FY18 ANNUAL REPORT
Protecting the Land that protects the Lake since 1988
As a land trust working to protect the water quality of Lake George, our greatest partner is the land itself. A healthy forest, complete with wetlands, vernal pools, and diverse vegetation, is the most effective tool we have to protect Lake George. By permanently conserving large areas of healthy forests, we allow whole ecosystems to thrive, which in turn naturally prevents stormwater issues, reduces the amount of fertilizers and road salt entering the lake, and provides us with the beauty and majesty we call home.
Photo by Carl Heilman, II/Wild Visions, Inc.
Michael O’Reilly President
Jamie Brown Executive Director
Land trusts are in the business of protecting beloved resources forever. The Lake George Land Conservancy (LGLC) works to forever protect the land that protects the lake. This requires a skilled and experienced staff, strong leadership from our Board, collaboration from our national network, our partners from around the lake, and most importantly, people like you who make this work financially possible. Here are a few of the highlights of what we accomplished with your help in FY18 to forever protect this special place: • Permanently protected another 100 acres of forest, wetlands, habitat, and scenic viewshed; • Thanks to the generosity of the Lawler family, we opened the Leeming Jelliffe Preserve in Huletts Landing; • Managed and maintained over 7,800 acres of land, including more than 35 miles of trails; • Treated or removed a variety of terrestrial invasives on 5 cumulative acres watershed-wide.
Our 2018 Fiscal Year (FY18) concluded on June 30, 2018. We are once again honored to reflect on a year filled with great accomplishments and generous friends, all for the protection of Lake George.
Ensuring permanence also means having a strong organization, today and for the future. Thanks to you we are making sure that what you have made possible will still be enjoyed by generations to come. The LGLC endowments have increased 21.9% in total value this fiscal year. Additionally, as members of the Lake George community, we’re proud to contribute to economic vitality by drawing visitors and residents
to our downtowns and throughout communities by organizing events and opportunities such as: • the LGLC’s annual Hike-A-Thon, which involved nearly 700 people; • 34 Walks & Talks programs held throughout the year, actively engaging 2,116 people; • volunteer activities in the field or supporting the organization’s development and outreach efforts. More than 2,400 hours were spent by 188 volunteers in FY18 to help the LGLC. The LGLC is the only local land trust that is working hard to specifically protect the land within the Lake George watershed, and proud to be recognized nationally for our work. Both the Land Trust Accreditation Commission and the Land Trust Alliance have identified the LGLC as one of the top organizations among the 1,000 organizations working in the field of land protection nation-wide. This recognition is based on our deep knowledge and experience and for conducting business efficiently, ethically, and within a strict code of nationally recognized standards. Your support is crucial to our ability to continue providing permanent protection for Lake George. Because of you, future generations will be able to enjoy clean water, scenic views, and unfragmented forests. We are grateful for all that you have done to make FY18 a successful year. Thank you!
FY18 CONSERVATION
100
96% acres of land forested
600 feet of lake shoreline
$1.2
2,180
FY18 PROTECTED LANDS LEGEND Lands Owned by the LGLC; 3,360 acres total Conservation Easements held by the LGLC; 1,250 acres total Lands Owned by NYS NYS Lands Protected by the LGLC and Partners
Huletts Landing CE 4 acres
Watershed Boundary
Leeming Jelliffe Preserve 33 acres
feet of stream corridors
million invested*
The forest on the land we protected in FY18 filters enough water each year to fill 1,000,000 bathtubs.
Bolton Upland, addition 3 acres, donation
Diamond Point Uplands 48 acres, donation Pilot Knob Pocket Park <1 acre, donation
East Brook Preserve 12 acres, bargain sale
*Plus $250,000 in value from donated land and bargain sale.
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STEWARDSHIP permanently protected
110 miles walked by staff on trails
5 acres
of land watershed-wide actively managed for a variety of terrestrial invasives, with plants being treated and/or manually removed.
“
permanently maintained
60 feet
of bog bridges constructed and installed
53 miles
of boundary lines monitored on LGLC property and conservation easements
How fortunate that Lake George drew our grandparents to her shores. Water has a remarkable way of bringing people together, softening the differences that divide us and strengthening our common ground. My cousin Sandy and I agree that it is nothing short of “magic.” Having recently worked with the LGLC, it is abundantly clear that we owe much to their continuing efforts to ensure healthy lake environments while encouraging strong community stewardship. – Sylvia Lawler
Landowner, conservation easement holder
Stewardship
Photo by Brendan Murnane
“
We are grateful to LGLC’s role in protecting the land that protects the lake, and are very impressed with the dedication and passion of the LGLC staff, as well as all of the members we have met. The Wednesday evening educational sessions provide insight into the special environment in which we live. These events, combined with the guided hikes, deepen our appreciation and understanding of this special place. – William Schmidt Event participant, Bolton resident
OUTREACH & ENGAGEMENT In FY18, the LGLC hosted, organized, produced, and worked with partners to provide information and engagement opportunities to residents and guests in communities throughout the Lake George region.
