Joselin presenting Leadership Award to former Board President, Tom Lucia

Every fall, the chill in the air encourages me to prepare for the long Idaho winter, and to reflect on the past year. The Land Trust has grown a lot this year. We added three new Board members, completed an organizational analysis in preparation for Accreditation, updated our strategic plan, and added a sec-ond staff member to meet our growing responsibilities. We also have projects in the works to report on in coming months!

Reflecting on the last three and a half years as Land Trust’s Executive Director, I am excited about the lands we’ve pro-tected and encouraged by the progress we’ve made transition-ing from an all volunteer start-up to a professionally staffed organization. This newsletter is our opportunity to report on all the great work the Land Trust has been doing, the state of our finances, and most importantly, to thank our donors for the financial and in-kind gifts that make our work possible.

None of our conservation success stories would have been possible without the generous support of community members. Recently, I had the opportunity to sit down with Priscilla Hearst. Priscilla, a Land Trust member, was one of our first donors, and the first to include us in her estate plan. Eight years ago, when the founding Board members were contemplating whether to start a Land Trust for SE Idaho, her gift, and the interest and sup-port of others in the area, helped the founding Board volunteers understand that there was a community of people here in SE Idaho who cared deeply for the land, and who wanted to see it protected for future generations.

I first met Priscilla soon after moving back to Pocatello in 2008, but it wasn’t until I sat down with her recently that I learned just how deeply she cares for the land she calls home. When I vis-

Fall 2011Newsletter

From the Director, Joselin Matkins

ited her at her home this fall, I found a kindred spirit in her heartfelt love for the seasons, love for the mountains, and love for the unique landscape of southeastern Idaho. What struck me most about our conversation was the conserva-tion ethic she instilled in her children. She described how her children wanted a portion of their inheritance to go to protecting the land where they were raised, and her children urged her to put the Land Trust in her will. Since that meeting, I have noticed just how deep the connection of love for the land runs through the families that support the Land Trust. This newsletter is filled with examples and pictures of generations sharing their love for the Land.

Thank you for your part in helping us realize the future we envision for Southeast Idaho: open spaces, wildlife, recre-ation, working ranch and farmlands. Your financial and in-kind gifts in the last 5 years have leveraged over 4.4 million dollars in conservation projects. What’s more, we have a special matching challenge during our year-end appeal that can double the impact of your gift. See the membership section of this newsletter for more information on how you can leverage your donation to achieve quality conser-vation across southeastern Idaho. Thank you!

Retired Board member Marjanna Hulet with daughter Kestrel at Fundraiser

Garry was born and raised in Billings Montana, but has called Idaho his home for over 25 years. He graduated from Montana State University with a degree in architecture before moving to Idaho with brief stays in Coeur D’Alene and Lewiston before settling in Pocatello in 1984. In Pocatello, he and his wife, Terry, raised their two children and welcomed his first grand child just over a year ago. Garry and his business partner of 17 years, former Board member Brent Nichols, ran DDC llc, an architecture and development company in Southeastern Idaho. Garry is a founding Board member of the Land Trust and took over as President after Tom Lucia retired earlier this year.

Anyone that knows Garry knows how much he enjoys fish-ing, hunting and being outdoors. “Southeast Idaho is as beau-tiful as anywhere, and I want to do what I can to help protect it,” says Garry of his new role.

Martha Wackenhut, New VP Helping Build the Organization

New Board President, Garry Ratzlaff

Who We Are

and work with the diverse group of individuals who make up the Board and staff. Their dedication, enthusiasm and knowl-edge are inspirational, infectious, and moving the organization forward in leaps and bounds. In fact, one of the big surprises to me has been to realize just how much the organization has grown and changed in such a short period of time. In the past year, our staff has expanded and specialized; our Board has diversified and participated in important planning and train-ing programs; we have developed policies and protocols to strengthen and protect the organization; and we have com-pleted a Conservation Plan identifying priority conservation areas. These accomplishments, along with others, are increas-ing our ability to protect lands, influence land stewardship, and become a voice in SE Idaho communities that want to play a role in maintaining our high quality of life.

