Here are some great thoughts from Dana Karcher, with Alliance for Community Trees during this Arbor Day Season.
Every time Congress zeros out the Urban and Community Forestry budget, my phone rings with calls of despair. Usually I respond with this query: When was the last time you told the story of how trees are changing your community to your Congressional representative? When was the last time you put a shovel in their hand and had them join you in a planting?
Our tree planting stories begin at home, not on Capitol Hill. To maintain, or even grow our slice to the budget pie, we must place importance on the projects that make a difference in our towns and cities. We know what trees can do for communities; let’s not keep that secret from our legislators.
Here are a couple of ideas:
· Arbor Day is the perfect time for legislative members to take that perfect photo. Invite them to your celebration, alert the media, and share the benefits of trees with them.
· Start writing letters. (Or continue writing letters.) Keep them brief and focused on what trees do for their constituents. Engage your supporters to do the same thing.
· Share what your community would be like without trees. Can you imagine? Neither can the Chamber of Commerce, the Convention and Visitors Bureau, and all of your community cheerleaders. Tell the story of no shade, increased incidences of asthma, heat-island effect, and more particulate matter.
Whatever you choose to do, don’t neglect the opportunity to assure that funding for Community Forestry is part of your daily message. Lastly, be sure to share your successes with your fellow members. Write us a story! Click here to send us what has been working for you!