Trees, Water & People Fall 2010 Newsletter

8/8/2019 Trees, Water & People Fall 2010 Newsletter

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in this issue

Sargent Shriver Award..............1

Letter From the Board..............2

Wind Turbine Training..............3

Tribal Lands Program............3,6

Hurricane Agatha Update.......4

International Program..........4-5

Volunteer Spotlight...................7

Creating Wetlands.....................7

Wafes Plant a Forest...............8

Your True Nature.......................9

Printed on recycled paper with vegetable-based ink

Forests ForeverThe Newsletter of Trees, Water & Peop

Fall

2010

TWP Co-founder STuarT ConWay

WinS SargenT Shriver aWard

By Heather Herrell, Development Director

On June 25, 2010, Stuart Conway, Co-founder and International Direof Trees, Water & People (TWP), was honored in Washington D.C. wthe 2010 Sargent Shriver Award for Distinguished HumanitaService. The prestigious award was presented by the National Peace CoAssociation (NPCA), the nation’s leading nonprot organization suppor

Returned Peace Corps Volunteers (RPCV) and the Peace Corps commuStuart is a proud RPCV who served in Guatemala for three years asExtension Agent and Trainer for the Conservation of Natural ResouProgram.

“We are excited to hoStuart Conway for untiring conservaefforts on behalf communities worldwisaid Kevin Quig

president of the NP“His commitment is innest tradition of PeCorps Volunteers sincedays of Sargent Shrive

The Shriver Award is gby NPCA each year toRPCV who continuesmake a sustained

distinguished contribution to humanitarian causes at home or abroad, an innovative social entrepreneur whose actions will bring about signilong-term change. The award is named after the tremendous contributof the rst Peace Corps Director, Sargent Shriver, in the founding development of the Peace Corps.

“The innovative efforts of Stuart Conway help further the mission of Peace Corps and help to bring attention to the enormous contributiVolunteers make during and after service at home and abroad,” aQuigley. “We are pleased to recognize his efforts with this award.”

Congratulations, Stuart!

Stuart Conway (R) with Guatemalan partnersand TWP Board Member Patrick Flynn (L)



Dear Friends of Trees, Water & People,

Ten years ago, I happenedupon Stuart Conway and hiswife, Jenny Bramhall, at ourneighborhood pond. Recentarrivals from WashingtonD.C., they were eager to makenew friends for their edglingnonprot, Trees, Water & People(TWP). They realized that their reforestation effin Central America would go up in smoke unsomeone gured out how to burn less rewooddaily cooking.

In response, TWP developed the fuel-efcient Jstove to ght deforestation on two fronts: in the foand in the home. I was hooked - particularly by simplicity of the improved stove project which bringing signicant health and economic benetfamilies. I decided right then to hitch my wagonStuart and Jenny’s star.

A decade later, I am Secretary to the TWP BoardDirectors and thrilled to see the seeds we plantethe 90’s have come to fruition! I have realized som

my fondest dreams by vicariously planting forests being a part of the TWP family. We are respondto some of the most critical issues of our time wour efforts to reduce global climate change and hpeople in need. It’s so simple! Won’t you please us today?

Adele DinsmoreSecretary to the TWP Board of Directors

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TreeS, WaTer & PeoPle

TreeS, WaTer & PeoPle neWSleTTer - fall 2010

general informaTion

Board of direCTorS

President - Jon Becker

Vice President - Jim VolpaTreasurer - Kevin ShawSecretary - Adele DinsmoreMembers - Jenny Bramhall, Gerry Conway Jr., LauraDavis, Patrick Flynn, Jeremy Foster, Kathy CosgoveGreen, Mona Newton, Garth Rogers

STaff

Stuart Conway - International DirectorRichard Fox - National DirectorSebastian Africano - Deputy Intl. DirectorClaudia Menendez - Intl. Program CoordinatorLiz Sunderland - Tribal Lands CoordinatorHeather Herrell - Development DirectorDiane Vella - Finance DirectorLacey Gaechter - Local Engagement ManagerAmanda Haggerty - Data & Mailings ManagerCarol Johnson - Major Donor ManagerMegan Maiolo - Social Marketing Coordinator

Program ParTnerS

AMURTMarlyng Buitrago - PROLEÑA, Nicaragua

Armando Hernandez - AAP, El SalvadorVahid Jahangiri - International Lifeline FundLeonel Jarquín - GuatemalaIgnacio Osorto - AHDESA, HondurasHenry Red Cloud - Lakota Solar Enterprises, SDJohn Giordanengo - Wildlands RestorationVolunteers, CO

ConSulTanTS and inTernS

Aprovecho Research CenterKorie Burroughs – Intl. Development Intern

Catherine Helin – Tribal Development InternChristy Proulx – Marketing InternDavid Taft – International InternTia Thompson – Tribal Development InternMelissa Web – Intl. Development InternZach Vander Meeden – Marketing Intern

Trees, Water & People633 Remington StT Fort Collins, COT 80524877-606-4TWPT www.treeswaterpeople.org

When you donate to Trees, Water & People you can becondent that your hard earned money is used responsi

to bring about real, sustainable change.