Starting my second year on the Board, I am excited to see what milestones we will reach next. Of course we all hope to see many more acres conserved as wildlife habitat, working lands, and open spaces. Additionally, as chair of the organiza-tion’s Development Committee, I am looking forward to help-ing promote and represent the Land Trust in ways which will inspire individuals to get involved not only as members, but as participants in our events and activities, volunteers for special projects, and board members to help take us into the future.

A little over a year ago if someone asked me what I knew about land trusts, I would have given a fairly superfi-cial response explain-ing their important role in the conserva-tion of wildlife habi-tat, the maintenance of working lands, and the protection of open space. After serving on the Board for over a year, I still tout these values, but with more

confidence, more details about the lands being protected in Southeast Idaho, more understanding about the complex-ity of managing a land trust. Most importantly, I have more admiration for the folks who had the vision and fortitude to organize the Land Trust and continue to be involved in many capacities.

While my motive to join the Board was to try to pitch-in and help with land conservation, one of the most exciting things about working with the Land Trust has been getting to know

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Garry with former Board President, Tom Lucia

Photo: Martha at Mink Creek Canyon Ranch fall picnic

Valerie at her Ovid Ranch this springValerie and her husband, Marvin, moved to Montpelier in 1997 and own and operate a working ranch in Bear Lake County. They made the Bear Lake area home after meeting in Jackson Hole where Marvin grew up. From there, they moved to Star Valley and raised their two girls. Valerie joined the Land Trust Board because she values the rural lifestyle and to ensure it is not lost to ranchettes, subdivisions, and second homes.

Who We Are

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Muriel Roberts - Volunteer of the Year

Tom Lucia - Land Trust Leader

Muriel, Heidi, and volunteers pulling thistles at restoration work-day

Muriel is one of the Land Trust’s most reliable volunteers. From pulling Canadian thistle at Cedar Creek Preserve (pic-tured above with Clancy Bingham, Hailey McNeely, and our new stewardship coordinator, Heidi Albano) to helping at nearly every fundraiser or picnic we’ve had, Muriel is truly one of our favorite volunteers. Thanks so much Muriel, you really make our day!

Tom and his son, Matt Lucia, at Mink Creek Canyon Ranch picnic this fallTom was a founding Board member of the Land Trust, and worked for the Idaho Department of Fish and Game for over 30 years. Tom recently retired from IDFG, and has retired from the Land Trust Board after serving as president since our incorporation 8 years ago. Tom’s many conserva-tion achievements were recognized at a picnic at the Mink Creek Canyon Ranch. Since retiring, Tom has been busy climbing mountains this fall, cumulating with a trip to Nepal this October.

Valerie Robertson Joins the Board

Heidi Albano joins staff!Heidi was born and raised in SE Idaho and has spent much of the last 20 years in Pocatello. Heidi has been a Land Trust volunteer since she obtained her Masters’ degree at ISU exploring the relationship between cheat grass, native plant communities, and soil nitrogen cycles in sagebrush steppe in 2009. In July, Heidi became the Land Trust’s second staff member! Her key responsibilities include conservation easement monitoring and fee title preserve property management.

Heidi says of the area and her new job, “I was fortunate to grow up exploring the mountains and high deserts, which lead to my love for the natural world. I enjoy spending time outdoors fishing, camping, backpacking, and reflecting. Nothing can brighten a day better than sitting in the middle of an aspen grove listening to the wind rustle in the leaves. I have been working with the Land Trust on special projects, but its great to become a full-fledged staff member. I am so lucky to be involved with such a great organization that is working so hard to keep Idaho, Idaho!”

