THE BARRINGTON LAND CONSERVATION TRUST · Saving the land is just the beginning; ongoing protection...

9
THE BARRINGTON LAND CONSERVATION TRUST (today’s date} Dear {addressee informal}, Hoo hoo hoo-hoo was the call that went out slowly, rhythmically through the woods. I was the visitor at dusk within Sowams Woods; the great horned owl was at home. Unseen, he checked me out from a limb high in the oak canopy overlooking the vernal pool. Woodland sounds of the day had stilled as the last light shone through the lingering autumn leaves in their many hues of red, brown, and gold. His repeated call seemed insistently directed towards me. Hoo hoo hoo-hoo. Who are you? Who are you to be here now when it is my time to roam the woods? Who are you; do I know you? The darkness settled in at the woods as I retraced the trail covered in white pine needles and dried oak leaves just moments before a flashlight would have been needed to find my way in a woods the owl knew so well. Now it is my turn to reach out to you, taking liberties with the owl’s evening call: you you you‐you. Thank you for supporting the Barrington Land Conservation Trust each year. Thank you for protecting the land at Sowams Woods for the owls. Will you please support us once again this year? Have you had the chance to visit the woods with your family this year? Will you join us for an owl walk on a winter’s night? Your annual appeal donation to the Land Trust protects land and water for wildlife and people. For thirty years, the Trust has protected parcels large and small throughout our community. The Trust has worked steadily to encourage land conservation by the town. Most properties donated to or purchased by us would not have been protected otherwise. By seeing the value in these small parcels of land, the Trust has assembled a patchwork of natural open spaces, in all parts of our town, that together are of greater value than their separate sum. These properties would probably not have met the acquisition criteria of some land trusts: not large enough, too close to development, not in a completely natural condition. But you know that these lands make all the difference in our community by providing quiet spaces for you and your family to enjoy the outdoors and for your children and grandchildren to learn in small, every day ways about nature just the way you once did. A difference that adds to your quality of life in Barrington. Saving the land is just the beginning; ongoing protection requires an investment in stewardship. Our community was one of the first in Rhode Island to found a nonprofit land trust. In the early days, when there was still much undeveloped land, the goal was to move quickly to save as much land as possible. But acquisition is just the beginning of a trust's ongoing stewardship responsibilities. Your support enables our volunteers to attend to the many pressing needs of our land. From property surveys for boundaries, wetlands and forests to management activities such as the removal of phragmites at coastal properties or the native plants for a restoration project, we rely on your financial support. New properties require an extensive initial stewardship investment. Even property insurance, costing nearly $1000 each year, is required to allow our properties to remain accessible at no charge to you. Invasive plants and animals exact a costly toll on our native lands. I worked with our friends and neighbors on a project this past year in the struggle to reclaim land around a small creek. This neighborhood refuge is a beloved quiet space ‐ a natural spot for a child's imagination and adventures. Invasive plants such as Oriental bittersweet, multi‐flora rose, burning bush euonymus, Japanese barberry, English ivy and other species have muscled their way into the woods. Ornamental plants brought to our shores a century ago for their colorful flowers, fruit or foliage have been spread beyond our suburban

Transcript of THE BARRINGTON LAND CONSERVATION TRUST · Saving the land is just the beginning; ongoing protection...

Page 1: THE BARRINGTON LAND CONSERVATION TRUST · Saving the land is just the beginning; ongoing protection requires an investment in stewardship. Our community was one of the first in Rhode

THEBARRINGTONLANDCONSERVATIONTRUST

(today’sdate}

Dear{addresseeinformal},Hoohoohoo­hoowasthecallthatwentoutslowly,rhythmicallythroughthewoods.IwasthevisitoratduskwithinSowamsWoods;thegreathornedowlwasathome.Unseen,hecheckedmeoutfromalimbhighintheoakcanopyoverlookingthevernalpool.Woodlandsoundsofthedayhadstilledasthelastlightshonethroughthelingeringautumnleavesintheirmanyhuesofred,brown,andgold.Hisrepeatedcallseemedinsistentlydirectedtowardsme.Hoohoohoo­hoo.Whoareyou?Whoareyoutobeherenowwhenitismytimetoroamthewoods?Whoareyou;doIknowyou?ThedarknesssettledinatthewoodsasIretracedthetrailcoveredinwhitepineneedlesanddriedoakleavesjustmomentsbeforeaflashlightwouldhavebeenneededtofindmywayinawoodstheowlknewsowell.Nowitismyturntoreachouttoyou,takinglibertieswiththeowl’seveningcall:youyouyou‐you.ThankyouforsupportingtheBarringtonLandConservationTrusteachyear.ThankyouforprotectingthelandatSowamsWoodsfortheowls.Willyoupleasesupportusonceagainthisyear?Haveyouhadthechancetovisitthewoodswithyourfamilythisyear?Willyoujoinusforanowlwalkonawinter’snight?

