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Current Situation and
Organization Needs
History
The Geneva Lake Conservancy,
organized in 1982, is a member of the national Land Trust
Alliance. It operates as a tax exempt 501C3 organization serving
the Geneva Lake region of Southeast Wisconsin, located south
of Milwaukee and near the border of Illinois, to the north
of greater metropolitan Chicago.
Its principal thrust has been to encourage owners of large
lakefront properties, forested areas and open green spaces
to place them under easement. In recent years greater focus
has been placed on efforts to control development in the area
that threatens the community character and potentially damages
natural watershed properties.
Its Mission Statement reads:
The mission of the Geneva
Lake Conservancy is to conserve the land and water resources
of southeastern Wisconsin for future generations.
The Conservancy's mission
is carried out in three principal ways:
- Advocacy for policies,
planning and land use decisions that protect lakes, wetlands,
prime farmlands, natural areas, environmental corridors,
and historic landmarks, and discourage urban sprawl.
- Support of conservation
development in planned growth areas, including consultation
with developers to promote site designs consistent with
our mission.
- Work with landowners
to devise conservation easements or other protective measures
for their properties.
In fulfilling its mission,
the GLC has focused efforts on preserving open spaces in an
area being subjected to heavy development pressures emanating
from the major metropolitan centers of Chicago and Milwaukee.
Its highest priority is to preserve and protect portions of
extensive agricultural properties which surround the watershed
areas of Geneva and Delavan Lakes.
In addition to educating
property owners on the advantages and use of Conservation
Easements, the GLC has conducted general public education
programs. These include a web site and a number of outreach
efforts which promote responsible conservation and a general
public awareness and appreciation for the need to preserve
and protect the remaining open space. A new Watershed Education
campaign is underway to communicate how watersheds work and
their importance to maintaining the heath and beauty of our
lakes and streams.
During the past four years,
as the result of a concerted effort, the GLC has cultivated
a working relationship with local governmental bodies, serving
as a resource in city planning and in dealing with proposed
developments. The GLC also worked directly with developers
to improve the conservation characteristics of their proposals.
Balancing these efforts and advocacy efforts against development
has been challenging and at times controversial.
Faced with the inevitable
growth and development of open space, the GLC established
a philosophy that recognizes these realities. Its efforts
were guided by the need for communities to take a proactive
position in managing development to ensure it is both responsible
and balanced.
During this period, the
GLC has been successful in fundraising, which has supported
a $300k budget and a full time staff of three. Additionally,
the organization has built an easement defense fund (Stewardship
Fund) and resource reserve of about 33% of the annual budget.
During the past year the
GLC participated in a pilot accreditation program by the Land
Trust Alliance (LTA). At the same time we upgraded all our
easements baselines to current LTA standards. These efforts
improved the GLC as an organization but accreditation was
not achieved in the pilot program. The organization would
like to complete the process of accreditation as soon as is
feasible now that the criteria are clear.
Current and Anticipated Future Needs
- Review current fundraising
operations, strategies and resources and recommend changes
for conducting annual campaigns. We rely heavily on Events/Parties
to achieve our goals and need to develop other sources of
revenue such as grants/foundations.
- Audit and strengthen
current resources for obtaining new easements and managing
existing ones against our goal of obtaining 1000+ acres
of protected land by 2010.
- Continue to help improve
our effectiveness in helping to control development in the
area either through a balanced program of education, outreach,
advocacy and when appropriate, working with developers to
improve conservation elements to protect specific natural
resources and critical watershed features.
- Drive our Watershed
Education program as a critical element for preserving the
natural beauty and cleanliness of area lakes and streams.
- Outreach to agricultural
community. Develop personal contacts to begin the educational
process on the use of easements for achieving family needs
and future plans for the property.
- Guide and support committees
of the Board in the fulfillment of their programs and objectives
- Help strengthen current
Board through infusion of new members and actively engaging
and challenging all members to commit to specific tasks
in order to achieve near and longer term objectives.
- Review LTA accreditation
efforts, build the organization to meet all standards and
recommend when to reapply for full accreditation.
Status and Achievements
The Geneva Lake Conservancy
has established a presence in the region it serves. It has
demonstrated leadership on a number of controversial development
issues. It has renewed its efforts at growing its protected
lands and has recently upgraded all its easements to current
LTA standards. It is strong financially. It has improved its
procedures. It now needs a new Executive Director to carry
on its mission and take it to the next level in terms of sophistication
and professionalism.
The current organization
consists of an Executive Director, a Membership Outreach Coordinator
who also operates as an office manager and a Land Protection
Specialist. Additionally a bookkeeper is budgeted. The Board
of Directors consists of 14 members of whom about half are
local residents and the other half own second homes in the
area and whose main residence is in the greater Chicago-Milwaukee
areas.
It currently holds 20 easements
and owns 3 properties outright. These protected properties
range in size from 0.8 acres to 227 acres and largely consist
of open lands and residential properties. The total acreage
under protection is currently 904 acres.
The operating budget for
2009 is $330k with revenues largely derived from the following
sources: property owners within the watersheds areas, memberships
and members of its Board of Directors. Current cash and liquid
investments total $225k which consists of about 50% as a "Stewardship"
reserve to be used in defense of property issues and about
50% a reserve in case the organization not meet its fundraising
goals in any particular year.