Special Thanks

See MORe ONlINe!sagebrushlandtrust.org

Cover photo of Joselin and Tom and Who We Are pictures of Tom, Garry, Martha, and Matt cour-tesy of Mary McAleese

land Stewardship Each year, the steward-ship responsibilities of the Land Trust grow. As we protect more land, we take on new moni-toring and management responsibilities. Each conservation easement requires regular annual monitoring to ensure the

Taking Care of the land and Taking on a New Role, by Heidi Albano

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Heidi and Dr. Karl Holte at Kackley Preserve

Kackley Springs flows through Property before reaching the Bear River

Volunteer Bill Waterfield places native Bonneville cutthroat trout into the spring

Fish Trap

Kackley Springs

to Grace via Grace Power Plant Road (~5 miles)

Public AccessParking

Bear River

conservation values are being protected in perpetuity. The Land Trust also owns 600 acres in two properties. These properties are open to the public and require regular man-agement.

As the new stewardship coordinator, I’ve had my hands full this summer. Stewarding the lands under protection by the Land Trust requires me to wear many different hats. I interact with the landowners, the general public, neighboring property owners, and all of our fantastic volunteers.

I have been managing the Land Trust’s two fee title pre-serves, the Kackley Preserve along the Bear River near Grace and the Deep Creek Preserve near Franklin. Invasive weeds have invaded natural lands across the region, and we are tar-geting populations of thistle, leafy spurge, and dyer’s woad on our preserves in order to give the native species a chance to grow and flourish.

Our past newsletters have provided regular updates on the restoration of Kackley Springs, and the latest activities are really exciting! During the winter, the installation of the Kackley Springs fish trap was completed. The fish trap will allow the native Bonneville cutthroat trout (BCT) access to the mile-long restored stream for spawning habitat while keeping other non-native fish out. Upon the completion of the fish trap, the Idaho Department of Fish and Game planted 1,500 native trout into Kackley Springs. We had the opportu-

nity to release the fish one bucket at a time this spring and the experience was exhilarating! Joselin even made the evening news! It was such a great experience releasing these fish into the springs and watching them disappear into the undercut banks, under rocks, and into the vegetation.

Fish trap checked regularly during spawning season to sort fish. Non-native fish are returned to Bear River while BCT are moved into Kackley Springs

The Deep Creek Preserve is located near the city of Franklin. The Land Trust has owned the property for just over a year, and this sum-mer we traversed the 435 acres documenting populations of leafy spurge and other weeds, evaluating fencing along the boundaries to address trespass cattle, and developing a management plan to address these and other issues associated with the property. To get extra help, we worked with the Utah Conservation Corps. Four members of the UCC spent a week on the property working on weed management, fence repair, and trail maintenance. I had a great time learning about their organization and how we could build a partnership with them for years to come. They were also excited to begin working with us and were grateful to have such a beautiful place to call home for a week.

With our partners from the Bear River Environmental Coordinating Committee and PacifiCorp Energy, we purchased the property to protect its exceptional conservation values. Key among them are its stream habitat for Bonneville cutthroat trout and critical winter range for elk. This property is classified as elk winter range by the Idaho Department of Fish and Game and supports a large elk popu-lation in the late winter and early spring. Quality elk winter range has windswept and sun exposed slopes that are accessible during winter months. These exposed shrub-steppe areas below the high country, where snowpack limits access to food, serve as a critical food source during winter months when animals need access to food and energy most to make it through the long Idaho winters. The Deep Creek Preserve, the Mink Creek Canyon Ranch (conservation easement), and Two Creeks Ranch (conservation easement) are important winter range areas protected in Franklin County. Long winters are hard on these incredible animals and protecting areas that provide during the winter months is extremely valuable. We are so pleased the Land Trust can help protect these critical areas.

Deep Creek Preserve Protecting Winter Range for elk, by Heidi Albano

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Wildlife photos courtesy of Mary McAleese

Annual Easement MonitoringWith camera, compass and clipboard in hand, new Stewardship Coordinator, Heidi Albano and Land Trust Board members finished the summer conservation easement monitoring. We are happy to report all of our conservation easements looked great this year!

We steward 12 conservation easements totaling 1,340 acres. Before taking any conservation easement, we develop a baseline documentation report. These reports document the natural resources and man-made features of a property, and serve as a snapshot of the property at the time the easement was placed on the property.