4,000 followers on social media
19k
2,400 34 hours donated by
188 volunteers
visits to LGLC parks and preserves
The number of documented log-ins during FY18 is an increase of 2,750 from last year. This figure, however, does not account for the many users who did not sign in, nor the properties that we manage but are owned by New York State (Cat and Thomas Mts. and Pole Hill Pond). Taking these into account, a more accurate estimate is 30,000.
public programs
2,116
participants Photo by Amanda Metzger
FY18 DISTRIBUTION OF HIKERS BY PRESERVE: Cook Mt. — 8% Amy’s Park — 3% Anthony’s Nose — 3% 1% each (combined on chart for a total of 4%): Godwin, Gull Bay, Last Great Shoreline, and Terzian
Pinnacle 36% Pilot Knob 46%
FINANCIAL SUMMARY
Presented by George S. Morris, Vice-President of Finances & Treasurer The LGLC’s business is protecting the land that protects the lake in perpetuity. This work is labor-intensive and requires a staff with a wide range of expertise in order to execute our programs.
• Conservation: We understand the land and how it interacts with the water, and how human and natural threats to the land—past, present, and future—affect the role it plays within the watershed.
FISCAL YEAR 2018 CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET The LGLC is audited by an independent certified accounting firm every year. Our most recent audit and other financial documents are available for download at: lglc.org/financials-disclosures. FY 2018
FY 2017
ASSETS $818,654
$813,731
$1,042,237
$1,070,687
Land Held for Conservation
$15,013,292
$13,593,292
• Community: We work with a diverse group of landowners, thousands of people who visit our preserves, thousands of people who attend our events, our partners and volunteers, and the people who live in our communities year-round.
Stewardship Defense Fund
$88,700
$73,000
High Mountain Endowment Fund
$1,569,577
$1,341,782
Virginia Rowan Smith Endowment Fund
$1,769,936
$1,396,955
• Engagement: We put together dozens of events and educational programs each year to reach our supporters and educate others about our work and the wonders of this special place. We also create publications and many other forms of communications that the organization sends out to inform the public about our work.
Investment for Land Protection
$522,770
$489,322
The public support we receive for our work is a testament to our scienceled approach to conservation and efforts to engage the community. That support will ensure that the land is safeguarded forever. We strive to maintain a strong balance sheet that can fulfill our commitment to care for the land in perpetuity. During FY18 we reduced our debt by 30% and we plan to reduce debt in FY19 to near zero. Our balance sheet includes financial assets of more than $4 million in the form of endowments, an opportunity fund, reserves for stewardship and operations. Our financial strength enables us to move quickly and flexibly on new opportunities for land protection and to be around for the long term as stewards of more than 5,000 acres under our management. We believe that the LGLC provides an extraordinary, long-term return on the donations, grants and other forms of support we receive—in large part because we are built to be around for the long haul. Thank you for your trust in us.
Cash and Cash Equivalents Property and Equipment, Net
Endowments* (Permanently Restricted):
Other Assets Total Assets
$149,833
$180,683
$20,974,998
$18,959,452
$495,247
$176,230
$19,980
$515,210
$800
$800
LIABILITIES AND NET ASSETS Liabilities Current Portion of Long-Term Debt Long-Term Debt, Net of Current Portion Security Deposit Other Total Liabilities
$4,726
$4,964
$520,753
$697,204
$17,566,086
$15,630,433
Net Assets Unrestricted Temporarily Restricted Permanently Restricted
$168,584
$212,232
$2,719,575
$2,419,583
Total Net Assets
$20,454,245
$18,262,248
Total Liabilities and Net Assets
$20,974,998
$18,959,452
*ENDOWMENTS: The High Mountain Endowment Fund, established by Michael and Marie O’Reilly, and the Virginia Rowan Smith Endowment Fund, established by Virginia Rowan Smith and Manning Smith, are permanently restricted endowments. These endowments are set up to accept additional gifts; those who wish to designate their donation to either of the endowment funds may do so by contacting the LGLC.
1,159 supporters in FY18
333 first-time donors
45
in-kind gifts
of goods and services
valued at
of returning donors $16,000 57 increased
%
their giving total from the previous year
FY18 DISBURSEMENTS
Thank You!
