01/27/12 by admin | Uncategorized | 4 Comments »
Lesson Three – If You’re not Sure, Don’t Make It Up
Background Reading
Sometimes the easiest thing to do is agree with someone. Many people do not like confrontation, whether it harkens back to the bully from elementary school, roommates who use your stuff, or that shopper at the grocery store who just can’t understand why parking at a 45 degree angle across three spaces is, in fact, the opposite of sharing.
What I look like when I concentrate very hard. (Photo not taken in Vt or recently for that matter!)
For me, stepping in to straighten out situations like these doesn’t do much to perturb me. Instead, my confrontation anxiety shows itself most under the focused attention that comes when someone puts me on the spot. This is, I am told, a common side effect to having a shy nature.
The confrontation usually goes down something like this:
The formula: “Hey Anna, you (insert known fact about Anna here)! You must know all about x, y, & z!”
Internal Response: Oh geez
External Response: “Oh, sure, yep.”
Example:
Expectantly-hopeful-acquaintance – “Hey Anna, you grew up in Vermont! You must know my in-laws, they vacation in this little town, you know it’s up there near Canada, maybe it was Woodstock!?”
Oh geez
On-the-spot Anna – “Oh, um, maybe. I grew up near Montpelier….uh, you know Woodstock isn’t really near Canada. At all.”
This type of thing can go on all day! Including lengthy explanations that while Vermont is small we residents may not have visited every town and probably do not know every single other person in the state.
In my experience it is easy for your brain to turn on you in these situations. Your brain knows that you do not have a clue what this person is talking about, however, in a desperate attempt to shift the focus elsewhere you just agree with the person. You find yourself smiling and nodding, “Yes, I know who/what you’re talking about! “ The entire time you are also squashing down the alarm that you may end up having to prove it.
Facing difficult questions can be a lot like hiking up bare & windy hills – excruciating at the time but worth putting in the effort.
Now needless to say this type of anxiety isn’t great in the professional world. I am happy to report that in a good 99% of paralyzing social situations of this nature I can handle with no trouble. A far cry from the years I hid my face while my family sang ‘Happy Birthday’ to me in the privacy of our home because I didn’t like the attention. In fact, when I moved back to Vermont after years of living elsewhere I was even more comfortable saying, “Nope! I don’t know how to get there, know that person, or recognize anything you are saying because I’ve just moved back and I’m actually new (to this part of the State)!”
Field Application & Case Study
So now that we have pinpointed that gut wrenching feeling behind this lesson we can ask the essential question: what about out in the field? Landowners, land caretakers, and even just folks you may meet along your trek as a volunteer monitor may have questions for you about UVLT and what you’re doing. It happens all the time, volunteers and co-workers trade stories about such things.
This weighed on my mind as I did my first solo monitoring visit at the beginning of December. The folks take good care of the property; they actively manage for several things including livestock pasture and a productive sugarbush. One of the land managers was my company for the day, and as a person who is in tune with the property he had plenty of questions and comments for me as we toured around. What did I think about this? Listen to these plans, how do they sound? And so on.
I began to realize that I was the ‘expert’ in this situation. I worked at UVLT and as the monitor for this year I was the nearest available authority on all things conservation related. So, this guy was focused on me to get all the answers!
Oh geez.
Thankfully, I did not panic! My strategy was to engage and listen, but not to advise. My response was often: “I can’t speak to that specifically, everything depends on your easement but I’d be happy speak to so-and-so back at the office about this. Then we’ll be in touch with you with answers.”
At first he seemed a bit surprised that I wasn’t willing to elaborate, after all I worked for the Land Trust didn’t I? But, I stuck to my refrain and as the visit progressed he was able to discern that I wasn’t covering up a mental deficiency by not answering his questions but rather trying to ensure he’d get the correct answer and level of detail he was looking for. Ultimately, this was satisfactory to him without placing myself out on a limb by advising upon what I did not know – and we did get him answers to all of his questions soon after my visit.
Sometimes the arrows on a monitoring map remind me of the path your brain takes to solve a problem…
Overall, my experience underscored the fact that our role as volunteer monitors is twofold; that of an observer and gatherer of data as well as being the face of an organization and ourselves. As monitors we must keep in mind that the property we are visiting has legal restrictions upon it and because of this we strive to provide clear and accurate answers to questions. You do have the powerful tool we learned about in Lesson One – the monitoring folder – with you on the visit but, though it contains information that may provide answers you should always verify with UVLT’s staff and let them give the final word.
