In the early stages of my career, I took a job as a landscaping crew leader on one of the resort islands near Charleston. On my third day, my supervisor pulled me aside and said, “Look, your work is great but don’t share your personal philosophies and don’t rock the boat.” At that point, I had not conversed with anyone about anything but pittosporum and pine trees so I was a little shocked at the admonition. I can only speculate that someone else who worked on the island had heard of my advocacy of some issues in an earlier decade. The take away message here is that people remember when you advocate.
Advocacy can take many forms and advocacy for community forestry is no different. Whether in casual conversation you mention to your coworker all of the reasons you decided to plant a tree on your property, or if you actively promote proper tree planting and care, you are an advocate. Most of us have, at least, one opportunity a day to champion the cause of urban forestry. Program that thought into your brain’s “tickler file” and don’t be shy about seizing an opportunity when it arises.
I was pleased to see so many of you at our extraordinary annual conference in October. Several times during the breaks I took the time to “tree-people” watch. All of you were engaged; talking with each other and learning from each other. It was a great scene- advocates engaged! I took information from one conversation I had and from one speaker, and introduced those concepts at a major streetscaspe meeting I attended the following Monday. Education, Advocacy and Networking is how we say we will accomplish our mission to “Foster the stewardship of urban and community forests.” It was all there at the conference.
I sincerely thank you for allowing me to be your president this year. It has been a privilege and, quite frankly, a lot of fun. We’ve experienced some changes (becoming Trees SC and hiring an executive director among others). But what strikes me most is that our core values have not changed since our beginning 20 years ago. We are a grass roots organization dedicated to connecting people and trees.

Your outgoing president,
Danny