What a Great Season to be a Neighborhood Coordinator, You Should Consider Joining the TEAM!

Well it is sunny for once in Oregon and I’m glad it’s not too hot since I know the trees aren’t huge fans of 90 degree heat for multiple days. Although, that’s not the case for humans but you can’t have it all. Enough of the weather, I want to talk to you all about an exciting volunteer role that we are recruiting for here at Friends of Trees. We are looking for folks to jump into the role of Neighborhood Coordinator! But what does a Neighborhood Coordinator entail? Great question!

Here is a brief explanation of what the volunteer role might look for you: Together, NCs and Friends of Trees staff guide neighborhood plantings from beginning to end. No need to be an expert! Interested volunteers will be trained and supported throughout the planting that you will be coordinating. Together with staff, you will:

Help coordinate one neighborhood planting per year (November-April);
Respond to homeowner inquiries by email & phone;
Make phone calls to homeowners that have not ordered their tree(s) to help them make their decision;
Solicit pick-up trucks or open trailer pullers from neighbors;
Recruit additional volunteers (Takes quite a few volunteers for one planting);
Solicit food/monetary donations from the community for breakfast/lunch;
Set up/coordinate breakfast & lunch for the volunteers on planting day

This is just a brief snapshot of what the volunteer role could be for you! We need NCs in these neighborhoods below:

Here are a few pictures that illustrate the results of what NCs accomplish:

*Volunteers checking in the morning of a Neighborhood Trees planting*

*Folks unloading trees to be planted by happy volunteers*

Tree in the ground with the support of smiley volunteers

Volunteers enjoying the potluck lunch after the planting…hard work pays off!

If you know of anyone interested in the role (or yourself) and happen to be in a neighborhood listed in the table above please send them our way, share this blog with them, and cross your fingers that they sign up for the role with our handy registration form. REMEMBER, the best way to share volunteer opportunities is still through word of mouth (or text since that’s how folks seem to communicate nowadays).

Hope you continue to have a great Summer and kudos to you for making it through this detailed blog post!!

Pablo Brito is the Volunteer & Outreach Specialist for Friends of Trees