We use the report to ensure that the conservation values are protected and the terms of the conservation easement are upheld. When monitoring a property, we evaluate the condi-tion of the property against the report and update photographs annually. This year Heidi had help from our Board members taking photographs, identifying GPS points, and documenting any changes that were seen on our properties.

Thank you to each of our monitors and land stewards for a job well done! Especially Bob Flandro, Martha Wackenhut, Jessica McAleese, Deb Mignogno, and Garry Ratzlaff. If you want to join us next year, let us know and we can get you on our stewardship volunteer list.

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Heidi with Board members Martha Wackenhut and Bob Flandro monitoring local easement

The Idaho Coalition of Land Trusts (ICOLT), cre-ated in 2010, is a group of twenty nonprofit land trust organizations and two local and state govern-ment-sponsored programs

working on private land conservation and voluntary conserva-tion agreements throughout the state. The Coalition’s mission is to support and advance professional excellence in voluntary private land conservation for people and nature. ICOLT also helps to coordinate association membership to achieve legisla-tive, administrative, communications and policy goals. Joselin is the current Chair of ICOLT’s Executive Committee. “I took the role because I believe in the mission and know that an effective statewide coalition is needed to bring a stronger voice to our important work.” Idaho Land Trust Coalition members include:

City of Boise Foothills and Open Space Program Clark Fork-Pend Oreille Conservancy, SandpointDucks Unlimited, Statewide Heart of the Rockies Initiative, Driggs Idaho Fish and Wildlife Foundation, Boise Idaho Foundation for Parks and Lands, Boise Inland Northwest Land Trust, Spokane, WA Land Trust of the Treasure Valley, Boise Lemhi Regional Land Trust, Salmon Palouse Land Trust, MoscowPayette Land Trust, McCall Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, StatewideSagebrush Steppe Regional Land Trust, PocatelloSawtooth Society, StanleySouthern Idaho Land Trust, Twin FallsTeton Regional Land Trust, DriggsThe Conservation Fund, Statewide The Nature Conservancy, StatewideThe Trust for Public Land, StatewideThe Vital Ground Foundation, StatewideThe Wilderness Land Trust, StatewideWood River Land Trust, Hailey

The Heart of the Rockies Initiative is a collaboration of 25 national, statewide, and local land trusts working from Alberta and British Columbia to Montana, Idaho, and Wyoming. The core mission of this initiative is to work together to increase the pace of strategic private land conservation in the Northern Rockies to ensure the long-term ecological func-tionality of these vast landscapes. This region contains some of the most captivating wildlife and important working lands in North America, and private lands are among the region’s most ecologically productive.

Our collective efforts are creating strategic and effective conservation successes. Part of the Initiative’s approach to achieving its mission is to provide grants to member Land Trusts to develop their capacity and sustainability. Since 2007 we have received over $40,000 in grant funds. We have used these grants to help hire our first Executive Director, to develop our conservation plan, to complete strategic plan-ning, to train staff and Board to be better fundraisers, to build our stewardship program, and to prepare for Accreditation.

Protecting America’s Crown Jewel

Strategic Partnerships

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Joselin with David Anderson (Land Trust Alliance Board Chair), and Kristin Troy and Tom McFarland (Director and Board Chair of Lemhi Regional Land Trust in Salmon)

The Heart of the Rockies Initiative service area connects the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem to the Crown of the Continent at the Canadian Border

What is the Portneuf River Project? The Portneuf River Project is a cooperative effort between non-government conservation groups and government agencies who share an interest in protecting and enhancing outdoor recreational opportunities, the quality of our environment, and native species recovery. The partner members believe that col-lectively, we can provide our community with high quality water, vibrant fish and wildlife populations, and recreational opportunities.

Why is this partnership so important? Rivers are the life-blood of the lands through which they flow. Meandering rivers recharge aquifers and provide vital habitat for many species of fish and wildlife. Rivers have been harnessed over the centuries for hydropower, diverted for agriculture and confined behind dykes to prevent flooding. The Portneuf River is no exception. Private landowners, corporations and government partners are working to restore community river systems. Rivers are once again gaining access to their flood plains through the removal of dykes. Stream banks once eroding away are stable-covered with lush willows. While restoring the Portneuf River faces some significant challenges, there is still time to help shape its future.

