Roger Wrubel, Sanctuary Director at Mass Audubon, Habitat and now Executive Director of the Judy Record Conservation Fund, signs the new fund charter, with, from left, Kit Dreier, former President, now Board member JR Fund, and Gary Clayton, President, Mass Audubon, and Gene Record, former President and now Board member, JR Fund. (Jeanne Mooney photo)
New Structure, New Name
by Roger Wrubel
Since its inception in 2001, the Judith K. Record (JKR) Memorial Conservation Fund has been dedicated to protecting, rehabilitating, and maintaining open space in Belmont and neighboring communities through grant awards and direct funding of public and private projects.
To enhance the long-term sustainability of the fund and its mission, the JKR board of trustees has announced a new charter that embraces all the goals of the original mission but modifies the board of trustee structure and includes additional conservation objectives. Most immediately, they established a new position of executive director, with Roger Wrubel in the role. He is also the director of Mass Audubon’s Habitat Education Center and Wildlife Sanctuary in Belmont. The Massachusetts Audubon Society will continue to administer the fund’s finances, as it has done since the JKR’s inception, with its name now simplified to the Judy Record Conservation Fund (the fund).
Beginning June 1, 2018, the board of trustees will consist of three members: the executive director who will be the director of Mass Audubon Habitat (Roger Wrubel), the president of Mass Audubon (Gary Clayton) or designee, and a current board member (Eugene Record). This change will give the fund continuity into the future and keep grant making active and visible with the leadership of Mass Audubon.
Thank You to Donors
“We wish to thank our many generous donors who helped us establish the fund and all those who have given to our annual appeals,” said board member Kit Dreier. “We have immense gratitude for the Record Players for their essential role in helping us raise funds at our annual chamber music concerts. Flautist Andrea Nolin has created wonderful programs with her fellow musicians Sarah Freiberg, Colin Davis, Ray Jackendoff, Anne Black, Ken Stalberg, and others.”
The fund’s main priority has been to assist Belmont with the long-term needs of Lone Tree Hill, the 88 acres of meadows and woodlands transferred from McLean Hospital to the town in 2005. In partnership with the Land Management Committee, the fund has supported numerous projects over the last 17 years, including restoring the Great Meadow, field mowing and removal of invasives, developing the Lone Tree Hill Comprehensive Trail Plan, creating maps and signage, and restoring both the historic stone wall and the Pine Allee along Concord Avenue.
The fund has also contributed to two important land purchases by Mass Audubon: a 1.25-acre parcel owned by the Belmont Hill Club and a 2.59-acre parcel owned by the Weeks family, which are both now part of Habitat, protected by conservation restrictions.
Continually Looking to Help
The fund will continue to look for opportunities to protect, maintain, restore, and acquire conservation lands in Belmont and the neighboring communities of Lexington, Cambridge, Waltham, Watertown, and Arlington. In addition, the fund will consider projects within conservation lands that further the development of multiuse paths, off-road hiking and biking trails, and universally accessible trails. The fund will provide support for internships with recognized conservation organizations, fostering the next generation of conservation leaders.
“We hope the community will continue to support the Judy Record Conservation Fund as this new chapter of trusteeship with Mass Audubon brings long-term professional leadership to the granting of worthy local conservation initiatives here in Belmont and the surrounding communities,” said Martha Moore, a member of the board.
The fund will continue to look for opportunities to protect, maintain, restore, and acquire conservation lands in Belmont and the neighboring communities.
The other trustees are Eugene Record, Rosalie Kerr, Lauren Meier, Jeanne Mooney, Jeffrey North, Anne Paulsen, and Heli Tomford.
Contributions can be made to the Judy Record Conservation Fund and mailed to: Mass Audubon, 208 South Great Road, Lincoln, MA 01773. Information about the fund can still be found at jkrfund.org and will appear in the near future at massaudubon.org/habitat.
For information on applying for grants, contact Roger Wrubel (rwrubel@massaudubon.org).
Roger Wrubel is the director of Mass Audubon Habitat and a Belmont town meeting member.
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