretations, and Impact1:00 - 4:30 pmTrack: Conservation LawIn the past few years, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court has issued decisions that resulted in victories for the environmental community and a clearer understanding of the meaning and intent of the Environmental Rights Amendment. This seminar invites legal and policy experts to discuss the history of the amendment and its original intent; the implications and impacts of recent decisions; legal interpretations; and where the environmental community, including land trusts, should go from here. (CLE Credits)

John Childe, Esq., PA Environmental Defense FoundationJohn Dernbach, Esq., Widener UniversityGeorge Jugovic, Esq., PennFutureFranklin Kury, Esq. (Invited)Steve Santaseiro, Esq., Attorney General’s OfficeJordan Yeager, Esq., Curtin & Heefner, LLP

Session 4Acquisition Roundtable3:00 pm - 4:30 pmTrack: Land ProtectionHow best to deal with a land or easement acquisition issue? What lessons have you learned in your projects? What do and don’t Standards and Prac-tices demand of you? How might accreditation impact your practices? How do funding requirements factor into the process? These questions and more will be explored. Registrants will be invited to email issues and questions to the facilitator to ensure their concerns are addressed.

Bill Gladden, Chester County Open Space PreservationAndy Loza, Pennsylvania Land Trust AssociationPatricia Pregmon, Esq., Pregmon Law OfficesAshley Rebert, Pennsylvania Department of Conservation & Natural Resources

Monitoring Land and Easements with U.A.V. Technology3:00 pm - 4:30 pmTrack: Land StewardshipInterest in the use of drones for aerial inspections, evaluations, and surveys is expanding rapidly across the conservation field. Learn how drones have become the latest tool in conserving and stewarding land. This session will provide an introduction to U.A.V.’s and the advantages of using them in con-servation fields and highlight applications.

Mike Mantell, SurvaeJebediah Musser, Lancaster Farmland Trust

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Effective Branding in a Changing World1:00 pm - 4:30 pm (continued)

Roundtable: Nonprofit Challenges in the 21st Century3:00 pm - 4:30 pmTrack: Board & Organizational DevelopmentThe ever-changing landscape of nonprofit management and administration can be difficult to navigate at times. Whether an organization is staffed or all-volunteer, its leaders must stay up to date on a wide variety of topics, including: technology, regulatory changes, public policy, fundraising strategies, recruitment tools, salary and benefit assessments, and more. This roundtable will provide attendees with the platform to discuss challenges and key topics.

Jeffrey Marshall, Heritage ConservancyLaura Otten, LaSalle University Nonprofit Center

Sustainable Trails for AllImplementing Universal Access3:00 pm - 4:30 pmTrack: TrailAs our population ages, a growing number of people will face limits to their outdoor recreational activities. In addition, regardless of age, many people can face health issues or disabilities. These challenges do not mean a reduc-tion in the interest in nature and outdoor recreation; the limits do mean an increased challenge to those planning and managing trail experiences. Uni-versal access requires adherence to specific design parameters and encour-age sustainable practices. This session will provide a high-level overview of best management practices when implementing universal access on one or more of your organization’s trails. (PRPS CEUs and LSA CEUs)

Larry Knutson, Penn Trails, LLC

Land Trusts Connecting Farmers to the Land3:00 pm - 4:30 pmTrack: Protecting Working LandsFarmland is a precious resource-which is why so many organizations make it their mission to conserve and protect agricultural lands. Despite the great achievements in protecting Pennsylvania’s farms, farmers still face huge hurdles in accessing affordable land. Throughout Pennsylvania, land security is a serious challenge to many community-scale farmers who lease, rather than own, their land. In this session, learn how two initiatives, spearheaded by Pennsylvania land trusts, are helping farmers achieve their farming legacy.