YourannualappealdonationtotheLandTrustprotectslandandwaterforwildlifeandpeople.

Forthirtyyears,theTrusthasprotectedparcelslargeandsmallthroughoutourcommunity.TheTrusthasworkedsteadilytoencouragelandconservationbythetown.Mostpropertiesdonatedtoorpurchasedbyuswouldnothavebeenprotectedotherwise.Byseeingthevalueinthesesmallparcelsofland,theTrusthasassembledapatchworkofnaturalopenspaces,inallpartsofourtown,thattogetherareofgreatervaluethantheirseparatesum.Thesepropertieswouldprobablynothavemettheacquisitioncriteriaofsomelandtrusts:notlargeenough,tooclosetodevelopment,notinacompletelynaturalcondition.Butyouknowthattheselandsmakeallthedifferenceinourcommunitybyprovidingquietspacesforyouandyourfamilytoenjoytheoutdoorsandforyourchildrenandgrandchildrentolearninsmall,everydaywaysaboutnaturejustthewayyouoncedid.AdifferencethataddstoyourqualityoflifeinBarrington.

Savingthelandisjustthebeginning;ongoingprotectionrequiresaninvestmentinstewardship.

OurcommunitywasoneofthefirstinRhodeIslandtofoundanonprofitlandtrust.Intheearlydays,whentherewasstillmuchundevelopedland,thegoalwastomovequicklytosaveasmuchlandaspossible.Butacquisitionisjustthebeginningofatrust'songoingstewardshipresponsibilities.Yoursupportenablesourvolunteerstoattendtothemanypressingneedsofourland.Frompropertysurveysforboundaries,wetlandsandforeststomanagementactivitiessuchastheremovalofphragmitesatcoastalpropertiesorthenativeplantsforarestorationproject,werelyonyourfinancialsupport.Newpropertiesrequireanextensiveinitialstewardshipinvestment.Evenpropertyinsurance,costingnearly$1000eachyear,isrequiredtoallowourpropertiestoremainaccessibleatnochargetoyou.

Invasiveplantsandanimalsexactacostlytollonournativelands.

Iworkedwithourfriendsandneighborsonaprojectthispastyearinthestruggletoreclaimlandaroundasmallcreek.Thisneighborhoodrefugeisabelovedquietspace‐anaturalspotforachild'simaginationandadventures.InvasiveplantssuchasOrientalbittersweet,multi‐florarose,burningbusheuonymus,Japanesebarberry,Englishivyandotherspecieshavemuscledtheirwayintothewoods.Ornamentalplantsbroughttoourshoresacenturyagofortheircolorfulflowers,fruitorfoliagehavebeenspreadbeyondoursuburban

Jon
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Jon
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into
Jon
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Good scene setting and sense details. Rather long. I would cut some details. Work to sharpen the logic of this - I like the idea that the owl is at home in Sowams Wood. How does that really connect to me? Foreshadow offer for walk...? I'd love for you to hear the owl for yourself.
Jon
Sticky Note
"You-you" may seem a bit forced as a transition. What if you hear the owl's cry above as "you-you" - prompting reflection on what you have done and opening the door for you to tell me ("you") what I have done and can do again.
Jon
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I did not understand this as an invitation, but as a more or less rhetorical question at first. Strengthen the invitation that comes later in the letter. Here you add another element before you have quite finished the thought. This graf starts out about "your" role protecting land and it should end with how I can do this again with my contribution.
Jon
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Good case for BLT. Would strive to compress this, but not too much. You could also break this into 2 grafs, just to break up long blocks.
Jon
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Shorter subhead - shorter words.
Jon
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I love "muscled"!
Jon
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Jon
Text Box
Year-end appeal, first draft. Click on yellow boxes to expand comments.
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P.O.BOX324,BARRINGTON,RI02806WWW.BLCT.ORG

yardsandintoeveryplaceabirdcandropaseedorberry.Usuallythetroublebeginsatthewoodlandedges,butwherevertheseplantsspringup,weneedtobereadytodefendournativeplantsagainsttheseinvaders.Otherwisetreesarestrangledwithbittersweetandivy.Impenetrable,smotheringthicketsbearingthornsquicklyovertakeforestshrubsandwildflowers.

