New Officers and Directors

November 1, 2011

The fall of 2011 brings new leadership to Downeast Lakes Land Trust, with no change to our dedication to the long-term economic and environmental well-being of the region.  Please join us in thanking Lindsay Wheaton and Louie Cataldo for their service as President and Vice President.  Both are continuing on the Board of Directors.

Sydney Lea is our new President, and continues to Co-chair the West Grand Lake Community Forest campaign.  In addition to his strong connection to our community, Syd makes his home in Vermont, and in November became Vermont’s 7^th poet laureate, the position first held by Robert Frost.  His most recent book and ninth collection of poetry is Young of the Year (2011, Four Way Books).  He just retired as a longtime professor in the Master of Arts in Liberal Studies program at Dartmouth College, and is a novelist, essayist, and editor.  Please see his column on Page 2.

Lee Whitely is now Vice-President.  Lee is a Registered Maine Guide and year-round resident of Grand Lake Stream, and also owns a camp on Fourth Machias Lake.  He has a BS in Forestry and a Master’s in Pulp and Paper Technology from the University of Maine, and worked as President of the Technical Papers Division and Director General of the Axhom Division of Lydall, Inc.

We are pleased to welcome Susan LaPlante and Dale Tobey to our Board of Directors.  Sue is the principal of Princeton Elementary School and owns Chet’s Camps, Grand Lake Stream Outdoor Adventures, and Canoe Maine with her husband Al.  She chairs the DLLT Education Committee, is a Registered Maine Guide and has led wilderness canoe, hiking, and kayak expeditions for over two decades.  Sue has a degree in elementary education and special education from Boston College, a Master’s in recreation from Northeastern University, and a doctorate in educational leadership from the University of Maine.  She has spent 29 years as a teacher and school administrator.

Dale is a year round resident of Grand Lake Stream.  He is a town selectman, Registered Maine Guide, property caretaker, carpenter, and builder of Grand Lake Canoes and paddles.  He has experience leading and serving on the boards of the Grand Lake Stream Guides Association and the Maine Professional Guides Association.  He spent 25 years as owner and operator of a family sheet metal business in southern Maine before moving to Grand Lake Stream full-time in 2000.

Click here for a full list of DLLT Directors.