2012 - Mohawk Hudson Land Conservancy

Mohawk Hudson Land Conservancy
2012 Annual Report
President’s Report
Lisa Evans
The Mohawk Hudson Land Conservancy (MHLC) celebrated its 20th
Anniversary in 2012. We celebrated people, places, and partnerships
that have contributed to the Conservancy’s growth and success over the
years. We surpassed our fundraising goals and MHLC continues to be financially stable. The current state of MHLC will allow us to take bold new
conservation initiatives and reach new levels of organizational maturity.
Many of our founding members were recognized at the annual gala, and
they continue to make significant contributions to MHLC. Current board
and advisory council members along with volunteers, family, and friends
celebrated our founders and recognized our current corporate sponsor
White Management. The venue for the celebration was suitably in the
Adirondack Exhibit of the New York State Museum.
Our 20 years of growth have been possible because of partnerships with
many private and public organizations. Some of these partners include
the Open Space Institute, Land Trust Alliance, NYS Department of Environmental Conservation, the Bender Family Foundation, Albany County,
towns of Bethlehem, New Scotland, Colonie and Glenville, Village of
Voorheesville, and the Voorheesville Community and School Foundation. MHLC’s strength in the future will depend upon forging new and
diverse collaborative relationships.
2012 brought the culmination of a significant organizational review to
prepare and complete the application process for accreditation by the
Land Trust Accreditation Commission, an independent program of the
Land Trust Alliance. The accreditation, which we anticipate in the late
summer of 2013, will help raise our profile as an organization that implements best practices for land protection and will assist in raising funds
through private and public sources. The preparation for accreditation has
made MHLC a stronger organization.
MHLC staff, board, advisory council, volunteers, and friends made our
20th year a success. Thank you to all! You have made it possible for
MHLC to protect special places for the benefit of our children today and
their children tomorrow.
Strategic Land Conservation
In 2012, we laid the ground work for two long-term strategic land conservation initiatives: the Capital to Catskill project and the Wolf Hollow-Hoffman’s Fault project.
These are the Conservancy’s first major land acquisition projects that address land
protection on a regional basis.
Capital to Catskill
Board of Directors
Lisa Evans, President
Sherry Hawley, V. President
Cathie Love, Treasurer
Susan Filipp, Secretary
Carol Ash
Peter Bakal
Kim Baker
David Barnet
Tony Belsito
David Blabey
Christopher Gorka
Dan Lewis
Ellie Prakken
John Razzano
Dodie Seagle
Judy Thomson
Advisory Council
John Abbuhl
Matt Bender
Charles Buchanan
Ginny Carter
Chuck Manning
John Privitera
Peggy Sherman
Mike Sterthous
Peter Ten Eyck
Maggie Vinciguerra
Staff
Jill Knapp,
Executive Director
Lea Montalto-Rook,
Development Director
Lisa Allendorph,
Bookkeeper
PO Box 567
Slingerlands, NY 12159
518-436-6346
www.mohawkhudson.org
This project emerged from our
plans for land protection in the Vly
Swamp / Black Creek Marsh areas
surrounding Indian Ladder Farms.
This broader effort envisions a corridor of connected parcels from
Black Creek Marsh, up through
Thacher Park, encompassing the
state forest lands and wildlife management area in the hilltowns of
Western Albany County, and joining protected parcels in Rensselaerville. Partners in this effort include the Open Space Institute and
the Huyck Preserve.
Wolf HollowHoffman’s Fault
2012 brought opportunities for
more land protection in Wolf Hollow-Hoffman’s Fault in western
Schenectady County when the
Bintz family decided to donate an
easement on their 117 acre farm.
MHLC pursued local funding to
provide a source for the endowment for the easement and to help
cover other expenses such as a
survey, title search and filing fees.
This easement renewed interest
for more land protection in the area
and provided MHLC with a springboard for future land protection activities in the coming years.
Van Dyke
We received another piece of land
along the Phillipin Kill in Bethlehem in 2012. This 35 acre parcel
is another link in a possible future
greenway trail system envisioned
in the Town of Bethlehem’s Comprehensive Plan.
Keleher Preserve
We officially opened our 287 acre
Keleher Preserve in September.
