Activity Report Explorer

Polly Dyer – Seattle • Entered by Penelope Peterson on September 27, 2024

Broadband Meeting

August 29, 2024 – August 29, 2024

Key Issue: Landscape Planning (Forest Plans, RMPs, TMPs, etc.)
Activity Type: Broadband Meeting (prep, implementation & follow up)

Short Description of Activity

We held our August Broadband meeting outside on the lawn at the home of Barbara Phalen and Kay Sanderson in Renton, WA. Ten members attended. We brought our own lunches, and we provided additional light refreshments.
Our speakers were Ian Gray, Renton’s Urban Forestry & Natural Resources Manager, and Gabriella Golzarian, Arborist, who talked with us about the Urban Forestry program in Renton and the challenges they face. See the attached minutes for details on their presentation.

After the speakers concluded their presentation, Penelope gave a report and led a discussion of federal and regional forest issues. She explained that the US Forest Service has released the National Old-Growth Amendment (NOGA). Our Broads’ National Office has issued a draft position statement, and each individual Broad may submit her own comment letter, provided it fits within the position of our National Office. If the individual’s comments do not fit within the position of our National Office, then she should not identify herself as a Great Old Broad in her submission.

Penelope also reported on two local efforts to save old-growth trees–one at Green Lake and the other at Kingway Apartments. Finally, she gave a report on the work of the Lower Snake River Dams BRAT. The LSRD BRAT supported a new documentary movie, “The Snake and the Whale,” which is being released locally (location and dates to be determined). The plan is to have us Broads either dress like people removing the dam, wearing overalls and carrying shovels, or dress as orcas. Penelope asked if our members would be willing to participate, and when they said, “yes,” she said that they should start thinking about costumes.

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Reflection/Evaluation

The Renton Urban Forest staff gave a very engaging presentation, which led to several questions and a good discussion. Our members also were very interested in writing comments on the Old-Growth Amendment, and a total of eight members later submitted comments. Our Broadband also signed the letter on the Old-Growth Amendment submitted by the Forest BRAT on behalf of six Broadbands in Oregon and Washington.

Photos/Uploads

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Photo Captions

1. Minutes of our August 29, 2024 Broadband Meeting