This is an archive of our News items. The latest one always appears on the Home page of the site.
2012 Indiana Arbor Day Poster Contest
You are invited to join the 2012 Indiana Arbor Day Poster Contest. This year's contest, "Trees are Terrific and Energy Wise," includes classroom activities designed to increase understanding of the importance of trees in our communities and the ways that they contribute to reducing energy consumption. You can find exact correlations to the revised Indiana Academic Standards (2010) for Science and Fine Arts listed for each activity so that you are not only meeting your requirements as a teacher in Indiana, but are utilizing activities and lesson plans that are fun and proven. The deadline for submissions has been changed to March 30.
The use of part or all of the activities in the guide is encouraged, but not mandatory, for participation in the contest.
The Symposium will be held on February 29th.
Registration ends this coming Wednesday, Feb. 22nd. The program will be hard core.
Great information all day on many of the elements of designing, building, and
maintaining urban landscapes as sustainably as possible. Our lineup of expert
speakers is first rate. If you can help us spread the
word about this program, we’d greatly appreciate it. The core audience is a bit
outside of our everyday sphere. If you know of project managers, landscape
architects, municipalities, grounds managers, public workers, landscape
contractors, suppliers, horticulturists, or anyone who might have an interest
in these topics, or email lists which serve these groups, please help us reach
them. We have been approved for
continuing education credits and CEUs from ASLA, APLD, ONLA, ISA, and PLANET. The cost is $49.00, which covers
parking, Zoo admission, the program, and lunch. Go to our website to register: http://cincinnatizoo.org/events/sustainable-landscapes-symposium/ We hope to see you on the 29th!
Don’t hesitate to email or call with any questions. Scott Beuerlein Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical
Gardens scott.beuerlein at cincinnatizoo.org 513-559-7706(B)
513-232-8343(C)
2012 Urban Tree of the Year
The Society of Municipal Arborists have chosen the Accolade Elm (Ulmus 'Morton') as its 2012 Urban Tree of the Year. Click here for more information.
Ben & Jerry's Foundation: National Grassroots Grant Program Through the National Grassroots Grant Program, Ben & Jerry's Foundation provides support to nonprofit community organizations throughout the United States that bring about progressive social change by addressing the underlying conditions of societal and environmental problems. The broad goals of the program are to further social justice, protect the environment, and support sustainable food systems. Grants of up to $15,000 are provided to grassroots, constituent-led organizations that are using community organizing strategies to accomplish their goals as well as organizations that provide technical support and/or resources to such groups. The Foundation does not make grants to support social service programs. Letters of interest may be submitted at any time. Visit the Foundation’s website (http://www.benandjerrysfoundation.org/) to review the funding priorities and submit an online letter of interest.
Energy Conservation Through Trees Act
H.R. 2095 has gone to committee. Congressman Dan Burton of Indiana is on the Committee on Energy and Commerce. Please contact him and urge him to move the bill forward.
HR 2095 Bill Text choose Bill Number and type HR 2095
more information
RFP now available for Local Sustainability Matching Fund - Deadline March 5, 2012 In partnership with the Urban Sustainability Directors Network, the Funders' Network is pleased to announce the formation of the Local Sustainability Matching Fund. The Fund has been created with leadership support from four Network members: the Kendeda Fund, the New York Community Trust, the Summit Foundation, and the Surdna Foundation.
The purpose of the Local Sustainability Matching Fund is twofold: to catalyze partnerships between local government sustainability directors and local, place-based foundations, including community foundations, and to advance important community-based sustainability initiatives. The Fund will provide partnership investments between $25,000 and $75,000, with a 1:1 match required by one or more local foundation. The Network anticipates that the Fund will support up to ten partnership projects in the first year in two rounds in the spring and fall of 2012.
The application deadline for the first round is March 5th, and you may download the Request for Proposals here (http://www.fundersnetwork.org/participate/green-building/local-sustainability-matching-fund). Applications must be submitted in MS Word and use the application Cover Sheet. The Network will host a conference call to provide more information on the fund and review the selection criteria. The call will be held on January 24th, at 2:00 p.m. Eastern.
A selection committee comprised of foundation representatives and urban sustainability directors will make selection decisions on behalf of the matching fund, and awards will be announced on May 5, 2012. For more information on the Local Sustainability Matching Fund, please contact Ann Wallace at ann@fundersnetwork.org or 617-524-9239.
Utilities & Trees
"The Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission has determined that Hoosiers would benefit from having consistency with regard to the rules and regulations surrounding tree-trimming practices and procedures."
Click here for the full news release.
Urban Forestry Fellowship The Garden Club of America is accepting applications for a national fellowship in urban forestry. The fellowship supports advanced undergraduate and graduate students. With this fellowship, The Garden Club of America seeks to forward their goal of advancing our knowledge of urban forests and increasing the number of scientists in the field of urban forestry. Applications are reviewed by a selection committee at Virginia Tech composed of practicing urban forestry scientists and professionals in related fields. Final selection is endorsed by The Garden Club of America.
The fellowship is highly competitive and applicants must present clearly in their applications how they will advance the GCA's goal of advancing urban forestry knowledge and increasing the number of practicing urban forestry scientists.
Eligibility: The fellowship is open to both advanced undergraduate and graduate students pursuing degrees in urban forestry, forestry, horticulture, environmental studies or a closely related field at any 4-year college or university degree program in the United States. Recipients must be U.S. students who will be enrolled as juniors or seniors or graduate students during the fellowship period. The award is for $4,000 and recipients may apply for one additional year of funding.
The Garden Club of America strives to stimulate the knowledge and love of gardening, to share the advantages of association by means of educational meetings, conferences, correspondence and publications, and to restore, improve, and protect the quality of the environment through educational programs and action in the fields of conservation and civic improvement. Virginia Tech's Department of Forestry offers undergraduate and graduate programs in Urban Forestry.
As park of the Great Lakes Restoration, the National Parks Service created four short 5 minute videos discussing the impact of invasive species on people and communities as well as what the general public can do to prevent their spread. Although set in the national parks they are useful to anyone in an educational setting.
The Sustainable Urban Forests Coalition has put together information on the proposed federal budget. It is available at this link.
Federal Bill watch on the Small Business Administration Tree Planting Program
If you care about tree planting and supporting small Indiana nursery/arborist businesses, you may want to look at this bill, find who supports it etc. Here is a press release regarding the SBA Tree Planting Program. It was referred to the House recently (Jan 26, 2010), and can be tracked as H.R.4509 or `Small Business Environmental Stewardship Assistance Act of 2010'
