About us

OPERATING PHILOSOPHY:

The Gates Mills Land Conservancy is a private, non-profit, tax-exempt membership organization whose mission is to preserve the unique nature of the open space in the Village of Gates Mills, Ohio. The membership includes approximately one-third of the 950 families in 2007. The Land Conservancy operates as an effective and vibrant volunteer organization, designed and chartered to preserve open land through outright purchase of land or through the issuance of a Conservation Easement. There are a range of options available today which are outlined in the FAQ pages of this site.

BOARD OF TRUSTEES:

The Articles of Incorporation(September 1988) and the Code of Regulations (as amended August 15, 2001) establish the overall organization and operating philosophy of the Gates Mills Land Conservancy.

The Gates Mills Land Conservancy Board of Trustees has the legal, fiduciary and ethical responsibility to ensure that the organization meets any governing legal requirements and operates in accordance with its mission. As safeguards of public trust, the board members are responsible for protecting the organization's assets and must ensure that the organization is well run. The overall goals and specific objectives are outlined in a documented Strategic Plan.

The Trustees are charged with the stewardship of the "protected land" and to execute the plans for acquiring and protecting additional parcels of land for preservation throughout the Village of Gates Mills. The Board of Trustees and Members of the Land Conservancy have voted to abide by the Land Trust Alliance (LTA) Standards and Practices. The Board of Trustees has the fundamental responsibility for self management and has developed the Articles of Incorporation, and a Code of Regulations and a Conflict of Interest Policy.

The Board of Trustees of the Land Conservancy consists of 15 dedicated Village Citizens, ten of whom are elected by the Conservancy membership and five appointed by the Mayor of the Village of Gates Mills. We are fortunate to have a very diverse and talented group of individuals with a cross section of skills. Term Limits govern the length of service. Trustees are elected for four-year terms and if willing, can be elected by the membership for an additional four-year term. Officers of the Gates Mills Land Conservancy are elected annually by the full Board of Trustees, for one year terms. The Officers include President, one or more Vice Presidents, Treasurer and Secretary. The Board meets monthly.

The entire membership is invited and encouraged to attend the Annual Meeting and Dinner, at which time the Officers report on the state of the Land Conservancy and its overall progress.

The current members of the Board of Trustees are:

Linda M. Olejko, President Thomas A. Quintrell, Vice President Ann T. Whitney, Treasurer F. Jerome Tone, Secretary David A. Butz Daniel R. Collister Robert R. Galloway Joan M. Gretter

Andrew W. Kirkpatrick John R. Kozak James R. Levine Thomas A. Liederbach Deborah H. Nash Nathaniel T. Smith Robert F. Sposito

ORGANIZATION:

The organization and mode of operation of the Conservancy continues along the lines outlined in the original code of regulations with Standing Operating and Administrative Committees chaired by Trustees and staffed with additional Trustees and Village residents.

OPERATING COMMITTEES	ADMINISTRATIVE COMMITTEES
The Property Committees: Wilderness Corridor Village Heartland Corridor Chagrin River Corridor Education Committee Land Stewardship Committee	Development Committee Membership and Communications Committee Finance Committee L.T.A. Standards Compliance Committee Board Development Committee

COMMITTEE STRUCTURE

• PROPERTY COMMITTEES

  PURPOSE: The overall preservation strategy is focused on three major areas and is designed to protect specific sites that have been identified by the Trustees. The Village has been divided into three sections or "corridors" as follows:

  • The Village Heatland Corridor
  • The Wilderness Corridor
  • The River Corridor

• EDUCATION COMMITTEE

  PURPOSE: To further the goals of the GMLC by providing community-wide educational programs to promote environmental and conservation principles within the Gates Mills community.

• LAND STEWARDSHIP COMMITTEE

  PURPOSE: This committee monitors and maintains all properties owned by the Gates Mills Land Conservancy and lands upon which Conservation Easements are held by the Gates Mills Land Conservancy.

• DEVELOPMENT / FUND RAISING COMMITTEE

  PURPOSE: The Development Committee is responsible for all major fund raising efforts involving contact with foundations, trusts, government funding programs and major donors.

• LTA STANDARDS COMMITTEE

  PURPOSE: This committee is responsible for a review of the manner in which the Conservancy conducts its affairs and to ensure compliance with the Statement of Land Trust Standards and Practices.

• MEMBERSHIP AND COMMUNICATIONS COMMITTEE

  PURPOSE: This committee is responsible for membership solicitation and the development of an overall strategy and action plan to increase membership. It is responsible for the annual mailing of dues notices and the monthly communications to the Villagers via the Pink Sheet. It is responsible for major communication projects and public relations communiqués, as well as for the ongoing support of the Conservancy's website.

• FINANCE COMMITTEE

  PURPOSE: Manage the finances of the Gates Mills Land Conservancy with guidance from the trustees. It is responsible for the creation of the annual operating budget and monthly financial reports.

FINANCIAL RESOURCES:

Since 1988, the vision of the founding fathers of the Gates Mills Land Conservancy has become a reality through the generosity of Villagers, who have donated land or granted conservation easements. In addition, the Village Citizens have renewed a 1-mil tax levy to support this conservancy movement. This tax support is unique in our country and has been renewed by the voters on three occasions in 1996, 2001 and again in 2006. The combination of the individual gifts and the tax levy funds will continue to make it possible for the Land Conservancy to protect additional parcels of land.

The Conservancy's financial resources are on deposit at local financial institutions and are comprised of two separate funds, namely:

The Levy Fund Account, which can be used only for the purchase of land or conservation easements. The current levy generates approximately $200,000 annually paid by the Village to the Conservancy in semi-annual installments.

The Operating Fund is made up of all other revenues, such as membership dues, cash donations and grants. Operational expenses such as land appraisals, legal and accounting fees, office supplies, administrative support cost, office space, land stewardship expenses are paid from this account. A Stewardship reserve has been set aside for the upkeep of conservancy owned land. Operating funds may also be combined with the tax levy funds to execute purchase transactions. The Conservancy Treasurer is responsible for the short term investment of cash to ensure its safety and that interest is earned whereever possible.

The Gates Mills Land Conservancy Financial Statements are audited annually by an Independent Auditor in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the United States.