Mohawk Hudson Land Conservancy2012 Annual Report

President’s ReportLisa 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 fi-nancially 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 Envi-ronmental Conservation, the Bender Family Foundation, Albany County, towns of Bethlehem, New Scotland, Colonie and Glenville, Village of Voorheesville, and the Voorheesville Community and School Founda-tion. 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 imple-ments 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

Board of DirectorsLisa Evans, President

Sherry Hawley, V. PresidentCathie Love, TreasurerSusan Filipp, Secretary

Carol AshPeter BakalKim Baker

David BarnetTony BelsitoDavid Blabey

Christopher GorkaDan Lewis

Ellie PrakkenJohn RazzanoDodie Seagle Judy Thomson

Advisory CouncilJohn Abbuhl Matt Bender

Charles BuchananGinny Carter

Chuck Manning John Privitera

Peggy Sherman Mike Sterthous Peter Ten Eyck

Maggie Vinciguerra

StaffJill Knapp,

Executive DirectorLea Montalto-Rook,

Development DirectorLisa Allendorph,

Bookkeeper

PO Box 567Slingerlands, NY 12159

518-436-6346www.mohawkhudson.org

In 2012, we laid the ground work for two long-term strategic land conservation ini-tiatives: 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 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 cor-ridor of connected parcels from Black Creek Marsh, up through Thacher Park, encompassing the state forest lands and wildlife man-agement area in the hilltowns of Western Albany County, and join-ing protected parcels in Rensse-laerville. Partners in this effort in-clude the Open Space Institute and the Huyck Preserve.

Wolf Hollow-Hoffman’s Fault2012 brought opportunities for more land protection in Wolf Hol-low-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 endow-ment 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 spring-board for future land protection ac-tivities in the coming years.

Van DykeWe received another piece of land along the Phillipin Kill in Bethle-hem in 2012. This 35 acre parcel is another link in a possible future greenway trail system envisioned in the Town of Bethlehem’s Com-prehensive Plan.

Keleher PreserveWe officially opened our 287 acre Keleher Preserve in September. This property is at the southern end of the Helderbergs and is highly vis-ible from many points in the Town of Bethlehem. Over three miles of trails were developed, some provid-ing views across the Hudson Valley, and a bridge was constructed across the headwaters of the Hann-acroix Creek.

Thank You to Our Supporters for a Great Year in 2012!Stewards Circle

Gifts of $1,000 or more

Visionary $5,000 +AnonymousTom & Lisa EvansDouglas & Kip HargraveMike & Marcie LoveDonald & Lois Porter

Benefactor $1,000 - $4,999Dr. & Mrs. John W. AbbuhlClaudia Anderson & Lewis BuckmanAnonymousPeter M. BakalKim P. BakerKevin & Lisa BarronTony BelsitoMatt & Phoebe BenderDavid & Susan BlabeyCharlotte & Charles BuchananSally DalyDr. & Mrs. Frederick EamesAlexander & Susan FilippDavid & Sandra GeisingerMr. & Mrs. Christopher GorkaJanet HawkesSherry S. HawleyRobert & JoAnne KingStephen & Anne LaSalleJeff & Judy LeonDan Lewis & Jan FleischnerCathie Love & George BergChuck & Barbara ManningGeorge MartinJohn Privitera & Louise TarantinoJohn & Margaret ShermanDavid L. Shern, Ph.D.Helen & Bob SmithJohn Smolinsky & Ellen PrakkenHenry Stebbins & Val WashingtonPeter & Rose-Marie Ten EyckJudy & Steve ThomsonMaggie VinciguerraMerle C. Winn

$500 - $999Lisa AllendorphCarol AshRonald BackerDavid BarnetVirginia CarterMarilyn M DuBoisGlenn N. DurbanNancy Heinzen & Gregory StrizichTed & Sally JenningsJeff Jones & Eleanor SteinJoe KellyAnne KulakAnina la Cour, DVMDavid & Sandra MartinBrian & Barbara McCandlessErick McCandlessKate MurrayClarinda NorthropTed & Sherry PutneyGrace & Bill RaineyJohn RazzanoRay Rettig & Christine GalvinCarol & Greg RoederPete & Dodie SeagleRonald & Carolyn TweedieJean VerbridgeMs. Arlen WestbrookBrian & Melinda WhiteMargaret A. Witbeck

