The 2018 Rotary Challenge–All Rotarians Plant a Dogwood Tree

by Lori Haddock, Contributor

Rotary International President Ian Riseley issued a challenge for all Rotarians across the globe to plant a tree before Earth Day on April 22, 2018. Our own District Governor, Lloyd Navarro, also noted this as one of his personal goals for District 7690. To accomplish this goal, our district leadership met with Greensboro Beautiful (a div. of Guilford County Parks and Recreation Dept.), to discuss a joint project to plant trees in our local community.

Greensboro Beautiful invited us to become a part of their “2018 Dogwood Seedling Initiative.” This program provides all 5,000+ fifth grade students in Guilford County Schools with a dogwood seedling (our state tree) to grow and plant as part of their Science and Environment curriculum, and in celebration of Arbor Day 2018.  Rotary’s commitment to this initiative would be $2,500 in funding, plus volunteers to help with packaging seedlings/cups/soil, and delivery to local middle schools on 2/28 and 3/1/18. In addition to meeting our Rotary leadership’s tree-planting goal for 2017-18, we will also be improving our local environment, introducing Rotary to 5,000+ fifth graders, their teachers and parents, and providing Rotary brand recognition in our local community. It’s a win/win situation for everyone.

How can you help? WE NEED VOLUNTEERS – – AND FAST!  Greensboro Beautiful has asked for 25-35 Rotary volunteers for each day of the project (Wednesday, February 28 and Thursday, March 1st).  On February 28th, volunteers will meet to package seedlings, cups and soil. On March 1st, volunteers will deliver the kits to each of our local middle schools. Rotarians may volunteer based on their availability for one (or both) of these days. Below is a link to an online form to sign up for volunteering (either day). Please sign up yourself, and share with any others you feel may enjoy participating in this worthwhile project:

Dogwood Seedling Volunteer Signup