Kevin Fryberger, Brandywine ConservancyDeirdre Fleming, Two Gander FarmAndrew Zadnik, Western Pennsylvania Conservancy

Understanding the Environmental Rights Amendment1:00 pm - 4:30 pm (continued)

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Friday Field TripsThe Iron & Steel Pillars of America: Exploring Our Industrial Past through Conservation9:30 am - 4:30 pm No region in the nation can boast a longer history with, and connection to, the iron and steel industry. This tour will visit the region of America that literally forged the nation. The tour will begin at Warwick Furnace Farm, a historic district that includes the ruins of an early iron furnace, the ironmaster’s house, and workers’ houses, as well as a historic farm house and barns. The furnace was a center of colonial iron making and is associated with the introduction of the Franklin stove. Next, tour St. Peters Historic Village, a charming industrial village that grew up around the falls of French Creek beginning in 1845. The village was an important quarry site and visitors can still explore the dramatic black granite outcroppings. Crow’s Nest Preserve is a 621-acre preserve which highlights the fact that in the 18th and 19th centuries, the iron industry and rural agriculture existed, mostly harmoniously, side by side. This tour would not be complete without a visit to Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site and French Creek State Park, Hopewell Furnace showcases an early American industrial landscape from natural resource extraction to enlightened conservation.

Conservation Success Stories in the Brandywine Valley9:30 am - 4:30 pmTour the Brandywine Valley and witness 50 years of land conservation efforts. Highlights include the historic heart of West Chester, the Brandywine Battlefield, the former King Ranch, several land trust preserves, and numerous important historical sites. The tour will also illustrate public-private partnerships, local municipal conservation efforts, and more. Given variable April weather, walking stops will be scheduled, weather-permitting, with indoor visitation presentations. Guest speakers will be present at indoor stops to highlight Chester County’s acclaimed Landscapes comprehensive planning efforts and cooperation and funding with municipal and land trust conservation efforts, as well as land trust and municipal representatives to speak directly about their efforts over time. As an added bonus, lunch will be provided at a charming brew pub where the owners have contributed to conservation efforts.

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Saturday Tracks

Track Session 1 Session 2 Session 38:30 - 9:45 10:00 - 11:30 1:00 - 3:00

Land

Pr

otec

tion Appraisals 101 Land Conservation

in the CityComplex Land Deals

Land

St

ewar

dshi

p Graffiti: No Place in Nature

Prescribed Fire 101

Kiosks and Waysides: Beyond the Bulletin Board

Out

reac

h &

Ed

ucat

ion Volunteers Make

a DifferenceSocial Media Basics for Conservation Organizations

Educating on Climate Change: Demonstrated Strategies to Bridge the Divide

Boar

d /

Org

aniz

atio

nD

evel

opm

ent Strategies for Re-

cruiting the Board You Need

Five Fresh Ideas for Strengthening Your Board

Skills and Tools for Major Gift Development

Loca

l Pl

anni

ng T

ools The Business Side

of PreservationPutting Return on the Environment Studies to Work

Local Actions, Regional Results: Municipal Strate-gies for Improving Water Quality

Publ

ic

Enga

gem

ent

& A

dvoc

acy Building Power Through the Public Nar-

rative: Story of Self, Story of Us, and Story of Now

The Who, What, & Why Behind Con-servation Policy and How Land Trusts Can Help

Emer

ging

Is

sues

Pollinator Conservation on Working Lands

What Are We to Do About Climate Change?

Reconnecting Communities to Nature through Community Conservation

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Session 1 Appraisals 1018:30 am - 9:45 amTrack: Land ProtectionThis session is a very basic introduction to appraisals for land trusts, and will present general terminology and concepts of appraisals and appraisal process. We propose to present the material via a simplified, fictitious appraisal that we will all work through together.

Jim Kendall, Snyder Appraisal Associates

Graffiti: No Place in Nature8:30 am - 9:45 amTrack: Land StewardshipThe proliferation of graffiti in natural areas creates a negative environment on several levels. First, the application of paint generates harmful air pollution. Second, graffiti often attracts other negative activities, creating a liability on our lands. Lastly, graffiti removes our lands from public use by making them unattractive and unsafe. This session will share the successes and challenges of tackling graffiti in 37 state parks and forests. Using a case study format, we will examine the rise of graffiti, effective techniques for removal, and out-reach campaigns. Bring your own stories to share. (PRPS CEUs and LSA CEUs)

Marci Mowery, PA Parks & Forests FoundationAmanda Trimmer, PA Parks & Forests Foundation

