4 CityTREES
President's Message
Jamie King
Executive Director's Message
Leslie Berckes
The 2025 Municipal Forestry
Institute (MFI) took place in a
magical setting, in the Santa
Cruz Mountains of California.
Walking among the coast
redwoods (Sequoia semper-
virens) on the MFI Thursday
field trip was uplifting in every
sense of the word. Looking up at
these venerable trees, our lungs opened wider, we took
in more air, and we felt energized. On that trip, we also
were enjoying the camaraderie that had built during
the intensity of MFI; you can see it in the photos in this
issue's story about MFI 2025. The redwoods as backdrop
for a growth-minded group of urban and community
forestry and allied professionals was extremely fitting.
You can also see pure joy in the faces of folks as they
received their certificate of completion and high-fived their
way through members of the MFI teaching team. To be fair,
some of that joy was probably, "I'm so looking forward to
going home, seeing my family/pets, and being back in my
own bed." But from my vantage point, it was also the joy of
connecting with others, and the pride of accomplishment.
Participants received tree cookies—a cross-section of a
young ironwood tree (Ostrya virginiana), sourced from
my childhood home—labeled "Be the Tree," an expres-
sion from one of the MFI principles presented during
the week. As MFI wrapped, most folks were asking each
other to sign their tree cookies because they didn't
want to forget this one-of-a-kind experience, and they
wanted to stay in touch. Fortunately, virtual reunions
have already begun for the MFI 2025 graduates.
Earlier this spring, my husband Jeff and I went to Italy for the
first time, for two weeks. The food, the wine, the architec-
ture—all were as promised. In visiting beautiful cathedrals in
Italy, I was taken with how the pillars and vaults were almost
certainly inspired by tree trunks and branches! Thank good-
ness for trees and forests—for their abiding nature when
we are living through such challenging times. And thank
goodness for our community of MFI grads and other UCFS
Members who are reaching out to one another in myriad
ways. You can register your interest in MFI 2026 now, and
applications for MFI 2026 will open starting August 4, 2025.
In February, I had the pleasure to address
the 2025 Municipal Forestry Institute
(MFI) grads. I was honored to try
to form some thoughts that might
inspire the group the same way the
remarks of a former president of our
organization, Sarah Morris, motivated
me at the 2018 MFI. Per usual, l fell
into my old habit of looking to the past
for perspective and clarity that I may share with the group.
In the 1960s, dynamic and brave people charted the course
for our profession, practice, and Society. Later, building upon
progress from practitioners and scientists, American Forests
hosted the 1978 National Urban Forestry Conference—the
first of its kind. Some highlights of the events that week are
here, where you can see who presented, networked—and most
importantly, that they were looking forward, as pioneers do.
Dr. Rupert Cutler was the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture at
that time; coincidentally, he was an urban forestry advo-
cate in Roanoke, Virginia (where I started my career). At
that conference he shared the Carter Administration's
position that "the federal role in urban forestry will remain
one of support," and he challenged those in attendance "to
advocate for funding at the state and local levels."
I now see that as a critical moment in the history of our prac-
tice. It was a statement that shaped our industry—challenging
equitable access to trees but also setting a trajectory that has
resulted in a patchwork of support, practice, and professional-
ism that has made this Society so incredibly important. Since
October 8, 1964, we have convened together for camaraderie
and to develop competence, confidence, and capacity as we
all work to cultivate trees and their power to bring noticeable
improvements in people's lives. Clearly, we must do that
work at the highest levels possible in government and as
Dr. Cutler challenged, at the local and regional levels too.
I admire and am honored to serve alongside you as we face
the challenges from the past and come together to sup-
port the UCFS's mission and community as we navigate our
moment of chart setting. I look to you for service leadership.
Please join us and nominate someone for an award or for the
UCFS Board of Directors (info in this issue). We need you
and your colleagues to keep up the good work, together.