3

Helping people and the planet

TriBal landS Program

firST Wind energy Training SeSSion

By Liz Sunderland, Tribal Lands Coordinator

Participants in the Introduction to Small Wind Turbines, three-day workshop held in early July, took apartnd then rebuilt the SkyStream 3.7 , a 2-kilowatt grid-ied turbine located at the Red Cloud Renewable

Energy Center (RCREC). Besides gaining hands-onexperience installing the turbine, trainees covered the

basic principles of residential and community-scalewind turbines, and practiced using remote-readingoftware to analyze the turbine’s electricity output.

We were especially happy that four “Solar Warriors”rom the Cheyenne River Reservation – who

previously completed a ten-day course on solarheating at RCREC – were able to return and add windenergy to their renewable energy skill set!

henry r ed Cloud r eCognized fo

r eneWaBle energy advoCaCy

Trees, Water & People’s partner, Henry Red Clowas honored by the Nuclear-Free Future Aw(NFFA) for his efforts to bring clean, renewaenergy to tribal lands. Since 1998, NFFA has honoand facilitated the ongoing work of individuals initiatives struggling to bring an end to the “NucAge.” An independent nonprot group basedGermany, NFFA works closely with the AlternaNobel Prize and has been called by Berlin newspaTaz , “the most important anti-nuke award in

world.” Henry received his Special Recognition awon September 30 during a public event at New YCity’s historic Cooper Union.

Henry’s work was also recognized at the InterstRenewable Energy Council’s (IREC) annual meein Los Angeles on October 11. Henry’s succeseffort to bring green jobs and solar heating to GPlains tribes through Department of Interior fundwas honored in the category of “American Recovand Reinvestment Act (ARRA) Projects.”

Congratulations, Henry!

Trainees raise the SkyStream wind turbine as part of workshop at RCREC

Henry Red Cloud sings at the 2010 Nuclear-FreFuture Award Ceremony



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inTernaTional Program

SToveS K eeP on CooKing

By Claudia Menendez, Intl. Program Coordinator

t’s always inspiring to receive good news from the

eld. In July, Arboles y Agua para el Pueblo (AAP) inEl Salvador did a follow-up visit to the community of ElCoco, where Trees, Water & People (TWP) rst beganworking, to check on the condition of their Justa stoves.Doña Hilda, AAP stove promoter, visited ve householdswith stoves ranging from seven - nine years old. Twentypercent were in good condition without any repairs.The other eighty percent had the griddles replacedonly once after four - ve years of daily use and are stillperforming to the cook’s needs and expectations. Trees,Water & People would like to congratulate AAP for a

ob well done!

hurriCane agaTha uPdaTe

The hurricane season this year has had no mercy onGuatemala, and there is still fear of what may come.n June, Hurricane Agatha pummeled the countryand left its mark. A gaping sinkhole 18 meters wideand 100 meters deep opened up in the middle of aneighborhood in Guatemala City. Roads were washedout, bridges collapsed, and thousands of homes andarmlands in Tiquisate were inundated leaving many

homeless. Collaborating with Leonel Jarquín, Mayor of Tiquisate, Trees, Water & People (TWP) assisted 2,915amilies with emergency food baskets that included corn

our, oil, beans, rice, sugar, salt, juice, and water. MaJarquín visited nine communities to deliver food examine the gravity of the situation. The food shortwill be most pronounced in the coming monthsmany crops were lost in the massive ooding. After

destructive rainy season, Mayor Leonel and team have a tremendous task before them replanting fruit trees that were damaged.

arT BringS aWareneSS for hai

On Saturday, September 25th Denver’s EventGa910Arts hosted the Haitian Awareness Panel. Colororganizations working in Haiti including Trees, W& People, Colorado Haiti Project, Renewal 4 HThe Lambi Fund, Wish for Haiti, and Lespwa (Ho

Haiti gathered to discuss reconstruction efforts athe devastating earthquake. The event is a precuto an exhibition of Haitian art scheduled for May 2The exhibit will feature photographs by Ray Tolliand Colby Brown of Lespwa Haiti, showcasing the wof several non-governmental organizations, includTrees, Water & People. The photographs show struggles and the spirit of the Haitian people and be previewed at www.lespwahaiti.com.