Volunteers Make a Difference8:30 am - 9:45 amTrack: Outreach & EducationWhen it comes to volunteers, thoughtful investment reaps outstanding gains. From planting trees to supporting events, volunteers make the difference in any size organization. We’ll discuss how to engage and leverage volunteers for optimal impact, service, and satisfaction. Understand why volunteers are an essential part of successful organizations! (PRPS CEUs and LSA CEUs)

Debbie Beer, Natural Lands

Saturday Breakfast - Roundtable Discussions7:00 - 8:30 am

Please note that breakfast is not included with Saturday’s registration fee. An additional fee of $10 is required.

Enjoy a hot breakfast and good conversation. PALTA will organize roundtable discussions of hot topics during this time. Attendees are encouraged to suggest topics that they are either interested in learning more about or that they would be willing to lead. Submit your topics when you register.

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Strategies for Recruiting the Board You Need8:30 am - 9:45 amTrack: Board & Organizational Development “The first criterion used for considering a new board member is often ‘known to someone on the current board.’ I think it should be ‘totally in love with the mission,’ instead.” Thus begins an engaging workshop where we examine a strategic approach to building the board you will need in the years to come. We’ll talk about how to find board members, qualities of a good board member, and the job description. We’ll share tools for approaching this important work objectively and systematically. And we’ll talk about recruiting diversity – how to recruit a board that represents the community in which you work. Join organizational development and fundraising expert David Al-len to consider this fundamental building block of resilience and sustainability - recruiting the board you need – both now and into the future.

David Allen, Development for Conservation

The Business Side of Preservation8:30 am - 9:45 amTrack: Local Planning Tools Economic development and open space preservation have often been por-trayed as competing forces. Chester County, Pennsylvania sees them as complementary aspects and views quality of life/place and open space pres-ervation as key elements of its economic health. This concept of comple-mentary roles is reflected in VISTA 2025, Chester County’s economic de-velopment strategy. This session will describe the origins of VISTA 2025, the public-private partnership that brought it into being, the emergence of quality of place as a key economic development strategy, the VISTA 2025 implemen-tation process to date and the expanded opportunities envisioned through the synergy of economic development and open space preservation.

Molly Morrison, Natural LandsDavid Schicchetti, Chester CountyGary Smith, Chester County Economic Development Council

HALF-DAY SEMINARBuilding Power through the Public NarrativeStory of Self, Story of Us, and Story of Now8:30 am - 11:30 amTrack: Public Engagement & AdvocacyAn introduction to public narrative – a key practice for leadership and building a constituency. Learn the components of a public narrative – including telling an effective story of self, story of us, and story of now – and how this can help build constituency, support, and committed action.

Michael Gagne’, Environmental Leadership Program

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Pollinator Conservation on Working LandsAn Important Cause and Great Motivator8:30 am - 9:45 amTrack: Emerging IssuesPollinators are facing steep declines in our modern landscape of intensive agriculture and development. The public is largely interested in pollinator conservation, and are willing to consider taking action for these important insects. Management practices that benefit pollinators are also valuable for water and air quality, carbon sequestration, and other ecosystem services. Pollinators are an excellent motivator for critical conservation practices, even if their ultimate impact is much larger. Learn about integrating pollinator concerns into conservation messaging and how to improve conservation on working lands to benefit pollinators. (PRPS CEUs and LSA CEUs)

Ryan Davis, Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay

Session 2Land Conservation in the CityConsensus Building to Protect Urban Open Space and Watersheds10:00 am - 11:30 amTrack: Land ProtectionConserving open space and water resources in an urban environment pres-ents a different set of challenges from work done in rural areas. Lot sizes are generally smaller, which means that consensus building among diverse groups of owners and other stakeholders is necessary to protect a patchwork of parcels that make an impact in aggregate. This session tackles conserving land and water in the city. (PRPS CEUs and LSA CEUs)

Angelina Jones, Chestnuthill ConservancyLori Salganicoff, Chestnuthill ConservancyJenny Greenberg, Neighborhood Gardens TrustPeter Williamson, Natural Lands

Prescribed Fire 10110:00 am - 11:30 amTrack: Land StewardshipThis session will provide an overview of the prescribed fire process, from an initial site visit through final implementation. Learn why your organiza-tion might be interested in using prescribed fire and discuss the reasons and results that can be obtained through the implementation of prescribed fire.

