N A L C
Norman Area Land Conservancy Newsletter Volume 5, Issue 1
Annual Meeting Set for February 21st Incorporated 2000
D e d i c a ted to Con serve, I m prove, a n d P r otect Rural a nd Urban E n v i r onmen ts of Norman BOARD MEMBERS Geoff Canty Greg Carbin Ben Benedum Robert C. Goins* Craig Knutson Lynne Miller, Chair (329-5470)
David Morgan Lee Rodgers* Lyntha Wesner*, Secretary (321-2204) *
Winter 2007
T he Norman Area Land Conservancy Board of Directors has scheduled its
annual meeting for Wednesday, February 21st, at 4 pm. The meeting will be open to the general membership at Sarkey's Anex on the corner of Main St. and Ponca Ave. Unlike past years, this year the board will meet in regular session and plan a larger membership celebration for later in the spring. There are a number of local conservation projects that are in various stages of evolution. We hope to advance on some of these projects, and perhaps even reach closure on some others. Executive Director Pat Copeland has been busy preparing conservation easement documents that are acceptable to the USDA and local landowners. Positive achievements are expected this year! In this day of ever increasing pressure to develop open space, the nature of land conservation requires patience and tenacity. The easement acqusition process is quite complex and demands a tremendous amount of time and energy. (See page 3 for a detailed description of what we are trying to do.) NALC retains no paid staff and has relied on membership dues since 2000 to sustain the organization's efforts. The Kuhlman Ranch remains a fine example of what can be accomplished through local conservation efforts. Like many difficult and time-consuming tasks, the rewards of successful land conservation efforts are invaluable. The Norman community stands to benefit immeasurably from NALC attemps to keep our natural spaces "open" into the forseeable future. Thank you very much for your continued support.
Founding Member
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Patrick Copeland (364-9423)
FOUNDING MEMBERS Marion Bauman Harold Heiple Edwin Kessler John Raeside Jacci Rodgers
Changes on the Board of Directors
NALC by-laws require term limits on board membership. We are lucky to have a new addition to the Board in Ben Benedum. Ben will bring a lot of talent to the board and his interetsing bio is on the next page. While we are celebrating Ben's willingness to serve, we are going to miss the tireless efforts of NALC founder, Lee Rodgers. Lee will remain busy on a number of interests and a special triubute to his efforts is included in this newsletter. Also, feel free to join us at the next meeting and thank Lee in person.
Newsletter Editor, Greg Carbin
PO Box 1616, Norman, OK 73070
Inside: Board Me mber Bios.......2 More about NALC..........3 On the web at http://www.nalcok.org/ Commit ted to Norman's Qualit y of Life
Volume 5, Issue 1
Page 2
ThankYou, Lee Rodgers
Winter 2007
Ben Benadum Joins NALC Board of Directors NALC is very lucky to welcome Ben to the Board of Directors. Here is a brief bio on Ben:
Lee Rodgers is a native Oklahoman, raised in Hugo, who has lived in Norman for over 60 years. Lee was the first recipient of a Masters of Regional and City Planning (RCP) degree at OU, and then served on the faculty in this department for 35 years. His work with his colleagues and students included the development of plans for around 100 towns and cities throughout Oklahoma. For over 20 years Lee chaired the RCP department. He trained dozens of the most sought-after city planners in the country. His students have been planning directors in cities like Los Angeles, Tampa, Atlanta, Memphis, Little Rock, and Berkeley, as well as dozens of smaller cities and towns in Oklahoma and the U.S., including Norman. His professional scholarship focused on environmental impact assessment, growth management within cities, urban micro-climate effects, and citizen committees. Since his retirement from OU in 1985, he has worked tirelessly as a Norman volunteer. He was instrumental in conceptualizing, organizing and promoting the Norman Area Land Conservancy and the Norman Greenbelt Commission, both of which have contributed immeasurably to the quality of the Norman environment, environmental sensitivity, and overall quality of life in Norman. Continued on page 4. PO Box 1616, Norman, OK 73070
The maternal great-grandparents of Ben moved into the Norman area during the early 1880's. One great-grand-father, Ben F. Williams, Sr., served as a Circuit Judge in the area, and the other great-grandfather, John Hullum, was a businessman and built a home where the Primrose Funeral Home is now located. Ben's grandfather, Ben F. Williams, Jr., practiced law in Norman from the 1890's until his death in 1945, and constructed the home on the northeast Corner of Peters Street and Acres Street, where Ben's mother was born in 1908. Ben's parents resided in Norman from 1928 until their deaths. Ben's father practiced law with his grandfather starting in the old City National Bank Building, where Ben's family's legal offices have been located for the past 81 years. Ben, his grandmother, mother and three children, were all born in Norman. Since his birth in 1936 he has lived in Norman, except for the two years that he served in the Army. Ben attended Norman High School, graduated from OU in 1959, and received his JD in 1965. He has practiced law in Norman for the past 40 years. Ben's civic activities include serving on the Board of Directors for the Chamber of Commerce, Director of the State and Local American Cancer Society, the Cleveland County Historical Society, the YMCA, The Norman Community Foundation, and he is presently serving as a Trustee of the Oscar Jacobson Foundation, and the University of Oklahoma Foundation. He is married to Jane, who recieved her MSW from the University of Oklahoma and has been employeed throughout the Norman area as a social worker. On the web at http://www.nalcok.org/
Volume 5, Issue 1
Page 3
Winter 2007
More About NALC
Become a NALC Member!
