From jared at actrees.org Tue Dec 2 13:53:36 2008 From: jared at actrees.org (Jared Liu) Date: Tue, 2 Dec 2008 13:53:36 -0500 Subject: [ACT] ACT Network Update Message-ID: <89FD2DDD-92BB-44A9-9F76-B89ADF719F12@actrees.org> Trouble viewing this? Go to: http://actrees.org/files/Newsletter/Newsletter_2008Dec2.html December 2, 2008 In the News Success Story Research Public Policy Events Funding ABOUT US Alliance for Community Trees is dedicated to improving the environment where 80% of Americans live: our cities, towns, and villages. Together, ACT's national network of members have planted and cared for 7.8 million trees with help from 450,000 volunteers. QUICK LINKS Join ACT Resources Newsroom NATIONAL SPONSOR CONTRIBUTORS GIVE TO ACT CFC#12402 IN THE NEWS Urban Forest Map Project San Francisco, CA (November 1, 2008)- The Urban Forest Map is a collaborative project led by Friends of the Urban Forest to map the location of every city tree and calculate its contribution to our urban ecosystem. The goal is to build a web-based inventory map of the urban forest using open-source technology. Read the full story SUCCESS STORY Legislative Advocacy Program California ReLeaf monitors state and federal legislation in order to inform the urban forestry community of opportunities to influence public policy on behalf of urban trees. In 2006 California ReLeaf hired a professional lobbyist to assist with its state-level efforts. As a result of its work, $20 million was designated for urban forestry programs under California Proposition 84 passed in 2006. Find out how RESEARCH Stormwater Management: Using Trees and Structural Soil to Improve Water Quality Blacksburg, VA (November 15, 2008)- A 2004 NUCFAC-funded, technology transfer study has just been released. It is titled, Development of a Green Infrastructure Technology that Links Trees and Engineered Soil to Minimize Runoff from Pavement. The project was a collaborative effort between Virginia Tech, Cornell University, and the University of California at Davis. Learn more PUBLIC POLICY ACT Urges Support for the Community Forest and Open Space Conservation ACT joined with a coalition of 120 organizations to urge the Forest Service to expedite the launch of the new Community Forest and Open Space Conservation Program, authorized in Title VIII, Section 8002 of the recently passed Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008. This new program will provide matching funds to help local government entities, Indian tribes, and non-profit organizations to create new community forests. Get involved EVENTS Marketing & Communications Webcast- Part III, Dec. 18 A brand is a mixture of attributes, tangible and intangible, symbolized in a trademark, which, if managed properly, creates value and influence. Marketing a brand is not a new brochure, a printing budget, direct mail, or a catchy slogan. It is an important strategy to help community groups define their value and services in the marketplace. Pretty brochures, zippy websites, and catchy slogans can be effective, but only when part of a coordinated marketing effort. After all, the goal of marketing your urban forestry program is to achieve real results. Register today FUNDING Allstate Foundation Funds National and Local Programs The Allstate Foundation provides support to national programs as well as local programs in company communities throughout the United States. Proposals must address needs within one of three focus areas including Safe and Vital Communities, including youth anti-violence, neighborhood revitalization, and teen driving safety. Find out more Please use and share ACT's materials freely with anyone interested in urban forestry, but with this copyright notice intact. Send a copy of the cited publication to: Alliance for Community Trees ? 4603 Calvert Road ? College Park, MD 20740 ? info at actrees.org Copyright (c) 2008 Alliance for Community Trees To Subscribe: friends at actrees.org an announce-only list for ACT's NeighborWoods Network http://actrees.org/site/lists/friends -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jared at actrees.org Thu Dec 4 10:05:15 2008 From: jared at actrees.org (Jared Liu) Date: Thu, 4 Dec 2008 10:05:15 -0500 Subject: [ACT] ACT Brown Bag Urban Forestry Webcast Message-ID: Trouble viewing this? Go to: http://actrees.org/files/Newsletter/bbls_2008dec18.html December 18, 2008 Session Topics First Segment Second Segment Network Exchange Register ABOUT US Alliance for Community Trees is dedicated to improving the environment where 80% of Americans live: our cities, towns, and villages. Together, ACT's national network of members have planted and cared for 7.8 million trees with help from 450,000 volunteers. ABOUT WEBCASTS The Brown Bag Lunch Series is a monthly webcast held at the lunch hour. The goal is to create informal trainings for local urban and community forestry organizations. The trainings leverage