VOLUNTEER

Volunteer Opportunities with Thames Talbot Land Trust

TTLT runs on volunteers: they make the decisions and do most of the work. Volunteering with the TTLT is your opportunity to be part of a very effective and active conservation organization that develops enduring natural legacies. You will be working alongside committed and knowledgeable colleagues.

TTLT Volunteers operate through a number of committees:

Stewards’ Committees:
Each TTLT property has its own dedicated crew of volunteers known as Stewards. Usually stewards live close to the property that they are involved with to make it easy for them to be the eyes and the ears of the land trust and to monitor the property. Stewards help to implement the management plan for their property and have input into how it should be cared for. Their primary role is to monitor and report on the property at least 4 times each year. They may also organize and participate in workdays. Each Steward’s committee selects a chairperson and designates one member to report to the Property Management Committee. At least one TTLT Director is on each Stewards’ Committee.

Property Management Committee:
The volunteers on the PMC make the decisions about how we should manage our properties. A number of these volunteers have professional skills in forest management, botany, ecology and so on; others are naturalists or just keen to learn more. The PMC prepares management plans for our properties and often undertake other studies such as biological inventories. The PMC also coordinates and promotes the various workdays at the individual properties. Each TTLT property has an endowed stewardship fund so that there is an income each year to fund the management activities. The PMC develops an annual plan and budget and also develops special projects such as trail improvements. There are several Board members serving on the PMC in addition to committee volunteers.  PMC members will often join with the Land Securement Committee to inspect potential new properties.

Land Securement Committee:
The TTLT has about 30 potential properties under consideration at any time and new properties come to our attention on a regular basis. The role of the LSC is to evaluate candidate properties using a screening process that assesses the natural, agricultural or cultural significance or a property and how well it fits the strategic goals of TTLT. This often entails field inspections of properties and landowner relations. The LSC meets very other month and reports to the TTLT Board. With Board approval LSC volunteers may then be involved in landowner negotiations, more detailed property assessment and inventory and the fundraising campaign to support the acquisition. In the case of new TTLT properties the LSC tries to compile as much information about the property as possible before turning it over to the Property Management Committee.

Membership and Marketing Committee:
Volunteers are the lifeblood of TTLT and the M&M committee’s role is to attract and retain members and volunteers. The committee is responsible for TTLT communications and public events. Activities include making presentations to other groups, staffing the TTLT display at various events and developing content for our newsletter and website. Increasing our membership is a key strategic priority for TTLT and the M&M committee leads this effort. Other activities include our annual Fall Speakers’ Series, volunteer-recognition events, promotional materials, media relations and fundraising.

Governance Committee:
Chaired by the Past-President, the GC focuses on policy and procedures. The GC monitors progress towards our strategic goals and helps to ensure that TTLT is in compliance with the rigorous Canadian Land Trust Standards and Practices. The GC also interviews and recommends candidates for the TTLT Board. Land trusts are unique among charitable organizations as they acquire and maintain assets in perpetuity. This long, long view presents certain challenges for organizational structure and governance. The GC undertakes some very interesting and original projects. TTLT is at the forefront of the land trust movement in Canada.

Volunteer Commitment:
TTLT committees meet every other month with the TTLT Board meeting to consider the committee reports and recommendations in the intervening month. At meetings the committees will often initiate projects or activities that members will undertake independently or in groups. In addition to six evening meetings annually most volunteers contribute about 2 hours a month, although some contribute much more time than that. Committee chairs and Board members generally contribute the most time. All volunteers are encouraged to also be TTLT members. TTLT offers various training opportunities for volunteers such as the annual Land Trust Gathering, safety courses, and workshops on natural themes.

Occasional Volunteers:
Interested in the land trust but not sure where you would fit? Feel free to attend any committee meeting and get the feel for it. You may also want to attend one of our workdays on our properties for such activities as trail maintenance, garbage pick-up and invasive species removal.

For more info call 519-858-3442 or visit www.ttlt.ca

For membership information click here