The Preservation Trust sent five staff members to the Land Trust Alliance Rally, held last month in Denver. Rally is an annual conference that brings together nearly 2,000 land trust staff members, board members, interested governmental agencies, service providers, and other land-conservation supporters.
A rotating group of SJPT staff attends the conference each year, but this year’s Rally was special. …
SJPT staff at Rally, left to right: Rob Roy McGregor, Laurie Naylor, Konrad Liegel (our fabulous lawyer), Tim Seifert, Barbara Courtney, Jill Belcovson
The three-day conference is packed full of workshops, networking opportunities, and inspirational presentations by leaders in the land-trust field. It never fails: SJPT staff members who have attended Rallies in the past have come home feeling energized by new ideas, new friends and business contacts, and a renewed commitment to our work.
For the crew who went this year, a highlight was the moment when Laurie Naylor (SJPT Director of Administration) marched across the hotel-ballroom stage to receive a plaque and a handshake recognizing the renewal of our 5-year accreditation by the Land Trust Accreditation Commission. The Preservation Trust was one of about 40 land trusts to be so honored this year, either for first-time accreditation or renewal. Hundreds of blue and green felt pennants bearing the “Accredited” seal fluttered and waved throughout the giant hall during the parade of honored land trusts. We’re proud that SJPT was one of them.