Nomination Statement for Christine P. Johnson

I am honored to be nominated for the Terrafirma Members Committee. Terrafirma is vitally important to the land trust movement as a whole and we at Conservation Foundation of the Gulf Coast recognize the value Terrafirma provides to our perpetuity and sustainability. Terrafirma gives member organizations gravitas when speaking with landowners and donors, giving landowners and donors the assurance they need to entrust their assets with us.

Learning the business of a qualified charitable risk pool would fascinate me but it is the mission and impact of Terrafirma that make me eager to serve on the Members Committee. If elected to the Terrafirma Members Committee I would endeavor to contribute meaningful strategic imput. I am familiar with and whole-heartedly support the separation of duties between the Members Committee, the Manager, and the Claims Committee. It would be a joy to work with others on the Members Committee overseeing the contractors' and consultants' performance, and I would work diligently to quickly learn the business and operations in order to provide effective oversight.

My experience serving on other boards should reduce my learning curve when it comes to budgets, audits, 990 tax forms, and general governance. Additionally, serving on LTA's Leadership Council, the Partnership for Gulf Coast Land Conservation board (term ends 9/30/22), and the Alliance of Florida Land Trusts board has given me a broad sphere of land trust colleagues and friends to promote and inform them of Terrafirma's important work. I've also served on the board of our local Destination Marketing Organization, Visit Sarasota County, for the past nine years and will term off September 30, 2023 after having served in every board role.

I have 20 years of successful fundraising experience and for almost a decade I've lobbied for land conservation on Capitol Hill, Tallahassee, and in the five Florida counties where our trust operates. I would be delighted to utilize my experience to promote Terrafirma to funders whenever I'm called to do so.

Again, I am honored to be nominated for the Terrafirma Members Committee. Thank you for considering me.