A Group That Plants Together Stays Together
By Sister Mary Ann Phelan
When John Mulholland came into my office at Mount St. Clare College in 1990 and asked me to help him begin a local chapter of Trees Forever I had no idea how involved I would become and how I would learn to look at trees with new eyes. Since I knew John from my teaching years at St. Patrick’s School I felt comfortable saying I would help, knowing little or nothing about trees.
In my opinion, Trees Forever was one of the best things that ever hit Clinton, Iowa. For 18 years a strong diverse group of dedicated volunteers, as members of Clinton Trees Forever have planted trees at all schools, the local hospital, every City Park, major thoroughfares, our Freedom Tree Site, all major nonprofit organizations (churches, etc.), and local habitat homes, totaling 57 tree planting projects in all. To help Alliant Energy promote energy conservation Clinton Trees Forever established a Residential Tree Program which provides trees at a subsidized cost to local home owners. Another major program is the Third Grade Project which each year allows all third graders in Clinton to learn about the importance and care of trees and to actually plant a seedling that they can take home.
Why is this organization successful? There for three primary reasons. First, Clinton Trees Forever is based on the statewide Trees Forever organization which gives it a sound fundamental structure and has provided funding from Alliant Energy Utility Company. Because of our identification with Trees Forever and the need for matching grant funds, we have been able to obtain other sources of funds for our projects such as gaming grants, DOT, the Car Dealer Association and various private and corporate foundations. Clinton Trees Forever has maintained beneficial and important communications with our local Alliant Energy Company. Also, Clinton Trees Forever members have taken advantage of Trees Forever educational opportunities and have enjoyed a beneficial relationship with the Trees Forever field coordinators.
Secondly, when John Mulholland founded the local Clinton Trees Forever he invited educators, nursery professionals, civic leaders, city workers, downtown association leaders, construction workers, industrial personnel, and other interested individuals. John was Clinton Superintendent of Parks at the time he started the group and that City of Clinton connection has proven to be most valuable. Over the years this group of volunteers has formed lasting bonds while “digging in the dirt” that makes each person willing to give many hours of work and time to our planning, planting and maintaining our tree projects. Making it fun, the group not only has monthly meetings but holds a couple of potluck meeting/dinners each year. It is also customary to meet for lunch after our work projects to discuss our progress. Through the years we have all become friends and formed a sort of “family.” We make our own education fun with monthly tree reports at the end of each meeting given by one member who reports on the tree of his/her choice.
And finally, from the beginning Clinton Trees Forever has maintained a comfortable but important organizational structure. The Articles of Incorporation and the 501 © 3 status were completed early on. Monthly meetings are held without exception which provides momentum to all of its activities. All members are involved to the degree they wish. We have formed subcommittees such as projects, maintenance, fund raising, etc. This not only makes our work effective but also streamlines our monthly meetings. Also, due to the diversity of the group and the importance of the projects many volunteers join to help with each planting project.
With all of our many projects it is hard to pick one which has had the most impact on the City of Clinton. However, because of the group’s efforts, our Riverfront has become a beautiful attraction. Clinton is blessed with one of the longest riverfront views along the Mississippi River. Clinton Trees Forever has planted hundreds of trees and created beautiful vistas all along our magnificent Riverfront to be enjoyed by many generations.
The Clinton community will always be grateful to Trees Forever for inspiring, promoting and assisting the development of the local Clinton Trees Forever organization.