Sycamore Land Trustwww.sycamorelandtrust.org

PRESERVING OUR DISAPPEARING LANDSCAPE

Photo of Mont Clair Farm courtesy of the Ewing family

2 82 8 26 Counties 45 Business Supporters 63 Parcels Protected

420 Volunteers 770 Members 3196 EE Participants 5,455 Acres protected Our Goal: 20,000 Acres by 2020

Annual Report

HEADQUARTERSCedar Crest 4898 East Heritage Woods Road, Bloomington

MAILING ADDRESS P.O. Box 7801Bloomington, IN 47407-7801

Email: info@sycamorelandtrust.org

SLT’s new conservation easements included the 485-acre Mont Clair Farm in Knox County. � is land was home to Native Americans from 4500 BC or earlier and has been actively farmed by the Ewing family since 1806,

when President � omas Jeff erson made Nathaniel Ewing a Receiver of Public Lands. � e sixth-oldest farm in Indiana, today’s farm consists of 485 contigu-ous acres with 400 tillable acres, 65 acres of woods, and 20 acres of timber. Owners Mark and Rebecca Ewing said, “Our family had deep concerns about restrictions of our control and the involvement of ‘outsiders’ in Mont Clair Farm. When our great, great, great, great, great grandfather built the Ewing residence on the farm at the start of the 1800s, it was far from the town of Vincennes, Indiana. Today, a residential subdivision abuts the farm and valuable commercial real estate is being developed less than a quarter of a mile away. We realized the profi t gained from developing our land could buy nothing more valuable than our descendants owning and appreciating the farm as it has been for seven generations. “We are pleased that SLT is our partner in this project. We spoke with a number of land trusts, but you never know whether you’ve picked the right partner until you’ve walked down the road together. Everyone we worked with at SLT was forthright, informative, knowledgeable, cooperative, patient, and demonstrated to us that they are genuine believers in their mission.”

Donors of land and conservation easements have done something truly special—they have ensuredthat southern Indiana’s natural and agricultural land will be conserved forever, for the spiritual wealth and physical and economic health of future generations. All SLT members can be proud of the legacy we have created, helping ensure our descendents inherit a place as beautiful as they deserve.

Photo by John Lawrence

0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

3000

3500

4000

4500

5000

5500

1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008

Sycamore Land Trust - Acres Protected

567 acres added in 2008567 acres added in 2008567 acres added in 2008

5,455 total acres protected at end of 20085,455 total acres protected at end of 20085,455 total acres protected at end of 2008

5 owned properties added = 557 acres 5 owned properties added = 557 acres 5 owned properties added = 557 acres

1 conservation easement = 10 added acres 1 conservation easement = 10 added acres 1 conservation easement = 10 added acres

Porter PreserveLand Conservation

Conservation Easement DonorsMark & Rebecca Ewing

Land DonorsDr. Charles McCalla IV & Teri BleuelDavid Porter (4 parcels)Jack Steigerwold

Mont Clair Farm

We realized the profi t gained from developing our land

could buy nothing more valuable than our descendants owning

and appreciating the farm as it has been for seven generations.

Photos courtesy of the Ewing familyPhotos courtesy of the Ewing family

Above: Dawn Hewitt is one of the Porter Preserve’s volunteer stewards.

THANKS

In 2008, Sycamore Land Trust also closed on a land protection project that received national attention. When David Porter passed away, he left his nearly 400 acres in western Monroe Coun-

ty to SLT. A small portion of that property consists of Neal’s Landfi ll, one of the area’s several federally-designated Superfund sites. � e landfi ll accepted industrial and municipal wastes from 1949 until 1972, including electrical capacitors from Westinghouse (now CBS) that contained toxic PCBs. � e site has received extensive cleanup from CBS and the EPA, and some eff orts are still ongoing. David Porter bought the property in 2003. Upon receiving notice of the gift, SLT worked with Bloomington’s Conservation Law Center to assess the liability of owning the land. Satisfi ed that the property did not pose a threat of signifi cant liability, SLT accepted the donation. National Public Radio did a feature story on the popular syndicated “Morning Edition.” People from coast to coast contacted SLT to voice their support for the project. SLT is proud to be part of David Porter’s vision to see the land transformed from something negative to some-thing positive. While no plans have been fi nalized, SLT is exploring various options for the land, including installation of solar panels.

2 3

Above: Volunteers from Exodus Church in Bloomington picked up 11 bags of trash and a large amount of metal refuse at SLT’s new Pizzo Preserve.

l to r: Andrea Hera, Christina Ondrik, Stephanie Dickinson, Mark Hera, and Markus Dickinson. Left: Jess Gwinn and Tilly worked on the BBB Trail.