Ourall­volunteernon­profitlandtrustisagreatvalueforyourdonationdollars!

Ourvolunteersarepeoplejustlikeyou‐peopleyouprobablyknow:neighborsgivingtheirtimeonaweekendmorning,BeyondOurWallsGreatDayofServicevolunteershelpingonColumbusDay,futureEagleScoutsleadingtheirfirststewardshipprojectandsomeofourlong‐timestewardsfaithfullycheckingpropertiesevenwhentheycanonlybereachedbyboat.Asavolunteer‐runnonprofitorganization,thetimedonatedbyourvolunteersispriceless.IfyouhavevolunteeredforourTrust,letmetakethisopportunitytothankyouagainforyourservice!

YourstewardshipgiftisneededthisyearforournaturalopenspacesinBarrington.

Ourvolunteersmeanthateverydollarcanbeusedtowardsstewardshipworkthatreallymustbedonebyaprofessional.Wheninvasivebeetlescausetheprematuredeathofalargetreenearatrailorahome,itreallydoestakeaprofessionalarboristtosafelyremoveahazard.WhereverpossibletheTrustappliesforgrantstofundlargeprojectssuchasourcoastalrestorationworkatLittleMussachuckCreekandAllin'sCove.Evenwhenwearesuccessfulinreceivingthousandsofdollarsofstewardshipfundingtobenefitourcommunity,wemuststillprovidefundstowardsthematchingrequirementsfrom15to25%ofthetotalgrant.

Year­endgivingissimpleandyoucanreviewusonline.

YoucanmakeanonlinedonationviaNetworkforGoodbyvisitingourwebsite:www.blct.org,whichincludeslinkstoreviewsofournonprofitbyGuideStar.

Sometimesitreallyiseasybeing'green'.Go'green'andallowustoshareuptotheminuteopportunitieswithyou.Toreceiveinvitationsforoutingsandvolunteering,simplyincludeyouremailaddressasyoumakeyourdonation.

ThegreathornedowlatSowamsWoodsiscountingonyou.

Pleasesendinyourgifttoday.IfyouwouldliketojoinusforanowlwalkthisJanuary,besuretocheck'owlwalk'.Groupsizewillbelimitedoneachwalktobestenjoythewinterwoods,butwewillofferenougheveningsforeveryonetoparticipateinthisexperience.Youcanreachuswithanyquestionsviaemailfromourwebsite:[email protected]‐endstewardshipdonationasyoucan.Thankyou!(seelastyr’ssignoff)Sincerely,JanReitsmaPresidentP.S.AlimitedtimeopportunitytomatchyourstewardshipgiftdirectlytotheBarringtonLandConservationTrustwithstewardshipfundsforworkthroughoutRhodeIsland­pleasereadtheinserttoourappeal.Yourdonationwillbematcheddollar‐to‐dollarbyananonymousdonortotheRhodeIslandFoundationtowardsstatewidestewardshipinitiativessponsoredbytheRhodeIslandStewardshipCollaborativewhosepartnersincludesomeofourfavoriteenvironmentalpartnerssuchastheRhodeIslandLandTrustCouncil,theAudubonSocietyofRhodeIsland,TheNatureConservancyandtheRhodeIslandNaturalHistorySurvey.(ShouldgivesomeonetocalloremailwithquestionsforBLCTandRIF?)

