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In the News
CALENDAR OF EVENTS Advocacy News (Includes how to reach your legislators) DEP Enforcement Actions In The Berkshire return to top |
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The following news stories are from the Center for Ecological Technology's Welcome to the August 2009 issue of EcoBytes, the Center for Ecological Technology's (CETsm) email newsletter. EcoBytes updates you on CET's accomplishments in waste, energy, environmental education and sustainable development. Visit us at www.cetonline.org to learn more about our programs and to sign up to receive EcoBytes. Green jobs at home Citizens Take Charge GreenStart: 100% clean; now, 100% tax deductible Sunny skies and zippy solar cars Youth Environmental Summit |
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Mass.Service Alliance seeks community grant reviewers for AmeriCorps grant proposals The Massachusetts Service Alliance (MSA) is recruiting individuals to serve as community grant reviewers for the 2010-2011 AmeriCorps grant. Community grant reviewers are critical to the integrity of MSA's grant-making process by ensuring that public funds are invested in high quality programs through an equitable and transparent process. Grant reviewers are recruited from all sectors and represent the interests, needs, and priorities of Massachusetts' diverse population. Why volunteer as a community grant reviewer?
Although no prior grant review experience is necessary, preference will be given to reviewers with knowledge of AmeriCorps and/or national service programs. Grant Reviewer Commitment:
For more information or to register as a community grant reviewer, visit our website. *Training is required for first-time reviewers. Individuals affiliated with applicant organizations are not eligible to participate in the review. All reviewers will be asked to sign a conflict of interest certification form. Questions? The Massachusetts Watershed Coalition |
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The following articles are from Find Your Place, a monthly e-newsletter from The Trustees of Reservations. (You can sign up for Find Your Place on their website.) Land Learning & Discovery Community The Natural World |
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Mount Grace Land Trust Looking for Interns Commonwealth Corps Volunteer Positions at Mount Grace Land Conservation Trust Mount Grace Land Conservation Trust (www.mountgrace.org) and the North Quabbin Regional Landscape Partnership (www.nqpartnership.org) have received a grant from Massachusetts ’ Commonwealth Corps to fund stipends for four one-year volunteer positions in land conservation. All positions involve working at the offices of Mount Grace and the Partnership at 1461 Old Keene Road , Athol , MA 01331 . We are now accepting applications for each of the four positions. Interested candidates should send a resume and cover letter to David Kotker at kotker@mountgrace.org. Regional Partnership Conservationist The North Quabbin Regional Partnership Conservationist will work directly with the North Quabbin Regional Landscape Partnership Coordinator and assist with managing regionally important land conservation projects, plan and recruit for educational land conservation forums, organize Partnership executive committee meetings, assisting with land conservation grant writing, provide landowner negotiation assistance and training events, and assist with the formation and ongoing work of local volunteer agriculture commissions and open space committees. Applicants should be familiar with microsoft office programs and have strong writing and communication skills, as well as a strong interest in working with landowners and municipalities to protect the important farms, woodlands and natural areas of the North Quabbin region. Experience in local government or civic organizations, or experience in land use planning, grant writing, computer mapping (GIS), real estate transactions or event planning, is a plus. This full-time position requires a time commitment of 1,600 hours and carries a stipend of $10,000, plus benefits including health insurance and an $1,800 end-of-term bonus paid on satisfactory completion of the program. Community Outreach Coordinator The Community Outreach Coordinator will engage and network with community groups to encourage community-wide use of land protected by Mount Grace . The coordinator will build a network of member organizations, volunteers and supporters in each community that benefits from, and supports local conservation projects. Responsibilities include planning and promoting community events on Mount Grace lands and other public lands, working to identify conservation projects that meet community needs, and planning service projects for community volunteers. Applicants should have a strong background in community organizing, including experience managing projects to completion, planning and promoting events, and networking to build coalitions. Strong identification with the goals of land conservation and stewardship is also important, as is a familiarity with the cultural resources and existing community networks of the region. This full-time position requires a time commitment of 1,600 hours and carries a stipend of $10,000, plus benefits including health insurance and an $1,800 end-of-term bonus paid on satisfactory completion of the program. Service Learning Coordinator The Service Learning Coordinator will design, develop and deliver service learning experiences to school children and youth groups. The coordinator will establish long-term working program relationships with teachers, farmers, foresters and conservation professionals, develop informational and presentation materials, make classroom presentations, and facilitate service learning experiences on farms and in forests. Applicants should be experienced in outdoor education and in designing informative text and graphic based presentations with Microsoft software. Applicants should understand and be able to interpret natural history and have strong communication and project management skills. Experience in land conservation, organic farming or gardening, forest stewardship, trail design and maintenance, or teaching children and young adults is also a plus. This full-time position requires a time commitment of 1,600 hours and carries a stipend of $10,000, plus benefits including health insurance and an $1,800 end-of-term bonus paid on satisfactory completion of the program. Regional Land Steward A part-time Regional Land Steward will work with the Stewardship Biologist to assist town conservation commissions and local land trusts with baseline documentation reports and annual monitoring visits on conservation lands. The steward will also develop relationships with landowners and, set up workshops to train volunteers from town boards and local land trusts to do baseline reports. The position requires a volunteer time commitment of 800 hours and carries a stipend of $5,000 plus a $900 end-of-term bonus paid on satisfactory completion of the program. This position does not provide health insurance. Minimum requirements for this volunteer opportunity include 2 years of college