Patrick McElhenny, The Nature ConservancyTodd Breininger, PA Prescribed Fire Council

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Social Media Basics10:00 am - 11:30 amTrack: Outreach & EducationConservation organizations can use social media to highlight their work, engage supporters, advertise events, raise money, and reach new audiences. In this session, you’ll learn how to choose the right platform(s), create posts that get noticed, make time for social media, and more. There will be ample time for discussion.

Lindsay Dill, Allegheny Land TrustNate Lotze, Pennsylvania Land Trust AssociationKirsten Werner, Natural Lands

Five Fresh Ideas for Strengthening Your Board10:00 am - 11:30 amTrack: Board & Organizational Development We expect most board members to be “plug-and-play” leaders – all they need is a two-hour orientation session, and they’ll be good to go. Yet most of us realize that it can take months if not years for new people – even staff – to fully understand how the business of conservation works. How can we compress this learning curve? We’ll offer and consider five fresh ideas for identifying, training, and empowering the board leaders you need – both now and into the future.

David Allen, Development for Conservation

Putting Return on the Environment Studies to Work10:00 am - 11:30 amTrack: Local Planning Tools Putting a dollar value on nature is a new way to help policymakers, busi-nesses, investors, and residents realize the financial value of natural system services in all resource-related decisions. This allows nature to be seen as a portfolio of financial assets rather than a commodity or unnecessary expense. The major objective of return on environment (ROE) studies is to make enhancing nature and expanding the local economy a central goal among policy makers, businesses and residents. This workshop will include a series of case studies that illustrate how townships, land trusts and counties are putting ROE to work. (PRPS CEUs and LSA CEUs)

John Rogers, Keystone Conservation Trust

Building Power through the Public Narrative8:30 am - 11:30 am (continued)

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What Are We to Do About Climate Change?10:00 am - 11:30 amTrack: Emerging IssuesThe purpose of this session is to have a conversation about climate change, what lands trusts are presently doing in their communities, what we are not doing, what is working, and what is not. The speakers will give a brief back-ground of where we stand on addressing climate change. This will be followed by structured discussion and work in small groups. At the conclusion, par-ticipants will have a list if possible activities that their land trust can begin to implement.

Judy Anderson, Community ConsultantsAndy Pitz, French & Pickering Creeks Conservation Trust

Session 3Complex Land Deals1:00 pm - 3:00 pmTrack: Land ProtectionEven the simplest of land conservation projects do not happen overnight. However, some projects can be exceptionally complex. Any organization, small or large, could theoretically experience a challenging transaction that requires a great deal of coordination and a clear strategy to keep moving forward. Conservation practitioners will share case studies and offer tips for success. Participants will have an opportunity to share their own real-life scenarios at the workshop and discuss strategies on how to move forward.

John Goodall, Brandywine ConservancyErik Hetzel, Willistown Conservation TrustAndy Pitz, French & Pickering Creeks Conservation Trust

Kiosks & WaysidesBeyond the Bulletin Board1:00 pm - 3:00 pmTrack: Land StewardshipMost conservation properties have informational and educational signage but how effective is it in reality. This workshop will explore the challenges and opportunities that lay with the signage on conservation properties. Design, theme, writing, fabrication, and installation pros and cons will all be examined. Hands-on examples of materials as well as resources for creating, fabricating and installation will be discussed. (PRPS CEUs and LSA CEUs)

Tom Mullin, Unity College

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Educating on Climate ChangeDemonstrated Strategies to Bridge the Divide 1:00 pm - 3:00 pmTrack: Outreach & EducationRegardless of the impacts, climate change is affecting all of us. You need to be able to effectively educate others about our warming planet. This work-shop is designed for educators, preserve managers, outreach staff, and those who want to learn more. Participants will leave the session with a better understanding about climate change and methods to educate others about it. Session participants will receive the PLT “Southeastern Forests and Climate Change” module and other resources. (PRPS CEUs and LSA CEUs/ Act 48 hours available for certified teachers)

