Annual Meeting
Two Islands, One Conversation
How Nantucket & Martha’s Vineyard can collaborate to address the islands’ environmental challenges and protect our waters
Thank you to everyone who attended the Nantucket Land & Water Council’s (NLWC) 52nd Annual Meeting Two Islands, One Conversation, at the Nantucket Hotel!
Our meeting began with remarks from NLWC Board President, Lucy Leske; a report on our 2025 financials written by our Treasurer Laurel Langworthy that was presented by NLWC Board Member Charlie Platt; followed by a reflection on the year led by Executive Director, Emily Molden.
We elected 2 new NLWC board members for a 3 year term, Steve Leinbach and Cheryl Nathanson. After our nominations, we thanked Paddy Farrell, who is stepping down from our Board of Directors, for his six years of dedicated service. We honored community member and NLWCAdvocate of the Year, Doug Rose, for his dedication to preserving and protecting Nantucket’s natural environment and steadfast support of the NLWC.
Following our Executive Director’s report, Emily Molden was joined on stage by our guest speaker Samantha Look, Executive Director of the Vineyard Conservation Society, and guest moderator Scott Horsley, Principal at Horsley Consulting and expert in water resource management; for a facilitated discussion about environmental issues taking place on both Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard. Historically, Nantucket Land & Water Council and the Vineyard Conservation society would have steady communications discussing environmental and developmental challenges on either island. This conversation renewed the connection, highlighting the similarity between the fragile, interconnected nature of each island’s environment and the issues affecting the health of our ecosystems and communities, while affirming the practical value of a collaborative sharing of experience, knowledge, research and resources in the face of these ecological challenges.
Following the presentation, guests enjoyed libations and charcuterie in the Nantucket Hotel ballroom. Attendees continued to engage in the conversation of how to preserve the character and unique natural environments on both Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard.
Thank you again to everyone who attended our Annual Meeting for your continued partnership and steadfast commitment to protecting, preserving, and restoring Nantucket’s land and water resources!
Samantha Look
Samantha Look is the Executive Director of the Vineyard Conservation Society (VCS), a local
environmental nonprofit dedicated to the protection of the Vineyard’s land and water. Among
various projects, Samantha helped advance the island's plastic bag ban, as well as the West
Tisbury "Big House" bylaw, and assisted with the development of the Vineyard's Climate Action plan. She has most recently been focused on growth and development issues, and the complex
intersection of housing and protection of open space.
Sam was lucky to grow up on the Vineyard spending much of her time exploring the Island’s
wild spaces. It was these experiences that developed a love of place and passion for nature that drives her work today.
Scott Horsley
Scott Horsley is a consulting hydrologist with over 30 years of professional experience and works for federal, state, and local government agencies, non-profit organizations, and private industry throughout the United States and abroad. Scott has served as an expert witness in the field of hydrology in numerous state and federal court cases. He has served as an instructor for a nationwide series of U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) workshops on Water Resources Management and has served on numerous advisory boards and committees to the USEPA, MADEP, Charles River Watershed Association and the National Groundwater Association. Scott serves as Adjunct Faculty at Tufts University and at the
Harvard University where he teaches graduate courses on Water Resources Policy.
