eSprout |  January 2015
TACF Announces New Leadership in Lisa Thomson
The American Chestnut Foundation welcomes new leadership, along with a new year. Lisa Thomson has stepped into the role of President and CEO, as of this month. In early December, the Foundation's Board of Directors unanimously ratified the decision of its Executive Committee after a nation-wide search. "We are extremely pleased that Lisa Thomson is joining us as CEO," said Kim Steiner, Chairman of the Board of TACF. Read the full press release (PDF) . 
Fall Appeal Success! TACF Exceeded Campaign Goal by 70%!
Thanks to your generous support The American Chestnut Foundation exceeded the Fall Appeal goal of $100,000 by 75%!  We have received $175,000 to date! Your gifts further the important research and diligent work that is being conducted, not only at our Meadowview Research Farms, but across all four regional offices and sixteen state chapters. 
Thanks to everyone who makes this great work possible!
TACF Collaborates in $8 Million Grant with AMJV

The American Chestnut Foundation is pleased to announce its role in the Cerulean Warbler Appalachian Forestland Enhancement project coordinated by Appalachian Mountain Joint Venture (AMJV). This project was one of the 115 high-impact projects to receive more than $370 million in federal funding as part of the new USDA RCPP.  Read more about TACF's role in this exciting venture. 
Staff Update: Outcrossing of TACF Restoration Chestnut 1.0 trees
By Sara Fitzsimmons

Do you wonder what happens to TACF's Restoration Chestnuts 1.0 once they are released into the wild? There are a lot of unknowns regarding the future of American chestnut restoration. A common set of inquiries we receive at TACF deal with the issue of outcrossing to wild or planted chestnut trees already in the landscape. In this article Sara Fitzsimmons addresses your questions about chestnuts planted in the wild.
Quilt Trails of WNC Now Boasts Chestnut Restoration Block

TACF now proudly holds its own unique quilt block from the Quilt Trails of Western North Carolina, entitled "Chestnut Restoration." Carolinas chapter member K.O. Summerville generously donated this eye-catching artwork to be displayed in TACF's national office in Asheville. Artist Martin Webster created this custom design to help the viewer picture the ecological importance of the American chestnut within the forest community and the entirety of the native range. Read more about TACF's "Chestnut Restoration" quilt block.

The F2 hybrid seedlings in the Knox County seed orchard are primarily grown from controlled inter-crosses or hand pollinations of selected BC4s from the Tennessee chapter's back-cross orchards. Sam's orchard is more than 100 miles from the orchard at 
Do Good while You Shop! Use Amazon Smile! 
Did you know that when you shop at Amazon, a small portion of your purchases can be donated to TACF through AmazonSmile? It's an easy way to give back. When you register, Amazon will ask you to select your charity of choice (The American Chestnut Foundation). Amazon will then donate 0.5 % of the price of eligible purchases to TACF every time you shop. AmazonSmile offers the same products, same prices, and same great Amazon service. Get your charity shopping started today!
Calendar of Events
Feb. 2 / World Wetlands Day / All day

Feb. 6-7 / New Hampshire's Greatest Winter Fair / Radisson Hotel Manchester Downtown, St. Manchester, NH/ 9 am- 6 pm

Feb. 7 / Harmon Field Ceremonial Planting / Harmon Field, Tyron, NC / 11 am

Feb. 21 / "How the American Chestnut Acquired and Lost Foundation Species Status" presentation by Dr. John Scrivani / Bristol Public Library, Bristol, VA / 2 pm - 3pm

Feb. 28 / First meeting of the Southern Indiana Branch / Monroe County Public Library, Room 1C, 303 East Kirkwood Avenue, Bloomington, IN 47408 / 2 pm 

For all TACF events, visit http://www.acf.org/calendar.php 
The American Chestnut Foundation
50 North Merrimon Ave, Suite 115
Asheville, NC 28804
(828) 281-0047
               
The mission of The American Chestnut Foundation (TACF) is to restore the American chestnut tree to our eastern woodlands to benefit our environment, our wildlife, and our society.

 

TACF is a 501(c)3 conservation organization headquartered in Asheville, NC. To learn about TACF and its national breeding program, visit www.acf.org. To join the effort to restore the American chestnut tree, visit www.acf.org/join.php.