Improving habitat for the Indiana state-endangered Kirtland’s snake (Clonophis kirtlandiat SLT’s Beanblossom Bottoms Nature Preserve was an important volunteer project this year. Eagle Scout candidate Ryan Tibbs labored with his family, fellow Scouts, and scout leader under the direction of SLT board member and IU School of Public and Environmental Aff airs conservation biology professor Vicky Meretsky to clear trees and create more favorable habitat for this small and little-known snake. Because most of SLT’s Beanblossom Bottoms property is a state-dedicated Nature Preserve, Professor Meretsky fi rst worked with the Department of Natural Resource’s Division of Nature Preserves to draw up an approved plan for the habitat modifi cation project.

SLT’s Environmental Education participants have built trails and prairies, made nature art posters; measured trees; investigated the aquatics of creeks, wetlands, and lakes; and studied forestry, birds, and soils. SLT also contributed expertise for larger programs in various partnerships, including Leonard Springs Nature Days (600 sixth-graders) and Take a Child Outside Week (10 families) with Bloomington Parks and Recreation.

10 trails maintained or built10 trails maintained or built

8 habitat 8 habitat

130 volunteers work130 volunteers workon SLT propertieson SLT properties

Stewardship Environmental EducationLeft: Kirtland’s snake habitat project volunteers, l to r: Michael Tibbs, Elder LeRoy DeWitt, Jeff Brinegar, Anna Tibbs, Robert Tibbs, Mark Anderson, Ryan Tibbs, Bob Armstrong, Nate Rawlinson, Mark Rondina, and Rae Ann Tibbs (Momma).

Photo by Vicky Meretsky

2005-06 School Year 2006-07 School Year 2007-08 School Year

ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION PROGRAM

Counties Served 2 4 7

Schools Involved 4 11 18

Teachers Assisted 7 16 21

K-12 Students Engaged 250 785 3196

K-12 Student Hours 583 3258 6977

College Students Helping 0 8 14

Adults Engaged 70+ 100+ 132

Right: EE Coordinator Carroll Ritter, surround-ed by Mrs. Houston’s 3rd grade class, Fayette-ville Elementary. Far Right: SLT Environmen-tal Educator Maggie Sul-livan teaching students from fourth to twelfth grades at Goose Pond.

Photos by Carroll Ritter

Snake Habitat

Photo by John Gallman

Photo by John Lawrence

4 5

Feedback from Fourth-graders:“Thank you for the awesome field trip. I really, really liked the hidden wildlife pond and “Thank you for the awesome field trip. I really, really liked the hidden wildlife pond and

the creek. That trip was the time of my life. I really don’t think it’s very nice how people

throw their trash in such a beautiful place. You’ve really opened my eyes.”

“I like finding the water temp and the air temp in the creek. Doing the water flow speed

and wind velocity were tricky, but it finally worked.…”

“Everybody had a blast. The reason why I liked it is that we used real tools.…“Everybody had a blast. The reason why I liked it is that we used real tools.…“Everybod

It was really fun having you around to help us.…”

House to be soldDarlene Gerster

$70,000Martha Barclay-Giel

$25,000Helen Caldwell

$10,000Anonymous

$5,000 to $9,99939 Degrees North Anonymous (2)Ann NolanBlue Ace MediaCommericial ServicesBill and Kathleen Oliver� e Tener FamilyUpland Brewing Company

$1,000 to $4,999Matt and Eva AllenAnonymousAtlas Restaurant SupplyDavid and Ingrid BeeryBenchmark Home ServicesBloom MagazineCharles Steele & Associates, Inc.Frederick and Sandra ChurchillJason and Michelle ColeBob Costello: Laughing Planet Cafe, � e Village Deli, Soma Coff eeDesignscapeDuke EnergyEcoLogicMark and Rebecca EwingFowler Tree ServicesGallery North on the SquareElizabeth and John GallmanDoug and Blue GeigerGMKenneth R.R. Gros LouisEdward HuttonStephen IrishRick and Alice JohnsonJohnson Ventures, Inc.Ellen KettersonMarkey’s Rental & StagingMonroe County Soil & Water Conservation DistrictOliver WineryBarbara RestleRoadworthy GuitarAndy RogersScott and Ruth SandersSarke’s Tarzian, Inc.Phyllis SchwitzerSt. John AssociatesJudy Stewart and Michael FultonRob Stone and Karen Green StoneJoan ten Hoor and James DobsonTwisted Limb Paperworks, LLCBill and Mary WeeksDon and Betsy WhiteheadJennifer L.Witzke Graphic DesignMyriam WoodWTTS/WGCL Radio

