HHLT elects trustees, recognizes longtime leader

Harpswell Heritage Land Trust held its annual meeting of the membership on Tuesday, July 12. The nonprofit elected new trustees and officers and recognized the impact and accomplishments of longtime Executive Director Reed Coles.

“It’s hard to adequately thank Reed for all he’s done for the land trust over the past 16 years,” HHLT President Wendy Batson said.

State Rep. Jay McCreight presented Coles with a sentiment of congratulations from the Maine Legislature. The sentiment lays out some of Coles’ accomplishments during his tenure with the Land Trust, including a doubling of the lands owned by the trust and achievement of national land trust accreditation.

Members of the Land Trust elected Rachel Beane and Don Westfall as new members of the HHLT Board of Trustees, while electing Wendy Batson as president, Tim McCreight as vice president, Sharon Oehmig as treasurer and Ron Davis as secretary. Trustees Dan Huber and Bob Sansone were recognized for their service to the board as they ended their terms.

The 100 or so attendees received a report on the activities of the Land Trust over the past year by acting Executive Director Julia McLeod, then enjoyed an engaging and enlightening presentation about wildlife by author Ed Robinson.

To watch a video of the event and to learn more about the Land Trust, go to hhltmaine.org.