In addition to these practical acts we must also remember that we not only represent ourselves as individuals but we also represent UVLT as an organization and even Land Conservation as a larger movement. When I made that first property visit, I had been a member of the Upper Valley community for a mere 6 months. Already I felt like I was surrounded by friends. I was meeting people and building relationships as an individual and a professional and of course I wanted to make a good impression but I didn’t risk providing wrong information just to do so. I had to be confident enough to say I didn’t know the answers.
We are, on a basic level, the eyes and ears of UVLT but in reality, we are much more than that. And I, for one, am glad to spend my time outside in such an endeavor even if I do fall under a scrutinizing gaze every now and again.
This is the second post of a series I am writing about my experience becoming a fully trained monitor for UVLT. If you missed the first one you can read it here. I came to the Land Trust with some field experience but I knew it was unlikely that the methods I had been taught would be an exact fit for UVLT’s stewardship needs – and boy was I right! I hope you will enjoy learning, laughing, and pondering with me as I collect and nurture the knowledge, skills, and abilities gained from spending time outside.
Anna Slack, UVLT Programs Coordinator, Monitor-in-Training
** If you’re interested in becoming a monitor yourself contact us! **
01/19/12 by admin | Uncategorized | No Comments »
We have public hearing updates for the proposed New Hampshire legislation. See below to learn more about the bills that have been filed (summary and links below), and contact committee members to share your thoughts on the proposed changes.
If you would like to stay informed, please contact Anna Slack at anna.slack@uvlt.org
Check www.NHACC.org for legislative updates.
Proposed Legislation from New Hampshire House of Representatives (click on the bill number for a link to the text with the changes):
HB1515
This bill removes the town’s ability to send any land use change tax dollars to the conservation fund, and makes sweeping changes to Current Use Law.
Public hearing: 1/17/12 10:00 AM Legislative Office Building Room 301
The hearing went well, there seems to be a lot of opposition to this bill. The Municipal and County Government Committee deliberated in Executive Session on this and other bills on 1/25/12.
The bill came out of committee with a recommendation of “Inexpedient to Legislate” the vote was 17 – 0. This means the bill will still need to go to the full House for a vote, but if the House supports this recommendation it will be considered killed.
2/8/12 – The full House voted for “Inexpedient to Legislate” on HB1515. It is now officially DEAD!
HB1545
This bill specifies that conservation commissions will no longer have the ability to convey interests in real property that they receive or acquire. This bill also limits conservation commission contracts to manage interests in real property to a term of 5 years.
Public Hearing: 2/2/12 9:30 AM Legislative Office Building Room 301. This bill will be heard by the Municipal and County Government Committee.
2/14/12 – Committee recommendation for ‘Inexpedient to Legislate’.
HB1586
This bill adds complexity and the potential for significant delays to the process that towns must follow once they have chosen to acquire land or an interest in land for conservation.
Public Hearing: 2/2/12 10:30 AM Legislative Office Building Room 301. This bill will be heard by the Municipal and County Government Committee.
2/14/12 – Committee recommendation for ‘Inexpedient to Legislate’.
HB1342
This bill appears to restrict a town’s ability to be a member, or allow its Conservation Commission to be a member, of organizations such as the NH Association of Conservation Commissions.
Public Hearing: 01/24/2012 at 11:30 AM Legislative Office Building Room 301
It met a very negative response.
2/14/12 – Committee recommendation for ‘Inexpedient to Legislate’.
The above bills will all be considered by the House Municipal and County Government Committee.
To contact the committee by mail:
House Municipal and County Government Committee
Legislative Office Building Room 301
Concord, NH 03301
HB1540
This bill creates law that says “no town shall sell or grant to any nonprofit organization a conservation easement on land owned by the town” thereby removing an option that currently exists for towns and conservation commissions with respect to municipal property.
Public Hearing: 01/24/12 2:15 PM Legislative Office Building Room 305
This bill was heard by the Resources, Recreation and Development Committee. It met a very negative response.
2/14/12 – The full House voted for “Inexpedient to Legislate” on HB1540. It is now officially DEAD!
To contact the committee by mail:
House Municipal and County Government Committee
Legislative Office Building Room 305
Concord, NH 03301
You may follow this link to check on the status of any one of these bills.