$500 to $999Ethan Alyea, Jr.Craig Barton and Kathy Truelove-BartonBauer & Densford Bluespring CavernsBloomington Entertainment and Arts DistrictJeff and Sarah BushCFC, IncorporatedLarry CraneAllen and Marian EnglandTed HarrisHoosier Energy REMCKirkwood Design StudioBob and Beverly KisselGeorge and Cathy KorinekKathleen LobleyAaron and Amber MastVicky MeretskyKimberly Munroe and Edward Comentale

Del and Letty NewkirkKathy OakleyPeine EngineeringLinda Raymond and Michael CainRaymond and Rita Rust, Jr.Louise SchlesingerVi Simpson and William McCartyMelinda SwensonTom Tarzian and Cathy SteeleTim Tilton and Joann AlexanderLarry WeingartnerJohn and Sue WestDon and Helen WieslerWininger/Stolberg HomesWorm’s Way

$250 to $499A Little Log Cabin in the WoodsArbor Specialists Robert Agranoff and Susan KleinBloomington Board of RealtorsBloomington Community Arts Commission� e Bloomington Herald-Times Scott Burgins and Andrea MurrayEleanor Byrnes

Lee and Pat CasebereDan and Debbi Conkle� omas and Arlene CookDoug and DeeDee Dayhoff James and Cheryl DeCaroJim and Bobbi DiehlRobert EnoJames, Sara, and Samuel FarmerFinch’s BrasserieFirst Appraisal Group, Inc.F. M. Bayne Fine Woodwork & DesignFourwinds Resort & MarinaJohn FreitagGabriel and Sara FrommerEd Furia and Kathryn PropstHenry and Alice GrayStephen and Vera GrubbsJohn Hamilton and Dawn JohnsenHaus by LillieIndiana Heritage ArtsJackson Hewitt Tax ServiceWerner Jorck and Barbara Watt JorckErvin Kattelman and Barbara SealAndrew Ketterson and Margaret MuirJohn Kyle IIILennie’s and Bloomington Brewing CompanyMike Litwin and Mary BlizzardLeah Helen MayDon McMastersLara Mears DreyerJeff rey Mease and Marie MetelnickJennifer MiersMonroe Bank Tim and Ann NiednagelVincent and Elinor OstromOutdoor Improvements of BloomingtonJoe and Joyce PedenPeppertree Floral

Perfect Point CommunicationsCarroll and Martha Ritter and BoysEd and Claire RobertsonSare Associates, P.C.Sierra RemodelingState Employees’ Community CampaignStudents Taking Active Roles TodayPaul and Susan SullivanGregg and Judy SummervilleRobert TenerJo � rockmorton and Jillian KinzieMike and Betsy TrotzkeUnity of BloomingtonMarcia Veldman and Steve CotterMartha WailesKurt and Lisa WeisnerDon and Wendy Wertz

$100 to $249Aim to PleaseDonald and Charlene AllenAmerican Family OrthodonticsBill and Susan AndrewsGarrison Armstrong and Jo Ellen Mauck ArmstrongMike and Beverly BakerJessica Baldanzi and Kyle SchlabachDoug and Diane BancelKeith and Ruth BarnhardtJanet BarrowsJacqui Bauer and Tom EvansSandy and Jeff BelthBender LumberMonica and Michael BennettPhil and Ruthann BerckRobert and Maryellen BiederBikesmithsLamont and Tyler BlackBloomingfoodsBloomingtonOnline.netKelly and Scott BoatmanEllen Boruff Marilyn BowieRandy and Vivien BridgesDr. Clark Brittain and Dr. Mary MahernM. H. BrownHugh BrownKathy BurnsDoris BurtonJohn ByersJulie CalfeeRobert and Laura CampbellLedford CarterChristine CarverJim ChadwickCID Capital, Inc.Dr. Sarah ClevengerCMW Inc.Larry and Sonja CooksonJames CrittendenRay CrittendenJennifer CrittendenJeff Danielson, dba BrownCountyPhoto.comGregory DemasDan DerheimerBob and Libby DeVoeSteve Dillon and Jessie CookWill DitzlerEleanore DodgeKeith DunlapLena Dunn LoJohn and Sybil EakinDick and Ginny ElderElementsEminence Elementary School Reach ClassesExperiential Resources/Adventure CenterFARMbloomingtonSteve FergusonSusan Fernandes and Michael Hoff John FischerBob Flynn and Yvonne WittmannF. C. Tucker/OBR RealtorsFossil RainSarah Elizabeth Frey� omas GallagherJames Glen and Constance Cook GlenClinton Goodin and Nicohl Birdwell Goodin

THANK YOUSLT is only able to accomplish its mission through the generous support of the indi-viduals, businesses, and foundations will-ing to invest in our special place. You help provide healthy habitat for wildlife, plants, trees, and people. Hundreds and even thousands of years from now, people may look back at what happened to America’s landscape during the twenty-fi rst century and see that the land trust movement—now over 1700 strong and growing—literally changed the natural history of America.