This property is at the southern end
of the Helderbergs and is highly visible from many points in the Town
of Bethlehem. Over three miles of
trails were developed, some providing views across the Hudson Valley,
and a bridge was constructed
across the headwaters of the Hannacroix Creek.
Thank You to Our Supporters for a Great Year in 2012!
Stewards Circle
Gifts of $1,000 or more
Visionary $5,000 +
Anonymous
Tom & Lisa Evans
Douglas & Kip Hargrave
Mike & Marcie Love
Donald & Lois Porter
Benefactor $1,000 - $4,999
Dr. & Mrs. John W. Abbuhl
Claudia Anderson & Lewis Buckman
Anonymous
Peter M. Bakal
Kim P. Baker
Kevin & Lisa Barron
Tony Belsito
Matt & Phoebe Bender
David & Susan Blabey
Charlotte & Charles Buchanan
Sally Daly
Dr. & Mrs. Frederick Eames
Alexander & Susan Filipp
David & Sandra Geisinger
Mr. & Mrs. Christopher Gorka
Janet Hawkes
Sherry S. Hawley
Robert & JoAnne King
Stephen & Anne LaSalle
Jeff & Judy Leon
Dan Lewis & Jan Fleischner
Cathie Love & George Berg
Chuck & Barbara Manning
George Martin
John Privitera & Louise Tarantino
John & Margaret Sherman
David L. Shern, Ph.D.
Helen & Bob Smith
John Smolinsky & Ellen Prakken
Henry Stebbins & Val Washington
Peter & Rose-Marie Ten Eyck
Judy & Steve Thomson
Maggie Vinciguerra
Merle C. Winn
$500 - $999
Lisa Allendorph
Carol Ash
Ronald Backer
David Barnet
Virginia Carter
Marilyn M DuBois
Glenn N. Durban
Nancy Heinzen & Gregory Strizich
Ted & Sally Jennings
Jeff Jones & Eleanor Stein
Joe Kelly
Anne Kulak
Anina la Cour, DVM
David & Sandra Martin
Brian & Barbara McCandless
Erick McCandless
Kate Murray
Clarinda Northrop
Ted & Sherry Putney
Grace & Bill Rainey
John Razzano
Ray Rettig & Christine Galvin
Carol & Greg Roeder
Pete & Dodie Seagle
Ronald & Carolyn Tweedie
Jean Verbridge
Ms. Arlen Westbrook
Brian & Melinda White
Margaret A. Witbeck
Allen W. Zieker
Robert & Barbara Zittel
$250 - $499
A. Graham Bailey
Don & Rhonda Ballou
Kate Beale & Bob Boehm
Ron & Iris Berger
Alvin & Sharon Breisch
Peter & Martha Deborah Brown
Cynthia R. Carlstead
John & Connie Clarkson
John & Grace Crary
Dr. Margaret Craven & Frank Snowden
Dan & Maureen Driscoll
Don & Ann Eberle
Bruce & Lisa Finkle
Charles & Jean Gehring
Helene Goldberger & Paul Baitsholts
Christopher Greagan
Tim Lippert & Scott Green
Audrey Hawkins
Jocelyn Jerry
Mark & Kristen King
Jill Knapp
Kevin B. Kuhne
Arden Leach
Robert & Nancy Lynk
Marie & Peter McHugh
Vince & Maggie Moehringer
Kathy Moser & David Ashton
Bill & Betty Nathan
Bruce Nelson
Pete Nye
Dr. Susan Phillips
Lauri & Rob Plattner
Anne K. Reynolds
Donna Sawyer
Charles P. & Nancy C. Scholes
James & Robin Sevinsky
Peter Stoj & Mona Wasserman
Alison E. VanKeuren
David & Mary Carol White
Caleb Wistar
Austin Woodward
$100 - $249
Shirley Anderson & Robert Fisher
Annette Argyros
Wayne & Ann B’Rells
Karen C. Beck
Andrew & Beth Beers
Dan & Mary Berry
Ruth Bonn
Michael & Theresa Bratt
Diane & Mike Breslin
Glenn Breuer
Joseph Castiglione
