If you have a passion for trees, are an experienced manager, and enjoy working with volunteers, this may be a great opportunity for you.

Tree Fresno is seeking a CEO who can lead the Board, staff and volunteers in achieving the organization’s mission of “Enriching the quality of life in the Fresno region with the addition of trees and trails.”

The successful candidate will have a minimum of 4 years management experience, preferably with a non-profit; some CEO experience preferred; some higher-level education, 4-year degree in business preferred . Demonstrated ability in a) fundraising, b) developing/presenting impactful presentations, c) developing/analysing/managing budgets, d) managing multiple projects, e) marketing/educating, f) energizing/motivating staff and volunteers. Excellent computer skills including proficiency in MS Office and Power Point.

Job Duties include:

• Lead the staff, Board and volunteers in carrying out the mission, and achieving the vision of Tree Fresno

• Manage staff in the daily duties necessary to accomplishing specific goals

• Manage financials, identifying variances to budget

• Marketing and ensuring the high visibility of Tree Fresno to the community

• Fundraising, including grant writing (or identifying grant opportunities and overseeing the writing of grants); identifying/contacting potential donors

• Membership development

• Overseeing writing of monthly newsletter

• Managing multiple projects and overseeing events

• Engaging volunteers, motivating them to participate

• Participating as a member of Tree Fresno Board of Directors

• Educating community regarding the importance of trees/trails; and advocating on behalf of the work that Tree Fresno does

Excellent salary with benefits package included. DOE. Send resume to moc.tnemeganam-rhnull@htuR

The redwood tree and the wine grapevine are both iconic in Northern California. Two wineries are petitioning the state to let them clear redwoods and Douglas firs to make room for new Pinot Noir vineyards. Environmentalists want the trees protected.

For the full article from the L.A. Times, click here.

Red Fields to Green Fields is a national research effort led by Georgia Tech Research Institute in partnership with the City Parks Alliance to evaluate the potential impacts of converting financially and/or physically distressed commercial real estate to land banks — and ultimately greenspace and parks.  The initiative has the potential to create jobs, stabilize the housing market and create more sustainable communities while unlocking bad debt frozen in banks.  Studies have been conducted in 11 U.S. cities including Atlanta, Cleveland, Detroit, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Wilmington, and Hilton Head Island. The project has involved 14 universities and numerous non-profit, municipal, state, and federal agencies and is supported by the Speedwell Foundation. For more information, see www.rftgf.org.

Facilitator: Kathy Blaha, Kathy Blaha Consulting

To RSVP, please send an email to gro.ecnaillaskrapyticnull@ofni by COB Friday, August 26.

The Conference

Join municipal arborists, urban forest managers, landscape design professionals, planners, and non-profits from across California for this unique educational and networking experience in Palo Alto. With a focus on utilizing urban forestry to revitalize California’s communities, participants will leave the conference with tools to improve the areas where the majority of Californian’s live, work and play. We’ll discuss: community revitalization, nontraditional funding sources, best management practices, species selection, tree pruning and much more!

The Friday afternoon sessions will include two separate tracks – one specifically for non-profits and another geared towards municipalities.

Agenda

Accommodations

Participants are encouraged to stay at our conference location, the Crowne Plaza Cabana Hotel Palo Alto. Participants can receive a special conference rate of $139 per night by booking their stay here and entering the Group Code: A4M.

Registration fees also include breakfast on both mornings of the conference, lunch on Friday and a reception on both nights of the conference.

Travel

Palo Alto can easily be reached by car, plane or train. For driving directions to the Crowne Plaza Cabana Hotel, click here.

For those planning to fly, the closest airport is Mineta San Jose International Airport (SJC). You can also fly into San Francisco International Airport (SFO) or Oakland International Airport (OAK).

If you’d like to take the train, Amtrak has several routes that go through Palo Alto.

Continuing Education Units

Continuing Education Units (CEUs) will be offered through the International Society of Aboriculture. Conference participants can receive up to nine CEUs for participating in conference sessions. Participants must fill out the appropriate paperwork after conference sessions to receive credit.

Cancellations

Participants can receive a full refund until two weeks prior to the event. After that point, they can receive a partial refund. There are no refunds for the Pruning Workshop unless your spot is filled.

Photo courtesy of Canopy

PALO ALTO – On June 14, 2011, the Palo Alto Unified School District (PAUSD) adopted one of the very first School District Board of Education Policies on Trees in California. The Tree Policy was developed by members from the District’s Sustainable Schools Committee, District Staff, and Canopy, a local urban forestry nonprofit based in Palo Alto.

The President of the Board of Education, Melissa Baten Caswell says: “We value the trees on our school campuses as an important part of creating a healthy and sustainable environment for students, faculty, staff, and the community. Our thanks go out to everyone who worked to make this possible for our School District.” Bob Golton, PAUSD Co-CBO added: “This continues the wonderful spirit of cooperation in the interest of trees in our District between District staff, community members and Canopy.”

With 17 campuses covering more than 228 acres throughout Palo Alto, the District is home to hundreds of young and mature trees. The District today manages tree assessment and maintenance at twelve Elementary Schools (K-6), three Middle Schools (6-8), and two High Schools (9-12) attended by over 11,000 students. Some of these trees, particularly the native oaks, have grown alongside the schools for more than 100 years.

The District is aware of the many benefits it receives from the trees on school grounds. The Tree Policy was adopted because it seeks to provide safe, accessible, healthy and welcoming school campuses environments for current and future students. Main components of the Policy include:

• Protecting and preserving mature and heritage trees

• Utilizing trees to shade and protect children in play areas, and improve energy efficiency

• Selecting climate-appropriate, drought-tolerant, non-invasive, and native trees, whenever possible

• Incorporating tree care best practices to grow and sustain healthier trees

• Considering of new and existing trees in planning new construction, redevelopment, Bond Measure projects, and Master Planning

• Furthering student learning with curriculum-based planting and tree activities

This Tree Policy conforms to current District practices spelled out in the District’s Tree Protection Plan. The District hired a Consulting Arborist and Horticulturist to develop the plan and ensure the plan is followed and enforced. Canopy Executive Director Catherine Martineau applauded the District, and said: “Thank you for your leadership on behalf of the trees at the many schools in Palo Alto. This District is fortunate to benefit from a mature canopy, and this policy expands arboriculture best practices and tree protection measures to the largest landowner in Palo Alto not subjected to the City’s tree ordinance. By adopting this School District policy, the Palo Alto community continues to lead the way in urban forestry.”

About PAUSD

PAUSD serves approximately 11,000 students who live in most, but not all, of the City of Palo Alto, certain areas of Los Altos Hills, and Portola Valley, as well as the Stanford University campus. PAUSD is well known for its rich tradition of educational excellence and is listed among the top school districts in the state of California.

About Canopy

Canopy plants, protects, and grows local urban forests. Because trees are a critical element of a livable, sustainable urban environment, Canopy’s mission is to educate, inspire, and engage residents, businesses, and government agencies to protect and enhance our local urban forests. Canopy’s Healthy Trees, Healthy Kids! program is an initiative to plant 1,000 trees on local school campuses by 2015. Canopy is a member of the California ReLeaf Network.