Grafton Land Trust — Our 50th Annual Meeting — Mar/Apr 2009

Spring 2009

Our 50th Annual Meeting

On November 7^th, members and guests of the Trust gathered together at Highfields Golf & Country Club to celebrate our 50^th Annual Meeting. It was a gala event and a culmination of several special Anniversary events over the last half of the year. It turned out to be the Trust’s largest event ever, attended by a record number 80 members and guests.

President Ken Holberger welcomed special guest State Representative George N. Peterson, Jr. who presented Ken with a resolution from the Massachusetts General Court. The resolution was to honor the Grafton Land Trust on its 50^th Anniversary “of preserving and advocating for open space for the enjoyment of the citizens and visitors of the Commonwealth,” dated November 3, 2008.

Ken recognized the Chair of our 50^th Anniversary Committee, Joe Tancrell, who did an incredible job along with his committee in leading, planning and implementing all the events of our Anniversary year. Joe did this as a member-volunteer after having been a Director of the Trust for the maximum period of 12 years. He finished his 12^th year last year. Joe had also served as President, twice as Vice President, in other officer positions and on most Trust committees. As Chairman of the Green Grafton Campaign, Joe worked with our members, the Grafton community, and other constituencies in exceeding the campaign’s goal of $1million. These monies helped fund the purchases of Hassanamesit Woods, the George Knowlton Preserve, and Potter Hill Meadows. To express the Trust’s gratitude, Joe Tancrell was named a Lifetime Member of the Grafton Land Trust. Big Congratulations to Joe!

Our annual program to award grants to local teachers was presented by Barbara Fontecchio. For the 2008-2009 school year we are supporting four grant requests. At South Grafton Elementary School, Doreen Parker, with the help of parent Helen Collins, will do a “Mother’s Day Gardening Project.” One hundred twenty students will take home to their Mothers flowers they have grown. At Touchstone Community School, teachers Jeanne Cahill, Jane Katch, and Marian Hazzard will oversee “Restoring an Existing Pollinator Garden.” Five and six year old students will help restore a garden on school grounds. Grafton Elementary School fifth grade students will participate in a community service project lead by teacher Trea Byrnes. Students will spend a day at Community Harvest Project learning about farming and volunteering. teacher Donna Trainor’s “Planting Trees for the Future” will involve all students at Grafton Elementary School. They will celebrate Arbor Day and take seedlings home to plant.

The Trust elected returning members to the Board of Directors for 3-year terms: Pat Methot, David Therrien, Kenneth Webb, and Jeanne Johnson, and new member Lori Muhr. Ken Holberger recognized the service and contributions of retiring Board members John Barton and Barbara Fontecchio. (Note: another new member, Todd Berry, was elected to the Board of Directors in December).

Members and guests enjoyed a reception with live music by a trio from Apple Tree Arts, followed by a buffet dinner. The evening’s entertainer was “the humble farmer,” a native of Maine with a unique, and thought provoking sense of humor. The sound of laughter was the perfect way to end our celebration of 50 years.

— Jeanne Johnson


		Newsletter Archives
Newsletter Current Newsletter Newsletter Archives Spring 2009 Fall 2008 Spring 2008 Spring 2007		Spring 2009 Celebration Time Redux Our 50th Annual Meeting Our 50th Annual Meeting On November 7^th, members and guests of the Trust gathered together at Highfields Golf & Country Club to celebrate our 50^th Annual Meeting. It was a gala event and a culmination of several special Anniversary events over the last half of the year. It turned out to be the Trust’s largest event ever, attended by a record number 80 members and guests. President Ken Holberger welcomed special guest State Representative George N. Peterson, Jr. who presented Ken with a resolution from the Massachusetts General Court. The resolution was to honor the Grafton Land Trust on its 50^th Anniversary “of preserving and advocating for open space for the enjoyment of the citizens and visitors of the Commonwealth,” dated November 3, 2008. Ken recognized the Chair of our 50^th Anniversary Committee, Joe Tancrell, who did an incredible job along with his committee in leading, planning and implementing all the events of our Anniversary year. Joe did this as a member-volunteer after having been a Director of the Trust for the maximum period of 12 years. He finished his 12^th year last year. Joe had also served as President, twice as Vice President, in other officer positions and on most Trust committees. As Chairman of the Green Grafton Campaign, Joe worked with our members, the Grafton community, and other constituencies in exceeding the campaign’s goal of $1million. These monies helped fund the purchases of Hassanamesit Woods, the George Knowlton Preserve, and Potter Hill Meadows. To express the Trust’s gratitude, Joe Tancrell was named a Lifetime Member of the Grafton Land Trust. Big Congratulations to Joe! Our annual program to award grants to local teachers was presented by Barbara Fontecchio. For the 2008-2009 school year we are supporting four grant requests. At South Grafton Elementary School, Doreen Parker, with the help of parent Helen Collins, will do a “Mother’s Day Gardening Project.” One hundred twenty students will take home to their Mothers flowers they have grown. At Touchstone Community School, teachers Jeanne Cahill, Jane Katch, and Marian Hazzard will oversee “Restoring an Existing Pollinator Garden.” Five and six year old students will help restore a garden on school grounds. Grafton Elementary School fifth grade students will participate in a community service project lead by teacher Trea Byrnes. Students will spend a day at Community Harvest Project learning about farming and volunteering. teacher Donna Trainor’s “Planting Trees for the Future” will involve all students at Grafton Elementary School. They will celebrate Arbor Day and take seedlings home to plant. The Trust elected returning members to the Board of Directors for 3-year terms: Pat Methot, David Therrien, Kenneth Webb, and Jeanne Johnson, and new member Lori Muhr. Ken Holberger recognized the service and contributions of retiring Board members John Barton and Barbara Fontecchio. (Note: another new member, Todd Berry, was elected to the Board of Directors in December). Members and guests enjoyed a reception with live music by a trio from Apple Tree Arts, followed by a buffet dinner. The evening’s entertainer was “the humble farmer,” a native of Maine with a unique, and thought provoking sense of humor. The sound of laughter was the perfect way to end our celebration of 50 years. — Jeanne Johnson

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Our 50th Annual Meeting