PARIS – The Western Foothills Land Trust celebrated its 20th year at the annual meeting Thursday, and members looked to protect their own organization as well as the natural areas of the Oxford Hills region.

In a 13-1 decision, the trust members voted to accept a restatement of the articles of incorporation, granting the power to run the organization to the board of directors.

The move was made to prevent any institution from flooding the trust with new members, thus instilling a majority rule that could overwhelm the existing members.

“It’s happened in other parts of the country,” said Kurt Garascia, present on behalf of the Norway Savings Bank.

The board of directors currently has 11 members.

Some members of the audience expressed concern at a revision stating, “There shall be no members.” Program coordinator Lee Dassler said the phrase was a legal term, and did not seek to cut off membership in the trust.

Dassler said the change was part of an overall preparation for accreditation with the Land Trust Alliance. She said the change would also give control over the bylaws to the board, making practical changes easier.

The trust has had a busy year, gaining more than 300 acres through purchase or easement in three towns. The organization received a 135-acre easement on Scribner Hill Road in Otisfield and fee ownership of 12 acres on Route 26 in West Paris.

In Norway, the trust gained fee ownership of an access corridor into its Witt Swamp property and secured purchase rights for 150 acres of land originally slated for development of a technology park.

President Bob Van Nest said four ongoing projects in Buckfield, Harrison and Waterford may potentially increase the trust’s land by another 2,175 acres.

The trust, initially named the Norway-Paris Heritage Trust, came into existence in 1987. Since that time, it has gained 12 easement properties and four fee ownership properties.