Bruce GottschallTim Grimm and Jan Lucas-GrimmJess Gwinn, RLS and Maureen ForrestElizabeth Gwynn and Leroy MysliwiecCharles and Sandra HainzMary HallRussell and Constance HansonJeff Hartenfeld and Jen RobinsonMargaret HarterPat and Carrie HastingsAnne and Christopher HaynesSamuel P. HaysCharles HazelJulia Heiman and Johan VerhulstBaron and Betty HillBill and LuAnne HolladayJames HollandNorman HolyRobert and Joan HongenHoosier Eye DoctorHerb Hoover and Cathy GreeneKatherine HopkinsMarjorie HudginsRich and Christina HummelJeanne IlerRoger and Karen InnesMartha JacobsJazzercise Fitness CenterJenny JohnsonDavid and Anne JohnsonSamuel and Phyllis KazdanMike Kelley� omas KellyJohn and Leah KetchamMina KiddIris KieslingSylivia and Jack KingKinsey Institute Staff Bill and Robin KlenkeSlats KlugF. Hugh and Dorothy LatimerStine LevyLimestone Daylily and Hosta SocietyDan and Beth Lodge-RigalGuy LoftmanAlice LorenzJim and Brenda McLanePat and Sue MedlandGreg and Sue MeyerClarke MillerCharles MitchLaura Mojonnier and Armin MoczekMatt MurphyPatrick MurphyElisabeth MyersMyers Croxton Group, LLCJudge Edward W. Najam, Jr.Donald NuetzmanOlson and Company P.C., CPAs� omas and Mary Lu OrrAngela ParkerDavid ParkhurstRoger and Carol ParksRichard and Harriet Pfi sterJoyce PolingRobert Poortinga and Barbara HawkinsKeely PorterFrona and Ron PowellPrintmastersFranklin and B.L. ProsserPygmalion’s Art SuppliesRudolf and Elizabeth Raff Charles and Lois RampacekWendy Reed and Mark ClarkJim Richard and Carolyn Rogers RichardJim and Sheryl RichardsJeff and Tori Richardson� ayr and Virginia RicheyRoots on the SquareKathy and Al RuesinkDavid and Kristin RustMark RyanSarah RyterbandMichael Satterfi eldDavid and Margaret SchaeferJack Scherer

Steve SeitzingerJames ShackelfordCarol ShapiroJohn SharpnackKevin and Barbara SheehanJanette and William ShetterTim ShierBrent and Linda SieversMarion SinclairGary and Pequita SissomShane SlavenSmith FamilyTed Smith-PetersonSole SensationsJon and Linda Staff ordJanet StavropoulosSteele-Beard Electrical Company, Inc.Gary and Anne SteigerwaldStillframes Photography and DesignEric and Laura StolbergCathy StoneAl and Lee StrickholmRoderick SuthersJim SuttonBen SwansonRod and Kristen TaylorEleanor Tener� e Awards Center� e Tailored FitTim Terry Jewelry and Fine AntiquesPaul ToddyCliff and Jo TravisMaria ViterisiMoira Wedekind and Vladimir DerenchukAnna WeiserMary Beth WertTodd Whitlock, DDSJason WilberTim WileyArl and Carol WilliamsLarry and Mary WiseBrad and Eryn WislerShari WoodburyDavid YeomansTom ZellerPaul and Charlotte Zietlow

Foundation Support$105,000 Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust

$30,000 Dr. Laura Hare Charitable Trust

$7,500 Bussing-Koch Foundation, Inc.

$7,500 Namaste Foundation

$1,728Lynton K. and Helen W. Caldwell Fund of the Community Foundation of Bloomington & Monroe County

$1,000 Harry Cobey Foundation

$750Flowers Family Foundation

$300 Edward L. Hutton Foundation

$100 Sam Shine Foundation, Inc.

Upland Brewing Company—Indiana’s best-selling micro-brewery—earned SLT’s 2008 Conservation Business of the Year. Upland’s many investments in the vitality of Indiana’s commu-

nities, forests, wetlands, and family farms include donating10% of the profi ts from the sales of its spe-cial Preservation Pilsner to SLT and other conserva-tion groups. SLT has enjoyed in-kind contributions and event sponsorships from Upland, including the hosting of September’s Hillbilly Haiku Americana Music Festival.

