Inspire Seattle meeting Jan 12: Establishing New Partnerships to Save Our Forests

The pine bark beetle has long been a natural part of mountain ecosystems in the southwestern United States.  Normally these insects play an important role in the life of a forest, attacking old and weakened trees, allowing for renewal by younger trees.  However, mild winters and hot, dry summers have led to infestations that have devastated American pine forests.  Now the pine bark beetle has become a problem as far north as British Columbia and Eastern Washington.  This growing infestation may now be the largest insect blight ever recorded in North America and climate change has widely been cited as a reason for the size and severity of the outbreak.

 

The Nature Conservancy is a non-profit environmental organization, well-known for taking direct ownership and acting as steward to some of our most precious and endangered ecosystems.  To address this new and widespread threat of the pine bark beetle, the Nature Conservancy is playing a new role by creating partnerships with businesses, loggers and other environmentalists who all have common cause to preserve Washington’s forests.

Please join us for this important discussion!

Guest Speaker: 

John Rose has been a member of the board for the Washington chapter of the Nature Conservancy since 2000.  Previously John was Budget Director for King County.  Later, he served as both president and CEO of Seattle Northwest Securities Corporation, the region’s leading underwriter of municipal bonds.  More recently, John has provided consulting services related to debt management for both public and private clients and he is co-founder of Practical Steam, a start-up company dedicated to developing steam engine technology for the twenty-first century.

About InspireSeattle:

InspireSeattle is a progressive network of Seattle-area people sharing ideas and supporting action.  InspireSeattle’s vision is to create connection throughout our community and better community through activism.  InspireSeattle’s mission is to provide a fun, supportive gathering for people who care deeply about our community, our country and our planet. We embrace progressive policies that improve our society and protect our environment.  We discuss current issues, share ideas and activism efforts while striving to inspire additional action.  Subscribe (or unsubscribe) to InspireSeattle by visiting www.inspireseattle.org/contact.html.

 

When:  Saturday, January 12^th at 6:30PM.  Please try to be on time!!!

 

Where:  Carrie Bogner’s place, 1120 24th Ave E, Seattle, WA  98112.  Home # is 206-280-4214.

Click here for a map: http://goo.gl/maps/IIHhE

 

Directions:

From 520, Eastbound:  Take the Lake Washington Exit, go right at the light on to E. Montlake which quickly turns into 24^th Ave E.  Go up the hill then go left onto Highland Dr.  The entrance to the house is in the alley between 24th and 25^th, but please park on Highland Dr or on 25^th Ave.  It is the 2nd house on the west side of the alley (from Highland Dr) and has a 3 car garage.  Front door is on the south side of the house.  Look for signs at the alley entrance!

From 520, Westbound:  Take the Lake Washington Exit, go right at the stop sign, then go left at the light on to E. Montlake which quickly turns into 24^th Ave E.  Go up the hill then go left onto Highland Dr.  The entrance to the house is in the alley between 24th and 25^th, but please park on Highland Dr or on 25^th Ave.  It is the 2nd house on the west side of the alley (from Highland Dr) and has a 3 car garage.  Front door is on the south side of the house.  Look for signs at the alley entrance!

 

 

Format 

It’s a potluck:  so please help out and bring something to eat and to drink!

6:30 to 7:45:  Social time!  Eat, drink, relax, and catch up with some other local progressives

Formal discussion and guest speakers, 7:45 to 9:30

Other Announcements – got any?

 

Rules of Engagement!

1.  So that everyone has a chance to participate, please keep your comments short

2.  Raise one’s hand to ask a question in lieu of shouting out

3.  Respect the points of views of others

4.  No arguing of politics during the formal discussion – save that for afterwards!