Allen W. ZiekerRobert & Barbara Zittel

$250 - $499A. Graham BaileyDon & Rhonda BallouKate Beale & Bob BoehmRon & Iris BergerAlvin & Sharon BreischPeter & Martha Deborah BrownCynthia R. CarlsteadJohn & Connie ClarksonJohn & Grace CraryDr. Margaret Craven & Frank SnowdenDan & Maureen DriscollDon & Ann EberleBruce & Lisa FinkleCharles & Jean GehringHelene Goldberger & Paul BaitsholtsChristopher GreaganTim Lippert & Scott GreenAudrey HawkinsJocelyn JerryMark & Kristen KingJill KnappKevin B. KuhneArden LeachRobert & Nancy LynkMarie & Peter McHughVince & Maggie MoehringerKathy Moser & David AshtonBill & Betty NathanBruce NelsonPete NyeDr. Susan PhillipsLauri & Rob PlattnerAnne K. ReynoldsDonna SawyerCharles P. & Nancy C. ScholesJames & Robin SevinskyPeter Stoj & Mona WassermanAlison E. VanKeurenDavid & Mary Carol WhiteCaleb WistarAustin Woodward

$100 - $249Shirley Anderson & Robert FisherAnnette ArgyrosWayne & Ann B’RellsKaren C. BeckAndrew & Beth BeersDan & Mary BerryRuth BonnMichael & Theresa BrattDiane & Mike BreslinGlenn BreuerJoseph CastiglioneDonald Cornell & Carol SchourDonna Crisafulli & Richard KuhnmunchThomas CrowlEdith B. CuminiDennis DabiereJohn DelahantyThomas DolinCharles D. DollardJan & Lois DormanStephen & Wilhelmina DownsRobert S. DrewLynn & Geoffrey EdmundsChristine EdwardsDr. Michael & Joanne EspositoJack & Ginny GajewskiCarl GeorgeNathan Giordano & Tara MurphyAlan Goldberg & Karen Lipson

Dr. & Mrs. William B. Greenough, IIIMitch & Cathy GriffinHelen HarrisJudith Lee & William HerbertWilliam HetzerRobert & Anna HornAlbert J. HowardMary IrishInge JacobsAmy JesaitisMary Elizabeth JonesDan & Patricia JoyceEd Kautz & Nancy PetersonJoyce KeenanPeter & Barbara KellyLois E. KlattDavid Klein & Harriet JaffeErik Kulleseid & Mark EisenhardtSteven & Kayla LargeteauMargaret LassiterSusan LawrenceJean KerrBill & Christine LeeJoseph S. LevingerScott & Debbie LewendonMark LewisDavid & Libby LiebschutzEdna LittenKathleen LoGiudice & John BlanchardAndi Lyons & Janka BialekBetsy & Jim LyonsMaeve McBrideMatthew & Christy McElligottSkip MeislahnLinda Mertz & Paul PartridgeEd & Marie MilesElizabeth MillerLinda MillerNicholas & Hilary MillerBarbara MladinovTolga MorawskiMary & Malcolm MorrisDavid A. Munro & Eileen HoffmanNancy CrowtherSigrin & Jonathan NewellRalph Blackwood & Nancy NicholasJoseph & Rita OkoniewskiBarbara OrrisRichard A. Orsi & Laurie E. DickersonJohn Overbeck & Donna May CregoRichard & Patricia PatrickSallie PellmanFrederick M. PerkinsJon PessenHenry & Sally PeyrebruneRuss & Amy PokornyMary Ann RandallMargaret Z. ReedWilliam Reinhardt & Gail LandsmanSteve RellesTerrence J. RooneyPhyllis RosenblumNola RoyceMichael & Susan SandisonJan & Reese SatinRuth & Tom SchottmanAlice SchradeSteven & Sherry SchradeMartha D. SchroederRev. Keith & Mary ScottDavid F. ShafferDenise SheehanMaryAnn & Bruce ShubertJohn & Susan SimonAndris SimsonsJonathan B. Skinner

Nancy & Glen SlackIngrid SorensenGwen Spicer & David FitzgeraldHank & Carolyn SteadmanAlbert StellaMichael & Carolyn SterthousKaren StrongPeter E. SutherlandDr. & Mrs. Edwin TaftNatalie Nussbaum & Alan TallmanDr. & Mrs. Clifford TepperHenry TepperDan & Patricia TestoJames TorrianiJohn TraylorDavid Van LuvenMichael Barrett & Ruth WaltersDonna T. WelchPatricia K. WoodRoger & Emilie WrightDana E. Yanulavich

$50 - $99Timothy & Susan AlbrightPaul & Melanie Axel-LuteKenneth R. BakerRobert J. BaptisteAllison BennettElizabeth BerberianDavid & Ann BrandonJohn & Mary BrennanPaul & Brenda BreslinBert & Janet ButlinJohn & Debra CarsonDrs. Alan Casline & Jennifer PearceAnne & Curt ChittendenJudith & Louis CloughMartin R. DaleyElsa G. deBeerDominick DeCeccoSusan DuboisLeif EngstromLouise FinlaysonPeter B. FleischerRon Frederiks & Ellen SweneyJohn F. GajewskiEugene & Barbara GarberMichelle GarrahMartin GawoskiEthan GeorgiRobert & Monica GordonGene Greger & Helen WeltinWendy GuidaCarl & Sue GutmanHoward HartHolly HawkesBarbara & Jason HeckEric & Susan HilliardDavid HodgdonHarold & Alice HowesEric & Mary Lou JacksonMarilyn KaltenbornBetty KetchamWilliam & Stephanie KolbeAnne Kuppinger & Dan LiebertAnn LapinskiEsther LewisDonald R. LipkinClaire M. MaloneGerard & Mary McGreevySteve McLaughlinLouise McNeillyBernard MelewskiJoseph & Ellen MessinaSam & Jan MessinaThomas Meyer & Maura McPeak