For more information please contact the NHACC at info@nhacc.org or Anna Slack at anna.slack@uvlt.org
01/10/12 by admin | Conservation Advocacy | 1 Comment »
Several bills that have been filed in the NH House of Representatives could have profound impacts on local land conservation and the work of Town Conservation Commissioners. If passed, they would limit the ability of Conservation Commissions to manage town-owned conservation property, accept conservation gifts, or support any organization that conducts lobbying (this would prevent town Conservation Commissions from supporting the NH Association of Conservation Commissions and the Society for the Protection of NH Forests among others). Town voters could no longer choose to place any portion of current use penalties in their Town Conservation Funds, and Towns would be barred from selling or granting conservation easements on Town-owned land.
Lebanon Town Officials, Conservation Commission Members, UVLT staff, and landowners stand together after partnering to protect land within the city for public enjoyment
Under existing NH laws, many Town Conservation Commissions have been very effective at initiating, promoting, and supporting land conservation projects to serve their Town’s goals. Lebanon and Hanover have purchased property for Town ownership as natural areas. Cornish and Plainfield have used their Conservation Funds to provide the matching dollars required for major state and federal grants that purchased conservation easements on key properties including working farms. The small town of Bath also provided vital matching funds in an effort that conserved a mile of Connecticut River frontage at the “Narrows.” Hanover, Lyme, Plainfield, Unity, and Orford have used their Conservation Funds to cover transaction costs for landowners who donate conservation easements that protect resources the Towns have prioritized. Orford, Grantham, and Lebanon have conserved Town-owned land to protect important natural resources and to help educate citizens about the process and tools of land conservation. Grantham and Lyme have used conservation transactions to satisfy state mitigation requirements for other Town improvements.
NH Conservation Commission members are volunteers appointed by the Town Select Board, or other governing body. Commissioners are charged with overseeing inventories and making recommendations for the protection of their town’s important natural resources. Towns, and their Conservation Commissions, are vital partners in UVLT’s mission to help people conserve the places that make the Upper Valley special. We believe the proposed legislation will limit local access to conservation opportunities and prevent Town leadership in conservation.
We encourage you to learn more about the bills that have been filed (summary and links below), and contact committee members to share your thoughts on the proposed changes. UVLT and friends may coordinate carpools once hearing schedules have been posted for the proposed legislation. If you would like to stay informed about opportunities to join us, please contact Anna Slack at anna.slack@uvlt.org
Check www.NHACC.org for legislative updates.
Proposed Legislation from New Hampshire House of Representatives (click on the bill number for a link to the text with the changes):
HB1515
This bill removes the town’s ability to send any land use change tax dollars to the conservation fund, and makes sweeping changes to Current Use Law.
2/8/12 – The full House voted for “Inexpedient to Legislate” on HB1515. It is now officially DEAD!
HB1545
This bill specifies that conservation commissions will no longer have the ability to convey interests in real property that they receive or acquire. This bill also limits conservation commission contracts to manage interests in real property to a term of 5 years.
Public Hearing: 2/2/12 9:30a Legislative Office Building Room 301
2/14/12 – Committee recommendation for ‘Inexpedient to Legislate’.
HB1586
This bill adds complexity and the potential for significant delays to the process that towns must follow once they have chosen to acquire land or an interest in land for conservation.
Public Hearing: 2/2/12 10:30a Legislative Office Building Room 301
2/14/12 – Committee recommendation for ‘Inexpedient to Legislate’.
HB1342
This bill appears to restrict a town’s ability to be a member, or allow its Conservation Commission to be a member, of organizations such as the NH Association of Conservation Commissions.
Public Hearing: 1/24/12 11:30a Legislative Office Building Room 301
It met a very negative response.
2/14/12 – Committee recommendation for ‘Inexpedient to Legislate’.
The above bills will all be considered by the House Municipal and County Government Committee.
HB1540
This bill creates law that says “no town shall sell or grant to any nonprofit organization a conservation easement on land owned by the town” thereby removing an option that currently exists for towns and conservation commissions with respect to municipal property.
Public Hearing: 1/24/12 2:15p Legislative Office Building Room 305
This bill was heard by the Resources, Recreation and Development Committee. It met a very negative response.
2/14/12 – The full House voted for “Inexpedient to Legislate” on HB1540. It is now officially DEAD!
You may follow this link to check on the status of any one of these bills.
For more information please contact the NHACC at info@nhacc.org or Anna Slack at anna.slack@uvlt.org
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