Candidate
Profile
The GLC needs leadership
in its new Director and a preferred candidate will have previous
experience as a Director of a Conservancy or similar organization
with a record of achievement in the management of land trusts,
easements or organizations comparable to the Geneva Lake Conservancy.
The ideal candidate should have a commanding presence and
leadership qualities, strong management and planning skills
that include the development of vision, setting of objectives,
management of people and the ability to meet stated objectives
through one's own initiative and organization of others. The
candidate should be a strategic thinker, realistic in conception
and practical in implementation and should be able to diplomatically
influence and educate external constituencies as well as a
strong Board of Directors.
Duties and Responsibilities
The Executive Director
will be responsible for leading the organization and acting
as spokesperson before the Board of Directors, community organizations,
government bodies, public forums and individuals. Responsibilities
include:
- Develop concise vision
for the organization and win support from the Board for
the resources for its implementation.
- Protect watershed and
open lands in the southern section of Walworth County. Develop
Strategies to advance the objectives and goals of the Conservancy.
- Assist and counsel land
owners and government bodies in the development of easements
and organize plans and funding for their enforcement in
line with the written intention of the grantors.
- Apply expertise
as a consultant to (1) private landowners on use of
conservation easements and other options and approaches
(2) local governments on planning and zoning techniques
that balance protection, open space and water with responsible
growth and development. This includes promoting development
using models consistent with responsible "green"
principles and good economic considerations.
- Fundraise for the
enforcement of easements and proper defense should property
owners or developers breach restrictions.
- Become thoroughly
familiar with the Standards, Policies and Best Practices
established by the Land Trust Alliance. The GLC wants
to remain in good standing as a member by keeping abreast
of these standards and applying them in creating and
managing easements.
- In reference to government
relations, monitor activities, maintain a highly visible
presence and cultivate personal relationships with local
and regional government officials and administrators to
(1) generally advance the Conservancy's agenda and (2) offer
advice and counsel on specific zoning, regulatory and legislative
issues relating to conservation policies and practices.
- Provide education
and resources to help the advance of community understanding
of proper development or understanding of options available.
- Expose reckless
or unbridled development, particularly that which is
not supported by an aware and broad-based, educated
community. Promote activities that support an ongoing
balance in terms of development and maintenance of community
character and green space.
- Forge alliances with
community organizations in pursuit of common interests in
promoting sound conservation policies and practices. This
includes developing and managing a detailed marketing plan
that identifies and characterizes markets served and presents
programs for reaching targeted segments and constituencies.
- Develop and implement
a community outreach program to promote the Conservancy's
goals through the media, newsletters, publications and presentations
to community groups and government bodies.
- Develop and manage,
with the support of the Board of Directors, an ongoing fund
raising program that supports the organization's growth
and development in terms of its influencing real positive
outcomes in Walworth County.
- Supervise and manage
staff to effectively and efficiently run the day-to-day
organization and to support the Board of Directors in its
activities.
Download
complete job description here
Qualifications
- A Bachelor's Degree
and at least five years experience with a Conservancy, Land
Trust or equivalent organization engaged in conservation
is preferred.
- A good working understanding
of Conservation Easements as well as practical experience
in their development and enforcement.
- In-depth knowledge of
farm and wetland protection techniques, including use of
conservation easements, real property tax law, and land
use planning techniques.
- Proven record of success
in lobbying and working with municipal and county governments
in land use planning, zoning and other areas related to
conservation issues.
- Successful fund raising
experience with a not-for-profit organization.
- Demonstrated leadership
in working with diverse individuals and groups including
members of the Board, staff, volunteers, local community
groups, merchants, realtors and developers, landowners,
corporate and foundation executives.
- Ability to apply and
judiciously adapt previous work experience to a resort region
composed of diverse interests including merchants dependent
upon tourist trade, farmers, permanent and part-time summer
residents, realtors, developers and other local businesses.
- Persuasive writing and
oral skills in negotiating with government and business
interests and communicating with local constituencies.
- Demonstrated ability
and confidence to assume a leadership and management role
without close direction and supervision by a volunteer Board
of Directors, many of whom are part-time residents of a
summer community.
- Keen intuitive insights
into the social dynamics of a diverse community and leadership
and people skills to gain the cooperation and support necessary
to advance conservation goals.
Compensation
Competitive and commensurate with experience, performance
and qualifications. Negotiable.
Application Procedures
Applications accepted until November 1, 2008
- Letter of Application
- Resume
- Names, addresses and
phone numbers of at least three references, including at
least two who have had a professional working relationship
with the applicant.
- A statement, not to
exceed two pages, describing how experience and accomplishments
qualify applicant for this position.
- A statement of salary
history and expectations.
Direct all inquiries
and submitted materials to
Charles L. Colman (Board
Chair)
Geneva Lake Conservancy
P.O. Box 588
398 Mill Street
Fontana, WI 53125
Fax: (262) 275-0579
glc@genevaonline.com
For information call
Katie Sullivan (Membership
& Outreach Coordinator)
Geneva Lake Conservancy
(262) 275-5700
katie@genevaonline.com
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