As spring brings a flush of green to the fields and forests around us, it’s a busy time as we prepare for an active summer and the merger. As you know, CREA and BTLT are busy working on the logistics of joining our organizations together. We expect the merger to take effect legally on July 1, but the business of fully integrating our operations will continue through the summer and on into the fall.
In other big news, after 15 strong years with BTLT, Executive Director Angela Twitchell will leave in September to assume the role of Director of Land Trust Programs at Maine Coast Heritage Trust. This position, leading efforts to provide technical support and guidance to all of Maine’s land trusts, was simply too good for her to pass up. We heartily congratulate Angela as she takes on this professional opportunity for which she is extremely well-equipped. We know that in her new role, she will do wonderful work supporting land conservation and nature-based education across the state.
In the meantime, our work to execute the merger while running all our programs continues unabated. We have formed a transition team to plan the search for a new leader. When Angela departs in September, CREA Executive Director Caroline Eliot will serve as BTLT’s Interim Director until a new leader is in place, at which point Caroline will resume her role as a part of the senior leadership team.
When Angela departs in the fall, she will leave behind a strong organization with effective systems, excellent governance structures, and a talented staff that is well-positioned to continue our great work. Not only will our wonderful programs continue, but as is often the case, change creates the opportunity for fresh ideas and expanded horizons.
The merger was born out of CREA and BTLT’s shared understanding that the community wants and needs more opportunities to learn about and engage with the natural world. As we search for a new Director, we will ensure that we focus on dynamic candidates that understand and embrace the essential role of education in raising the next generation of Earth’s stewards.
We will celebrate the achievements of Angela’s 15-year tenure when she moves on in September, just as we look forward to a future of opportunities for heightened impact as CREA and BTLT become one organization.