Donald Cornell & Carol Schour
Donna Crisafulli & Richard Kuhnmunch
Thomas Crowl
Edith B. Cumini
Dennis Dabiere
John Delahanty
Thomas Dolin
Charles D. Dollard
Jan & Lois Dorman
Stephen & Wilhelmina Downs
Robert S. Drew
Lynn & Geoffrey Edmunds
Christine Edwards
Dr. Michael & Joanne Esposito
Jack & Ginny Gajewski
Carl George
Nathan Giordano & Tara Murphy
Alan Goldberg & Karen Lipson
Dr. & Mrs. William B. Greenough, III
Mitch & Cathy Griffin
Helen Harris
Judith Lee & William Herbert
William Hetzer
Robert & Anna Horn
Albert J. Howard
Mary Irish
Inge Jacobs
Amy Jesaitis
Mary Elizabeth Jones
Dan & Patricia Joyce
Ed Kautz & Nancy Peterson
Joyce Keenan
Peter & Barbara Kelly
Lois E. Klatt
David Klein & Harriet Jaffe
Erik Kulleseid & Mark Eisenhardt
Steven & Kayla Largeteau
Margaret Lassiter
Susan Lawrence
Jean Kerr
Bill & Christine Lee
Joseph S. Levinger
Scott & Debbie Lewendon
Mark Lewis
David & Libby Liebschutz
Edna Litten
Kathleen LoGiudice & John Blanchard
Andi Lyons & Janka Bialek
Betsy & Jim Lyons
Maeve McBride
Matthew & Christy McElligott
Skip Meislahn
Linda Mertz & Paul Partridge
Ed & Marie Miles
Elizabeth Miller
Linda Miller
Nicholas & Hilary Miller
Barbara Mladinov
Tolga Morawski
Mary & Malcolm Morris
David A. Munro & Eileen Hoffman
Nancy Crowther
Sigrin & Jonathan Newell
Ralph Blackwood & Nancy Nicholas
Joseph & Rita Okoniewski
Barbara Orris
Richard A. Orsi & Laurie E. Dickerson
John Overbeck & Donna May Crego
Richard & Patricia Patrick
Sallie Pellman
Frederick M. Perkins
Jon Pessen
Henry & Sally Peyrebrune
Russ & Amy Pokorny
Mary Ann Randall
Margaret Z. Reed
William Reinhardt & Gail Landsman
Steve Relles
Terrence J. Rooney
Phyllis Rosenblum
Nola Royce
Michael & Susan Sandison
Jan & Reese Satin
Ruth & Tom Schottman
Alice Schrade
Steven & Sherry Schrade
Martha D. Schroeder
Rev. Keith & Mary Scott
David F. Shaffer
Denise Sheehan
MaryAnn & Bruce Shubert
John & Susan Simon
Andris Simsons
Jonathan B. Skinner
Nancy & Glen Slack
Ingrid Sorensen
Gwen Spicer & David Fitzgerald
Hank & Carolyn Steadman
Albert Stella
Michael & Carolyn Sterthous
Karen Strong
Peter E. Sutherland
Dr. & Mrs. Edwin Taft
Natalie Nussbaum & Alan Tallman
Dr. & Mrs. Clifford Tepper
Henry Tepper
Dan & Patricia Testo
James Torriani
John Traylor
David Van Luven
Michael Barrett & Ruth Walters
Donna T. Welch
Patricia K. Wood
Roger & Emilie Wright
Dana E. Yanulavich
$50 - $99
Timothy & Susan Albright
Paul & Melanie Axel-Lute
Kenneth R. Baker
Robert J. Baptiste
Allison Bennett
Elizabeth Berberian
David & Ann Brandon
John & Mary Brennan
Paul & Brenda Breslin
Bert & Janet Butlin
John & Debra Carson
Drs. Alan Casline & Jennifer Pearce
Anne & Curt Chittenden
Judith & Louis Clough
Martin R. Daley
Elsa G. deBeer
Dominick DeCecco
Susan Dubois
Leif Engstrom
Louise Finlayson
Peter B. Fleischer
Ron Frederiks & Ellen Sweney
John F. Gajewski
Eugene & Barbara Garber
Michelle Garrah
Martin Gawoski
Ethan Georgi
Robert & Monica Gordon