Matt & Karen MillerJohn & Hedi MooreIlona MuhlichRobert E. MulliganDavid Ellison & Carolyn OlsenHenri T. PlantDavid Pettie & Kim PloussandPaul & Diana PrausArden RauchMark & Cheryl ReederDr. Judith RettigIrene & Lewis RosenthalNancy E. RutenberMarlon R. SalgadoMarian Schwager & Roman HedgesBeth SciumecaSandra ScottLoretta SimonHon. Leslie SteinKatherine StormsJames SuozzoRobert H. SussBeth SwartzStephen TanHenry & Terry TedeschiJohn & Sally Ten EyckStephen TomasikSusan & John TooheyChristina TreffilettiPatty & Kent TroupMari VosburghConnie Strong WilburMark YollesNancy YuleDavid & Iva Zornow

$40 - $49Jim & Carol AckermanK. BalasubramanianMichele Atallah & George BensonElwin C. BigelowCarol BlackwellNancy CarterCarl ChalekMr. & Mrs. Thomas P. ConnollyBarbara CooleySusan D’EntremontBarbara Delaney & Russ DunnFrances & David DemblingThomas P. DownesMark & Sarah FosterMark & Karen FreringRoy & Judy FruitermanRick GeorgesonJoan GivenMarcia S. HansonEric & Maria KrothJohn & Susan LeathJeff LevittMaria LifrakLauren Lyons-SwiftJack & Christina MaddenChristine MarshallMatthew & Jennifer MauerJulie MaynesJohn MeanyDaniel Mehlman & Margaret ShirkSarah MillerDr. Matthew J. MurnaneTom Nobles & Diana HamDavid H. Philips, Jr.Ruth RaucheDavid M. RhodesMike Ritty & Sue BogdanDon & Cicilia RodbellGretchen RoeckerNancy Rucks & Tom HartMargaret & Andrew RudzinskiJanine SaatmanMarge & Jim ShanleyOnnolee & Larry Smith

Tom StephanyMr. & Mrs. Ivan VamosMargaret A. WallingfordLaura WellesFrank & Virginia WelnhoferStephen & Carolyn WilsonWinston & Christine Wong

Up to $40Bessie ArgirisRichard & Yvonne BerschwingerLeslie BristolJessica BrownMaria E. BuhlPatt & Jeff BullPam BurnsMary Ann CarrerasConstance CoonWaltraut DeibelJean FortiRon FrinksMiles GarfinkelMarjorie GeigerRonald & Regina GerhardThomas, Megan & Aengus GillespieElliott & Nancy GreeneChristine & Bernard GrossmanJohn HanleyJudith HeneryCraig & Karin HenriksonBarry & Diane IsenbergArlene JacksonBarbara N. JaririJoan KinsleyAnn KistlerTina MazzuccoJohn MorseMary Lou MurrockRaelene NollNeil RosenstrauchJudy ScanlonJoe SheaTim & Ricky TalmageHertha ThayerWilliam & Virginia TraverJudith J. Young

Honorariums and MemorialsIn Memory of Lois Swart CrauerKeith Hattes

In Memory of Jerry DuckorDavid & Ann Krischer

In Memory of Thomas GenovesePine Hills Neighborhood Assoc.Tammie BarnhartRon & Carmela BurkeFrancis & Mary Ann CaimanoDennis J. CaroJudy & Ubaldo DeAngelis & FamilyMark & Beth DeAngelisLois & Michael DeSanoThe Desmond HotelMrs. Susan Dillon & FamilyMrs. Ingrid DispenzaJeffrey Freyer & Stephanie OlivelliJoseph & Janice GenovesiJoan & Judith GreenwoodAedythe HechtGabriel A. HolmesRaymond & Mary JohnstonStephanie KvamMrs. Stephen A. Maney and FamilyChristopher & Denise MarcellaKevin McLoughlinRebecca MillerJohn PasicznykNoreen PiletteLes & Carol ReyleaCecilia & Vincent Rigosu

Joseph & Louella RussoMichael & Karma SeesMr. and Mrs. John F. SmithJames & Molly TomlinWilliam & Antoinette TomlinTony & Mary ValentiTimothy & Mary VirgilJason & Lucille Windsor

