Job titles are cool. They are purposefully created to convey a lot of information in a tiny snippet of words. But what do they actually MEAN? What the heck does anyone actually DO? If you’ve ever wondered what exactly it is that we do… do here, read on to hear what our job titles really mean, direct from the staff*.
Annette Bridges, Administrative Assistant
When I first started as PLT’s part-time administrative assistant a couple of months ago, I would have said that my job seemed to primarily involve setting up umpteen log-ins, for everything from the Land Trust Alliance to our own website to various platforms connected with accounting, banking, funding entities, state agencies, etc. After about a week of getting oriented, I would have also mentioned the importance of learning the myriad acronyms for various types of easements, agencies, partnerships and programs (ACEP! ALE! CRP! FCEP! LTA! RCCP! RCO! WRE! WSCC!). Now that I have settled in a bit, I realize that I have the great good fortune to be learning about and helping with a little bit of everything that the PLT staff and board do. Turns out this suits a self-described generalist like me quite well!
Annette atop Penstemon Path
Eventually I hope to help PLT optimally organize and, where necessary, archive and/or update our office’s (substantial volume of!) files and documentation. Currently, the ten weekly hours that I spend at PLT are largely filled ensuring that important statements, minutes, agendas and memos are appropriately reviewed and filed. There are always plenty of deadlines to be borne in mind, for example with regard to grant reporting or PLT’s national re-accreditation process. And as our Board members could confirm, I also do a fair bit of email pestering in order to schedule meetings, coordinate orientations, obtain signatures, remind people of obligations, and so forth. But as is the case with any form of housekeeping, my role will often tend to be invisible except when I neglect or bungle a task!
Since arriving at PLT, I have been consistently wowed by my co-workers, each of whom is highly knowledgeable and remarkably talented in their respective areas of responsibility, from Jaime's communications wizardry to Ava's natural resource expertise to Marijka's nuanced legal and technical discernment to Lovina's graceful juggling of so many projects and relationships (as well as her affinity for IT and spreadsheets!). I greatly enjoy gleaning information and insights from my fabulous co-workers — and when possible, sneaking off with one of them for a conserved-land site visit or fieldwork task (most recently: helping carry lumber up Penstemon Path for those beautiful new benches!).
Ava Cocking, Community Lands Steward
Community Lands Steward, pretty sweet title, isn’t it? But what exactly does that mean? And what exactly does a Community Lands Steward do?
Ava and Evelyn (land steward in training) taking in the forest air on Penstemon Path
For basic land trust terminology, let me start with the two definitions of stewardship. Typically, land trusts function within two realms of private land conservation. One is through holding conservation easements that help private landowners conserve their remarkable land in perpetuity (forever). The other is buying remarkable pieces of land or accepting remarkably generous donations of special pieces of property. Therefore, stewardship can refer to stewarding conservation values on private land easements, and stewardship of land that is held (owned) by the land trust.
Now that you have completed a course in Land Trust 101, we have a better context to discuss what I actually do! I have the honor of being the steward/manager/caretaker for community lands. Community Lands are private land owned by PLT, each with their uniqueness, beauty, and set of management objectives and ecological requirements.
The ins and outs (and betweens and togethers) of Ava’s position
I am humbly charged with overseeing the stewardship of Idler’s Rest Nature Preserve. This includes coordinating with our incredible volunteer team member, Dave Ostrom, Idler’s Rest Steward, as well as building volunteer work parties, hiring contractors, editing management plans, and working with Jaime on community engagement events. On all our community lands, I work with our partners to ensure the physical land is taken care of, as well as ensuring our community can have a chance to build a relationship with the land itself. I find projects that need to be done, coordinate the right people to do a job based on individual ecological timelines. Lately, I think of myself as the harmonious blend of project manager and nature-connection facilitator.
Marijka Haverhals, Conservation Projects Manager
There is never a dull moment in the land trust world and I would not have it any other way. It’s hard to believe that I have been working at PLT as the Conservation Projects Manager for over 1.5 years already. I feel like I have been here forever, albeit I am still learning and growing my knowledge base. I am grateful for all the mentors and board members who have shielded me along the way and ever so patiently answered so many of my endless questions.
Marijka really loves ticks and seeks out any environment where they have an opportunity to latch on ;)
Whether I am working on real estate transactions related to conservation easements (which can take over 2 years or more to complete), or annual monitoring responsibilities of the existing conservation easements, it takes a team and I am lucky to have some of the best around. From my ever so patient co-workers to the wonderful volunteers and the amazing contractors we work with, all have helped support the land trust and the ever increasing work load for conservation preservation. You are appreciated!
Abby Evans, rockstar CNR Stewardship Intern on the French Easement annual monitoring this summer.
Every spring we start the annual monitoring season; we visit with landowners on over 25 conservation easements over 2,000 acres mostly in Latah County into the fall. The land trust “holds” these conservation easements forever (i.e. we do not own the property but just hold the easement deed) and this once a year visit is how we uphold the conservation values in the easement deed. I have had the privilege this year to work with a highly capable intern from UI in CNR. It has been a very enjoyable and refreshing summer to mentor a young university student and I find myself many times also learning from her. We are grateful for the endowments that not only help support our capacity as a small land trust, but continue to grow our partnerships with the universities we are lucky to live so close to.
Jaime Jovanovich-Walker, Communications and Development Coordinator
Simple answer: I do all the stuff that isn’t directly related to land acquisition and stewardship! A more nuanced description of my day to day is caring for our supporters, developing and creating content for multi-channel communications, bookkeeping and administrative duties, reporting and data analysis, and supporting the rest of the PLTeam in their endeavors. Phew!
Sharing community and nature with Moscow Chamber Ambassadors at Idler’s Rest
In terms of our donors, I support each member of the PLT family by entering and acknowledging gifts, maintaining our donor database, and developing yearly fundraising plans to help ensure we can continue to protect the very best of the Palouse and north central Idaho forever. Hand in hand, I develop all fundraising communications, our annual print newsletter, monthly e-news, social media presence, marketing and outreach materials and lead the charge in event planning for public and donor-exclusive events and opportunities. Living a past life in accounting and office management, I also take care of our accounts payables, payroll allocation, and other super interesting internal admin activities like making sure we don’t run out of toilet paper in the bathroom.
We’ll never be wiped out of toilet paper on Jaime’s watch!
If I’ve been extra good, I occasionally assist with property monitoring, stewardship activities on the lands PLT owns, supporting our wellness practitioners at community events, and leading community hikes and educational activities on conserved properties. While I don’t spend as much time as I used to out on the landscape, I am so happy to serve as a conduit for championing our amazing landscape and truly meaningful local land conservation.