eSprout |  August 2016
Remembering Mary Belle Price
TACF's American Chestnut Champion
The American Chestnut Foundation mourns the loss of Honorary Director Mary Belle Young Price. Mary Belle was one of the Foundations most beloved and enthusiastic supporters. She will be dearly missed by all who had the privilege of knowing her. 

"She was energetic, sharp as a tack, and had a terrific sense of humor.  She will be sorely missed by all of us in the American Chestnut Foundation family and we will forever cherish her memory."  Click here to read Mary Belle's tribute.
TACF's 2016 Chestnut Photo Contest
Deadline to submit: September 1
Time is running short to submit your favorite chestnut-themed photo for TACF's 2016 Chestnut Photo Contest. Do you have a special picture of this magnificent tree that could be the winning photograph? Entries must be submitted in a high-resolution, electronic format by September 1, 2016. The winning image will appear on an upcoming cover of Chestnut magazine and the photographer will receive a complimentary, one-year membership with TACF.
 
Entry instructions and contest rules are available online. Click to learn more about this fun, engaging annual competition! 
Register for TACF's Annual Meeting in Louisville, KY
November 11, 2016
Please join TACF for the 33rd Annual Meeting on Saturday, November 11 at the Embassy Suites in downtown Louisville, KY. Much will be offered over the course of this day, including two morning lectures, public education sessions, and an awards dinner to wrap up the day's events. There will be plenty of time in the afternoon to visit various attractions, museums, and eateries. Click here to view the full agenda. 

Reservations must be made through the National office. Please call 828-281-0047 to reserve your spot today.
Congratulations to Tom Saielli!
 
TACF would like to congratulate Regional Science Coordinator Tom Saielli on his move from the Southern region to the Mid-Atlantic region. Tom and his family will be relocating to Charlottesville, VA in early September, but Tom is currently serving dual regions until a replacement is hired for the Southern region. 

Tom has been involved with TACF for eight years. He first started as a volunteer and intern with the Vermont/New Hampshire chapter. Click here to see a brief snapshot of Tom's excellent adventures with TACF - thus far!
TACF Staff Takes a Whirlwind Tour of Chestnut Orchards
Three TACF staff members took a marathon trip the week of August 1 to observe chestnut orchards in MD, PA, NY, CT, MA, and NH. The main purpose of the trip was for Jared Westbrook, TACF's Director of Science, to visit some key chapter orchards in the various regions so he can better conceptualize the part that chapters play in the breeding program. Click here to see pictures and learn more about their trip!
TACF is excited to be included in the National/International 2016 Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) Charity List distributed to Federal employees and military personnel in the U.S. and overseas. If you are a federal employee or member of the military, please consider designating The American Chestnut Foundation (Donor Code: 95986) as your beneficiary this year. The CFC campaign runs from September 1 - December 15. 
National Boy Scout Jamboree 
Save the Date: July 19-28, 2017
TACF's West Virginia chapter is sponsoring a booth at the upcoming 2017 National Boy Scout Jamboree in Jean, WV. Volunteers are needed to work the booth throughout the course of the event. Would you like to help?  The chapter is designing the booth but they need help staffing it so they are appealing to TACF members nationwide to make this event a HUGE success! 

The goal is to have a minimum of three volunteers staffing the booth at all times. Games, displays, potted chestnut trees, and a chestnut quiz are just a sample of the activities planned. Stay tuned for more details about the Jamboree in future issues of eSprout, but if you are ready to volunteer, please contact Sam Muncy of the WV chapter to learn how you can help!
AmazonSmile: an Easy Way to Show Your Support for TACF
You can get just about anything from AmazonSmile. Plus, when you select The American Chestnut Foundation as your charity, Amazon will donate 0.5% of your purchase price to TACF at no extra cost to you. It's an easy way to give back AND get what you need!

Haven't added us yet? Simply search for The American Chestnut Foundation on AmazonSmile and select it as your charity. Amazon also remembers your selection so every eligible purchase you make will result in a donation. It's easy, free, secure, and it benefits a great cause!
Some of you may remember the "Tappan Chairs" article from last winter's issue of Chestnut. Woodworker, Adam Nudd-Homeyer of Tappan Chairs, continues to make these rocking chairs out of rare unwormed American chestnut. Pictured is the first chair available for retail sale.
   