Gene Greger & Helen Weltin
Wendy Guida
Carl & Sue Gutman
Howard Hart
Holly Hawkes
Barbara & Jason Heck
Eric & Susan Hilliard
David Hodgdon
Harold & Alice Howes
Eric & Mary Lou Jackson
Marilyn Kaltenborn
Betty Ketcham
William & Stephanie Kolbe
Anne Kuppinger & Dan Liebert
Ann Lapinski
Esther Lewis
Donald R. Lipkin
Claire M. Malone
Gerard & Mary McGreevy
Steve McLaughlin
Louise McNeilly
Bernard Melewski
Joseph & Ellen Messina
Sam & Jan Messina
Thomas Meyer & Maura McPeak
Matt & Karen Miller
John & Hedi Moore
Ilona Muhlich
Robert E. Mulligan
David Ellison & Carolyn Olsen
Henri T. Plant
David Pettie & Kim Ploussand
Paul & Diana Praus
Arden Rauch
Mark & Cheryl Reeder
Dr. Judith Rettig
Irene & Lewis Rosenthal
Nancy E. Rutenber
Marlon R. Salgado
Marian Schwager & Roman Hedges
Beth Sciumeca
Sandra Scott
Loretta Simon
Hon. Leslie Stein
Katherine Storms
James Suozzo
Robert H. Suss
Beth Swartz
Stephen Tan
Henry & Terry Tedeschi
John & Sally Ten Eyck
Stephen Tomasik
Susan & John Toohey
Christina Treffiletti
Patty & Kent Troup
Mari Vosburgh
Connie Strong Wilbur
Mark Yolles
Nancy Yule
David & Iva Zornow
$40 - $49
Jim & Carol Ackerman
K. Balasubramanian
Michele Atallah & George Benson
Elwin C. Bigelow
Carol Blackwell
Nancy Carter
Carl Chalek
Mr. & Mrs. Thomas P. Connolly
Barbara Cooley
Susan D’Entremont
Barbara Delaney & Russ Dunn
Frances & David Dembling
Thomas P. Downes
Mark & Sarah Foster
Mark & Karen Frering
Roy & Judy Fruiterman
Rick Georgeson
Joan Given
Marcia S. Hanson
Eric & Maria Kroth
John & Susan Leath
Jeff Levitt
Maria Lifrak
Lauren Lyons-Swift
Jack & Christina Madden
Christine Marshall
Matthew & Jennifer Mauer
Julie Maynes
John Meany
Daniel Mehlman & Margaret Shirk
Sarah Miller
Dr. Matthew J. Murnane
Tom Nobles & Diana Ham
David H. Philips, Jr.
Ruth Rauche
David M. Rhodes
Mike Ritty & Sue Bogdan
Don & Cicilia Rodbell
Gretchen Roecker
Nancy Rucks & Tom Hart
Margaret & Andrew Rudzinski
Janine Saatman
Marge & Jim Shanley
Onnolee & Larry Smith
Tom Stephany
Mr. & Mrs. Ivan Vamos
Margaret A. Wallingford
Laura Welles
Frank & Virginia Welnhofer
Stephen & Carolyn Wilson
Winston & Christine Wong
Up to $40
Bessie Argiris
Richard & Yvonne Berschwinger
Leslie Bristol
Jessica Brown
Maria E. Buhl
Patt & Jeff Bull
Pam Burns
Mary Ann Carreras
Constance Coon
Waltraut Deibel
Jean Forti
Ron Frinks
Miles Garfinkel
Marjorie Geiger
Ronald & Regina Gerhard
Thomas, Megan & Aengus Gillespie
Elliott & Nancy Greene
Christine & Bernard Grossman
John Hanley
Judith Henery
Craig & Karin Henrikson
Barry & Diane Isenberg
Arlene Jackson
Barbara N. Jariri
Joan Kinsley
Ann Kistler
Tina Mazzucco
John Morse
Mary Lou Murrock
Raelene Noll
Neil Rosenstrauch
Judy Scanlon
Joe Shea
Tim & Ricky Talmage
Hertha Thayer
William & Virginia Traver
Judith J. Young
Honorariums and Memorials
In Memory of Lois Swart Crauer
Keith Hattes
In Memory of Jerry Duckor
David & Ann Krischer
In Memory of Thomas Genovese
Pine Hills Neighborhood Assoc.
