Celebrating Five Rivers Conservation Trust Trustees
June 2025 – During 37 years of conservation action, nearly a hundred people have served on Five Rivers’ Board of Trustees! On a mild summer evening a few weeks ago, about half of all current and past Trustees (and friends) showed up to a reunion at the picturesque Barn at Bull Meadow in Concord. It was a heartwarming opportunity to share memories, laughter, updates, and an epic charcuterie board with longtime colleagues and new friends.
After an hour of socializing, current board chair Jamie Robertson of Bohanan Farm and Contoocook Creamery in Hopkinton welcomed attendees. Back in 2010, Jamie worked with Five Rivers and other partners to conserve their farm. He spoke passionately about his – and Five Rivers’ continuing commitment to preserve agriculture, forestry, and open space in New Hampshire.
Steve Blackmer, legendary local conservation leader who was “on the board before the board existed,” talked about the local land conservation scene in the late 1980s. As Steve described it, the group that would ultimately become Concord Conservation Trust in 1988 (and subsequently Five Rivers Conservation Trust in 2001) came together to thwart a proposal from an out-of-state developer to build a country club/golf club and 400-unit housing community in Concord’s Broken Ground area. Obviously, their efforts were successful, and the community organizing that the founders did at that time created strong, deep roots for land conservation in and near Concord. Steve paused to remember the devoted Trustees we’ve lost– including Dwight Barrell, George Chase, Ken Fortier, John Gfroerer, Greg Grappone, Bill Ingham, Chris Kane, Jay Morrill, and Joe Quinn – whose many talents and kindness are so missed. And finally, Steve spoke of his recent (first time) walk on the fabulous West End Trail and answered the question “What’s your favorite Five Rivers property?” with a heartfelt “the next one!”
Five Rivers’ executive director Liz Short commented on the extraordinary conservation community that the organization has built, from an all-volunteer operation with a passion for open space…to a nonprofit with three full-time staff, more than 60 skilled volunteers, a strong and serious group of Trustees that’s looking to the future, and – most important – 89 properties stewarded. Current Five Rivers easements encompass more than 6,000 acres of trails and other recreation opportunities, sustainable agriculture, and natural resources that will benefit people, wildlife, and local ecosystems forever. As legacies go, it’s one that all of Five Rivers’ past and present Trustees, volunteers, and staff can be extremely proud of!
The mic went back to Jamie Robertson to wrap up the festive evening. Jamie reinforced the current goals for Five Rivers: continued growth of the amount of conserved land, increased community outreach, and continued stewardship of existing properties. He expressed his gratitude for the decades of work by so many people to build Five Rivers into a stable and successful organization – and also his appreciation for the chance to get together to reminisce and celebrate the group’s achievements.
In her remarks, Liz Short said she’d been sitting with Steve Blackmer a few days previously, and they talked about how Steve and the other early founders of Five Rivers created the organization before there was a need, so they’d be ready when a call to action came. Liz asked, “Isn’t that what visionaries do?” Yes, indeed!
Grateful thanks to Ken and Ilene Stern, Brad Cilley, and an anonymous donor, as well as Merrimack County Savings Bank, for generously funding the Five Rivers Trustee soiree. And thanks, of course, to all our Trustees and volunteer alums…it’s a group of committed conservationists and an organization well worth celebrating!
Curious about volunteering with Five Rivers Conservation Trust as an easement monitor, committee member, or candidate for our Board of Trustees? Please contact info@5rct.org, or Liz Short at lshort@5rct.org or (603) 225-7225.
