History

The mission of the Davidson lands Conservancy is to provide the citizens of Davidson and surrounding areas alternatives to urban living by protecting natural lands and other open spaces for ecological and aesthetic purposes.Since its incorporation in July 2000, Davidson Lands Conservancy, Inc., (DLC) has worked with town citizens, elected representatives and other town officials in Davidson, NC, to preserve significant natural lands and open spaces, believing that humans have an active and necessary right to and role in surrounding natural habitat. A sense of place, they believe, is important in people's lives, and the non-profit organization therefore strives to retain natural characteristics of the local environment by preserving natural habitat. Future generations can then experience the many attributes of this habitat, even as the Town of Davidson grows and develops.

Mayor Kincaid invited seven Davidson citizens to form the task force, led by Ron Charbonneau, Bob Cumming, Lynn Henderson, Chris Sekarak, Martha Strawn, and Elizabeth Whitener joined by town planning staffer Dawn Blobaum, Town Manager Leamon Brice, Town Attorney Rick Kline, and Town Commissioners David Martin and John Woods. The official duty of the task force was to explore alternatives and select the best venue for Davidson land preservation. If a conservancy would improve some aspect of the town, the task force asked, should the conservancy be constituted independently from the town, or should the conservancy be linked to town government?

To answer these questions, the task force wrote to established conservancies throughout the U.S. Although community-based conservancies were a relatively new and rare option, the task force eventually found well-organized models to follow, such as the Williamsburg Lands Conservancy in Williamsburg, Virginia.

The task force interviewed key participants from other conservancies, such as Ron Altman, Director of the Catawba Lands Conservancy. In a phone conversation from March 20, 2000, Altman suggested that the task force study publications from the Land Trust Alliance of F St. NW, Washington DC, and that the task team study other lands trusts with connections to local government. Altman offered a copy of the CLC's bylaws to the task force for reference, and his involvement initiated a lasting relationship between the CLC and the developing DLC.

At a task force meeting on March 29, 2000, Jeff Michael of the Land Trust for Central North Carolina spoke about his organization's work and relationship with government. Michael's information and research from other trusts and conservancies helped the task force to better understand the roles and possibilities of trusts and conservancies.

By May 2000, the task force decided to form a conservancy independent of the Town of Davidson. As a non-profit corporation, 501 (c)(3), the Davidson Lands Conservancy would conserve land through purchases and donations of easements, development rights, and actual property. The DLC would work to instigate community participation and would highlight significant tax benefits for landowners who participated in conservation.

The task force had worked since January 2002, researching and determining first-year objectives for a possible DLC. Now the task force needed to develop outlines for initial education, advertising, and fundraising strategies. It also searched for potential DLC board members and advisors.

Before any action could be taken, however, the task force needed to set up the policy structure that would guide the DLC. Looking to the examples of the CLC and the Landtrust for Central North Carolina, the task force drafted bylaws and Articles of Incorporation. At an April 7, 2000, meeting, the task force had reviewed a draft of the Articles of Incorporation and discussed a Memorandum of Agreement with the CLC.

At a Town Commissioners' meeting on May 9, the task force announced its decision that the DLC would begin in partnership with the CLC. Not only would the CLC offer legal and political advice, but the CLC's legitimacy as a well-founded and successful conservancy would strengthen the new DLC. In return, the DLC would aid the CLC in its mission of conservation, since Davidson falls under the CLC's defined areas of concern.

Later, the Town Commissioners allocated $15,000 [my records show that this is correct, however, this amount has been questioned] to support an independent land conservancy to be operated by citizens of Davidson. The task force had requested this money from the Town of Davidson to help support the DLC's first-year operating costs, estimated to total $40,000. The rest of the necessary funding was supplied by fundraising and private donations.

At the Commissioners' meeting, Mayor Kincaid commented on the DLC, saying, "Forming this group independent to town government is an important step in continuing our efforts to moderate growth in Davidson, to keep our surrounding land for the enjoyment of all citizens." With financial and political support from town policy makers, the DLC would be informally linked to town government, while still maintaining its autonomy.

The task force then filled out incorporation papers, and applied to the North Carolina Department of the Secretary of the State to become a 501 (c)(3) non-profit.

DLC structure and policy

On July 21, 2000, the State of North Carolina approved the Articles of Incorporation for the Davidson Lands Conservancy, Inc. The DLC would also work under an approved set of bylaws, which were first suggested by the DLC on July 15, 2000. Task force leader Ron Charbonneau became the registered agent of the DLC and served as the President of the first Board of Directors. Robert Cumming, Lynn Henderson, Chris Sekerak, and Martha Strawn also moved from task force members to members of the new board.

The Executive Committee included President Charbonneau, Vice-President Strawn, Treasurer Budd Berro, Secretary Bob Cumming, and two members at large: Matthew Churchill and DeWitt Crosby.

