Over the past few years, Five Rivers has been developing an exciting new program involving volunteer community representatives.  Five Rivers’ Town Rep initiative is designed to help our nonprofit organization expand its capacity to permanently protect key open space lands throughout the capital region.  The program also serves the broad purpose of enhancing community involvement in conserving precious local natural resources.

 

Specifically, Town Reps have the key role of helping Five Rivers identify special lands worthy of protection in their communities.  They also can serve as liaisons to town boards, and they assist Five Rivers’ staff and trustees on land conservation projects.  The reps bring special knowledge and skills to their post, as well as an understanding of their town’s master plan, resources, and key players.   Town reps further assist with membership development and community outreach efforts.

 

As of the spring of 2009, there are seven Town Reps, as follows:

 

• Stephanie D’Agostino of Concord
• Bob Dawkins of Bow
• Laura Deming of Salisbury
• Paula Gilman of Gilmanton
• Rob Knight of Hopkinton
• Michele Tremblay of Boscawen
• Linda White of Hillsborough

 

Among them, these Town Reps have a variety of valuable attributes, including experience in the local business community, service on town conservation commissions, and an understanding of environmental and land protection issues.  Each brings a welcome enthusiasm and commitment to land conservation.  In short, they help expand Five Rivers’ capacity to carry out its important mission, while furthering conservation efforts in each of their communities.

 

It is Five Rivers’ goal to have at least one Town Rep in each of the sixteen capital region towns it serves (see list at left).  For more information about this new Five Rivers program, call 603-225-7225.