A Vision for the Porteuf RiverWhat is the partnership doing today? In 2009, the partnership secured funding to purchase 7 acres along the Portneuf River. Ultimately, the project will restore a highly degraded reach of the Portneuf River, provide public access to the Portneuf River. Once the restora-tion is complete, the project will serve as a demonstration project with educational and interpre-tive signage about river health and water quality. Work is currently underway with the removal of sev-eral thousand cubic yards of dirt that has been eroding into the river. These banks, which are 10 to 14 feet high, will be cut down and the new banks will be stabilized with native grasses and willows. This is a really unique oppor-tunity and we look forward to sharing it with the community this spring!

Who’s involved?Cariboo ConservancyCity of Lava City of Pocatello Idaho Department of Environmental Quality Idaho Fish and Game Idaho Fish and Wildlife Foundation, Inc. Magic Valley Fly FishersSagebrush Steppe Regional Land TrustSouth East Idaho Fly Fishers The Nature ConservancyTrout Unlimited U. S. Fish and Wildlife ServiceU.S. Forest ServiceQ and A with Bud Smalley, coordinator of the Portneuf River Partnership. Reach Bud at: info@portneufriverproject.com

Protecting and Restoring the Bear In partnership with PacifiCorp Energy and the Bear River Environmental Coordinating Committee, the Land Trust has protected over 1600 acres in the Bear River watershed. These projects permanently protect the diverse open space values, including riparian woodlands along the Bear River, tributary habitat for spawning Bonneville cutthroat trout, as well as prime agricultural and ranch land.

Funding for many projects in the Bear River water-shed is provided by the Bear River Hydroelectric Project’s Environmental Coordinating Committee, a stakeholder group that approves expenditure of PacifiCorp Energy hydro proj-

ect environmental enhancement funds dedicated to improving water quality and native fish populations along the Bear River in Idaho. Members of the ECC include the Idaho Department of Fish and Game, the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, the Bureau of Land Management, the United States Forest Service, the National Park Service, the Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation, the Shoshonne-Bannock Tribes, Trout Unlimited, the Greater Yellowstone Coalition, American Whitewater, and Idaho Rivers United.

Protecting America’s Crown Jewel

7See MORe ONlINe!sagebrushlandtrust.org

Louis Wasniewski of USFS taking a look at bank to be removed and restored

Financial Report

FIND USOffice: 123 N Main, Suite 4 Pocatello, ID 83204Mail: PO Box 1404 Pocatello, ID 83204Web: sagebrushlandtrust.orgPhone: (208) 241-4662

lAND TRUST BOARDGarry Ratzlaff, PresidentMartha Wackenhut, Vice-PresidentLance Bethke, TreasurerDeb Mignogno, SecretaryBill DavidsonBob FlandroJessica McAleeseValerie Robertson

eXeCUTIVe DIReCTORJoselin Matkins

STeWARDSHIP COORDINATORHeidi Albano

Legal Advisor - Tim Lindstrom

The Land Trust’s Mission is to protect and enhance our region’s quality of life, now and for future generations, through the conser-vation of wildlife habitat, natu-ral lands, and working farms and ranches in Southeastern Idaho.

The land trust is a community based non-profit organization that works with willing landowners to permanently protect land through conservation easements and fee title acquisitions in 7 SE counties.

The land trust facilitates voluntary conservation agreements or ease-ment with willing landowners. We are responsible for upholding the conservation easement terms in perpetuity.

