"The sounds of the forest, the scent of the trees, the sunlight playing through the leaves, the fresh clean air--these things give us a sense of comfort. They ease our stress and worry, help us relax to think more clearly....
We know this deep in our bones."
--Qing Li, in Forest Bathing
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Tour des Trees:
So Much More!
The Tour des Trees is more than just a bike ride and a fundraiser. The Tour des Trees is a chance to connect.
It is a chance to connect to people as we cycle through their communities and spread the word about the importance of trees and proper tree care. It is a chance to show how important tree research is and why the TREE Fund's grants and scholarships are so important to the industry, our communities, our health, and our planet.
It is a chance to connect to others who share our love of trees and make memories that will last for years to come.
Register to ride this year and help us make the connections that are the most important.
September 3-10. Iowa.
Riders can choose one to 6-day ride options to fit their schedule. The ride starts in Des Moines, loops around, and then finishes up in Nebraska City, Nebraska. Hotels and meals are organized ahead of time, so all you need to do is ride and fundraise.
For more information, see our website or, to make a donation, visit here.
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A Forest of Friends
By Russell King
TREE Fund president & CEO
Over the past couple of months, I've been traveling almost weekly to ISA chapter meetings. While the official purpose of these visits is to provide updates on the TREE Fund, their real value is in meeting the arborists we serve. I've given my talk, of course, but also attended planning meetings, group dinners, seminars, exhibits, raffles, auctions, and even a chainsaw throwing contest (pictured above).
Most importantly, I've been able to hang out with and learn about you. Because the pandemic arrived shortly after I joined the TREE Fund family, these meetings have been my first opportunity to meet most of you face-to-face, and it's been wonderful.
What impressed me most is your friendships. Yes, you welcomed me with warmth and wit, and I deeply appreciate that, but it's your bonds with each other that touched me. In state after state, I witnessed conferences of business competitors that looked more like enormous family reunions. I think that says a lot about you that's both heartwarming and important.
"There is nothing on this Earth to be more prized than true friendship."
--Saint Thomas Aquinas.
Our friendships--especially during times like these--are vital. Friends can
- help you celebrate good times;
- offer support during bad times;
- prevent isolation and loneliness;
- increase your sense of belonging and purpose;
- boost your happiness and reduce your stress;
- improve your self-confidence and self-worth; and
- help you cope with traumas, such as divorce, serious illness, job loss or the death of a loved one.
Friends also play a significant role in promoting our overall health. Adults with strong social connections have a reduced risk of many significant health problems, including depression and high blood pressure. Studies have found that older adults who have meaningful relationships and social support live longer than their peers with fewer connections.
So I stand and salute you. It looks like you're doing life right.
In my travels, I heard repeated what so many have told me via email, phone, and Zoom in the past couple of years: While the Tour des Trees does a lot of important things, friendship is its heart and soul. Riders return for 10, 15, even 20 or more tours because the friendships they make deeply enrich their lives. I've even learned that riders who can no longer ride the tour, vacation with the friends they made while riding in past tours.
When I contemplate that as I peer through the steam rising from my morning coffee, I find myself hoping you'll join us at this year's Tour des Trees. I'd like to shake your hand. Let's plant a new forest of friends.
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Free Webinars for 2022
The TREE Fund is proud to partner with the Alabama Cooperative Extension System to bring you free education offerings. We are now able to accommodate up to 3,000 participants!
The Cost-effectiveness of Integrated Vegetation Management
Tuesday, March 22 at noon (Central Time)
John Goodfellow, BioCompliance Consulting, Inc.
Enhancing the performance of urban storm water management schemes with tree selection: developing a new approach to accessing waterlogging tolerance of temperate trees
Tuesday, April 19 at noon (Central Time)
Andrew Hirons, PhD, University Centre Myerscough
Non-invasive tree root detection: What is the state of the art?
Tuesday, Nov. 1 at noon (Central Time)
Andrew Millward, PhD, and Justin Miron, PhD student, Ryerson University
Engaging underserved populations in community tree management activities
Tuesday, Dec. 6 at noon (Central Time)
Jason Gordon, PhD, University of Georgia Research Foundation, Inc.
The TREE Fund’s 1-hour webinars are free and offer 1.0 CEU credit for live broadcasts from the International Society of Arboriculture and the Society of American Foresters. Registration information becomes available on our website approximately one month before each webinar date.
Missed a webinar? Watch it anytime on our website.
CEU Credit for Recorded Webinar
TREE Fund now offers ISA CEU credits for one recorded webinar: "Loading of a Tie-in Point While Climbing." If you missed this webinar, you can now watch the recording and earn ISA CEU credits by completing a 20 question quiz with 80% accuracy. Learn more on our website.
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TREE Fund Achieves Highest Rating
For the third consecutive year, the TREE Fund has reached Guidestar's highest level of achievement for nonprofit transparency--the platinum award. GuideStar is the world's largest and most authoritative source of information on nonprofit organizations. Major donors tend to look to GuideStar as the “seal of approval” before making donations.
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THANK YOU
TREE Fund Crown Partners!
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TREE Fund
1755 Park St. Suite #200, Naperville, IL 60563
(630) 369-8300
treefund@treefund.org
www.treefund.org
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TREE Fund is a 501(C)3 nonprofit with a mission to explore and share the science of trees contributing to the lives of people, communities, economies, and the environment, and of the planning, planting, and sustainability of urban and community trees. |
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