local successes by amplifying to a larger audience the model organizations' methods, materials, and approaches. NATIONAL SPONSOR CONTRIBUTOR Marketing & Communications- Part III: Building & Positioning Your Brand December 18, 2008 1:00- 2:00pm EST A brand is a mixture of attributes, tangible and intangible, symbolized in a trademark, which, if managed properly, creates value and influence. Marketing a brand is not a new brochure, a printing budget, direct mail, or a catchy slogan. It is an important strategy to help community groups define their value and services in the marketplace. Pretty brochures, zippy websites, and catchy slogans can be effective, but only when part of a coordinated marketing effort. After all, the goal of marketing your urban forestry program is to achieve real results. Register now SESSION TOPICS Brown Bag attendees will learn: * What having a brand can do for you. * Handling positive and negative sentiment in the public marketplace. * Strategies for strengthening name recognition. Register now TREEPEOPLE Laurie Kaufman, Director of Communications, (Los Angeles, CA) Laurie Kaufman manages TreePeople's media, publications, public relations, and website activities. She has over 10 years experience working with nonprofit organizations in areas including community self- reliance, sustainable development, organic farming, homelessness, youth-at-risk, and children of incarcerated parents. Register now SACRAMENTO TREE FOUNDATION Constance Crawford, Outreach Services Director (Sacramento, CA) The Sacramento Tree Foundation is a nonprofit 501c3 organization dedicated to building the best urban forest for the Sacramento region. Their vision is guided by a dynamic and dedicated Board of Directors and a full time staff of roughly 35 mission-driven individuals. For over 25 years they've been building partnerships and empowering communities to envision the best places to live and invest in their urban forest. They do this by educating, advocating, and lending support for tree plantings. Register now NEIGHBORWOODS NETWORK EXCHANGE Extended Learning- On the Ground There is so much more that can be learned in a week than in an hour, and on the ground as opposed to on a webcast. So here is your chance! Join the webcast to learn more about the NeighborWoods Network Exchange and how you can spend a week shadowing another ACT member. Register now REGISTER FOR ALL WEBCASTS: actrees.org/site/resources/events Register now Please use and share ACT's materials freely with anyone interested in urban forestry, but with this copyright notice intact. Send a copy of the cited publication to: Alliance for Community Trees ? 4603 Calvert Road ? College Park, MD 20740 ? info at actrees.org Copyright (c) 2008 Alliance for Community Trees To Subscribe: friends at actrees.org an announce-only list for ACT's NeighborWoods Network http://actrees.org/site/lists/friends -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jared at actrees.org Thu Dec 11 10:18:08 2008 From: jared at actrees.org (Jared Liu) Date: Thu, 11 Dec 2008 10:18:08 -0500 Subject: [ACT] Donate to Our Nation's Urban Forests and the Tree Stewards Who Care for Them Message-ID: <4B045E8D-9149-4A07-B16C-E0D30A030BA6@actrees.org> Trouble viewing this? Go to: http://actrees.org/files/Newsletter/spec_announce_08dec11.html December 11, 2008 ABOUT US Alliance for Community Trees is dedicated to improving the environment where 80% of Americans live: our cities, towns, and villages. Together, ACT's national network of members have planted and cared for 7.8 million trees with help from 450,000 volunteers. QUICK LINKS Join ACT Resources Newsroom Thanks for a Great Year! Of Making Cities Cleaner, Greener, and Healthier As this exciting year draws to a close, the Alliance for Community Trees would like to thank you for your support. Together, through ACT?s National NeighborWoods Program? and other initiatives, we have achieved a great many important milestones in just three years: * 126,620 shade trees planted * 42,422 trees maintained * 61,015 volunteers engaged * 2,186 events organized * $1.6 million awarded to community organizations * $11.6 million in locally leveraged contributions This year was the first full year of the brown-bag lunch webcast series, delivering timely and important information on urban forestry by industry and nonprofit professionals on a monthly basis. Our Community Tree Leadership Forum training program provided critical skill building for community forest advocates in Florida and California. National NeighborWoods Month grew into a booming campaign reaching over 20,000 people through 412 events in 134 cities. At our national conferences in Atlanta, Baltimore, and Pasadena, ACT engaged more leaders than ever before - providing learning, dialogue, and trend spotting to support urban forest stewardship. Our alliance has grown? 66 members in 2004, 74 members in 2005, 107 in 2006, 135 members in 2007, and in 2008? 