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How do our operations funds leaverage conservation transactions? Conservation Acquistions* (93%) $4,432,000 Program (5%) $260,000 Fundraising (1%) $24,800

Administration (1%) $24,800

*includes stewardship funds secured with project for perpetual monitoring and management

Where did last years’ funding come from? Other* (40%) $32,000 Individuals (37%) $30,000 Foundations (19%) $15,000 Businesses (4%) $3,500 *indicates funding through the Bear River Environmental Coordinating Committee

How do we spend our annual funding? Program (64%) $67,200 Fundraising (8%) $6,400 Administration (8%) $6,400

How much to we have to ensure our projects are protected in perpetuity? Dedicated fund for management, monitoring, and enforcement $266,000

ProgramAdministration

Conservation Impact between 2006-2011Fundraising

ConservationAcquisitions

Land TrustSE IdahoService Area

Financial Report

Strategic Goals 2011-2013

Administration

Rocky Mountain Power Foundation Grant The Rocky Mountain Power Foundation awarded a $4000 grant to Sagebrush Steppe Regional Land Trust to increase awareness of vol-untary land conservation opportunities facilitated by the Land Trust. The grant will help the Land Trust reach out to the community mem-bers along the Bear River and to increase the support and awareness across Southeast Idaho of the Land Trust conservation work. “The Rocky Mountain Power Foundation is pleased to be able to support Sagebrush Steppe Regional Land Trust in their effort to reach out to communities in southeastern Idaho.” said Glen Pond, Rocky Mountain Power customer and community manager.

Organizational Development GrantsThe Land Trust has received several grants through the Land Trust Alliance, the Heart of the Rockies Initiative, the Wilburforce Foundation, and the LaSalle Adams Fund. These grants have spon-sored Executive Director training, strategic planning, fundraising planning, and organization development activities for staff and Board members.

2011 Annual IncomeFundraising

ConservationAcquisitions

Businesses

Other*

Individuals

Foundations

2011 Annual expenses

Fundraising Administration

Program

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Land Protection:• Finish conservation plan to help identify, evaluate and prioritize projects to achieve maximum conservation impact• Build strategic partnerships to achieve conservation goals• Increase pace of conservation across service area

Financial Growth and Stability• Increase membership and annual giving from individuals, businesses, organizations, and governmental agencies.• Build endowment funds to support conservation, stewardship and operations.

Organization Development and Sustainability• Develop partnership between Board, staff and volunteers• Add second staff position starting July 2011• Develop the organization’s infrastructure• Provide for professional training of staff and Board • Apply for Accreditation in 2013• Improve and increase public awareness of Land Trust

With the completion of our conservation plan in 2012, we will be undertaking a longer-range strategic planning process. If you have an interest in helping us figure out how much land to protect, by when, and where, talk to Joselin or Garry about serving on a com-mittee or on the Board.

Thanks FundraiserSponsors!Business SponsorsBuddy’s RestaurantButcher BlockCoHO Coffee HouseCourtesy FordCynthia Louise BoutiqueDel Monte MeatDL Evans BankDr. Michael FlandroElectric ServiceEngelson, Capell, & Engelson Fish off the Old BlockHailey PaintHanson SupplyHeinz Frozen Food CompanyHenry’s Hair DesignISU Outdoor RecreationJuniper Hills Country ClubKruse InsuranceKZBQ 93.7 and KORR 104LadyBird FarmsLive Water PropertiesMama InezMeyers Law OfficeMyers Anderson ArchitectsPacific Steel & RecyclingPartner Steel CampingPhil Meador ToyotaPinehurst Nursery and FloralPocatello Co-OpPortneuf Valley BreweryPortneuf Healthcare FoundationPro BuildersRemo’sScott’s Lock and KeyScott’s Ski and SportsSimplot Snugfleece Inc.Steve Wallace ArchitectsTEC Distributing of IdahoThe Bag LadyThe GoldsmithThe Paperwork PlaceThe Raven’s Nest

Individual SponsorsRod Anderson Ed and Marsh DesanoBob and Jude FlandroJune HeilmanGeoff HoganderLynn and Tammy KendellJohn and Carol MatkinsJohn and Betty SiglerWillis McAleeseTim Norton

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GRANTS

$5,000 and aboveHeart of the Rockies InitiativePacifiCorp The Lightfoot FoundationThe Wilburforce Foundation

$1,000-4,999Ducks UnlimitedIntermountain West Joint VentureLand Trust AllianceResources Legacy FundRocky Mountain Power FoundationThe LaSalle Adams FundThe Norcross Wildlife Foundation

