Brunswick-Topsham Land Trust Inc

“Three sets of board members are married to each other, Margaret Wilson & Lloyd Van Lunen, Rol & Averil Fessende, and Douglas & Ellen Bennett.”

“The Brunswick-Topsham Land Trust is an organization of members.”

“The members of the Brunswick-Topsham Land Trust elect the governing body.”

“No interest of the Land Trust in any real estate may be transferred, exchanged, encumbered, or in any other way alienated unless authorized at a meeting of members duly held at which a quorum is present by an affirmative vote of two-thirds of the members represented at such meeting entitled to vote on the subject matter. The notice for any such meeting shall contain a description of the proposed transaction and the reasons therefore. Such membership approval, however, shall not be required to mortgage or sell a portion of real estate in connection with its acquisition for the purpose of financing said transaction. Nor shall such membership approval be required to transfer, exchange, encumber, or otherside alienate an interest in unrestricted land held exclusively for investment purposes, or for transfers, exchange, and sales involving public authorities or other conservation organization in good standing so long as the said property is encumbered by a permanent conservation easement or the equivalent. However, such sales or a mortgage of a portion of any large parcel acquired, and such alienation of interests in unrestricted land held exclusively for investment purposes shall require the affirmative vote of two-thirds of the total number of directors then in office. No such real estate, however, shall be transferred, exchanged, encumbered, or in any other way alienated in such manner that it fails to meet the requirements of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954, as amended, and the regulation issued thereunder for a corporation qualifying as an exempt organization under the provisions of Section 501(c)(3) of said code and regulations as they now exist or may hereafter be amended.”

“The finance committee and the treasurer review the return prior to filing and present it to the board for review and acceptance. The treasurer has the responsibility for final approval and signing of the 990.”

“The Organization requires new board members to review the conflict of interest policy and sign a disclosure upon joining the board and annually thereafter. They list on the disclosure form any relevant associations and potential conflicts.”

“The executive committee conducts an annual performance review for the executive director to assess performance and recommends any salary increases to the finance committe and board of directors. The committee recommends salary increases based on the cost of living changes and periodic reviews of comparative compensation for executive directors.”

“The organization makes its governing documents, conflict of interest policy, and financial statements available to the public upon request.”

“We continued our community education, offering a total of around 70 guided nature walks, workshops, and speakers this past year; our school-based programs served around 800 elementary school students annually with experiential, nature-based science lessons; our summer camp provided a week of nature exploration and learning for 224 children, including 10-15 scholarship campers.”

“BTLT merged with Cathance River Education Alliance in July of 2023, combining our community educational programs, and adding school-based education programs and a nature immersion summer day camp for 6-13 year-old children.”

“The organization has a committee that assumes responsibility for oversight of the audit of its financial statements and selection of an independent accountant. There have been no changes in the process from the prior year.”