-For Immediate Release-

Genesee Land Trust Awarded Grants To Attend National Rally

The National Land Conservation Conference: Rally 2005, held at Madison Wisconsin in October, was attended by over 1800 conservationists from all over the country, including volunteers from the Genesee Land Trust. The Trust, which protects 2000 acres in greater Rochester, was awarded grant funding from the Rochester Area Community Foundation and the Land Trust Alliance, whose headquarters are in Washington, D.C. Genesee Land Trust representatives included: Andy and Suzanne Wheatcraft, Sonya and Carl Christensen, Kathy Rivera and Trust executive director, Gay Mills.

Keynote speaker, environmentalist, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., told a packed auditorium, “Our values come from the land protected by all of you.” Steve Miller, Commissioner of the IRS, said, “The IRS recognizes that conservation easements play a vital role in our American society.”

This annual converging of land trust and other environmental groups is held in a different city each year and offers not only an opportunity for networking but also thematic educational workshops to help prepare non-profits’ volunteers for work in the field.

Genesee Land Trust volunteer, Sonya Christensen, attended workshops dealing with urban projects as she is involved with the Trust’s Urban Trail project. The Urban Trail will provide a biking, walking greenway on what was an abandoned railroad bed and runs through some of the Rochester’s poorest neighborhoods. At her conference workshops, Christensen interfaced with people from Los Angeles, Vancouver and Chicago, among others, who were involved in similar projects. She came away with a lot of ideas and with a renewed admiration for the Parks and Environmental Services Departments of the City of Rochester because of their commitment and flexibility. She was reminded of the importance of inclusiveness, of establishing a true sense of ownership in the projects from the low-income residents to the top rung, inviting all to be a part of the decision making process. The Rally encouraged Christensen to “keep up the good fight.”

“Genesee Land Trust is grateful to RACF and the Land Trust Alliance for enabling our hard working volunteers to attend this invigorating and educational conference,” said, Gay Mills, executive director. The Genesee Land Trust is located at 500 East Avenue, Rochester. For more information please visit: www.geneseelandtrust.org.

Contact:
Margaret Potter
Assistant Director
Genesee Land Trust
500 East Avenue, Suite 200
Rochester NY 14607
(585) 256-2130
fax: (585) 271-4292
info@geneseelandtrust.org