This is all good news. Our organization has been progressing through foundation work…forming, becoming non-profit, becoming charitable, and creating our strategic plan. We are now starting to put together and submit proposals for land interests, which is very exciting, and our board members will soon be focusing more directly on the actual work of a land conservancy rather than the setting up of the organization.

But, don’t mistake this to mean we have done all the setting up. Recently, Rachel and Janet attended a board governance course and came away after five weeks realizing that there is still one heck of a lot of things to do.

So, we are looking for more people to not only become members but to become active in the work of the board and on committees. This is an exciting time to be involved and for anyone considering doing so, please contact us at info at malaspinaland dot ca.

At the AGM we showed three short films to emphasize the work of land conservancies. For anyone not able to attend the AGM, click on the following links to access these inspiring films.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WdabcHZ820E which is about the Friends of Mississippi River and is almost 7 minutes long.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iX5yT7QSyc4 about children and the wilderness, with last child in the woods author Richard Louv, 14 mins long.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=huO_NRn34GI which is a great little film about raingardens as well as other ways of slowing down water runoff, 9 mins long.

Just to backtrack a little, back in the fall, 2011, we were delighted to receive a donation of $150 from Powell River Community Foundation. PRCF created Powell River’s Vital Signs report. The foundation decided to calculate carbon offsets to compensate for the energy used to create the report. The sum of $150 was determined and MLCS was the recipient of the funds.

We decided that we will hold the funds and use them specifically for adding more trees to the environment. We intend to do this with any carbon offset money we receive as it seems to be the logical use of such funds.

Janet Southcott, president, at AGM, November 2011

This year we are looking for new directors. Five of our directors, who have given many hours and dedication to the society, are stepping down. This includes Paul, who has been our Treasurer for the past two years, and has provided us with legal advice over the past three, and David, our secretary and membership committee chair and the person responsible for our website. Both David and Paul have been with MLCS from the start. Also leaving us are Maureen, Judy and Nola. However, all remain as members.

We intend to involve membership more this year. Since our conception we have worked hard to form a strong foundation. It is now time for us to become more active in pursuit of our objectives.

We hope that many members join us for the AGM. If technology works, there will be a couple of short videos about how other land conservancies are preserving land.

To vote at the AGM you must be a member in good standing in the current year as of one week prior to the AGM. Membership is $10 per person. Membership renewals for the 2011/2012 year will be available at the AGM.  To find out more, see an agenda for the AGM, view the Proxy voting form or the membership renewal form, click on the attached PDF.

Janet Southcott (nee Alred)
President

MLCS Call to 2011 AGM

Free membership is being offered for one of Powell River’s newest charities. Malaspina Land Conservancy Society (MLCS) has received a gift from a generous member who has pledged to sponsor the first 50 new members of the society for one year.

The gift is provided to increase public recognition of MLCS and involve more people in its development.

MLCS was formed to assist private land owners, whether individuals, industry or businesses, with decisions relating to the preservation and conservation of their land. “We do this by holding an interest in the land,” said MLCS President Janet Alred. An interest could take the shape of ownership, or a conservation covenant that is placed on a specific area of the property.

The mission of MLCS is the protection of land of natural, agricultural, scenic, recreational or historic value. “We are particularly interested in riparian areas, old growth forest and areas of biological diversity,” said Alred. “Overall, we share a vision of people living within a healthy diverse region where respect for the natural world is paramount.”

Members of the society are invited to participate in field trips to locally preserved land, will have the opportunity to learn about land restoration and can help on many projects, including committees such as membership, public engagement, fundraising and land.

Memberships cost $10 annually for individuals, $30 for organizations and $100 for businesses. “We are able to offer free individual memberships to the first 50 people to join us for the first time. This is an exciting time to join as members can really play a part in the society’s development. We are already in conversation with various land owners about their properties and anticipate launching fundraising campaigns in the near future to preserve land for the local community.”

MLCS will have an information table at the Powell River Film Festival on Thursday, February 17 through Saturday, February 19 at Powell River Recreation Complex.

Yes, you read that right… thanks to our very generous member for a great idea! Here’s to all our new members.

Congratulations to the new board of directors:

• Janet Alred (President)
• Rachel Botting (Vice President)
• David Parkinson (Secretary)
• Nola Poirier
• Paul Schachter (Treasurer)
• Maureen Simmonds
• Lesley Thorsell
• Judy Watts

For more information about our directors, see this page.