Carissa Longo, DCNR Bureau of State ParksKatie Scott, DCNR Bureau of State Parks

Skills and Tools for Major Gift Development10:00 am - 11:30 amTrack: Board & Organizational Development Effective, sustainable, built-for-the-long-haul organizations have board mem-bers effectively engaged in annual gift, major gift, and planned gift develop-ment activities with individual donors. But it’s difficult to figure out how to get started. Almost everything else can seem more urgent and time intensive. As a result, getting to know and building relationships with individual donors is too often left undone. Join organizational development and fundraising expert David Allen for a fast-paced, crash course in all things major gifts.

David Allen, Development for Conservation

Local Actions, Regional ResultsMunicipal Strategies for Improving Water Quality1:00 pm - 3:00 pmTrack: Local Planning Tools From preserving large tracts of forested headwaters to agricultural land man-agement, the work of municipalities and informed land owners plays a key role in maintaining and restoring water quality (WQ) in the Delaware River watershed. Many municipalities struggle with codifying and implementing conservation tools and many land owners do not know the best practices. Two efforts are tied to forward this work. Over the last two years, DVRPC has worked with a group of experts to better understand threats to WQ in urban, suburban, agricultural, and forested communities. The team created a prioritized list of action plans to help municipalities improve WQ. Also, to forward these actions, Phase 2 of the Delaware River Watershed Initiative (DRWI) (2018-2020), is putting greater emphasis on non-capital strategies. In addition to on-the-ground capital projects, the 50 NGOs are including public and municipal outreach, education and engagement that build support for improving local environmental ordinances, and leveraging state or national policy. Come to this workshop to review and comment on the action plans; including the development of a “Watershed Academy”; the establishment of

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a municipal environmental legal defense fund; and a program to expand the adoption of municipal stormwater fees, hear case studies of a variety of non-capital strategies complementing project work in targeted watersheds, and investigate the audience’s own project work to identify helpful non-capital strategies and examine potential hurdles and resources. (PRPS CEUs and LSA CEUs)

Christopher Linn, Delaware Valley Regional Planning CommissionMelissa Andrews, Delaware Valley Regional Planning CommissionCarol Collier, Drexel UniversityLiz Deardorff, American RiversSusan Myerov, Pennsylvania Environmental Council

The Who, What & Why Behind Conservation Policy and How Land Trusts Can Help1:00 pm - 3:00 pmTrack: Public Engagement & AdvocacyWhat happens in Harrisburg DOES NOT stay in Harrisburg…it impacts your work. During the state’s most recent budget process, the legislature attempt-ed to raid conservation funds and weaken environmental protections. There is a concentrated effort by legislators to eliminate environmental initiatives and gut conservation funding. This is a pivotal moment in Pennsylvania when land trusts must play a more active role in Harrisburg or face permanent devastation to conservation funding, environmental policies, and to the very land and water you are working to protect. This session will offer an over-view of what’s happening in Harrisburg, an analysis of key policy challenges and opportunities, and a discussion of how local land and water organizations can help to defend our common cause.

Josh McNeil, Pennsylvania Conservation Voters

Reconnecting Communities to Nature Through Community Conservation1:00 pm - 3:00 pmTrack: Emerging IssuesCommunity conservation is an approach to conservation that changes peoples lives and attracts support from across your community. This inter-active session will introduce participants to two tools that use a common framework of community assets and impacts. The first tool will help you assess your current activities, frame opportunities for community conserva-tion projects and programs, and prioritize new approaches. The second will provide guidance about the kinds of changes you might expect from com-munity conservation and how you might quantify those changes to measure progress. Participants will practice assessing, planning, and evaluating com-munity conservation projects and programs. You will have the opportunity to work through a community conservation case study to assess a project or program and recommend changes for greater impact. (PRPS CEUs and LSA CEUs)

Rob Aldrich, Land Trust Alliance

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Registration Guidelines Please read these guidelines prior to registering. All registrations will be sub-mitted online and registrants have the option of paying by credit card, Paypal, or check. If you do not have access to the internet, please contact us at 717.230.8560.