Relationship with CLC

Throughout the planning stages, the Catawba Lands Conservancy had played an integral role in the DLC's development. Ron Altman, Director of the CLC, continued to act as a liaison between the DLC and the CLC when the two corporations decided to form an alliance.

The DLC Board of Directors ratified the Memorandum of Agreement between the DLC and the CLC at a special board meeting on August 2, 2000.

According to the Memorandum drafted June 25, 2000, "the CLC and the DLC can jointly accomplish an increased level of land acquisition and permanent protection in Davidson. Specifically, this partnership effort is directed to the conservation of open space lands in the Davidson region."

Since Davidson fell under the service area of the CLC, the partnership would help the CLC attain its goals in the Davidson area. At the same time, the CLC would help the DLC establish itself politically and publicly. The relationship would allow the DLC to develop the capability of acquiring and protecting land since the two conservancies held similar goals of conservation. The two organizations, however, recognized their difference: the CLC covers a six county area which each contain a number of communities, while the DLC focuses on a particular community and can become deeply involved in its community. The conservancies agreed that eventually they might become independent, complementary players.

In return for the CLC's legal experience and staff assistance, the DLC agreed to provide a minimum of $30,000 for the first year of relationship. In addition, the DLC Board of Directors would be expanded to include two representatives from the CLC, and the CLC would have two representatives from the DLC. By actively integrating members of the CLC, the DLC would be able to easily share information with the CLC in return for advice and support.

In the second year of the DLC/CLC relationship, the memorandum was changed to note that one DLC member would serve on the CLC's board. One DLC representative would also sit on the CLC's Acquisition Committee to ensure dialogue in planning and negotiation.

As an additional stipulation of the original memorandum, the CLC was to have provided the DLC with a piece of property by the end of the first year of relationship. Although the CLC did not fulfill this stipulation, the CLC had signed an option on a piece of property by the end of 2001, the potential expiration date of the memorandum.

The Current DLC: Developing Acquisitions Policy and Mobilizing the Community

Charboneau continued to lead the DLC in efforts to acquire open space in the Davidson area and to inform and involve community members. In the spring of 2001, the DLC focused on getting organized. The DLC worked immediately to identify lands for acquisition, but meanwhile it needed solid membership, a dedicated board, and financial sponsorship.

After continuing to appeal to more citizens, the DLC received a Town of Davidson grant, effective July 1, 2001, the beginning of the Town's fiscal year. The DLC also received a private donation that promised to match raised funds up to $10,000. That spring, the DLC got its footing and prepared for its first annual meeting to be held in October 2001.

At this meeting, Vice President Strawn succeeded Charboneau and began her role as President of the DLC. The nominations committee nominated replacements for the old board, and, after elections at the November meeting, a new Board joined Strawn. Current officers include VP for long range planning Doug Boone, VP of Development Russ Gavitt, Recording Secretary Bob Cumming, Corresponding Secretary Nancy Lingle, and Treasurer Budd Berro.

The Acquisitions-Stewardship-Trails Committee developed the DLC Project Selection Criteria, which was then presented to the Board of Directors on February 4, 2002. At the same meeting, the Board reviewed a draft of the DLC Land Stewardship Policies. Dave Grant and Mark Stanback worked together on this project, using CLC stewardship documents for reference. The Stewardship Policies outline standards for Baseline Documentation, the Stewardship and Monitoring of Property, the Enforcement of Terms and Restrictions of Conservation Easements, Conservation Easement Violations, the Monitoring and Defense of DLC-owned Properties, Plans for Stewardship, the Preservation of Access to Lands, and Insurance (see Appendix I, "Land Stewardship Policies").

Baseline documentation is especially important since such data collections will help the DLC determine specific traits of local property. Photographs, lists of inhabited organisms, maps, and written descriptions of landscape and land history will create records of the DLC's property, and this record will establish data from which to select new acquisitions.

The DLC also works to promote trails in Davidson in as many ways as possible. The DLC is interested in facilitating walking and biking trails through its own means and through co-operation with other organizations. DLC Board member Connie Wessner is worked with Davidson Elementary in plans to create a nature trail behind school property. Wessner also served as a DLC liaison to the Town's Park and Recreation Committee.

The DLC continues to maintain a humanistic objective, working toward an increased quality of life for current and future Davidson residents. All individuals, corporations, businesses, and organizations are invited to join the DLC in its conservation efforts, by donating time, services, money, or land.

For more information about the DLC, its Board, its history, or its current projects and concerns, please email dlc@davidsonlands.org or call (704) 892-1910.

This History was compiled and written by Emily Drew, Davidson College student.

© 2002 and edited 10/24/2006 by Roy Alexander, Executive Director.