2008 Contributors

10 new business supporters in 200810 new business supporters in 200845 total business supporters45 total business supporters208 new members in 2008208 new members in 2008

770 total members 770 total members 770 total members 770 total members 770 total members 770 total members 770 total members

A new SLT supporter enjoys the Hillbilly Haiku Americana Music festival.

Phot

o by

Cha

rlie

Sava

ge, B

uckb

eech

Stu

dios

7

Left: Beanblossom Bottoms Environmental Education Trail, sponsored by Duke Energy and the Dr. Laura Hare Charitable Trust.

SLT’s 2008 Outstanding Volunteer of the Year was Jeff Richardson, who invested countless hours of heavy labor building SLT’s Beanblossom Bottoms Environmental Education Trail. He and over 300 volunteers made it possible for visitors to travel deep into a bottomland hardwood forest on a two-mile loop of grass, gravel, wooden puncheon, and boardwalk. After completion, the trail was damaged by the major June 2008 fl ood that hit Monroe County. Richardson helped repair and strengthen the trail over the summer months. It is once again open to the public dawn to dusk for birding, studying plants and wildlife, and looking forward with optimism to clean air, soil, and water for centuries to come.

Development 18%General

Management 14%

Programs 68%

Income $414,063 Expenses $244,038

Foundations 29%

Membership and other gifts 36%

Investments and Rental 16%

Special Events 9%

Corporations 10%

Financial Data for Fiscal Year July 2007-July 2008

Volunteers

Volunteers from the cooperative art gallery Gallery North on the Square were essential in organizing the innovative and profi table Art for All Seasons Art Show and Calendar. � e project motivated caring citizens to invest both in SLT saving land and in Gallery North pro-viding fi ne art for our community. Over 35 southern In-diana artists contributed to the juried art show, creating paintings, prints, photographs, and sculptures. Gallery North member-owners also helped stage two plein air paint-outs on SLT’s preserves in preparation for the show.

150 volunteers working on land stewardship150 volunteers working on land stewardship150 volunteers working on land stewardship150 volunteers working on land stewardship

80 volunteers helping stage events80 volunteers helping stage events

6 years old to 70 years old: 6 years old to 70 years old: age range of volunteersage range of volunteersage range of volunteersage range of volunteersage range of volunteersage range of volunteersage range of volunteers

Photo by Hugh Hazelrigg

� ese Art for All Seasons contributing artists enjoyed the opening of the Exhibition at Gal-

lery North on the Square. Back two rows, l to r: Jeanne Iler, Carolyn Rogers Richard, Jeff Danielson, Anabel Hopkins, Cathy Korinek, James Alexander

� om, Heather Michelle Pollock, Judy Norris, Jim Richard, Kriste Lindberg, Arlene Cook, and ?; Front row, l to r: Lisa Tipton. Kathy Truelove-Bar-

ton, Margaret Gohn, and Tricia Hesier-Wente. Photo by G. Lynn Huff ord

Board Mike R. BakerDoug Dayhoff John Gallman, PresidentJohn M. Kyle IIIGeorge J. KorinekTerry Marbach, TreasurerVicky MeretskyRich Peine, Vice PresidentPatricia PizzoCarroll Ritter Andy RogersJoan ten Hoor, SecretaryMaria ViterisiW. William Weeks

Advisory Board Ross BrittainSteve FergusonKenneth R.R. Gros LouisBaron HillRick JohnsonMark KruzanJames MadisonEdward W. Najam, Jr.Del NewkirkAnthony PizzoScott Russell SandersVi SimpsonJudith StewartTom TarzianDebbie TurnerMaryrose WamplerDon Whitehead

BOARD MEMBERS & STAFF

Board MeetingsBoard meetings are open to everyone and usually take place the second Monday of the month, beginning at 6:30 p.m. Call 812-336-5382 to confi rm, and for directions to Cedar Crest.

Executive Director Christian Freitag

Outreach Coordinator Erin Hollinden

Assistant Director John Lawrence

Environmental Education Coordinator Carroll Ritter

Environmental Educator Maggie Sullivan

SPEA Fellow Katie Maudlin

Graphic Design Jennifer Witzke

Remaining assets invested in stewardship endowment, legal defense fund, operating reserve, and interest-bearing investments. Remaining assets invested in stewardship endowment, legal defense fund, operating reserve, and interest-bearing investments. Remaining assets invested in stewardship endowment, legal defense fund, operating reserve, and interest-bearing investments.

8