160 member organizations in 40 states! As we move into the New Year, we are meeting challenges we know you face too? raising awareness and funds in an uncertain economy. We hope you will think about what Alliance for Community Trees has meant to you professionally or personally and consider an end of year donation to help ACT support urban forest stewardship in 2009. Thank you so much for your support. Here?s to a prosperous and healthy New Year for our nation?s urban forests and the stewards that care for them. Please click here now to donate to our nation's urban forests and tree stewards Sincerely, Executive Director President Please use and share ACT's materials freely with anyone interested in urban forestry, but with this copyright notice intact. Send a copy of the cited publication to: Alliance for Community Trees ? 4603 Calvert Road ? College Park, MD 20740 ? info at actrees.org Copyright (c) 2008 Alliance for Community Trees To Subscribe: friends at actrees.org an announce-only list for ACT's NeighborWoods Network http://actrees.org/site/lists/friends -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jared at actrees.org Tue Dec 16 14:20:30 2008 From: jared at actrees.org (Jared Liu) Date: Tue, 16 Dec 2008 14:20:30 -0500 Subject: [ACT] ACT Network Update Message-ID: <41D3A984-79E3-4695-8E4E-A258B7917540@actrees.org> Trouble viewing this? Go to: http://actrees.org/files/Newsletter/Newsletter_2008Dec16.html December 16, 2008 In the News Success Story Research Public Policy Events Funding ABOUT US Alliance for Community Trees is dedicated to improving the environment where 80% of Americans live: our cities, towns, and villages. Together, ACT's national network of members have planted and cared for 7.8 million trees with help from 450,000 volunteers. QUICK LINKS Join ACT Resources Newsroom NATIONAL SPONSOR CONTRIBUTORS GIVE TO ACT CFC#12402 IN THE NEWS Sustainable Sites Draft Available for Public Comment The Sustainable Sites Initiative released the Guidelines and Performance Benchmarks Draft 2008 for public comment. The new draft contains over 50 proposed prerequisites and credits ranging from site selection to construction and maintenance practices. The initiative is the most comprehensive set of national guidelines yet developed for landscapes. Read the full story SUCCESS STORY Emerald Ash Borer Network (Lisle, IL)- The Morton Arboretum played a lead role in creating a network of public and private organizations to develop a readiness plan for addressing the invasion of Emerald Ash Borer in the state of Illinois. The group also undertook an extensive outreach and educational campaign to inform legislators, land managers, agencies that oversee the urban forest and the general public about the imminent threat. Find out how RESEARCH Survey of State Funding Trends Davis, CA (November 17, 2008)- California ReLeaf has released a preliminary report of their NUCFAC funded, "Survey of State Funding Trends." The report was presented at the Alliance for Community Trees annual meeting in Atlanta. They will still be doing some more research and writing it up in a more formal version, but welcome comments on the draft report. Learn more PUBLIC POLICY Presidential Transition Package from the Continental Dialogue A coalition of 21 organization including the Alliance for Community Trees, ANLA, and Nature Conservancy signed a joint letter to President- elect Obama encouraging his attention to address the sweeping problems of non-native forest insects and diseases in the U.S. Get involved EVENTS 2008 ACT Annual Meeting Conference Proceedings The conference proceedings and presentations from the Alliance for Community Trees' 2008 Member Rally & NeighborWoods Academy in Atlanta are now available. There were 12 general, concurrent, and roundtable sessions, with 38 presentations. If you missed any of these or would like a copy of what you saw, you can download the conference proceedings at ACT's website. Register today FUNDING NUCFAC Challenge Cost Share Grant Program 2009- Deadline: February 17, 2009 This year the National Urban and Community Forestry Advisory Council has revised its grant making into two categories: Innovation Grants and Best Practices Grants. They anticipate $1 million in funding. After more than a decade of grant-making, they have also revised grant criteria and implemented procedures that reduce paperwork. Find out more Please use and share ACT's materials freely with anyone interested in urban forestry, but with this copyright notice intact. Send a copy of the cited publication to: Alliance for Community Trees ? 4603 Calvert Road ? College Park, MD 20740 ? info at actrees.org Copyright (c) 2008 Alliance for Community Trees To Subscribe: friends at actrees.org an announce-only list for ACT's NeighborWoods Network http://actrees.org/site/lists/friends -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: