Waltham Land Trust Celebrates 15 Years

On Thursday, October 23, the Waltham Land Trust (WLT) will celebrate fifteen years of incorporation at its 15th Annual Meeting between 7-9 pm at the First Parish in Waltham. This is the best opportunity to learn more about the activities of the Land Trust, meet its Board of Directors, and share ideas for helping to create a legacy of land conservation in Waltham. Current members of the WLT, those who pay dues annually to the organization, will vote to elect three new Directors to the Board and to re-elect three active Directors whose three-year terms are expiring.

The evening begins with applauding the Land Trust’s Inge Uhlir Environmentalist of the Year Award. Inge Uhlir is a founding Director of the WLT; when she retired from the Board in 2011, the group re-named its most prestigious volunteer award in her honor. This year’s recipient is Laurel Carpenter. Laurel is one of the main stewards along the Western Greenway trail in Lexington and Waltham, as well as along the Waltham section of the proposed Mass Central Rail Trail. She has spent countless hours walking the trails, monitoring their condition, trimming back vegetation, picking up trash, coordinating with others and encouraging stewardship.

Celebrating fifteen years of incorporation happens next, where different members of the WLT Board of Directors will review the Land Trust’s many accomplishments made in saving land, building trails, conducting outreach, and raising money. A discussion of future projects will include a presentation about the Mass Central Rail Trail.

Then up-to-date, paying members will vote to appoint to the WLT Board of Directors Martha Creedon, member of the steering committee of the Waltham Farmer’s Market, Natalie Berland, currently working in Bentley University’s Office of Sustainability, and Brian McCormick, a lead steward along the Charles River and at Prospect Hill Park. Members will also be asked to re-elect returning Directors Betsy Lewenberg, Joyce Nett, and Diana Young. Finally, delicious food and the chance to chat with other open space supporters will wrap up WLT’s 15th Annual Meeting.