In Honor of Mark & Elaine KoplikMcSharry & Associates

In Honor of Anne KulakGregory & Kathleen Bellamy

In Honor of Libby Liebschutz’ s BirthdayMark Marchand & Elisa Gallaro

In Honor of Cathie LoveSara N. Love

In Honor of George Martin’s 80th BirthdayAlvin & Sharon Breisch

In Honor of Judy ThomsonJean Verbridge

Business, Foundation & Non-Profit Support

Albany Bicycle CoalitionAlbany Chapter - ADKBethlehem Garden ClubCapital Cities Imported CarsCentral SteakCreo RestaurantEastern Mountain SportsFort Orange Garden Club, Inc.Garden Bistro 24GE FoundationGold CoinIBM International FoundationInterim HealthCareMangia RestaurantNBT BankNew York State Environmental

Protection Fund (EPF) through the NYS DEC

New York State EPF through theNYS Conservation Partnership Program

Nigro CompaniesPrudential FoundationReed & Vella, LLPLawrence I. & Blanche H. Rhodes

Memorial Fund, Inc.Ruby Tuesday, Inc.State Employees Federated AppealTri County Fair SocietyVoorheesville Community and

School FoundationWhite Management

Donors of Goods & ServicesIndividuals

Paul BarrettTony BelsitoKim BakerDavid Barnet & Julia Richards Dr. & Mrs. Philip T. Drew Dan and Maureen Driscoll Frederick Eames Susan & Alex FilippChris GalvinFran Gorka Chef Dan HurlbutKevin Kuhne Anne LaSalle

Dan Lewis Cathie LoveRobert LynkJean MackayRobert & Anne MarsoEllie PrakkenHelen & Bob SmithJudy & Steve ThomsonCarolyn & Ron Tweedie

Businesses

Albany Devils- Hockey TeamAlbany Legends- Basketball TeamAlbany Symphony OrchestraArgyle Cheese FarmerBackyard BirdsBalance Massage StudioBlue Plate RestaurantBountiful Bread Café 333Candles ‘n MoreCape Cod Linens by DavidCapital Repertory TheatreCarrabba’s Italian GrillCenter for Natural WellnessCold Stone Creamery Ice Cream CakeColonial Cleaners AlbanyCreó Restaurant Delmar Dog ButlerDelmar Wine & BeverageDifferent Drummer’s KitchenEastern Mountain Sports

Stuyvestant PlazaEmack & Bolio’sFrench’s Hollow FairwaysThe Fresh MarketGobbler’s Knob Gore MountainHannafordHoffman’s PlaylandHoffman Development Corp.Home Depot Homemade Jams and Jellies

by Claudia RussellHonest Weight COOPiFill Ink JetsI Love BooksJoyelle’s JewelersLoving CaféLowe’s of GlenmontThe Little Book HouseMac-Hayden Theatre, Inc.Mazzone Management GroupMilano/ ProvenceNew World BistroNicole’s RestaurantOnsite CaterersOrvisPet StylesPrice ChopperProctors TheaterPatricia Richards at Blairhouse, LLCSaati Deli & Catering Saratoga Performing Arts CenterSolutions by DesignSpectrum 8 TheatresSpiral TangoThe Stockade InnSunrise TanningTroy’s Landscape Supply CompanyU.W. Marx Construction Company UAlbany Performing Arts CenterValley Cats - Baseball Valoze NurseryThe Village Animal ClinicThe Village ButcherWild Sage Wine And Spirits of SlingerlandsWolf Creek Farm

Helderberg-Hudson Rail TrailIn 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 Voor-heesville 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 Pre-serve included a drum circle.

We celebrated our 20th Anniversary at our an-nual 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 com-ing out on the very hot evening to celebrate the beginning of summer and the end of the school year.

Financial Report

Mohawk Hudson Land ConservancyPO Box 567Slingerlands, NY 12159

Not for ProfitU.S. Postage

PAIDSlingerlands, NY

PERMIT # 10

2012 saw increases in assets and operating revenue thanks to the generous sup-port 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 apply-ing 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 improve-ments to the Helderberg-Hudson Rail Trail. We continue to work on increasing sources of unrestricted operating funds.

Membership22%

Fundraisers16%

Board Contributions

9%

Major Gifts19%

Grants Monies Used

30%

Other4%

Operating Revenue 2012 $197,321

Land Acquisition & Stewardship

42%

Management & General

14%

Development15%

Outreach29%

Operating Expenses 2012 $155,832

Unrestricted Operating

Funds/investments22%

Temporarily Restricted

Funds/Investments15%

Stewardship Endowment (restricted)

49%

Strategic Acquisitions Fund (Board

directed)7%

Other CurrentAssets

7%

Current Assets $575,963