City Trees is a premier publication focused on urban + community forestry. In each issue, you’ll learn how to best manage the trees in your community and more!
Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/1526102
4 CityTREES President's Message Rachel Habig-Myers Executive Director's Message Leslie Berckes I don't think I told you about my epic road trip last fall en route to the World Forum on Urban Forests (WFUF) held in Washington, DC. You see, my husband Jeff's goal is to run a half marathon in every state, and going to conference host cities provides the ideal opportunity to add a state to the count. Well, when he heard about the WFUF conference in DC, his eyes lit up, and before I knew it, he scheduled FOUR races before and after the conference. At first I thought he was a bit nuts, but then I realized what an awesome chance this would give me to organize a road trip and visit UCFS Members along the way. From our home base of Des Moines, Iowa, we headed to a race in Indianapolis, Indiana with the next race destination of Hartford, Connecticut—via Cleveland, Ohio, so I could attend the Urban Forestry Funders Forum. On the way to Hartford, I visited Ithaca, Syracuse, and Albany, New York to see UCFS Members in action. In Albany, I was given what I consider the best "key" to the city ever—a pressed and laminated American chestnut (Castanea dentata) leaf from a surviving tree. After Hartford—and a harrowing drive along I-95!—we traveled to DC for the WFUF conference and then back north to New Jersey for race #3. This gave me the oppor- tunity to go into New York City for member visits and to learn about one of the largest urban forestry programs in the country (as overseen by the dedicated staff of NYC Parks!) The fourth and final race was in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, where I enjoyed one last member visit. I share this because I LOVE meeting members in their urban forest to better understand their challenges and triumphs. It is joyful to connect and allows me to better understand the full breadth of work being done—and to better represent your interests. The visit to Albany with NYSDEC Urban and Community Forestry State Program Coordinator Gloria and Technical Coordinator Dan, and Albany City Arborist Jay, even lead to an invitation to keynote the July 2024 New York ReLeaf Conference. What an honor that was! My husband's quest con- tinues and so, the next half marathon road trip might just bring me to your city. I look forward to seeing you and your trees! Fall is here, and conference season is in full swing. The International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) just celebrated their 100th anniversary in Atlanta in August! As a profes- sional affiliate of ISA, UCFS was happy to celebrate this milestone with them as we continue working together on our closely aligned goals. ISA's exceptional tenure is the perfect model for our orga- nization, as we also seek to support, and enhance the skills of, professionals who will care for our urban and community forests well into the future. Like ISA, our work lasts as long as the trees do, and I think the recognition of that, and the pride we take in work that could outlive us, contributes to our achievements in unmeasurable ways. ISA also makes our organization feel relatively young, at only 60 years old. In this year of anniversaries, we are happy to continue celebrations at our upcoming conference in Chicago on November 18-19 th , 2024! The agenda is set, registration is open now, and the Fun Run course has been laid out. The Municipal Forestry Institute (MFI) Alumni Social is coming together as well, at the same time that the application period is open for MFI 2025, in February in Scotts Valley, California. Please check out the MFI details and send in your application! Even if you can't travel to a conference to meet up with fellow tree people or attend the next MFI, you will find great information and get to know UCFS members through this new issue of City Trees. It includes an interesting Resilient Canopy feature about Australia's dynamic Treenet, which stands for the Tree and Roadway Experimental and Educational Network. Their work on street trial trials, among other things, is truly impressive and inspiring; we can borrow ideas from Treenet. There are myriad ways to get involved with UCFS remotely; I hope you will also consider joining a committee for a little rewarding volunteer work accomplished with colleagues from across the U.S., Canada, and the world. Even if you only have five minutes to spare, you can contribute your "reason" to the 60 Reasons why you love being an urban or commu- nity forester endeavor. Please share your thoughts and help memorialize our 60 th anniversary year. See you in Chicago!