Tammie Barnhart
Ron & Carmela Burke
Francis & Mary Ann Caimano
Dennis J. Caro
Judy & Ubaldo DeAngelis & Family
Mark & Beth DeAngelis
Lois & Michael DeSano
The Desmond Hotel
Mrs. Susan Dillon & Family
Mrs. Ingrid Dispenza
Jeffrey Freyer & Stephanie Olivelli
Joseph & Janice Genovesi
Joan & Judith Greenwood
Aedythe Hecht
Gabriel A. Holmes
Raymond & Mary Johnston
Stephanie Kvam
Mrs. Stephen A. Maney and Family
Christopher & Denise Marcella
Kevin McLoughlin
Rebecca Miller
John Pasicznyk
Noreen Pilette
Les & Carol Reylea
Cecilia & Vincent Rigosu
Joseph & Louella Russo
Michael & Karma Sees
Mr. and Mrs. John F. Smith
James & Molly Tomlin
William & Antoinette Tomlin
Tony & Mary Valenti
Timothy & Mary Virgil
Jason & Lucille Windsor
In Honor of Mark & Elaine Koplik
McSharry & Associates
In Honor of Anne Kulak
Gregory & Kathleen Bellamy
In Honor of Libby Liebschutz’ s
Birthday
Mark Marchand & Elisa Gallaro
In Honor of Cathie Love
Sara N. Love
In Honor of George Martin’s 80th
Birthday
Alvin & Sharon Breisch
In Honor of Judy Thomson
Jean Verbridge
Business, Foundation
& Non-Profit Support
Albany Bicycle Coalition
Albany Chapter - ADK
Bethlehem Garden Club
Capital Cities Imported Cars
Central Steak
Creo Restaurant
Eastern Mountain Sports
Fort Orange Garden Club, Inc.
Garden Bistro 24
GE Foundation
Gold Coin
IBM International Foundation
Interim HealthCare
Mangia Restaurant
NBT Bank
New York State Environmental
Protection Fund (EPF) through the NYS DEC
New York State EPF through the
NYS Conservation Partnership
Program
Nigro Companies
Prudential Foundation
Reed & Vella, LLP
Lawrence I. & Blanche H. Rhodes
Memorial Fund, Inc.
Ruby Tuesday, Inc.
State Employees Federated Appeal
Tri County Fair Society
Voorheesville Community and
School Foundation
White Management
Donors of Goods & Services
Individuals
Paul Barrett
Tony Belsito
Kim Baker
David Barnet & Julia Richards
Dr. & Mrs. Philip T. Drew
Dan and Maureen Driscoll
Frederick Eames
Susan & Alex Filipp
Chris Galvin
Fran Gorka
Chef Dan Hurlbut
Kevin Kuhne
Anne LaSalle
Dan Lewis
Cathie Love
Robert Lynk
Jean Mackay
Robert & Anne Marso
Ellie Prakken
Helen & Bob Smith
Judy & Steve Thomson
Carolyn & Ron Tweedie
Businesses
Albany Devils- Hockey Team
Albany Legends- Basketball Team
Albany Symphony Orchestra
Argyle Cheese Farmer
Backyard Birds
Balance Massage Studio
Blue Plate Restaurant
Bountiful Bread
Café 333
Candles ‘n More
Cape Cod Linens by David
Capital Repertory Theatre
Carrabba’s Italian Grill
Center for Natural Wellness
Cold Stone Creamery Ice Cream Cake
Colonial Cleaners Albany
Creó Restaurant
Delmar Dog Butler
Delmar Wine & Beverage
Different Drummer’s Kitchen
Eastern Mountain Sports
Stuyvestant Plaza
Emack & Bolio’s
French’s Hollow Fairways
The Fresh Market
Gobbler’s Knob
Gore Mountain
Hannaford
Hoffman’s Playland
Hoffman Development Corp.
Home Depot
Homemade Jams and Jellies
by Claudia Russell
Honest Weight COOP
iFill Ink Jets
I Love Books
Joyelle’s Jewelers
Loving Café
Lowe’s of Glenmont
The Little Book House
Mac-Hayden Theatre, Inc.