in a natural resource or scientific field or equivalent work experience. Applicants must be experienced with computer mapping (ArcGIS 9.2) and with capturing data using GPS units. Applicants must be experienced at outdoor navigation with map and compass and comfortable working independently outdoors in a range of weather conditions. Applicants should be able to identify local plants and wildlife and also be capable of writing detailed technical reports using Microsoft software. Stewards must have a reliable vehicle. All Massachusetts residents are eligible for stipends through this project. Out-of-state residents are ineligible. Towns served by this project are: Ashburnham, Athol, Barre, Bernardston, Erving, Gardner , Gill, Greenfield , Hardwick, Hubbardston, Leverett, Leyden, Montague, New Salem, Northfield , Orange , Pelham, Petersham, Phillipston, Royalston, Shutesbury, Templeton, Warwick , Wendell, Westminster , and Winchendon. Mount Grace Land Conservation Trust is a regional land trust that serves 23 towns in Franklin and Worcester counties. It protects significant natural, agricultural and scenic areas and encourages land stewardship for the benefit of the environment, the economy and future generations. In 23 years through collaborations and partnerships, Mount Grace has protected more than 23,000 acres. Volunteer postings can also be viewed at Information about Commonwealth Corps is available on the Massachusetts Service Alliance website. For more information, or to RSVP please contact David Kotker at (978) 248-2055 X19 or kotker@mountgrace.org |
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The Massachusetts Watershed Coalition ....Creating a Network of Watershed Partners. return to top |
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Patrick Administration FY 2009 Investments to Diversify and Modernize Massachusetts Farms Totaled Nearly $1 Million BOSTON – Keeping with Governor Deval Patrick’s commitment to preserve Massachusetts farms, the Department of Agricultural Resources (DAR) today announced the administration has targeted nearly $1 million toward agricultural economic viability projects in rural areas during FY 2009, while preserving 1,626 acres of farmland with five- or ten-year covenants. “Massachusetts has seen more than a 27 percent increase in the number of farms and farm revenue since 2002, an impressive figure given the challenges presented by suburban sprawl, rising energy costs, and global competition,” said Commissioner Scott Soares. “The Patrick Administration is making sure that agriculture remains a vibrant enterprise in the Commonwealth.” DAR’s Farm Viability Enhancement Program (FVEP) develops business plans to help farmers diversify and modernize their operations. Farmers who implement the business plan recommendations and keep their farms in agricultural use for a five- or ten-year period are eligible for DAR funding. In addition to giving farmers tools to improve their bottom line, the funding also helps stimulate local economic activity through construction jobs and purchases of equipment and materials. “My customers have given me lots of positive feedback on the improvements to my retail greenhouse space and new parking lot,” said Chicopee vegetable grower and farm market operator Bill McKinstry, whose farm also recently celebrated its 100th anniversary. “We were able to offer a greater selection of plant material this season and parking is more efficient and safer.” Farms are evaluated and selected for FVEP based on the number of acres being considered; the current intensity of land use on the farm; the farm’s significance and contribution to the state’s agriculture industry; the productivity of the land based on soil quality, physical features and location; the operator’s agricultural experience; whether the farm has diversified into retail or value-added activities; and the degree to which continuation of agriculture is threatened by other land uses such as development. DAR also assesses environmental objectives that would be accomplished through the program. For more information on the Farm Viability Enhancement Program, click here. For information on the Division of Technical Assistance programs, click here. The DAR’s mission is to ensure the long-term viability of local agriculture in Massachusetts. Through its four divisions – Agricultural Development, Animal Health, Crop and Pest Services, and Technical Assistance – the DAR strives to support, regulate, and enhance the Commonwealth’s agricultural community, working to promote economically and environmentally sound food safety and animal health measures, and fulfill agriculture’s role in energy conservation and production. |
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Nominations for river restoration and revitalization The Division of Ecological Restoration, in the Massachusetts Department of Fish & Game, is dedicated to restoring the ecological integrity of rivers and streams throughout the Commonwealth of Massachusetts through partnerships with municipalities, watershed associations, federal agencies, and many other organizations. The Division of Ecological Restoration was created in July of 2009 through a merger of the Riverways Program and the Wetlands Restoration Program. The Division of Ecological Restoration (DER) is seeking nominations for river restoration and revitalization priority projects [see http://www.mass.gov/dfwele/river/programs/priorityprojects/index.htm]. The intent of this process is to assist DER in identifying and selecting river and stream restoration projects that present significant benefits to the Commonwealth for directed assistance and services. Selected projects will be eligible to receive: (1) technical assistance from DER staff; (2) technical services by consultants via contract to the DER; and/or (3) limited direct funding for implementation. Through this RFR process, DER will choose a select number of priority restoration and revitalization projects. Selected projects will be eligible for services as described above, and staff will work in partnership with the Applicant and other project partners to implement the project through the various phases of restoration and/or revitalization. These projects will remain eligible to receive such support, until the project is complete or unless new information warrants a revision of status; project proponents do not need to re-submit the nomination form in subsequent years. The intent of the DER is to pursue river restoration and revitalization projects that present the greatest benefit to the Commonwealth –both ecologically and socially- in consideration of the project’s cost, size, practicality, feasibility, opportunity for public education and recreation, available program resources, and partner support. In order to provide for a fair and open process, DER is issuing this request for interested parties to submit potential or active restoration projects through the state Comm-PASS procurement system. Full details can be obtained by going to http://www.comm-pass.com/ and searching for the solicitation, “DER 2010-1”. CONTACT INFORMATION: Nick Wildman RESPONSE DUE DATE: Tuesday September 15, 2010, 2:00 P.M. |
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