Free trees for Arbor Day & tree climbing competition May 21

The City of Olympia will be celebrating Arbor Day at Lions Park on Saturday, May 21, from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. This year’s celebration will include traditional highlights from years past, and new additions for 2011:

  • An official reading of the Arbor Day Proclamation by Mayor Pro Tem Stephen Buxbaum;
  • A representative of the Washington State Department of Natural Resources will recognize Olympia as a Tree City USA for the 18th year;
  • This year’s Jay Butts Friends of Trees Award will be presented to Councilmember Stephen Langer for his contributions to the success for the first Annual Legion Way Tree Planting and Veteran’s Day Celebration;
  • Free tree seedlings available to take home;
  • The planting of a brand new shade tree at Lions Park; and
  • Fun and interesting tree care information for the whole family!

New for 2011—the Puget Sound Regional Tree Climbing Competition!

The City of Olympia Parks Department and the Pacific Northwest Chapter of the International Society of Arboriculture are co-hosting the Puget Sound Regional Tree Climbing Competition at Lions Park on May 21. Come early or stay late at Lions Park on Arbor Day and watch word-class professional tree climbers compete for prizes, prestige, and slot in the international competition in Portland next year. Five different unique and exciting climbing events will be staged around the park. This event is family-friendly and free for spectators.

For questions, please contact:
Kevin McFarland, Urban Forester
(360) 753-8301 – km******@***********wa.us

Please note: Parking is limited, so please walk, bike, bus or carpool to this event.

April 2011 Board Minutes

Called to order approx 7:30pm
Present: Elaine Nelson, Chad Akins, Jenni Fleming, Ruth Middlebrook, Yvonne Fish, Nancy Thompson, Kate Wulf

13th Avenue Pea Patch: Chad spoke with TJ Johnson about the ENA having a plot in their garden this year. Cost would be approximately $15. Motion to get the plot at that cost, with Darleen leading the project and Kate assisting. Seconded, approved.

Picnic: group discussed holding a bicycle event, decided on a small kid-focused activity. Elaine, Ruth, and (tentatively) Karen Rogers will organize the activity. Nancy volunteered to lead organization of the picnic along with Kate.

Website: Elaine is interested in getting more people writing to the blog, which is now set up to automatically post to Facebook and email. She will get Yvonne and Darleen started.

Neighborhood block grant: Chad mentioned this opportunity, discussed applying for funds for the picnic. Elaine will be applying to get plants for the Fairview Pathway project. She will also send out an email when she’s ready to have volunteers for cleanup at the location.

Next potluck: date set for May 16 at the Light & Life Church building.

Newsletter: Elaine suggested a one-sheet newsletter to be put out ASAP, mostly to recruit picnic volunteers. The group agreed, and she will get a schedule out tomorrow. Ruth will contact delivery volunteers, and Jenni will send potential volunteer contact info to Ruth. Darleen volunteered to write something about the garden plot.

Adjourned approximately 8:15pm

February 2011 Board Minutes

Minutes taken February 10, 2011 by Elaine Nelson, Secretary. Chad Akins, President, presiding.

Present: Elaine Nelson, Chad Akins, Jenni Fleming, Don LeMaster (note: no quorum)
Guest: Katya Miltimore

Called to order 7:18

President’s Report – Chad Akins – We need two new board members to meet bylaws requirements. Discussed board meeting format. Suggestion to go to a consent calendar for meetings by email, moved, seconded, approved.

Treasurer’s Report – Jenni Fleming –

Account Balance
Checking $560
Savings $526.67
Signs fund $1129.11
Legion Way trees fund $350
Certificate of deposit $1015

The certificate matures on February 20. Motion to roll over, seconded, approved.

Playground project – Katya Miltimore – She is doing an internship from Evergreen at Madison Elementary. The school needs new playground equipment. Discussed fundraising issues and options, no action by the board at this time, but offered our support.

Secretary’s Report – Elaine Nelson – Discussed online membership form, motion to add to site, add processing cost to minimum due payment, seconded, approved. Discussed issue with discontinued Thriftway donation cards, will post information about ThriftECard to website.

Pathway Project – Elaine– Gave brief update on current status. Waiting for good weather to start clearing brambles and brush.

Adjourned 8:31pm