Mazzone Management Group
Milano/ Provence
New World Bistro
Nicole’s Restaurant
Onsite Caterers
Orvis
Pet Styles
Price Chopper
Proctors Theater
Patricia Richards at Blairhouse, LLC
Saati Deli & Catering
Saratoga Performing Arts Center
Solutions by Design
Spectrum 8 Theatres
Spiral Tango
The Stockade Inn
Sunrise Tanning
Troy’s Landscape Supply Company
U.W. Marx Construction Company
UAlbany Performing Arts Center
Valley Cats - Baseball
Valoze Nursery
The Village Animal Clinic
The Village Butcher
Wild Sage
Wine And Spirits of Slingerlands
Wolf Creek Farm
Helderberg-Hudson Rail Trail
In June 2012, we signed an agreement with Albany County, Town of New Scotland,
and Village of Voorheesville to open a 2.4-mile section of the Helderberg-Hudson
Rail Trail between Upper Font Grove Road and the Village of Voorheesville (with the
exception of the two bridges). Following the signing, volunteers and the Town of New
Scotland employees made quick work of clearing the path.
The Voorheesville Community and School Foundation awarded MHLC a $10,000
grant to pay for repairs for the two bridges needed to complete the trail into the Village
of Voorheesville. This bridge work will be completed in 2013.
Progress was made on developing signage and design guidelines for the trail. A
public meeting was held to solicit ideas for a trail theme and a logo was developed.
Throughout 2012, Trail Ambassadors routinely walked the trail checking for problems,
picking up litter, and greeting walkers. With the help of the New York State Department
of Transportation and the Bethlehem Police Department, volunteers helped tackle a
graffitti problem on the Cherry Avenue Bridge.
Outreach
Increasing awareness of our mission remains a
top priority. In 2012, over 1750 individuals hiked
at our preserves and 100 plus volunteers helped
maintain trails, lead outings, and helped organize
events, such as the Summer Solstice and Voorheesville Memorial Day Parade.
2012 got off to a great start with the arrival of our
new Development Director, Lea Montalto-Rook
in January. With a background in development
and marketing Lea quickly put together a series
of events to help increase awareness of our work
throughout the region. Four programs for major
donors were held to keep them informed of our
activities and new projects.
More than 100 members attended our Annual
Awards Dinner in April with guest speaker Charles
Gehring of the New Netherland Project.
Our hiking program provided the opportunity for
members and other interested individuals to enjoy
some of our protected properties and learn more
about our work. A special outing at the Winn Preserve included a drum circle.
We celebrated our 20th Anniversary at our annual fundraising event at the Adirondack Exhibit
at the State Museum in October. The founding
board members and former board presidents
were recognized for their vision and leadership.
Our first Summer Solstice event on the rail trail
was a huge success with over 350 people coming out on the very hot evening to celebrate the
beginning of summer and the end of the school
year.
Mohawk Hudson Land Conservancy
PO Box 567
Slingerlands, NY 12159
Not for Profit
U.S. Postage
PAID
Slingerlands, NY
PERMIT # 10
Financial Report
2012 saw increases in assets and operating revenue thanks to the generous support of our donors through our year-end appeal and major gifts. Our Development
Director continues to work with local businesses and by strengthening contacts, we
can strive for an increase in revenue from membership and events. A grant from
the Environmental Protection Fund (EPF) and the New York State Conservation
Partnership Program, a collaborative effort with the Land Trust Alliance and the
NYS Department of Environmental Conservation covered the expenses of applying for accreditation. Also funded by the EPF was a grant from the Mohawk River
Basin Program to assist with the expenses of the Bintz Easement. A grant from the
Voorheesville Community and School Foundation provided funding for improvements to the Helderberg-Hudson Rail Trail. We continue to work on increasing
sources of unrestricted operating funds.
Operating Revenue 2012 $197,321
Other
4%
Membership
22%
Outreach
29%
Grants
Monies Used
30%
Fundraisers
16%
Major Gifts
19%
Operating Expenses 2012
$155,832
Board
Contributions
9%
Land
Acquisition &
Stewardship
42%
Development
15%
Management
& General
14%
Current Assets $575,963
Strategic
Acquisitions
Fund (Board
directed)
7%
Stewardship
Endowment
(restricted)
49%
Other Current
Assets
7%
Unrestricted
Operating
Funds/invest
ments
22%
Temporarily
Restricted
Funds/Invest
ments
15%