How accreditation improved us

When one of our board members talks about how accreditation improved Chebeague and Cumberland Land Trust, she talks about it earnestly.

"Accreditation," she says, "has been part of the engine driving that quantum change."

And our other board members agree. The accreditation process is a difficult one for an all-volunteer land trust. It required a significant amount of dedication and years to prepare the first application — and then additional time to adjust to new standards and practices to prepare our renewal application. At times it seemed insurmountable. But we all recognize that we would not be the strong and competent organization we are today without our efforts.

My fellow board members and I occasionally talk together of our good fortune to have acquired Knight's Pond and how we successfully managed an easement crisis. And during these conversations we always agree it's hard to imagine having achieved these recent accomplishments without the discipline, procedures and the rigor we gained through the accreditation process.

What we learned in our first accreditation and the renewal process has been a critical element in our land trust's vitality. The accreditation work gives us confidence that we can face both challenges and opportunities as they arise.

Throughout our 30-year history, though, the most abiding factor in the success of Chebeague and Cumberland Land Trust is the deep commitment of our directors and members to land conservation. And just as they inspired our pursuit of accreditation five years ago, they buoyed us again as we successfully sought to renew our credentials.

I'm reminded especially of the essay we submitted with our initial accreditation application. It concluded with the most important reason of all to conserve our natural surroundings: our children and grandchildren. That hasn't changed and never will.

"Rines Forest! Rines Forest!" the children chant in the back seat of the car with energy and enthusiasm no one can deny. They don their shorts, bathing suits and boots for a true adventure in the woods. The rowdy bunch bursts onto the trails, squeals of laughter abound and the race is on to the cascading waterfalls. The adults scamper to keep pace while savoring the opportunity to be in the woods on an Indian summer day.

If your land trust hasn't yet pursued accreditation, I'd encourage you to give it serious consideration. It benefitted us in ways I never expected. It might do the same for you.