The rain kept quite a few of our members away from the annual membership cruise aboard the Viking this summer which resulted in more food and fun for the hearty souls who did attend! Here are some highlights of the meeting portion of the evening. As you can see, 2015 has been a very active and accomplished year for the WLT. Continued support, increased membership, and active volunteers remain vital to our current and future commitments.
Our membership report shows a current total of over 350 members. Fifteen new members and one Lifetime member have also joined since we started our matched-donation drive in May. Thank you and welcome new members!
John Browning presented our acquisitions progress report for 2015. This included the purchase (via grants) of 7.5 acres to extend the Tweedy and Barnes Property. Work is currently underway to build a parking lot at the preserve which will make access much easier. We also have Conservation Restrictions in progress for over 65 acres of property both at Cromesett Neck with MA Audubon and with the Onset Water Department land adjacent to the solar field.
As always, the WLT believes in collaborative efforts with other conservation groups. We are happy to support the current work of the Buzzards Bay Coalition as they plan to protect Wicket’s Island in Onset Harbor. Membership support is requested at the fall town meeting to obtain funding for this important project. We will forward more information as it becomes available.
In other news, Sarah Gossett, a MassLift Outreach Coordinator, has ended her year of service with us but two new members (sharing duties with the BBC) are stepping in to assist for the 2015-2016 term. Kari Amick, who will be the Community Engagement Coordinator, and Tanya Creamer, who will be the Service Learning Coordinator, were introduced during the cruise. Welcome Tanya and Kari!