Nomination Statement for Great Lakes Region Candidate
Marlene Frisbie

Soon after I joined the board of The Land Conservancy of McHenry County (TLC), an easement violation situation arose. The original landowner became ill and passed away, and the family member who was caring for the land decided to ignore the existence of the easement. Many conversations with this individual did not change the situation, and legal proceedings became necessary. Until then, Terrafirma only had been a line in the budget to me. But as this situation developed, I came to appreciate the need for the coverage and support that Terrafirma provides for land trusts enforcing easement terms. Knowing that we had the financial “security blanket” of our Terrafirma coverage helped assure the board that our decision to start legal action was a sound one. I’ve also learned that interaction with other land trusts is incredibly valuable, as we share information, programs, problems and successes. As conservation land trusts are relatively new, we all can learn and benefit by the experiences of our peers.

I thought it was a fairly easy decision to accept the nomination to the Terrafirma members committee, as a way to give back for the benefits we have received and as an opportunity to interact with another group of land trusts. I see my role on the members committee as one of a business generalist. My accounting background includes experience with businesses of all sizes, from Fortune 500 companies to small businesses and not-for-profits. I have had exposure to the insurance industry through my public accounting background. While I am not an insurance expert, I am familiar with the basic accounting concepts that govern insurance companies. My varied background has taught me to quickly learn how different types of businesses operate, to evaluate their strengths and weaknesses and to consider all sides of a problem situation. On a personal level, my husband and I have placed 60 acres of our land into a conservation easement, so we have a vested interest in the protection of easements. We have spent the last twenty years working on our property to restore wetlands and woods, and recreate prairie on former cropland. It has been quite rewarding to see native species return and flourish, and to see the wetlands functioning as habitat to ducks, Sandhill cranes, herons and egrets. I hope to be able to expand my conservation efforts by serving the greater community as a member of the Terrafirma members committee.