FY18 SOURCES OF SUPPORT Donations for Operations — 20%
Land Acquisition and Programs 82% Management — 10%
Fundraising — 8%
Grants (Government and Private) — 10%
Program Revenue and LongTerm Investments — 16% Rent/Other — 1%
Donations for Capital Projects 53%
HOW DOES THE LGLC COMPARE NATIONWIDE?
WE ARE:
1 of
1,000 82 cents from every dollar
given to the LGLC in FY18 has gone to land acquisition and programs that protect the land that protects the lake.
U.S. land trusts working to provide pure drinking water, clean air, healthy forests, and places to reflect and recreate.
“
1 of
187 1 of
400
top accredited land trusts invited to join the LTA’s elite Leadership Program
accredited by the Land Trust Commission
As a leader in the land trust community, the Lake George Land Conservancy is one of just 187 land trusts nationwide (out of 1,000) that have been invited to participate in the Land Trust Alliance’s Wentworth Leadership Program. We are a proud investor in the LGLC’s success and recognize its commitment to continuous improvement, strategic conservation and community engagement. – Renee Kivikko Vice President of Education, Land Trust Alliance
STAFF Jamie Brown Executive Director Helen Barton Benedict* Development Manager Megan Clothier* Office Assistant Monica Dore Conservation Manager *Part-time
FY18 BOARD OF DIRECTORS Sarah Hoffman Communications and Outreach Manager Alexander Novick Land Steward Michele DeRossi Vidarte Community Engagement and Events Manager Cornelia Wells Finance and Office Manager
Information provided within this report is specific to the 2018 Fiscal Year (FY18), which ran July 1, 2017 to June 30, 2018. The year’s conservation successes were made possible thanks to many generous individuals, families, foundations, and organizations who supported the LGLC and its efforts. We are sincerely grateful for the financial contributions, volunteered time, and professional services that help to protect the land that protects the lake.
Complete lists of all donors, tribute recipients, and volunteers are available to view and download at www.lglc.org. Printed copies are also available by request. Please call us at 518-644-9673 or email Helen at hbartonbenedict@lglc.org to request a copy by mail. You can also go to www.lglc.org for information about recent projects, events, and how you can be a part of the LGLC’s efforts to protect the land that protects the lake.
Names and positions listed as of June 30, 2018. Ed Becker, DVM Sabbath Day Point
Tom Hall VP of Conservation Diamond Point
George Morris VP of Finance, Treasurer Pilot Knob
Patty HasBrouck Bolton Landing
Peg Olsen, PhD Glenburnie
John Buhac, MD Gull Bay
Jonathan A. Herttua Glenburnie
Tracey Clothier Secretary Lake George
Debbie Hoffman Bolton Landing
Michael O’Reilly President Huletts Landing
Jeffry Brozyna VP of Development Lake George
Charles M. Cumming VP of Human Resources Northwest Bay JD DeSantis Bolton Landing Elizabeth Guest Silver Bay
Christopher LaGuardia Kattskill Bay Judith K. Larter Silver Bay Elizabeth Meigher Bolton Landing
Daniel Ryterband Diamond Point Robert Singer Ticonderoga Ike Wolgin Bolton Landing James W. Wolitarsky Northwest Bay
ADVISORY BOARD Robert Birchenough, MD Cleverdale
John Hubbard, Jr. Northwest Bay
Sandra Nierzwicki-Bauer, PhD Bolton Landing
William Bixby, III Northwest Bay
Mark Johnson, PhD Stony Point, NY
Rosemary Pusateri Cleverdale
Henry Caldwell Bolton Landing
Walter F. Lamb, Jr. Bolton Landing
Hugh Roberts Bolton Landing
Dean L. Cook, DMD Ticonderoga
Douglas Langdon, MD Bolton Landing
Rebecca Smith Bolton Landing
Jennifer Waterhouse Cooper Bolton Landing
John J. Macionis, PhD Hague
Virginia Rowan Smith Silver Bay
David Darrin Hague
James Menzies, PhD Bolton Landing
Arthur Franz Bolton Landing
Peter Menzies Bolton Landing
Since 1988 the Lake George Land Conservancy has worked with willing landowners and other partners to protect the world-renowned water quality of Lake George and to permanently preserve the natural, scenic, historic and recreational resources of the Lake George region.
Through conservation efforts including land acquisition, conservation easements, and innovative community collaborations, the LGLC and its partners have permanently protected
10,859 acres of land
and 6.5 miles of lake shoreline.
4905 Lake Shore Dr. | P.O. Box 1250 Bolton Landing, NY 12814-1250 518-644-9673 | www.lglc.org Connect with us! @HikeLakeGeorge
Photo by Carl Heilman, II/Wild Visions, Inc.