MEMORIAL DONATIONSMike DelateJune DudenakeBlaine GasserShea Service

THANKS VOLUNTEERSVicki AbramsDick AndersonBob BloxhamBoy Scout Teton Troop 34Kate DelateBob and Jude FlandroCathy FrischmannDr. Karl HolteMelinda JahsmanLand Trust Board MembersTom LuciaJohn and Carol MatkinsWillis and Mary McAleeseGarry and Terry RatzlaffMuriel RobertsPam ReschkeFaith RudebuschAmy SchultzClayton SeekSandra Thorne-BrownUtah Conservation CorpBill Waterfield

INDIVIDUALS &BUSINESSES$5,000 and aboveAnonymous

$1,000 - $4,999AnonymousAllen and Kathy BarberJR Simplot Company

$500 - $999Vicki AbramsJohn and Kathy AlbanoBob and Jude FlandroJim FrancfortLiz LovellPhil and Bekki MeadorJohn SousaBabette Thorpe

$250 - $499Rosalyn AbramsBob Bloxham and Kate DelateFrank and Judy HarmonTom LuciaJohn and Carol MatkinsWillis and Mary McAleeseGarry and Terry RatzlaffPaul and Martha Wackenhut

$100 - $249Bill and Wendy ArmstrongKaren and Lance BethkeBill and Jean DavidsonDL Evans BankEngleson, Capell and EnglesonWylie and Niccole FuhrimanJerry and Debbie FlandroDr. Michael FlandroPete and Cathy FrischmannHeinz Frozen Food CompanyIntermountain Beverage CompanyJensen Hayes Architects, PAFloyd and Ruth JohnsonPaula JonesMike KatsilometesKruse Insurance Inc., Ron Howell

Thank you! Gifts made January 1, 2011 to October 15, 2011 $100 - $249 continued Mary MadisonJessica McAleeseDeb MignognoMyers-Anderson ArchitectsMark and Eva Nye Pacific SteelMichelle PakPortneuf Health Care FoundationPro Builders, Gary ChisumDale & Holly ReavisDr. Kenneth RyanLisa and Tim SaffordDavid & Stella SandquistJennifer SelfArchie ServiceTEC Distributing Of IdahoSandra Thorne-Brown and Bob BrownDr. Charles Trost

$50 - $99Betty and Ty AndersonCarl AndersonBernd Beutenmuller and Margaret HudsonStar Coulbrook and Mitch ButterfieldRae Lowe DahmerDeno and Teresa DudenakeBob and Sheri FrasureClyde and Lee Ann GilbertGene and Sue Ann HogeKarl and Ardys HolteBarry and Marjanna HuletPatricia IsaeffRobert and Pamela KennedyRay and Kathy LappanJoe and Kathleen LehmanJoselin MatkinsKevin and Mary McKnightMeyers Law Office, Jay MeyersWayne and Judy MinshallMelvin and Barbara NichollsTim Norton and Vicki WatsonPeter and Sandra McDerrmotClifford and Kathleen OlsenDave and Janet Pacioretty

Every effort has been made to ensure accurate representation of contributions. If you find an error, please let us know.

Thank you! Gifts made January 1, 2011 to October 15, 2011 $50 - $99 continued Faith Rudebusch and Rick PongratzJerry and Wendy RansbottomMuriel RobertsDavid and Karrie SchmidtJosh and Amy SchultzDarrell and Barbara ScottJim and Bonnie ShawBud and Ann SmalleySoutheast Idaho United WayDeb and Scott StoneMike Thomas and Alissa SalmoreKevin and Pamela Ward

up to $49Ben and Heidi AlbanoStephanie AlbanoMarijana DolsenRyan DistefanoFred EvansRichard and Peggy GarvinRobert and Beverly GilletteZelda HaddenhamLance HendersonMelinda JahsmanVirginia KellyMichael and Dorothy LowerMatt MacMillianBob MarcinkoJane Matkins

up to $49 continued Ruth Anne MoorheadRobert & LaVoy MyersDouglas NilsonDana OlsonRyan and Kim PetersonKayo RobertsonBlake RomerDick and Donna SagnessJennifer SelfGuy and Doreen SmithJerry TatePam and Richard TuckerSteve WalkerBill Waterfield Janene Willer