Justa stove burning strong after seven years

Rocket Stove photo by Ray Tollison



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inTernaTional Program

aPProPriaTe TeChnology ConServeS niCaraguan foreSTS

By Claudia Menendez, Intl. Program Coordinator

PROLEÑA continues to be a leader for biomass relatedesearch and development in Nicaragua. In June,

PROLEÑA completed two research studies funded byhe World Bank and the Nicaraguan Minister of Energynd Mines. One study evaluated charcoal production

methods and improved stove designs for use on theCaribbean coast of the country. The trials comparedraditional and improved methods for making charcoalo demonstrate how charcoal yields and safety increase

by using the dome charcoal kiln. The second study testedlternative fuel blowers for kilns to reduce rewood usedn ceramic production. PROLEÑA’s prototype bloweruses agricultural waste with wood fuel and can reducerewood use by up to 80%. Although both studies had

positive results, PROLEÑA has not yet secured fundingor these projects.

Trees, Water & People’s international team is workingo connect PROLEÑA with our Haiti initiatives for a

South-South partner training. Sharing PROLEÑA’s newdevelopments for alternative fuels and improved stovedesigns with ceramic producers in Haiti will reducedependency on scarce rewood resources there.

more SuCCeSS for ahdeSa

By Sebastian Africano, Deputy International Director

After building 3,200 Justa stoves in the rst quarte2010, the Honduran Association of Developm(AHDESA) and Trees, Water & People (TWP) are propo

the creation of ve regional improved stove factorieHonduras. These new stove factories will target torproducers, traditional cooks, candy producers, bakers, all of whom dedicate a large portion of trevenues to purchasing fuel. Stoves tested in severathese business types have recorded reductions in use by 40% - 80%, lowering annual fuel expenditurehundreds, if not thousands, of dollars.

In addition to new stove factory project, TWP AHDESA have submitted a proposal to the Energy Environment Partnership with Central America (Aliaen Energía y Ambiente: AEA) for the construction ofuel-efcient ceramics kilns for indigenous potterOlancho, Honduras. This $65,000 project will buildthe successes of a similar AEA pilot project involvfuel-efcient kilns just south of Tegucigalpa in Ojojlast year.

The AHDESA team posing for a photo

Women cooking tortillas on their Ecostove



6


TriBal landS Program

TWP’S firST laKoTa advenTure

n September Trees, Water & People (TWP) hosted therst Lakota Adventure – a close-up view of our Tribalands Renewable Energy Program on the Pine Ridgend Rosebud Reservations in South Dakota. Our six

participants came from Ontario, Berlin, Massachusetts,linois and Colorado. They joined TWP’s National

Director Richard Fox, staff members Liz Sunderland nd Lacey Gaechter, and intern Tia Thompson for a

week-long exploration of Lakota history and culture.articipants were hosted by Henry Red Cloud at the

Red Cloud Renewable Energy Center (RCREC) onine Ridge. Highlights of the week included installingnew solar heating system for Chief Oliver Red Cloud,

watching the dancers’ Grand Entry at a local Pow Wow,nd meeting with inuential members of the Oglalaakota Tribe.

Adventurers also toured neighboring RoseReservation, home of the Sicanyu Lakota, with lguide Ronald Neiss and spent a day in the Badlawith wildlife biologist Richard Sherman.

Special thanks to Bill Hundley of Hundley’s GourmCatering (Fort Collins, CO) for providing exceptiomeals and to our Lakota guides and friends for shatheir lives and wisdom: Leonard Little Finger, LawreSwallow, Bernard Cuny, The Little Thunder Family, He

Avery, Silas and Timothy Red Cloud, Keva Herman, RonNeiss, Maria Iyotte, and Richard Sherman.Group shot at the RCREC campground

Hiking in Badlands National Park

Rosie Little Thunder shows Barbara one of her quilHer sewing machine sits next to the hot air vent

from her LSE solar heater.

“For me, the Lakota Adventurewas a journey of the heart and of the mind. It combined practical questions with newideas, while respecting the moresof the Lakota culture.”

-Lakota Adventure participant and TWP BoardMember, Gerry Conway, Jr.



