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Partnership atGoodwin Center Renewed
On October 1, CFPA opened a newchapter in educational partnership whenwe officially began directing programsat the Goodwin Forest ConservationEducation Center in Hampton, CT.From 1914 until 1964, the same James L. Goodwin for whom our CFPAHeadquarters is named owned aworking Tree Farm in Hampton. A Yaleeducated forester, Goodwin practicedintensive, state of the art, oftenpioneering forest management and keptmeticulous records. In 1964 he gifted theentire 1,763-acre “Pine Acres Farm” tothe state of Connecticut, to be managedas a state forest. As part of theconveyance, Goodwin specified that thehouse, museum, and 80 forested acressurrounding them be managed inperpetuity as an educational center, toprovide “forestry, wildlife, and generalconservation education to youth andadults.”CFPA has a long history of partnership at the GoodwinConservation Center. For several yearsafter the 1964 gift, CFPA was contracted by the state to operate the educationalcenter. In 2005, after 2+ years of minimal activity at the Center, we wereinstrumental in forming the “GoodwinCollaborative”: a 3-way partnershipdesigned to reinvigorate theprogramming there. Now, 44 years afterGoodwin’s original gift, we are onceagain directing programs at theGoodwin Center. Former UConnExtension Forester Steve Broderick, whoretired from UConn recently after a 30year career, has been hired by CFPA todirect our efforts.The Goodwin Center programs are being targeted to a wide variety of audiences who have the ability toinfluence Connecticut’s forest resources,either now or in the future. Forestlandowners, foresters and loggers, scoutand other youth groups, and municipalcommissioners are some key examples.The foundation of the Center’seducational programs is demonstration:on-the-ground examples of good forestand wildlife stewardship put in placeand documented. These demonstrationsare occurring at every landscape scale,from the 1.5-acre native plant wildlifegardens on the Center grounds, to the30+ mile long open space corridor thatincludes the Goodwin, Natchaug andNipmuck State Forests and the Yale-Meyers Forest.The Goodwin Forest ConservationEducation Center is located just off of Route 6 in Hampton.Contact Steve Broderick at (860)455-9534, sbroderick@ctwoodlands.org,or visit
www.ct.gov/dep/Goodwin
.
Annual Fund Easier thanEver to Support
CFPA kicks off our 2008Annual Fund witheasier donation optionsthan ever before.Wedding Bells & HappyTrails brings support toCFPA. Giving optionsabound.
Page 3
CFPA wants you!
(to volunteer for specialevents). Eastern Mountain Sportsprovides CFPA Club Daybenefits to members.
Page 5
WalkCT Gains Ground
New program makesstrides to connect youwith good hikes.
Page 6
Winter 2008
Volume 1 Issue #2From the ExecutiveDirector’s Desk
CFPA’s Image Problem.Staff updates - Awardsand new family.
Page 2
CFPA News Notes 1
Trail Mix
Many Hands on theTrails, Annual Awardsto Trail Managers, andtally of Trail hours.
Page 4-5
NEWSLETTER OF THE CONNECTICUT FOREST PARK ASSOCIATION
The Goodwin Forest ConservationCenter is an inspiring example of howcareful estate planning can create aperpetual legacy of community andconservation service. Call Jim Little atCFPA if you would like to learn more.
2
CFPA News Notes
CFPA’s Image Problem
As we work to grow membership andincrease sustainability as an organization,it is becoming clear to me that CFPA hassomewhat of an image problem. It’s notthat CFPA isn’t known and valued withinthe conservation community - we mostdefinitely are. Beyond our strong network of friends, however, lies confusion aboutwho we are and what we do.At an election night gathering, I wasasked where I work. When I told them“the Connecticut Forest & Park Association,” their responses wereinstructive. One teacher friend said, I betyou enjoy working for CommissionerMcCarthy, she’s doing great work withthat No Child Left Inside program. Iinformed him that although I do respectthe Commissioner greatly, CFPA is anindependent non-profit conservationorganization. Another friend asked me“Does CFPA have anything to do withTrails?” and followed this with “I lovehiking on the Metacomet Trail.” Ipatiently informed her that yes, CFPAand hundreds of our Trail volunteersmaintain the Blue-Blazed Hiking TrailSystem including, you guessed it, theMetacomet.What can we do to ensure that morepeople both understand our mission and,hopefully, join CFPA to support it? Thisquestion and others were central at theStrategic Planning Retreat that werecently held in Lyme at the home of anincredibly gracious CFPA member. OurBoard, Staff, and consultants discussedthe fundamentals of our mission, ourvision, and our values as an organization,and then focused on four strategicinitiatives: 1) increase the size anddiversity of our membership; 2) becomemore sophisticated in raising funds tosupport the organization; 3) invest inenhancing the leadership skills of the board and staff; and 4) secure the Blue-Blazed Hiking Trail System for futuregenerations.It was quite interesting to see ourown organization struggle with the issueof how to appropriately increase ourvisibility. On one hand, there was wideagreement that we need to do a better jobof letting the general public know whoCFPA is, but this is a somewhat unnaturaltask for an organization that has alwaysshone the spotlight most brightly on ourpartners. Our focus on conservationpartnerships will not change, but weneed some help in getting out the word.As we move forward, I invite you --as someone who cares about CFPA -- tohelp us with your ideas. How can weincrease our visibility (as a means to helpimplement our strategic initiatives)without losing our modest reputation asConnecticut’s quiet but effectiveconservation organization? I’d love tohear your ideas whether you are a PRprofessional or not. Please feel free to callme at 860.346.2372 or email me anytimeat
withyour ideas. If you want to volunteer sometime and energy to work with us on thisventure, that would be even better.