Who We Are (Our Purpose). The Norman Area Land Conservancy, Inc. (NALC) is a local, 501(c)3 nonprofit corporation committed to preserving and protecting open space in the Norman area.
Join the Conservancy Now and Become a Part of Norman's Future
How We Operate. The NALC enters into agreements with willing local landowners to create a perpetual conservation easement on their property. With such an easement, landowners can protect their land without giving up ownership. The landowner agrees to forego development of the property, allowing it to remain in its agricultural state forever. A conservation easement can protect sites with historic value, preserve land for ranching or farming, or safeguard endangered animal or plant species. The landowner decides whether the easement will permit public access. Eligible lands generally must contain productive soil or historical or archaeological resources. The landowner, with the concurrence of the NALC, decides the terms of the conservation easement. The accepted easement is a legal document, filed with the county clerk. The landowner retains title to the property and can use it, sell it, or leave it to heirs. But the conservation easement remains with the land forever. The Land Conservancy becomes responsible for ensuring that the terms of the easement are followed in perpetuity. Under certain conditions, the NALC may accept outright land donations. Benefits to Cooperating Property Owners. Specific benefits to property owners may include some or all of the following: 1. An income tax benefit as a charitable donation, based on any difference between the value of the land before and after creation of the easement. 2. A lowered value for estate and gift taxes. 3. Personal fulfillment from preserving family land in its historic form. 4. Monetary benefit. In certain instances, federal funds may be available for purchase of conservation easements. In such cases, the NALC likely would ask the land owner to make a charitable donation to help offset the cost of future stewardship expenses.
Please complete this form and send it with your tax deductible dues and contribtution to:
Norman Area Land Conservancy PO Box 1616 Norman, OK 73070 Annual Membership [ ]Regular................................................$25 [ ]Family..................................................$40 [ ]Student/Senior (65+).........................$18 [ ]Supporting..........................................$45* [ ]Sustaining........................................$100* [ ]Gold Card Sustaining.....................$500* Corporate, Institution, and Organization [ ]Regular.............................................$500* [ ]Supporting......................................$1000* [ ]Sustaining......................................$5000* [ ]Gold Card Sustaining.................$10000* *Minimum Contribution Name:_____________________________________ Address:___________________________________ City:_________________________Zip:__________ Phone:____________________________________ Fax:_______________________________________ Email:_____________________________________ Comments:
Thank you very much!!!
Compiled by David Morgan PO Box 1616, Norman, OK 73070
On the web at http://www.nalcok.org/
Volume 5, Issue 1
Page 4
Lee Rodgers, continued from page 2. Lee helped found the NALC and has served on the board since 2000. He will remain an integral part of the organization and a valued member of NALC. Lee is not one to slow down. His committemt to Norman and the environment are again evident in his latest endevour. He is actvely formulating a process to increase local awareness and involvement in global climate change initiatives. The result could be a future cross-disciplenary conference or symposium in Norman. Stay tuned! We all benefit from Lee's energy and focus. Thank you, Lee!
The land belongs to the future.
Winter 2007
Annual Dues An addressed envelop is included with this newsletter for your convenience. Please send in your membership dues and, if you have a current email, we would like to have that for our database only! As a member of NALC you will receive future updates at your email address unless you instruct us otherwise. You may also read current and past issues of the newsletter by visiting our website: nalcok.org
Special Contribution A special thanks to Hooper Printing in Norman for providing NALC with printing services for this newsletter. Hooper Printing Co. 321-4288, 301 W Gray St Norman, OK.
-Willa Cather O Pioneers! (1913)
www.nalcok.org Norman Area Land Conservancy PO Box 1616 Norman, OK 73070