Ben Lloyd Named President of the Board at Harford Land Trust Annual Meeting

The Harford Land Trust (HLT) named Ben Lloyd president of its board of directors at its annual membership meeting held March 22, 2014 at Fiore Winery.

Lloyd, a resident of the Norrisville area and a ninth-generation Harford Countian, has served on the HLT board since 2008. He replaces Harry Webster, Jr. who stepped down after seven years as president and 12 years on the board of directors. Webster received the organization’s coveted Conservation Award for his efforts. Also retiring from the board of directors was Dr. Dennis Kirkwood, who previously served as Secretary and Vice President, and Les Eastman.  Serving alongside Board President Lloyd will be Richard Post, vice president, Linn Griffiths, secretary, and Jim Morris, treasurer.

In addition to the new slate of officers, the membership approved Diane Jones, Jo Tyson, and Mike Zeller as new board members, and approved the reappointments of Turney McKnight, Gary Davis, Jim Morris and Rick Post. The meeting also highlighted the financial, membership and land stewardship accomplishments of the HLT over the past year. Jonathan McKnight, Associate Director of the Maryland Department of Natural Resources’ Wildlife & Heritage Service, the State agency responsible for protecting rare, threatened and endangered species and natural areas, provided the keynote presentation for the event.

Nearly 100 people attended the meeting, including special guests Megan Benjamin, Easement Planner with the Maryland Environmental Trust, Brian Goodman of the Susquehannock Wildlife Society, County Council President Billy Boniface and Council members Richard Slutzky and Chad Shrodes. On behalf of the Council and County Executive, Boniface presented a proclamation recognizing Webster and Kirkwood for their work on behalf of preservation efforts in the county during their terms as HLT officers.  Also during the meeting, James Thomas, founder of Jarrettsville Nurseries, generously presented HLT with a donation in the amount of five thousand dollars to support its ongoing work.

Commenting on his elevation to the board presidency, Lloyd remarked, “I often think about the changes that have taken place here over the decades and centuries, and it is those thoughts that inspire me to do what I can to ensure that we preserve those places that we all care so deeply about, so that they will remain intact and undisturbed for future generations.  We will continue the mission of this respected organization of working with landowners to preserve the scenic beauty and rural character of Harford County.”

For more information about the Harford Land Trust, please visit www.harfordlandtrust.org.