Register at ConserveLand.org/2018-conference/register

Regular registration rate is $115.00 per day and includes lunch and breaks. A discount is provided for those attending all three days.

Attention Speakers: All speakers are required to register for the conference. Speakers receive discounts based on the amount of training they are providing. An email will be sent to all speakers with a promo code to use while registering.

Additional Information:• If you are having trouble registering online, please contact us at 717.230.8560.• Please review our registration modification/cancellation policy at Conserveland.

org/2018-conference/register.• Save money–register early to benefit from early registration rates.• Late and walk-in registrations will be accepted (with associated late fees). It is

recommended that you register as soon as possible as specific field trips or semi-nars could sell out early.

• Registrants are responsible for making lodging arrangements. Make reservations with the hotel by March 14 to secure the conference discount and ensure room availability (see below for more details).

• If paying by check, please make payments payable to Pennsylvania Land Trust Association (or PALTA).

LodgingThe Desmond Hotel1 Liberty Boulevard, Malvern, PA.

Call (610) 296-9800 or make reservations online at desmondgv.com.

Conference attendees receive a discounted rate of $134.00 for single and double occupancy if reservations are made by March 14, 2018. Mention you are with the Pennsylvania Land Conservation Conference. For direc-tions and other lodging options, please visit ConserveLand.org.

EARLY: up until February 12, 2018 (15% discount to daily registration rate)

REGULAR: February 13, 2018 to March 12, 2018

LATE: $45 late fee on entire registration March 13, 2018 and after

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Conference SupportThe Pennsylvania Land Trust Association is always looking for help with the Pennsylva-nia Land Conservation Conference. It takes a lot of resources to plan and execute an event like this and there are many people and organizations who contribute funding, expertise, time, and other support to make each year’s event successful.

Here are some ways that you can help out:

SponsorshipsThe Pennsylvania Land Conservation Conference offers a number of sponsorship opportunities, each of which provides unique exposure for your organization. To learn more about becoming a sponsor, please contact Nicole Faraguna at 717.909.1298 or e-mail nfaraguna@conserveland.org.

ExhibitingExhibitors help to offset the costs of the conference while showcasing their services to conferenece attendees. Exhibiting tables are set up in prominent areas of the conference and allow ample opportunities for networking with attendees. Non-profit and for-profit rates are available. Learn more at ConserveLand.org/2018-confer-ence/exhibiting. If you would like to learn more about exhibiting opportunities, please email Carol at cgrayshaw@conserveland.org

Volunteer OpportunitiesWe are thankful to the support of dozens of volunteers who offer a few hours of their time to help out at the conference each year. Volunteers provide support in the classroom, on field trips, and at the registration desk, and help to ensure the confer-ence runs smoothly. If you’d like to learn more about volunteer opportunities or are interested in lending a hand, please email Carol at cgrayshaw@conserveland.org.

A/V SupportOne of the easiest ways to support the conference is to donate a/v equipment for use during the event. Typically, PALTA requests a/v projectors, though may need ad-ditional equipment such as laptops, screens, and flipcharts. PALTA staff will coordinate with a designated staff person from your organization about when and where your equipment should be set up and retrieved. By using donated a/v projectors, PALTA saves thousands of dollars in equipment rental fees. To learn more, please email Ni-cole nfaraguna@conserveland.org.

Spread the WordThe success of the conference relies on quality content and good attendance. We’ll ensure that there are excellent educational and networking opportunities, if you can help bring new people to the conference. Please take a moment and share confer-ence registration materials with your colleagues, board members, elected officials, and others who would benefit from attending the conference. Encourage junior and senior staff to attend, since attendees benefit from networking and connecting with individuals with varying backgrounds and expertise. This conference booklet can be downloaded at Conserveland.org/2018-conference.

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The Pennsylvania Land Conservation Conference, held annually by the Pennsylvania Land Trust A

ssociation, is Pennsylvania’s annual training, netw

orking, and inspirational event for those involved w

ith private and public land conservation.

119 Pine Street, 1st Floor

Harrisburg PA

17101-1209

ConserveLand.org