August 16-18 / PA/NJ Chapter:  Penn State Ag Progress Days / 2710 W Pine Grove Rd, Pennsylvania Furnace, PA / Admission and parking are free! / Contact PA/NJ Chapter Administrator Jean Najjar for details: (814) 863-7192 or jnajjar29@gmail.com / August 16, 9:00 A.M. - 5:00 P.M.; August 17, 9:00 A.M. - 8:00 P.M.; August 18, 9:00 A.M. - 4:00 P.M.  

August 20 / VT/NH Chapter: Planting for Wildlife: Cultivating Reciprocity / Dragonfly Pond Farm, W. Brookfield, VT / Registration fee is $35 before July 31; $45 after July 31; Registration deadline is August 12 / For more information and to register, contact Kathy: (802) 728-6205 or KatKinter@gmail.com / 1:00 - 4:30 P.M.

August 20 / MD Chapter: Great Outdoor Event at Little Bennett Park / Little Bennett Regional Park, 23701 N Frederick Rd, Clarksburg, MD / For more information, email jcurtis850@gmail.com / 10:00 A.M. - 2:00 P.M.

September 10-11 / PA/NJ Chapter: New Jersey WILD Outdoor Expo / 299 East Colliers Mill Road New Egypt, NJ / The New Jersey WILD Outdoor Expo celebrates the state's bountiful natural resources and rich outdoor heritage. The Expo is free of charge and takes place rain or shine / For more information, contact Jean at mail@patacf.org / 10:00 A.M. - 5:00 P.M.

September 10 / NE Chapter: New England Regional Chapters Meeting / Urban Forestry Center, Portsmouth, NH / Save the date for the New England Regional Chapters Meeting! / For more information, email kendrag13@gmail.com / 10:00 A.M. - 4:00 P.M.

September 10 / OH Chapter: Ohio Chapter Annual Meeting / 26450 Co. Rd. MN, Fayette, OH / Please attend if you would like to get more involved in restoring American chestnut trees in Ohio. We are always interested in collaborating with you on planting projects (large or small) / For more information, contact Carolyn Keiffer (513) 225-8385 or Bruce Willis (740) 505-8546 / Board Meeting - 10-11:30 A.M. (open for all members); Potluck Lunch - 11:45 A.M. - 12:45 P.M.; Meeting and Presentations - 12:45 -2:00 P.M.; Tour of Camp Palmer Chestnut Planting - 2:00 - 3:00 P.M.

September 10 / MD Chapter: Maryland Board Meeting / Burr Library, Frederick, MD / For more information, email  jcurtis850@gmail.com / 10:00 - 11:00 A.M.

September 14 / ME Chapter: METACF Board Meeting / Viles Arboretum, 153 Hospital Street, Augusta, ME / For more information, email brian.roth@maine.edu / 4:30 P.M. - 7:30 P.M.

September 15-17 / MD Chapter: Appalachian Festival / Frostburg State University, Frostburg, MD

September 25 / ME Chapter: Chestnut Talk at Common Ground Fair / Common Ground Fair - Low Impact Forestry Tent, 294 Crosby Brook Rd, Unity, ME / For more information, email  brian.roth@maine.edu / 4:30 P.M. - 7:30 P.M.

SAVE THE DATES:  
 
October 22 / 7th Annual Chestnut Restoration Celebration sponsored by the Southwest Virginia Branch of TACF / Glenn C. Price Research Lab at Meadowview Research Farms / 1:00 - 5:00 P.M.

October 28 / VA Chapter:  "Genomics and American Chestnut Restoration:  New Tools to Identify and Increase Disease Resistance" / Blacksburg Library Community Room, 200 Miller Street, Blacksburg, VA / 1:00 - 3:30 P.M. (with additional time available for questions after presentations)
 
November 11 / TACF Annual Meeting / Embassy Suites by Hilton / 501 South 4th Street, Louisville, KY  40202.
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Details about all of these TACF events (and more) are available on our website calendar at: 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.