An Earth Day Assignment: Donations for Trees

My cousin just kindly reminded me that today is Earth Day (of course, so did Google, with it's very cute interactive logo - in Canada, you can make the panda laugh and the salmon swim up the stream before it gets eaten by the grizzly bear).

His ulterior motive for the reminder: He wants to donate, but doesn't know where to begin. The criteria: an organization that takes donations with a low overhead percentage; an organization that will plant a tree for donations.

I told him I'd take up the hunt, since it fits my blog theme and purpose, and I'd also share my process, in the proverbial teaching-a-man-to-fish way.

1. First, there's always Google. American Forests allows donations to plant trees where they are needed most, and for specific causes (see the drop-down menu). According to the second option, every dollar donated plants one tree. Each option has a brief description of the project. Their 2007 report, found here, states that they give grants to 35 partners to restore forest ecosystems by planting millions of trees. They do other neat things, too, but my guess would be the "tree donation" money goes to the grants. So not only do you know that your money is going to tree-planting, you know specifically for which project the tree will be planted. If you're worried about your rights as a donor, look here for their Donor Bill of Rights.

2. Here's another option (that doesn't necessarily fit the criteria but might be interesting nonetheless): Volunteer to plant trees in your area. Like Denver. If you plant a tree by yourself, instead of with the Mile High Million (see previous link), you can still register your tree, and make it count towards the million trees that make up the organization's goal. An organization that includes tree planting as part of a different range of activities is Boulder Mountainbike Alliance.

3. Googling a "city" with "tree planting charities" leads to an interesting notion - look up charities in the local yellow pages or online equivalent, and contact a local tree-planting organization. I know Washington, D.C. hosts an organization called Casey Trees, where volunteers plant trees in the city, to restore the city's tree canopy. They gratefully accept donations, and although unlike American Forests, do not plant specific trees for your donation, you will know that your money supports tree-planting. You can also donate a large amount ($550) to have a commemorative tree planted specially.

In Canada, you can donate to Tree Canada, where you can designate which program you want your money to assist, and Trees Ontario, where your donation will support the tree-planting infrastructure. With the second, your money may not be used specifically for planting a tree, but you'll know you're supporting tree-planting in general, and it won't be difficult to imagine that special tree your money planted.

To conclude, the first option is probably easiest, with the others requiring slightly more investigation and hands-on action, but they're all viable options for donating trees and money for tree-planting. It should go without saying that the closer you are to the tree-planting or the organization that is doing the planting, the more input and feedback you'll have about what your money achieved.

Party like it's... 1413? Happy Anniversary, St Andrews!

Last night the St Andrews Alumni Club of Toronto hosted the Principal and Vice Chancellor of St Andrews University, Louise Richardson, for a black-tie dinner at the Royal York in celebration of the 600th anniversary of the university.

Aside from a few minor glitches, and in planning anything, there will always be one or two, the event went off without a hitch. Approximately 85 guests showed up, everyone dressed snazzily, and mingled with refreshments before the dining room opened. I spent most of this time handing out name cards and answering the question, "where is the coat room?"

If I had a digital camera, this post would include pictures, but sadly, such is not the case.

At any rate, we sat down to dinner with a slide show of Googled images of St Andrews (and Kate Middleton posing in her underwear - a picture that just sold for an obscene amount of money in London) and beautiful live harp music in the background. The salad was the best part of the dinner, except for the rolls. Having worked a few weddings last summer, I wasn't really surprised.

Between the main course and dessert, Doug Gibson traveled around the room with a mic, gathering stories from anyone interested in sharing their St Andrews experiences with the rest of the room. The first speaker was a woman who graduated in 1944!!

After dinner Louise Richardson addressed the guests, and did a wonderful job. I was very impressed with what she had to say and with her plans for the university. I hope she achieves the things she's set out to do. Recent graduates might be interested to know that the new library project had to be scrapped due to little to no financial support from the government, and instead the less-costly renovation plans have focused on increasing seating ... and books. The university has bought land out by Guardbridge in order to house graduate students and unused library stores, among other things - and I believe some of that acreage has been earmarked for a bio-mass plant. She mentioned other interesting projects, but sadly I didn't take notes and can't remember any more. She fielded several questions about tuition (no mention of the outrageous hikes in England), the library, student demographics, and the Prince and soon-to-be-Princess's visit to the campus last month. Apparently the couple has fond memories of their experiences there. Who doesn't, I would like to know?