We’ll be continuing to meet monthly and push forward with our work in various areas (membership, fundraising, public outreach, and especially land acquisition and holding lands in trust).

Please see this PDF for more details.

Date: Tuesday, November 2, 2010
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Place: Vancouver Island University (Powell River), Room 152

Individual membership is $10.00 and expires at the conclusion of the AGM following the date of payment. Only current paid-up members can vote at the 2010 AGM. Membership applications and dues payment for individuals who are not current members who wish to vote at the 2010 AGM must be received prior to October 26, 2009.

People who are not current members who join and pay their dues for 2010-2011 can participate but not vote in the 2010 AGM. They will be eligible to vote at all subsequent membership meetings up to and including the 2011 AGM.

We hope as many members as possible will attend the meeting. Members who are unable to attend the AGM are encouraged to attend by proxy. You can appoint any current Board member (Janet Alred, Rachel Botting, Eva van Loon, David Parkinson, Denise Reinhardt, Paul Schachter or Judy Watts) or any current member of the Society as your proxy.

The evening will finish in time for Texadans to catch their ferry. There will be refreshments.

Coast Realty office is located at 4766 Joyce Avenue. As there are two buildings, please come to the one without all the homes for sale pictured in the window. This is the building on the right if you look at both from Joyce and next door to the Community Resource Centre.

See you there!

Naturally in Nature. That is the title of a new local calendar now for sale. In Powell River, you naturally want to be in nature and, in this calendar, you happen to be au naturel! This calendar not only shows the diverse beauty of Powell River, but also points out that environmental and economic sustainability for this community means valuing and preserving our wild spaces and protecting agricultural land for local organic food.

The calendar is the work of local activist Lesley Thorsell and showcases:

• the work of several local photographers (especially Jeremy Williams who did many of the months and bared it all for January’s photo);
• graphic designer Melany Hallum;
• artist Skye Morrison;
• and local models, including the women of the Dragon Boat Paddling for Life team wearing their life jackets on Powell Lake.

The slogan for the Pink and Green Campaign in Alberta is Love your body, Love your planet and Love your life and that encompasses what the calendar stands for.

Here is some of what Lesley has to say about this project:

What I am understanding is the more we push against what we don’t want there is a larger polarity of resistance instead of a third choice. This is a hard one at times, but if you try the opposite—showing a hard heart against those with hard hearts of their own—all we’ve done is expand the problem. Everyone is doing the best they can from their own level of consciousness. In the end all we can realistically do is seek openings for higher awareness.

So part of the reason for the “Naturally in Nature” calendar is a third choice. To reach people in a heart centred way that they will feel nature and feel connected in a way that propels them to value and protect it as well as caring for their own bodies:)

If you are interested in giving an eco-gift this year check out the local calendar and website www.naturallyinnature.wordpress.com and send copies to friends, relatives, yourself to promote eco tourism for our area, protect wild spaces and fish bearing streams, organic farming, breast health and wellness.

Proceeds from this project will be given equally to the Malaspina Conservancy Land Trust and to the Pink and Green Campaign promoting a healthy environment and healthy bodies.  Call Lesley Thorsell for more information at (604) 485-6910.

An effective logo or logotype conveys the nature of the organization that it represents. Here are some of the aspects of our work as a land conservancy that might help you come up with some visual concepts for your design:

• Natural beauty: sea, sky, mountains, coastline, rivers and streams… all of the features of this region which we hope to preserve for future generations;
• Preservation: of land, plants, and animals; of agricultural land and the traditional ways of producing food; etc.
• Strengthening community: we hope to bring people together around the shared goal of preserving the places of beauty and meaning in this part of the world;
• Sustainability, environment: a land conservancy keeps parts of the local environment safe from environmental harm.

Criteria for entry in the competition:

• Deadline: All entries must be received or postdated on or before May 1, 2009.
• Who may enter: The contest is open to any person (except the judges!); and entrants can enter any number of submissions.
• Format of entry: Either a black-and-white or colour logo is acceptable. It is preferable if colour logos can also be reproduced successfully in black and white. A sketch of the logo design is acceptable. The winning logo may be modified by MLCS staff.
• Text: The words “Malaspina Land Conservancy Society” must be included in the logo/logotype design. Please submit font used (if electronic version is submitted).

You can find all of the details in the specification document. Here’s a link to the poster, in case you feel like printing it out and plastering it all around the places where artists and creative people hang out.

Please feel free to contact us at info@malaspinaland.ca if you have any questions.

Now go forth and design!