Articles

After 17 years of being connected to the Thousand Islands Land Trust in Clayton, New York, Susan Smith had just assumed the position of president of the board in August 2008 when tragedy struck in November.

All successful land trusts have one thing in common: effective leadership. However, in many land trusts the top-down approach to leadership is changing, moving toward a leadership model that no longer relies on leaders issuing “commands” or being the only decision-makers.

Richard Male is a recognized leader, trainer and consultant in the fields of leadership development, fundraising, community organizing and public policy for nonprofit organizations and other groups.

Getting back to basics is a good thing, according to Anita O’Gara, vice president and director of development at the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation. She and President Mark Ackelson are the staff members responsible for orienting new board members.

You are president of the board of an established land trust that has held a conservation easement for many years. A new owner of the property encumbered by the easement is threatening to make changes that violate the easement’s terms. Notwithstanding numerous discussions between the land trust’s staff and the new owner, the parties have reached an impasse.

The nation’s Capitol is filled with men and women in staid business suits. So a few ranchers walking the halls in Stetson hats and sharptoed cowboy boots can make quite an impression.