Which reminds me. Of course the biggest piece of news surrounding the university at this time is not, as you might think (but you probably know better), the university's anniversary, but rather the university's status as top matchmaking university in the [world]. Taking advantage of this were GlobalTV, who attended the event in order to interview any guests who met and fell in love with their partners while at St Andrews. Somewhat unflatteringly, the Principal and Vice Chancellor gave half the credit for this status to "isolation." Hmm. Making the best of a small selection, perhaps? I kid.

Door prizes were awarded, I stood up to be acknowledged for my role in the planning of the event, and walked home with the centerpiece, a small bush of Scottish heather - but that completes the surfeit of interesting news about the event.

Sugar High

It's more like a Sugar Crash at this point, but I still remember the giddiness of the high! The library just had a special event that was all about cupcakes. Just cupcakes! I had three. I needed to celebrate turning in four essays in the past week. (Rationalization is key to living a guilt-free life... sometimes).

Having turned in those essays, I have a few days to relax. Not everything this past week was about the essays, though. I've been doing a lot of volunteering and projects with the alumni club and the library.

Yesterday I finally got my first look at the rare books in the library! I wrote useful (I hope they're useful) notes about them, such as their condition, the binding, whether or not anybody had written marginalia in them... Fun stuff, really. Nerdy stuff, too, I guess.

Because I have a big mouth (read: I love sharing and talking about the exciting things I'm doing), I also orientated a friend today, who will be helping me out with the rare books project now, and probably doing some reference desk seat-warming, as well. While I was demonstrating website functions and other such important details, we decided to have another look at the rare books, and pick one out that we thought a likely candidate for some special treatment. Found one in a box that said "fragile" or words to that effect, and, opening it, discovered a text from 1854 (I can't remember the subject) with marginalia. Marginalia! My new obsession. Okay, so there weren't a lot of notes, but the front cover and first blank page did contain a note from the editor to the recipient, who happened to be the editor's father-in-law, or some other in-law, as well as a mark of ownership. Thrilling.

Don't Ask Me to Juggle

By now you know all about my extra-curricular activities, which mostly involve volunteering at fun places, and you're quite possibly also aware that I really am gaining valuable (and fun!) learning and work experience while volunteering.

I'm enjoying those activities (and the soccer games and swim appointments) so much, in fact, that I would much rather concentrate on them, than on my schooling. Which is when I start barely-catching that blue-colored ball that has "essays" written all over it. If I hadn't already decided that I'm in school for more than the marks I receive on essays and exams, I'd be feeling pretty low right about now. For the first time in my life (yes, I've been privileged) I'm paying my own insanely expensive tuition fees, and to not be taking advantage of all the, err, advantages of being at school, well... you can see where I'm going.

So it's a good thing I'm also doing my best to make connections, to network, and to build up my work experience. By juggling the bright, orange and green balls labeled "Hart House Library" and "event planning." Also known as procrastination. Which is, in fact, what I'm doing right now, instead of pulling together my notes for one of the two essays due on Monday.

Volunteering Update

Today at Hart House was incredibly busy. Unfortunately, not all of the busywork qualifies as truly productive. I spent the first half of my two hours fighting with Zotero, trying to figure out how to share my library with the Library's library. In the end, I won the fight, but it's frustrating to spend time fussing with technology when I could be cataloging books or hiding them away (that might give you the wrong impression: keep reading for a more detailed description of "hiding them away").

The curator, who tried helping me with my Zotero issues, also asked me to put certain books in a cabinet, in preparation for a forthcoming display in front of the library doors. Evidently the collection includes a host of plays and other drama works donated by the family that brought this library into being in the first half of the twentieth century. So I tripped down to the Hub, or the Information center downstairs, to exchange my life, my ID and other details for a "Harry Potter" key. Never underestimate the pleasure of using an antique key, to open whatever. It's so much more fun than using modern keys!

