2018 Schedule

Come join us to watch a compelling documentary and join the film directors and producers along with citizens of the Seneca Nation in a deep discussion of land loss by land-based peoples, treaties and sovereignty issues, and how a proud and resilient culture responded. Leave with ideas on what this means for your conservation work today and how you can be an ally to Native American groups. Kinzua Dam on the Allegheny River in Pennsylvania was a flashpoint in history for the Seneca Nation of Indians. Completed in 1965, the dam mitigated flooding in Pittsburgh, almost 200 miles downriver, but the 27-mile reservoir that formed behind it inundated vast tracts of the Seneca Indians’ ancestral lands, forcing their removal in breach of the oldest treaty then in effect in the United States. Although the Seneca suffered irreplaceable land and cultural losses, the Kinzua crisis became a turning point to more aggressively protect and exercise their sovereignty and build a stronger Seneca Nation.

See the local sights up close while you take on a group run led by a RunWESTIN™ Hotel Running Concierge, featuring the “City of Bridges”.  Run along the 3 Rivers (the Allegheny and the Monongahela River’s  meet to form the Ohio River) to Pittsburgh’s Golden Triangle at Point State Park,  where the Fort Pitt Museum is located and tells the story of Pennsylvania’s role in the French and Indian War, American Revolution and the Birth of Pittsburgh. Sports fanatics will enjoy a sneak peak of the Steeler’s Heinz Field as well as the home of the Pirates, PNC Park. Runners of all levels are welcome. Route is three miles through scenic downtown Pittsburgh. Seasonal limitations may apply due to local weather conditions. Please RSVP to lblair@lta.org.

Help offset your carbon footprint, improve habitat along the Allegheny River and beautify Pittsburgh by joining Western Pennsylvania Conservancy (WPC) staff in a tree planting event through the Pittsburgh Redbud Project. Participants will learn about WPC’s community forestry projects that engage hundreds of volunteers in events in and around Pittsburgh every spring and fall. All tools and supplies will be provided.

Built and certified as LEED Gold for New Construction in 2003, and certified as LEED Platinum for Existing Buildings in 2012, the David L. Lawrence Convention Center is positioned as a leader in sustainability. The 1.5 million square foot facility boasts many sustainable features in design, construction, and operations. Topics on the tour will include indoor environmental quality, solid waste management, and sustainable operations. Please RSVP to lblair@lta.org.

Come and meet colleagues from your region for a delightful evening of socializing and networking at the always-popular regional receptions.

Join your friends and colleagues for dinner as we kickoff the 31st Rally with the Welcoming Dinner and the Alliance Awards. Additional Fee Required.

See the local sights up close while you take on a group run led by a RunWESTIN™ Hotel Running Concierge, featuring the “City of Bridges”.  Run along the 3 Rivers (the Allegheny and the Monongahela River’s  meet to form the Ohio River) to Pittsburgh’s Golden Triangle at Point State Park,  where the Fort Pitt Museum is located and tells the story of Pennsylvania’s role in the French and Indian War, American Revolution and the Birth of Pittsburgh. Sports fanatics will enjoy a sneak peak of the Steeler’s Heinz Field as well as the home of the Pirates, PNC Park. Runners of all levels are welcome. Route is three miles through scenic downtown Pittsburgh. Seasonal limitations may apply due to local weather conditions. Please RSVP to lblair@lta.org.

Begin your day with an hour of stretching the mind, body and spirit. Prepare yourself to experience a busy day more fully focused. All levels are welcome. Additional Fee Required.

The breakfast and stewardship roundtables at Rally are really great ways to connect with others like you who spend their time and energy actively stewarding conservation. You get special time to share your stories about conservation management and learn from your peers. These exclusive opportunities for stewardship volunteers and staff to exchange ideas are always one of the best reasons to attend Rally! When else do you get the chance to talk with others from around the country facing the challenge of forever? RSVPs will be collected later this summer.

We are proud to partner with the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service at the Opening Plenary to celebrate 25 years of the NRCS conservation easement programs keeping working lands in family hands.

Begin your day with an hour of stretching the mind, body and spirit. Prepare yourself to experience a busy day more fully focused. All levels are welcome. Additional Fee Required.

An overview of the Land Trust Alliance’s current policy agenda with an in-depth discussion of the 2018 Farm Bill re-authorization, our efforts to halt conservation easement tax shelters and a few other things on the horizon.  This is an opportunity to learn how to advance our policy agenda as well as ask questions and help us think forward to 2019. Please RSVP to lfaeth@lta.org.

At our Closing Plenary, we will hear from Grant Oliphant, president of The Heinz Endowments. He rejoined the foundation in 2014, after serving as president and chief executive officer of The Pittsburgh Foundation for six years. For nearly two decades, Grant held several senior management posts with Heinz family foundations. He also served as press secretary to the late U.S. Sen. John Heinz from 1988 until the senator’s death in 1991. Grant frequently leads community conversations around critical issues such as public school reform, civic design, the ongoing sustainability of anchor institutions, domestic violence, riverfront development and various socio-economic concerns. He has taken a prominent role in building advocacy programs to support the work of local nonprofits and the families and individuals they serve. He serves extensively on the boards of local nonprofit and national sector organizations and lectures frequently on communications, leadership and organizational dynamics.

Close out Rally at PNC Park, home of the Pittsburgh Pirates. Enjoy breathtaking views of the Pittsburgh skyline, the playing field and the riverfront while playing a few rounds of billiards in the Keystone Corner Club Room. Dinner and two drink tickets are included. Afterwards, explore the North Shore nightlife.