Notice Quinsigamond Village Community Meeting Postponed
New Date and Time
Wednesday, February 25th, 2015
8:30-9:30AM
AmeriPride Services
280 Greenwood St, Worcester, MA
Wednesday, February 25th, 2015
8:30-9:30AM
AmeriPride Services
280 Greenwood St, Worcester, MA
Ruth Seward Assumes Role of Executive Director
Ruth planting with a class of environmental science students at North High School.
For the past 6 years, the Worcester Tree Initiative has planted trees and maintained, educated the public about the benefits of trees. Now that we've met our goal of 30,000 trees planted in the Worcester area, staff at WTI are making some changes.
As of January 5, 2015, Ruth Seward has taken on the responsibility of Executive Director of the Worcester Tree Initiative. Peggy Middaugh will step into a new part time position of Development Director, and Derek Lirange will remain Community Forester.
"Ruth has been with us almost since the start- coordinating programs supervising staff and volunteers, and overseeing so much of the work being done - all on a part time basis! She's done such a fantastic job and has the passion and skill necessary to take on full time responsibility for running all aspects of the organization", said Peggy Middaugh, former Executive Director. "I'm thrilled to be handling over the reins to someone as capable and enthusiastic as Ruth."
Mary Knittle, co-chair of the WTI steering committee notes, "It's a perfect realignment of responsibilities. Ruth wanted to move to a full time position and Peggy wanted to move to part time. I have complete confidence that they'll both do an excellent job moving the organization forward in their new roles. This is such a great team, and I'm really happy that we are keeping all of them on board".
Ms. Seward noted that she intends to keep most of the same programs, placing more emphasis on developing stewardship programs. "We will still be planting trees, working with schools, leading a program on urban orchards, and providing summer jobs for youth caring for trees", she said, "But we also want to put more emphasis on long term development of stewards."
Staff can still be reached through their email addresses.
As of January 5, 2015, Ruth Seward has taken on the responsibility of Executive Director of the Worcester Tree Initiative. Peggy Middaugh will step into a new part time position of Development Director, and Derek Lirange will remain Community Forester.
"Ruth has been with us almost since the start- coordinating programs supervising staff and volunteers, and overseeing so much of the work being done - all on a part time basis! She's done such a fantastic job and has the passion and skill necessary to take on full time responsibility for running all aspects of the organization", said Peggy Middaugh, former Executive Director. "I'm thrilled to be handling over the reins to someone as capable and enthusiastic as Ruth."
Mary Knittle, co-chair of the WTI steering committee notes, "It's a perfect realignment of responsibilities. Ruth wanted to move to a full time position and Peggy wanted to move to part time. I have complete confidence that they'll both do an excellent job moving the organization forward in their new roles. This is such a great team, and I'm really happy that we are keeping all of them on board".
Ms. Seward noted that she intends to keep most of the same programs, placing more emphasis on developing stewardship programs. "We will still be planting trees, working with schools, leading a program on urban orchards, and providing summer jobs for youth caring for trees", she said, "But we also want to put more emphasis on long term development of stewards."
Staff can still be reached through their email addresses.
Tree Condition Survey
Worcester Tree Initiative has given away more than 6,000 trees in the past five years to residents of the towns impacted by Asian Longhorned Beetle. If you received trees from us and planted them in your yard then you have had an enormous impact on your community and the environment—an impact that we can measure if we know how the trees are doing.
We’re asking everyone who received trees from a Worcester Tree Initiative event in the past five years to use the online tool we've created to tell us about your tree(s) and give us feedback about our program. It will only take about 5 minutes of your time so if you are a tree recipient please follow the link below and fill in the information as well as you can.
Tree Condition Update
Thank you!
Sincerely,
Ruth Seward, Director
Worcester Tree Initiative
We’re asking everyone who received trees from a Worcester Tree Initiative event in the past five years to use the online tool we've created to tell us about your tree(s) and give us feedback about our program. It will only take about 5 minutes of your time so if you are a tree recipient please follow the link below and fill in the information as well as you can.
Tree Condition Update
Thank you!
Sincerely,
Ruth Seward, Director
Worcester Tree Initiative
About the Worcester Tree Initiative
The Worcester Tree Initiative is a private, non-profit organization based in Worcester Massachusetts whose mission is to promote urban forestry and stewardship in the City of Worcester and surrounding communities. It was initiated in January 2009 by Congressman Jim McGovern and Lt. Governor Tim Murray after officials anticipated that tens of thousands of trees would be removed because of an infestation of the invasive Asian Longhorned Beetle. The initial goal of the Worcester Tree Initiative was to see that 30,000 trees are planted in Worcester and surrounding towns by 2014.
The Initiative is a public and private partnership between the City of Worcester, the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation, the US Department of Agriculture, and many non-profits, businesses and residents of Central Massachusetts. The program includes intensive outreach, education and training, and long term tracking to realize significant environmental and quality of life improvements with this community based approach. We are using trees grown at local nurseries and as a result our stock will vary based on availability.
The Initiative is a public and private partnership between the City of Worcester, the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation, the US Department of Agriculture, and many non-profits, businesses and residents of Central Massachusetts. The program includes intensive outreach, education and training, and long term tracking to realize significant environmental and quality of life improvements with this community based approach. We are using trees grown at local nurseries and as a result our stock will vary based on availability.
Steering Committee
Founders:
Congressman Jim McGovern
Tim Murray; President/CEO, Worcester Area Chamber of Commerce
Co-Chairs:
Mary Knittle
State Representative Jim O'Day
Jordan Levy
Members:
Kathy Abbott
Paul Belsito
Deb Cary
State Senator Harriette Chandler
Margaret Doyle
City Councilor Tony Enonomou
Steve Fischer
Allen Fletcher
School Committee Member Jack Foley
Robyn Kennedy
State Senator Michael Moore
Marie Morse
Colin Novick
Joe O'Brien
Selectman Ken O'Brien
Kevin O'Sullivan
City Councilor Phil Palmieri
Kathleen Polanowicz
Selectman Chris Rucho
Founders:
Congressman Jim McGovern
Tim Murray; President/CEO, Worcester Area Chamber of Commerce
Co-Chairs:
Mary Knittle
State Representative Jim O'Day
Jordan Levy
Members:
Kathy Abbott
Paul Belsito
Deb Cary
State Senator Harriette Chandler
Margaret Doyle
City Councilor Tony Enonomou
Steve Fischer
Allen Fletcher
School Committee Member Jack Foley
Robyn Kennedy
State Senator Michael Moore
Marie Morse
Colin Novick
Joe O'Brien
Selectman Ken O'Brien
Kevin O'Sullivan
City Councilor Phil Palmieri
Kathleen Polanowicz
Selectman Chris Rucho
Thank you to our sponsors
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