Also had my first ever interaction with a patron at this library. Not that I was really needed, but sometimes I like to feel helpful, as well as useful.

Before I go, I think I'll add one more un-catalogued book to the short list I've been trying diligently to create.

In future, I hope to finally get started on the rare books project (identifying which are rare, which are not) and possibly train a friend to volunteer! Turns out this volunteering thing has been a much more lucrative and rewarding experience than I anticipated, and I've only worked four shifts!

That's all for now.

Best. Saturday. Lunch. EVAR!

I might have mentioned I'm on a party-planning subcommittee for the Toronto St Andrews Alumni Club. If I haven't, consider it mentioned.

I'm still thinking it might have been a rash decision, but I'm sure it was also a "right" decision. As in, the right decision. Not only do I get to experience the ins and outs of planning a black-tie affair, but I get to go to said black-tie affair, and it turns out I get to attend free Saturday lunches - with menus that include white wine (who else loves pairing white wine and lunch? Raise your hand.), quiche lorraine, turkey t-something-French (made of ground turkey and what tasted like cloves, in pie pastry. mmmmm), salad, beets, fruit and shortbread. Being a grad student, I never eat as well as this! So I told my hosts I'd be happy to make it a weekly event. (Yes, I was joking).

It turns out that I'm responsible for online ticketing liaising, and I get to attend meetings with the hotel's (the black-tie affair is being held at the Royal York) party planning representative, among no doubt various other little things.

The catch? I also have to write four papers in the next two weeks. Ask me how many of those I've started. Wait. Don't.

Notes on Libraries

Recently, I started volunteering at one of the university's public libraries, in Hart House. A little confusing, that description: to clarify, it's a university-affiliated library that is open to the public.

Two hours a week isn't much time, but I have already remembered how soothing re-shelving, straightening, and re-organizing books can be. In addition, the library itself (atmosphere, architecture, temperature) helps refresh my attitude and de-stress. For those who have never been, this is where I volunteer:

I've just realized I never put up an image of where I had class last semester - another beautiful library at U of T. Belatedly, here's an image of the Fisher: 

To get back to this library, it's kind of a hidden spot where many come to nap, study and read. 

I wouldn't want you to think that all library work is re-shelving, organizing and straightening, though. I've been given several projects that are much more interesting, if not as relaxing. I've the opportunity to practice my newly-learned cataloging skills, and to work with rare books (determining whether or not they're rare, and if so, deaccessioning them and sending them to the Fisher above. It's all very exciting. 

I just spent a half an hour reading a section of a book I never would have picked up, had it not been waiting for classification and cataloging, and which I fully intend to investigate further. Enter contentment.

Burns Night Supper

To sum up the last few weeks, I've been getting back into the swing of grad school, and avoiding reading, studying and writing. They haven't been very productive weeks...

But that's not what this post is about. This is another post about the wonderful people of the St Andrews Alumni Club in Toronto. And Robbie Burns Night.

Last night was Robbie Burns night. And the first time I'd celebrated the "holiday" since I was a young, impressionable first-year at university. At the time, I had no idea what I was getting into, when I was volunteered to stab the haggis after the reading of "Address to a Haggis." Last night, one of the alumni demonstrated the talent it takes to do it properly. A friend of mine has a video - I'll see if I can't get him to send it to me so I can add it later.

The haggis was delicious, the neeps and tatties, too; the company delightful, and the AGM short and witty. I somewhat rashly volunteered to help prepare for a high-profile dinner and event happening in March. This should light a fire under me to get started and finished with my work, but I've a feeling the influence of the cold, snowy winter weather is just too strong...

Speaking of which, I should get back to it. (Work, that is, not winter.)

Giving Life

I gave life today. And no, not in the pregnant/giving birth sort of way. Not that. By "Give Life" I mean the (new?) ad campaign the Red Cross is using for donating blood.

It was my first time. So I worried a lot beforehand, because I do that about things I don't know/understand. I like to know the procedures before I actually commit. Kind of like my sister when she was a toddler or a little older, who freaked out at the hospital until the doctor told her he was going to stitch her forehead back together. Once she knew what was going to happen, she calmed down and even helped strap herself to the cot.