Membership & Annual Giving ProgramYou, like many of your friends and neighbors, are aware of the loss of open space, natural areas, critical wildlife habitat and productive farms and ranches across Southeastern Idaho. The Land Trust can help, but to keep up with the increasing demand for Land Trust services, we need to maintain and expand our capacity. Supporting the Land Trust is great bang for your buck, and we make the most of every penny! Over the past 5 years, the conservation transactions facilitated by the land Trust totaled over $4.4 million! Program, administrative and fundraising costs reached $310,000. This means ever dollar contributed leveraged $14 in conservation on the ground!

The Land Trust has grown a lot in the last few years, and much of the progress we’ve had is thanks to the generous donations of individ-uals and local businesses. Since 2008, we’ve come to you for support twice per year; during the summer membership drive and at the end of the year. You have responded generously, both in the number of gifts and the amount of those gifts increasing each year. The Summer Membership Campaign that runs from May - August supports our operations - it keeps the lights on, our computers running, and the phone lines open. The Year-end Campaign that runs from October to December supports program development - this year, we are focused on sustaining our second staff member throughout 2012. This sup-port has helped us grow, and increased our capacity and ability to accomplish our conservation goals.

Through a generous matching challenge by a Land Trust member, your year-end gift can go further. The one-to-one match applys to any additional donation current members make this year, or toward any increase in a members’ 2010 annual contribution. If it is your first time donationg to the Land Trust, your entire donation will be matched! Thanks for your support!

My husband Joe and I moved to SE Idaho in 1956. We instantly fell in love with Pocatello and considered it a wonderful place to raise our four children. I’ve called Pocatello home for over 50 years and have grown to deeply care for the land. I became active in local conserva-tion efforts because I could see that as a community we needed to take an active role in protect-ing the viability of our quality of life. I love the mountains, the open space, and the rich qual-

leave a legacy that lasts, by Priscilla Hearst

ity of life and feel it is my responsibility to think of the future. I have children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren, and what to know that they can enjoy SE Idaho’s sense of place as much as my family and I enjoyed it. We loved spending time outdoors as a family, and my children have passed the tradition onto their own families.

Sharing my love of nature with my family is one way to ensure I have contributed to making a better future, but I wanted to do more to participate in maintaining SE Idaho’s quality of life. While I don’t have the ability to give large sums of cash, I was able to include the Land Trust in my estate plan. I am pleased to know that my gift will protect our environment. I want people to know that it doesn’t matter if you can give a lot; it matters that you can give something.

If you feel moved to acknowledge the extraordinary place we live with an estate gift to the Land Trust, and feel as strongly as Priscilla feels about the Land Trust’s work to maintain sense of place, think about having your attorney add language to your will or trust like this: I give the Sagebrush Steppe Regional Land Trust, an Idaho nonprofit corporation, having its office at 123 N Main, Pocatello, ID 83204, the sum of $______ (or, alterna-tively ___ percent of the residue of my estate) for its general purposes. Estate gifts can reduce your income taxes, reduce or eliminate capital gain taxes, reduce your gift or estate tax, provide income to you and your loved ones, and help support our efforts to protect our area’s most important treasures. Consult your tax advisor.

Leave a legacy that helps ensure your children and grand-children can experience what makes Southeast Idaho such a special place to live, work, and play. And, if you do decide to include the Land Trust in your estate plan, please let us know so we may thank you in your lifetime.

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NON-PROFIT ORgU.S. POSTAgE

PAIDPERMIT NO. 51POcATEllO, ID

Acres Permanently Protected With Your Support: 1,940

PO Box 1404, Pocatello ID 83204

sagebrush steppeLAND TRUST

Also, see us online at www.sagebrushlandtrust.org, visit us on and watch us on

IN THIS ISSUE: Who We Are ...Page 2

Stewardship Update ...Page 4

Financial Report...Page 8

Partners Update...Page 6