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TWP in The CommuniTy


ParTnerShiP CreaTeS WeTland

By Lacey Gaechter, Local Engagement Manager

This planting season, Trees, Water & Peoppartnership with the Wildlands RestoratVolunteers (WRV) budded to include ve projePictured is a group of children helping to estabnative wetland plants at our August 21 WetlDemonstration project at the Gardens at Spring Cran outdoor horticultural and ecological educafacility in Fort Collins. With WRV and Trees, WatePeople volunteers and tools, we expanded an exiswetland and created an educational boardwalk.

wetland will not only provide additional habitatwildlife, but will just as critically serve as an exameducating children and the general public asthe importance of these ecosystems in all our liThanks to the Wildlands Restoration Volunteersthe tremendous amount of planning and preparathat went into the Wetland Demonstration!

volunTeer SPoTlighT

By Lacey Gaechter,

ocal Engagement Manager

Did you know that volunteersdonate over 1,500 hours to Trees,Water & People (TWP) each year?n a very real sense, we couldnot accomplish what we do without the more than100 people who contribute their time and talentnnually, helping with everything from planting treeso stufng envelopes and grant writing. One of these

outstanding individuals, Christy Proulx, approachedus as a volunteer in 2008 and, when she graduatedrom Colorado State University in May of this year,he transitioned to a Marketing Intern, donating

even more of her time. In addition to the day-to-day assistance Christy provides, we owe her innitehanks for the many large projects of which she has

been an integral part: our 2008 Annual Report, ourorganizational brochure, countless updates andmaintenance of our website, and most especially theingle-handed creation of theLakota Solar Enterprise

website (www.lakotasolarenterprises.com). Christy’sbilities and generosity constantly amaze us all, and

we cannot thank her enough!

Volunteers plant wetland grasses

K eeP uP WiTh

TreeS, WaTer & PeoPle!

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and our blog!



maKing a differenCe 8


WaffleS PlanT a foreST

By Carol Johnson, Major Donor Manager

Stacey Baumgarn met Mike Ray while attending

ollege in 1988 and they quickly became friends. Later,each moved to Fort Collins where they lived across thetreet from one another. Tragically, on September 10,

1999 at the age of 29, Mike Ray’s life was taken.

n the year following Mike’s murder, Stacey and hiswife, Jennifer Davey, had the idea of bringing friends,amily, and community together for an annual Wafe

Feed to celebrate and remember the rich spirit of Mike’sriendship. While the Wafe Feed is free and open to all,

participants are asked to contribute $1 to plant a tree

s a memorial to Mike. To date, over 900 people haveplanted more than 6,500 trees in the Mike Ray Memorialorest in communities near the Magdalena Protectedrea of El Salvador.

While remembering Mike was the original motivationor the Wafe Feed, rekindling long-held friendships,

making new friends, and building community are nowhe focus. By bringing people together, Mike’s spiritves on in the trees.

You too can memorialize a loved one by starting amemorial forest. Please contact [email protected] for more information.

Program SProuTS from

ParTnerShiP

Ilan Shamir has been a generousdonor to Trees, Water & People(TWP) since 1998. His creativityand vision have generated$100,000 in gifts to plant trees.

Ilan founded Your True Nature (www.yourtruenature.com) sellingelectronic and paper greetingcards, books, T-shirts, bookmarks, and posters. shared his idea of planting trees to replace those ufor paper with TWP, and in 2001 the 100% Replanprogram was created (www.replanttrees.org).

Your True Nature replaces trees used from comppaper and products by donating through the 10Replanted program. Additionally, customers purchase Your True Nature greeting cards, which inclthe cost of planting a tree with TWP.

Ilan’s great idea has helped to plant more than 100trees in El Salvador. The collaboration has resulted115 individual and business donors to the progrSeveral companies have adopted a 100% Replan

philosophy to replant trees from company paper including Allegro Coffee, Books of Discovery, Healing Path, Local Living Economy Project, LucuDesigns, Wabi-Ware, and Wood Joiners.

Thank you, Ilan, for inspiring people to live in harmwith the earth!

Join The greaT oaK legaCy CirCle

In your estate plan, name TWP:

As a beneciary of your insurance policy,•retirement plan, or a bank or stock account“Payable on Death.”

In your will with a certain dollar amount, a parce•of real estate, stocks, bonds, or other assets, orwith a specic percentage of your estate.

Trees, Water & People, Employer ID 84-146204

Mike Ray

Documents

Trees, Water & People Fall 2010 Newsletter