100 Years and 100 Trees—The District Centennial Grove
While we are all now heavily engaged in helping our neighbors to the south recover from the devastation of hurricanes, District 6150 is also working in Arkansas to reforest a park that lost hundreds of mature trees in a tornado in 1999.
“The Centennial Grove will create a lasting reminder in our capital city of the impact that 100 Years of Rotary has had—and the contribution that the clubs and Rotarians of District 6150 have made to our state,” said Barry Goldberg, who is chairing the effort.
The Centennial Grove is an outgrowth of the Centennial District Conference, held in April in Little Rock. As you may know, it is customary for the conference to make some contribution or improvement to its host city. Due to the special nature of the centennial meeting, the conference organizers chose to establish a permanent and highly visible memorial by planting 100 Trees for 100 Years of Rotary.
Working with Urban Forester Pete Rausch, the team chose a several-acre site in MacArthur Park in the central city—close to the River Market District, the Arkansas Arts Center, The Clinton Presidential Center and other downtown destinations.
“The century-old trees of MacArthur Park were decimated by a tornado January 21, 1999. This Centennial Grove will go a long way toward restoring the majesty of these ancient trees,” said Rausch. “This will be a powerful and lasting reminder of the good that our region’s Rotary Clubs do together.”
While the project was started under the sponsorship of PDG Jake Morse, it will be completed during the term of DG Marilyn Hummelstein, who said, “The neat thing about this Centennial project is that it was begun in our first 100 years, and will be finished during the start of our next 100. It truly bridges two centuries of Rotary in Arkansas.”
Nearly half of the funding for the grove has been committed already, divided between a Rotary District Simplified Grant and a City of Little Rock grant. To fund the remaining investment, Rotarians and Clubs are being offered the chance to buy and plant a tree in honor or memory of a loved one. If desired, the tree can be marked with a permanent marker commemorating your gift.
A 1-inch diameter tree (about 12 to 15 feet tall) is $100, and a 3-inch diameter tree (about 20 to 22 feet tall) is $500. An optional plaque is $50. Clubs or individuals who want to do more may consider sponsoring a “tree room” or other special feature of the grove—which is still in the design phase.
A ceremonial hole-digging will be held in conjunction with Arbor Day on November 1, and Rotarians from around the district will be encouraged to participate. In January or February, the 100 trees will go in the ground, followed by a “big feed.” Organizers hope to involve Rotarians from all 39 District 6150 clubs, as well as Boy Scouts and others.
The Arkansas Forestry Commission has agreed to supply a graft of the Champion Council Oak near Dardanelle. This historic tree is the site on which the Cherokee deeded land south of the Arkansas River, in essence creating the territory. And a time capsule will contain something from each of the 39 clubs in the District.
Once the trees are in the ground, the City will care for them in perpetuity. The Grove will be identified as a project of Rotary District 6150, making a clear statement of the commitment to service above self.
Consider becoming a part of the District Centennial Grove. It will be a place you can bring your children and grandchildren in the years to come—a place to point our “their” tree, a place to leave a lasting legacy.
For more information about the Centennial Grove or to indicate your sponsorship, contact Barry Goldberg (barry.goldberg@entelechypartners.com) or Martin Thoma (martin@thomathoma.com).
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