Elise Schadler, Program Manager, Vermont Urban & Community Forestry Program.
Dan called the meeting to order at 7:30.
The club board meets tomorrow at 7:30 at the Shelburne Town Hall. All are welcome.
Please be sure your email is correct on Club Runner as Dan will be sending newsletters out through that format.
Volunteers will be needed for Zoom technology when Dan becomes President.
Keith gave an update on the Pie For Breakfast. Gary will provide some convection ovens and Sophie can provide coffee makers. Annette is picking up flowers and Charlie will do the Costco run for paper products, etc.
Saturday April 1: DISTRICT 7850 SPRING DISTRICT ASSEMBLY Northern Vermont University, Lyndon Campus
The club members agreed to continue the Farmer’s Market this summer! Dave will handle the nonprofit invites again. The set up and pick up volunteers will be needed.
June 23 is the tentative date for Changing of the Guard ceremony. Dan was looking at The Charlotte Senior Center for this event, however, alcohol would not be a viable option. A couple of other venues were discussed.
March 7 is the second round of the speech contest which Keith will attend as a representative from our club.
Ric discussed the fundraising campaign and reminded us to get our ten names in for solicitation.
Denis collected the happy fines.
Elise has been with the VUCFP program since 2012. Raised in Ohio, after college she joined the AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps for a pivotal year of introduction to the country's varying natural landscapes as well as social, economic, and environmental issues. Next, she directed a tree planting program in Camden, NJ before venturing north to pursue her graduate degree from the Rubenstein School of Environment & Natural Resources at the University of Vermont. She is an ISA Certified Arborist, Tree Risk Assessment Qualified, a graduate of the Municipal Forestry Institute, and a Burlington Master Naturalist.
Elise’s organization works with all three of our towns. As a part of the U.S. Forest Service, they work a lot with regional organizations.
Thirty Nine % of Vermonters live in urban areas of Vermont. VUCFP manages trees where people live work and play. Their work is federally funded through the forest service. She broke down the “staff” that work in roles for towns by the numbers. Tree City USA communities were listed and involve a process to qualify.
They help towns manage their infrastructure through education and outreach, teach classes, share “big trees” maps, create tree plan kits and distribute grant monies.
Sign up for their newsletter on their website https://vtcommunityforestry.org
Jim presented the book “Pirone’s Tree Maintenance” by John R. Hartman to Elise, which will be donated to Hinesburg Library in her name.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:30.