Jon
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Jon
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You can cut these sentences. Move on to why I care.
Jon
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You've more or less said this above. I wold make this subhead and paragraph about what else you need: cash to pay for things vols can't do.
Jon
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I'm a little unclear. Do you mean I won't be invited if I don't give email? In any case, I would say "to receive emailed invitations..."
Jon
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Issue a clear and appealing invitation first. I feel like I've missed something when you go straight to the direction for response.Find a way to connect this ending to your beginning.
Jon
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Vague. What do you really need this year? An invasive beetle pro? Say so!
Jon
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Now ask for the money! Use the subhead "Sometimes it really is easy being green."Please make your contribution of $X, $Y or $Z before the year ends. You can
Jon
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One line subheads only,please! (Go with the owl.)
Jon
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Act today to take advantage of...
Jon
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Stop right here. This offer gets weaker the more I know, so be brief. (As noted in the email, I do not think this match merits a separate insert.)
Jon
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Good content and writing, but work to use shorter words, sentences and paragraphs. I like the subheads, but you could use fewer at the end and most could be stated more briefly. This letter should be mainly about one thing, with all the elements connected logically. I think this could be a great letter about the owl in Sowams Wood, how and how donors can protect it in the future. There is a good potential connection from story to offer here, but it's not coming through yet. You're challenged by the owl at the beginning and you offer an owl walk at the end, but you don't sell the walk or connect it to your opening.
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Jon
Sticky Note
I don' t think this "catch the wave" inserts helps at all. You explain the match offer in the PS. But the insert doesn't make the offer clear and it doesn't build on or compliment the main creative approach of the letter. (The "wave" notion introduces a whole different image from the "woods/owl" image. It also doesn't have anything to do with land.) I don't think you should invest a lot of work in the insert. An article about owls or a clipping from the Times or a testimonial or two from members would be better, but you don't absolutely need to have an insert with an appeal.
Jon
Text Box
Overall comments on first draft: Generally, a good letter that needs more tightening and use of the structure that's in there under the details. Good content and writing, but work to use shorter words, sentences and paragraphs. I like the subheads, but you could use fewer at the end and most could be stated more briefly. This letter should be mainly about one thing, with all the elements connected logically. I think this could be a great letter about the owl in Sowams Wood, and how donors can protect it in the future. There is a good potential connection from story to offer here, but it's not coming through yet. You're challenged by the owl at the beginning and you offer an owl walk at the end, but you don't sell the walk or connect it to your opening.
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The Barrington Land Conservation Trust

      {today’s date}

Dear {addressee informal}, Hoo hoo hoo-hoo was the call that went out slowly, rhythmically through Sowams Woods. The great horned owl was at home there, unseen, on a limb high in the oak canopy overlooking the vernal pool. Sounds of the day stilled as the last light shone through the lingering autumn leaves in their many hues of red, brown, and gold. His repeated call seemed directed to us. Though we would need a flashlight to find our way in the woods, the owl knows his way there well.

The owls at Sowams Woods are thriving in their home today because you cared enough to protect it for them... and for all of us. I hope you can join us there this winter for an owl-walk and hear one first-hand. Perhaps you will hear him saying you-you you: Thank YOU for protecting these lands!

And thank you for protecting land and water all over the town of Barrington for wildlife and and for people! For thirty years, the Trust has directly protected parcels large and small. The Trust has also worked successfully to encourage land conservation by the town. Most of these properties would not have been protected otherwise. By seeing the value in these lands, we have assembled a patchwork of natural open spaces, all across our town, that together, are of greater value than their separate pieces. You know that these lands make all the difference in our community by providing quiet spaces for you and your family to enjoy the outdoors and for your children and grandchildren to learn in small, every day ways about nature just as you once did. But we must count on your support again this year.

Many people work to steward our lands: people you probably know: neighbors giving their time on a weekend morning, Beyond Our Walls Great Day of Service volunteers helping on Columbus Day, future Eagle Scouts leading their first stewardship project and some of our long-time stewards faithfully checking properties even when they can only be reached by boat.  As a volunteer-run nonprofit organization, the time donated by our volunteers is priceless. If you have volunteered for our Trust, let me take this opportunity to thank you again for your service!

Invasive plants and animals exact a surprising toll on our native lands. One of the projects for our volunteers this past year was the struggle to reclaim land from invasive plants surrounding a small creek. This neighborhood refuge is a beloved quiet space - a natural spot for a child's imagination and adventures. Invasive plants such as Oriental bittersweet, multi-flora rose, burning bush euonymus, Japanese barberry, English ivy and other species have muscled their way into the woods. Ornamental plants brought to our shores a century ago for their colorful flowers, fruit or foliage have been spread beyond our suburban yards and into every place a bird can drop a seed or berry.

But saving the land is just the beginning: ongoing protection requires an investment in stewardship. In the early days, our goal was simple - act quickly to protect as much land as possible. New properties require a sizable initial stewardship investment and long held properties demand our care. 90% of our stewardship work is done by volunteers, but this year we will need funds to:

• Hire arborists to safely fell trees killed prematurely by invasive beetles• Survey several properties and mark boundaries, and identify plants and wildlife• Purchase native plants for restoration • Buy property insurance so that our lands can remain accessible to you• Treat invasive plants like phragmites and Japanese knotweed

 

Jon
Sticky Note
"patchwork" may sound a little haphazard, but not a serious problem. Maybe "necklace" "network" "constellation"?
Jon
Sticky Note
Without referencing earlier versions or my comments, I really like this one! You have a real offer and sustained theme around the owls and walk, and you tell the readers what you need the money for. You work in a lot of local color and you say "thank you" a lot.You use the PS, PSS and PSSS(I salute you!) well to expand the benefits and engage recipients in responding to your offer.Great letter, ready to go.Suggestions (only if you have time for refinements):I'm not loving your typeface. This particular face also has a very light "bold" so that you aren't getting the pop you should from your boldface callouts. I would go with a more classic serif typeface, which most designers believe are more "readable" and which I feel is more "invisible" to the readers. You don't want readers even noticing type. The paragraphs looks dense to me: This just makes it somewhat more difficult for readers to get into the text. The eye tends to slide over instead of catching on an interesting shape. There are several ways to introduce white space and break up the text. Wider marginsMore paragraph breaks. (you can just break a 6-sentence graf into 2 3-sentence grafs).Paragraph indentsLarger or more open type faceCut more text.As long as the letter doesn't look squeezed, you might as well use the extra space on page 2.
Jon
Sticky Note
These three paragraphs are visually dense and heavy: This just makes it somewhat more difficult for readers to get into the text. The eye tends to slide over instead of catching on an interesting shape. There are several ways to introduce white space and break up the text. Wider margins More paragraph breaks. (you can just break a 6-sentence graf into 2 3-sentence grafs).Subheadlines ("breaker heads") Paragraph indents Larger or more open type face Cut more text. As long as the letter doesn't look squeezed, you might as well use the extra space on page 2.
Jon
Text Box
Year end appeal, second draft
Page 5: THE BARRINGTON LAND CONSERVATION TRUST · Saving the land is just the beginning; ongoing protection requires an investment in stewardship. Our community was one of the first in Rhode

The great horned owl at Sowams Woods is counting on you! I urge you to send in as generous a year-end stewardship donation as you can. Please use the enclosed envelope to return your gift by mail. You may also give securely via our website: www.blct.org which also highlights our many properties and programs. Our best wishes to you and your family for a safe and happy holiday season,

(insert sig) Jan ReitsmaPresident P.S. Owl Walk – To receive an invitation for an owl walk this January, be sure to mark 'owl walk' and complete your contact email and phone on your return envelope (no gift required) or fill out the form on the www.blct.org website. Group size will be limited on each walk to best enjoy the winter woods, but we will offer enough evenings so everyone can participate in this experience. Questions? Email us: [email protected].

P.P.S.  Matching Gift – For a limited time your stewardship gift directly to the Barrington Land Conservation Trust your donation will be matched dollar-to-dollar by an anonymous donor to the Rhode Island Foundation for statewide stewardship initiatives sponsored by the R.I. Stewardship Collaborative.

P.P.P.S. Holiday Walk – Please accept the enclosed walk guide as our holiday gift to you. Try any or all of our suggested walks with your family and friends in the spirit of the season!

THE BARRINGTON LAND CONSERVATION TRUSTP.O. Box 324, Barrington, RI 02806

Jon
Sticky Note
This is nice and short, but may be read to mean the match goes to BLCT. I would just re-arrange: "...will be matched with dollar-for-dollar contribution to the RIF for statewide stewardship initiatives.""your donation" appears to be a typo.
Jon
Cross-Out
Jon
Sticky Note
I'm not loving your typeface. This particular face also has a very light "bold" so that you aren't getting the pop you should from your boldface callouts. I would go with a more classic serif typeface, which most designers believe are more "readable" and which I feel is more "invisible" to the readers. You don't want readers even noticing type.
Jon
Text Box
Overall comments on second draft: I really like this one! You have a real offer and sustained theme around the owls and walk, and you tell the readers what you need the money for. You work in local color and you say "thank you". (Could say it a couple more times, though.) You use the PS, PSS and PSSS (I salute you!) to expand the benefits and engage recipients in responding to your offer. Great letter, ready to go.
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The Barrington Land Conservation Trust

      

{today’s date}Dear {addressee informal}, Hoo hoo hoo-hoo was the call that went out slowly, rhythmically through Sowams Woods. The great horned owl was at home there, unseen, on a limb high in the oak canopy overlooking the vernal pool. Sounds of the day stilled as the last light shone through the lingering autumn leaves in their many hues of red, brown, and gold. His repeated call seemed directed to us. Though we would need a flashlight to find our way in the darkening woods, the owl knows his way there well.

The owls at Sowams Woods are thriving in their home today because you cared enough to protect it for them... and for all of us. I hope you can join us there this winter for an owl-walk and hear one first-hand. Perhaps you will hear him saying you-you you: Thank YOU for protecting this land!

And thank you for protecting land and water all over the town of Barrington for wildlife and for people! For thirty years, the Trust has directly protected parcels large and small. The Trust has also worked successfully to encourage land conservation by the town. Most of these properties would not have been protected otherwise. By seeing the value in these lands, we have assembled a patchwork of natural open spaces, all across our town, that together, are of greater value than their separate pieces. You know that these lands make all the difference in our community by providing quiet spaces for you and your family to enjoy the outdoors and for your children and grandchildren to learn in small, every day ways about nature just as you once did. We must count on your support again this year.

Many people work to steward our lands: people you probably know: neighbors giving their time on a weekend morning, Beyond Our Walls Great Day of Service volunteers helping on Columbus Day, future Eagle Scouts leading their first stewardship project and some of our long-time stewards faithfully checking properties even when they can only be reached by boat.  As a volunteer-run nonprofit organization, the time donated by our volunteers is priceless. If you have volunteered for our Trust, let me take this opportunity to thank you again for your service!

Invasive plants and animals exact a surprising toll on our native lands. One of the projects for our volunteers this past year was the struggle to reclaim land from invasive plants surrounding a small creek. This neighborhood refuge is a beloved quiet space - a natural spot for a child's imagination and adventures. Invasive plants such as Oriental bittersweet, multi-flora rose, burning bush euonymus, Japanese barberry, English ivy and other species have muscled their way into the woods. Ornamental plants brought to our shores a century ago for their colorful flowers, fruit or foliage have been spread beyond our suburban yards and into every place a bird can drop a seed or berry.

Jon
Sticky Note
I think quote marks around the "hoo-hoo" would help the reader figure out what's going on. Also at end of paragraph below on "you-you-you"
Jon
Text Box
Year end appeal, third draft (FINAL)
Page 7: THE BARRINGTON LAND CONSERVATION TRUST · Saving the land is just the beginning; ongoing protection requires an investment in stewardship. Our community was one of the first in Rhode

Saving the land is just the beginning: ongoing protection requires an investment in stewardship. In the early days, our goal was simple - act quickly to protect as much land as possible. New properties require a sizable initial stewardship investment and long held properties demand our care. 90% of our stewardship work is done by volunteers, but this year we will need funds to:

• Hire arborists to safely fell trees killed prematurely by invasive beetles

• Survey several properties and mark boundaries, and identify plants and wildlife

• Purchase native plants for restoration

• Buy property insurance so that our lands can remain accessible to you

• Treat invasive plants like phragmites and Japanese knotweed

 The great horned owl at Sowams Woods is counting on you! I urge you to send in as generous a year-end stewardship donation as you can. Please use the enclosed envelope to return your gift by mail. You may also give securely via our website: www.blct.org which also highlights our many properties and programs. Our best wishes to you and your family for a safe and happy holiday season,

 Jan ReitsmaPresident P.S. Owl Walk – To receive an invitation for an owl walk this January, be sure to mark 'owl walk' and complete your contact email and phone on your return envelope (no gift required) or fill out the form on the www.blct.org website. Group size will be limited on each walk to best enjoy the winter woods, but we will offer enough evenings so everyone can participate in this experience. Questions? Email us: [email protected].

P.P.S.  Matching Gift – For a limited time your stewardship gift directly to the Barrington Land Conservation Trust will be matched dollar-to-dollar by an anonymous donor to the Rhode Island Foundation for statewide stewardship initiatives sponsored by the R.I. Stewardship Collaborative.

P.P.P.S. Holiday Walk – Please accept the enclosed walk guide as our holiday gift to you. Try any or all of our suggested walks with your family and friends in the spirit of the season!

THE BARRINGTON LAND CONSERVATION TRUSTP.O. Box 324, Barrington, RI 02806

Jon
Text Box
Comments on 3rd draft. This looks great and reads well. You really connect the owl to your ask and you spell out what the money will be used for. While there are still ways to make it better, this is a strong letter. I still think that those 3 paragraphs on page 1 could be made shorter, or broken up. Also, next time I would be more specific about the ask: "a contributiion of $X, $Y, $Z or more." Great work!
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Your Holiday Walk Guide from the Barrington Land Conservation Trust

Your Holiday Walk Guide from the Barrington Land Conservation Trust

Your Holiday Walk Guide from the Barrington Land Conservation Trust

Jon
Sticky Note
Good choice of theme to reinforce your offer in the letter and overall value to donors. Photo supports this nicely.
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7 Holiday Walks to Enjoy with Friends and Family

• Rayner Refuge (#63) – 100 Acre Cove views; grassland, oak forest & coastal trails.• St.Andrew’s Farm (#69) – Gentle rolling hills perfect for sledding or kite flying; explore a red maple swamp.• Little Mussachuck Creek (#2) – Trail to sandy beach; shells, sunsets & birds to see.• Allin’s Cove (#32) – Stroll the beach; watch the tidal inlet. • Sowams Woods (#64) – Explore trails bordering Echo Lake and vernal pools; look for great horned owls

around dusk.• Tall Cedars (#31) – A creek runs through this red maple swamp; for a longer walk, combine with St.

Andrew’s or Haines Park trails.• Andreozzi Nature Preserve (#7) – Short creek-side trail with bridge overlooking the East Bay Bike Path.

Please check Properties on www.blct.org for details of location, parking, access points and trails. Enjoy your visit!

7 Holiday Walks to Enjoy with Friends and Family

• Rayner Refuge (#63) – 100 Acre Cove views; grassland, oak forest & coastal trails.• St.Andrew’s Farm (#69) – Gentle rolling hills perfect for sledding or kite flying; explore a red maple swamp.• Little Mussachuck Creek (#2) – Trail to sandy beach; shells, sunsets & birds to see.• Allin’s Cove (#32) – Stroll the beach; watch the tidal inlet. • Sowams Woods (#64) – Explore trails bordering Echo Lake and vernal pools; look for great horned owls

around dusk.• Tall Cedars (#31) – A creek runs through this red maple swamp; for a longer walk, combine with St.

Andrew’s or Haines Park trails.• Andreozzi Nature Preserve (#7) – Short creek-side trail with bridge overlooking the East Bay Bike Path.

Please check Properties on www.blct.org for details of location, parking, access points and trails. Enjoy your visit!

7 Holiday Walks to Enjoy with Friends and Family

• Rayner Refuge (#63) – 100 Acre Cove views; grassland, oak forest & coastal trails.• St.Andrew’s Farm (#69) – Gentle rolling hills perfect for sledding or kite flying; explore a red maple swamp.• Little Mussachuck Creek (#2) – Trail to sandy beach; shells, sunsets & birds to see.• Allin’s Cove (#32) – Stroll the beach; watch the tidal inlet. • Sowams Woods (#64) – Explore trails bordering Echo Lake and vernal pools; look for great horned owls

around dusk.• Tall Cedars (#31) – A creek runs through this red maple swamp; for a longer walk, combine with St.

Andrew’s or Haines Park trails.• Andreozzi Nature Preserve (#7) – Short creek-side trail with bridge overlooking the East Bay Bike Path.

Please check Properties on www.blct.org for details of location, parking, access points and trails. Enjoy your visit!

Jon
Sticky Note
Very nice. You are giving something valuable to your prospects - not so much the actual walks, which may not occur, as the vision of family togetherness in the outdoors which every reader can at least imagine and enjoy. You are also leveraging the value of your investment in putting trail info on your web site and helping to drive traffic to the site.