Staff News
CFPA’s tradition of Trail excellencecontinues as our Trails Director and GISSpecialist,
Ann Colson
, has been recentlychosen as the winner of the “NationalTrail Worker Award” sponsored byAmerican Trails. With this Award, Ann isrecognized for her work editing theConnecticut Walk Books, her efforts onthe New England National Scenic Trail,and for 10 years of service to CFPA.We also have wonderful news thatthere are at least two new additions to theCFPA family on the way:Land Conservation Director
DamonHearne
and his wife Megan are expectingtheir first child in early March.Education Director
Lori Brant
andher husband are welcoming Camron, anenergetic 5-year old, to their family.Camron loves animals, especially his newdog and 3 cats.
Of course, Camron hashis own letterboxing stamp he carvedwith Lori, and he is simply brilliant atdeciphering those letterboxing clues andfollowing the maps to hidden treasures.
Board of Directors
President:
David Platt, Higganum
Vice-Presidents:
Jean Crum Jones, Shelton; EricLukingbeal, Granby; David Sullivan,Higganum
Treasurer
:
Gordon Anderson, Glastonbury
Secretary:
Eric Hammerling, West Hartford
At Large:
Mark Ashton, New HavenRichard Bauerfeld, BranfordWilliam D. Breck, KillingworthRussell Brenneman, WestportGeorge M. Camp, MiddletownStarling W. Childs, Norfolk Ruth Cutler, AshfordLaurence Diamond, Coventry James Dombrauskas, New HartfordCaroline Driscoll, New LondonAstrid T. Hanzalek, SuffieldDavid Leff, CollinsvilleScott Livingston, BoltonGeoffrey Meissner, SouthingtonKaren Mignone, FairfieldRandy Miller, HamdenThomas R. Mongillo, North BranfordBob Morrison, Manchester James Ritchie, Sandy Hook Starr Sayres, East HaddamDonald L. Snook, WestportDeborah Spalding, GuilfordColin Tait, Norfolk Richard Whitehouse, Glastonbury
Staff
Jennifer Benner
, WalkCTCommunications Coordinator
Lori Paradis Brant
, Education Director
Steve Broderick
, Forest & ProgramDirector, Goodwin Forest Center
Ann T. Colson
, Trail ConservationDirector & GIS Specialist
Linda Cunningham
, FinancialManagement Assistant
Eric Hammerling
, Executive Director
Damon Hearne
, Land ConservationDirector
James W. Little
, Director of Development
Leslie Lewis
, WalkCT Director
Teresa Peters
, Office Manager
Dan Donahue
, Volunteer Forester
From the Executive Director’s Desk
CONNECTICUT FOREST PARK ASSOCIATION
CFPA News Notes
3
Supporting CFPA is simple andtakes so little of your time.
Please give generously …
If you enjoy hiking the Blue-Blazed Hiking Trails…If you feel a balanced voice for Connecticut’s land isneeded at the legislature…If educating our children and community about thevalue of nature is important…If conserving our forested land and open spaces addvalue to you and the community…If connecting to the land promotes your health andhappiness…
We can’t envisionCFPA without memberslike you – please give tothe 2008 Annual Fund.
Wedding Bells& Happy Trails
A funny, but nice, thing happened onthe way to Lisa and Fred Clarke’swedding
. In this supposed age of self interest, Lisa and Fred decided that the best way for friends and relatives tohonor their nuptials was not to showerthem with gifts, but to donate to anorganization that Lisa and Fredsupported. CFPA was one of thefortunate beneficiaries of their generosityIn order to make the gift giving morepersonal and fun, CFPA created anindividual webpage for their weddinggifts. They provided a picture and aquote to support their actions. “Amongthe many common interests that weshare is a love of the great outdoors.”they noted. Lisa walks the MattabesettTrail and Fred has hiked the Metacometand the Tunxis Trails many years.
The result of their guests’ weddinggenerosity was over $3,500 incontributions to CFPA.
We thank Lisaand Fred for their kindness and theirfriends for their generous gifts.If you have a special event comingup and would like it to benefit CFPA,please contact us and we will be happyto work with you.
CONNECTICUT FOREST PARK ASSOCIATION
How can I give more andnot feel it as much?
Easily give over a period of time
. It might bedifficult for many of us to write a $250 or$500 check to CFPA at year’s end, but formany of us it is easy to give $50 or $25 eachpay period. The Annual Fund will beextended this year so that automaticallygiving every month or every two weeksmakes it easy for you to give more withoutfeeling it so much. Go to the
Donate Now
Donate from your IRA and not increasetaxable income
. If you’re over 70
½
, youcan donate from your IRA and not have toreport the distribution as taxable income.This tax relief was recently extended to theend of 2009. Since many have to takemandatory IRA distributions that increasetheir taxable income, this tax relief allowsindividual to be more generous to theorganizations they value while reducingtheir taxable income. Please note that thisis from IRAs alone if you are over 70
½
.Call your tax advisor or Jim Little if youhave questions.
Give appreciated assets rather than a check.
Even with the recent dramatic declines inthe stock market this year, many peoplestill have highly appreciated assets. Thegift of appreciated assets allows you to benefit CFPA, provide a tax deduction andavoid capital gains or ordinary incomedepending on how long you’ve held theasset. This is still a valuable tool so callyour tax advisor or Jim Little if you havequestions.
Donate Now
Secure donations throughNetwork for Good
Instant online donation serviceavailable at
www.ctwoodlands.org
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