Alachua Conservation Trust Incorporated

“Laurel nesbit alta systems president owner family & business”

“The draft form 990 is circulated to all act board members via email in advance of a pending board meeting. The form 990 is subsequently presented to members at the next full board meeting where members can ask questions about the document before voting its approval for submission to the irs each year.”

“Act circulates a governance questionnaire to all board members each year in advance of form 990 preparation which specifically asks questions designed to reveal any conflict of interest involving the member. Should any such conflicts surface, they are reviewed before the full board, and appropriate action determined by board motion.”

“Prior to the hiring of the current executive director, an executive committee of the board evaluated current market rates for land trust directors utilizing the land trust alliance's most recent statistics along with anecdotal information about similarly situated employees at other florida land trusts of similar size. The process was documented in board minutes, and both the ultimate hire & determination of compensation were established by a motion of the board.”

“These documents are made available upon request. Also, act's financial documentation is posted on guidestar.”

“The mission of alachua conservation trust (act) is to protect the natural, historic, scenic and recreational resources in and around alachua county, florida. Act protects land through purchase, donation and conservation easements in 16 counties across north central florida.”

“The donation of 101.6 acres in lake county. In addition, act accepted its first coastal conservation easement on property containing nesting sea turtle habitat as the result of its work with the university of florida, levin college of law conservation clinic, the sea turtle conservancy, and the university of florida, school of natural resources & environment. In september 2017, act began its work as the conservation lands negotiator for alachua county, florida. In november 2016, alachua county voters passed the wild spaces & public places ballot initiative that will ultimately generate nearly 130 million over the next 8 years through a half cent sales tax. Act's role for alachua county is to protect as much of the remaining environmentally sensitive lands in the county with these funds as possible.”

“Diversity in an employment category in which women are highly under- represented. In total, the program served 13 young women in its first full year of operations. Act also trained an additional 7 young men in resource management through its existing internship program. In total, interns contributed more than 4500 hours of service to the organization. In 2017 alone, act planted over 140,000 trees on its various preserves due in large part to the annual tree fest event organized by swamp head brewery & solar impact, inc., along with contributions from publix supermarkets through the arbor day foundation. Act utilized prescribed fire to burn hundreds of acres in furtherance of its long-term habitat restoration goals, and installed an additional 6.5 miles of hiking trails at the santa fe river and little orange creek preserves to enhance recreational enjoyment for the general public from all across north central florida.”

“And government agencies, including the sea turtle conservancy, conservation burial, inc., the ocala longleaf implementation team, the conservation clinic at the university of florida, college of law, the alliance of florida land trusts, the hogtown brewers' association, and various other local and state agencies. Act also participated in a variety of community- wide events and festivals, sent out two semiannual print newsletters, updated and maintained a comprehensive website, continued its work to develop a local trails app for alachua county, florida, and had a strong and ongoing presence in social media where we engage more than 5,000 regular followers on such topics as ecology, wildlife, organizational activities, staff notes from the field, natural history, and upcoming act events. Act's annual conservation stewards awards was attended by more than 400 conservationists from across north central florida in the spring, and its halloween ball was attended by more than 200 people in the fall. At both events, act raised awareness and funds for its efforts to conserve the remaining lands in private ownership along the santa fe river. As a component of its environmental education efforts, act partnered with the little orange creek environmental education center in hawthorne, florida, to serve more than 600 elementary school children as it continued to strengthen relationships with local schools in the east gainesville, melrose, and hawthorne areas.”

“Change in value of assets held in trust 101,788 change in value of remainder trust 8,307 total 110,095”