Lots of friendly people at the donation site. The health history part was amusing because the ... volunteer? medic? helping me kept cracking jokes through his stuffed up nose. "Where is your blood pressure?" (how does one answer that question?) Oh and my favorite: "Can I just see your other arm to make sure you're not shooting drugs".

The whole watching-your-blood-drain-out-of-your-arm-into-a-plastic-bag is very surreal. But aside from the needle prick and the pressure from the arm band, not too unpleasant. I didn't get a blanket though. Good thing I had my puffer vest on, otherwise that would have been a problem. It didn't take very long to actually bleed a pint of blood, though the whole process took me two hours.

At the end, they practically pushed orange juice into my hand, told me to sit and wait for fifteen minutes, which I had trouble doing, because I was anxious to find out if they were still offering Caps tickets. Which I totally scored. WOOT! Double the reward. Oh, I almost forgot about my Peter Bondra bobblehead. He's cute. He even came with a hockey stick. The guy in front of me chose an autographed bobblehead instead of the tickets. Silly man. What's an autograph to the game?

Went to the pub to watch the Caps defeat the Bruins in OT in Boston this afternoon. Though we're still behind them in the Eastern Conference, and Jersey's coming up fast, I see a glass half full.

But enough random rambling.

Dear Readers,

I know I've been absent for awhile. I thought I'd research for the next post I wrote, but have definitely not been motivated. Instead, I've been getting stuck into researching my family history. Luckily for me, through the Navy, I have free access to some websites that have US Federal Census records, as well as Draft Registration records from World War I ... it really is fascinating. I'm so interested, I'm re-thinking that thought I had about not being an historian when I grow up.

Autumn is definitely my favorite season of the year, but I just re-discovered the reason I don't like running in cold weather: the cold air burns the throat, and causes congestion to loosen. I survived, though, and even had a great, challenging run. The trees are beautiful in their red and orange and yellow coats, and my feet make soothing noises as they tread on the trees' lost leaves.

The greenest news I have is that I planted trees again this past Saturday, with Casey Trees and some very lovely people. I enjoy it so much that it doesn't really matter that I have to get up at 7am on a Saturday morning, or take public transportation and walk to the site, which involved an hour each way last weekend. I think I might become a Citizen Forester, which is a person who knows enough to lead groups in the planting of trees. Apparently there's no commitment - they give you the training, and then they shoot you an email, "if you'd like to come out this Saturday..." which is my kind of commitment!

I'll work on that interesting topic I've been meaning to discuss.

That is all,
Your lazy blogger.

P.S. Another great man who feels the way I do: "Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about the things that matter." - Martin Luther King, Jr.

Environmental Do-Gooding

I planted my first tree today! Got up before the sun, made my way to DC to work with Casey Trees, an organization that helps restore the urban tree canopy. Good thing they had coffee, and even though I arrived early, I didn't have to wait long for a hot cup. Styrofoam-ish, but what can you do. I hope eventually the improvements I make by helping to plant trees outweighs the styrofoam cups I've used. Though next time I may bring my own mug.

Our tree was perfect. Well, nearly. Straight, but with a slightly crooked trunk, nearly deep enough in the ground. We had to deal with massive root systems left behind by ground cover and an earlier generation of trees. Lifted out a root-and-dirt carpet about 5 inches deep at one point. The trees our team planted were sugar gum, which I'd never heard of before, but they're quite pretty with star-shaped leaves and closely resemble the maples that we were replacing.

I learned how to use a pick-ax. Not sure I'm entirely comfortable with them, but they're not difficult. Just want to be careful not to puncture anyone. Could cause a nasty wound.

Got dirty and looked like a vagabond on the Metro ride home, and didn't feel the cold for at least an hour, we were working so hard. That's the first time in a long time I've had a chance to play in the dirt. All for a charitable cause, too. Can it get any better?

In the end, I can't write enough positive things about this new experience. Furthermore, I'm proud of having accomplished something as unique as planting a tree. What a great and productive way to spend a Saturday morning. Probably this is something I'll do more than just the once.

Before I sign off, a nod to Tyler Sloan, who tonight scored his first NHL goal while playing for the Caps in Dallas. Let's Go Caps!