Great Holiday Gift Ideas!

Gift Certidicates
Give the gift of Guadalupe! We offer gift certificates that can be redeemed for any or all of our classes and workshops for both adults and children. Also good for merchandise from our gift shop.

• Designing California Native Gardens
• Life Along the Guadalupe River.....an Archeological and Historical Journey
• Guadalupe River Park Master Plan
• Catalyst for Change, a History of Civic Plazas in San Jose
• Activity Book for Kids

Don't forget, some of these items (such as rose adoptions) are donations to us, a non-profit organization. Qualifying purchases would be tax-deductable, and might also be eligible for corporate matching donations if you work for one of the many generous corporations out there.

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Christmas Bird Count in the Guadalupe River Park & Gardens
Calling all birdwatchers! The Annual Christmas Bird Count will be taking place in the Guadalupe River Park & Gardens this year on Sunday, December 20th. The Audubon Society’s Christmas Bird Count is an all-day census of early winter bird populations that takes place every year between December 14 and January 5.  More than 50,000 volunteer observers across the Americas take part in counting all birds in their particular area.  The count is intended be helpful collecting data to measure changes in bird populations. There is some science involved, but it is mostly a community event, being outdoors, and maybe seeing a side of your community you didn't know existed. Audubon volunteer Ann Verdi plans to complete the census of birds in the section of the River Park from 280 to 880, and in the Guadalupe Gardens.  Please contact Linda at 408 298-7657 if you would like to help with the count. No experience is necessary.

Good News
We are proud to report that we recently received the following grants:

• $35,000 from the David and Lucile Packard Foundation for our children’s environmental education programs 
• $10,000 from the Kieve Foundation for general support 
• $10,000 from the Stanley Smith Horticultural Trust for interpretive materials for the Heritage Rose Garden 
• $7,268 from San Jose Rotary’s Endowment Fund to purchase equipment for our festivals. 
• $790 from EcoLab to help underwrite the cost of our annual Water Wizard Festival. 

We are grateful for these institutions and the many members who make our programs possible.

Education
For more information, contact our Education Coordinator, Linda McCabe

Watch for on-line registration for After School Workshops for Kids coming in January for members only!

Critter Corner!
Friday, January 8th
3:30 to 5:00 pm
$10/members, $15/non-members
Ages: 5-10

Dormant Fruit Tree Pruning
Saturday, January 23th 2010
9:30 to 11:30am
$10/members, $15/non-members
More details coming soon.

Best of the Best! Fruit Tree Varieties for Santa Clara County
Saturday, January 30th 2010
9:00 to 12:00am
$30/members, $35/non-members
Instructors:  Nancy Garrison, California Rare Fruit Growers, Sean McGrail, Landscaper
More details coming soon.

Sustainable Vegetable Gardening
Wednesdays,  February 10th – March 17th
7:00 – 9:00pm
6 classes
$60 /members, $70/ non members
Instructor: Master Gardener Ann Northrup

Volunteering
For more information, contact Volunteer Coordinator, Lucy Perez

Office Volunteers
A variety of volunteer opportunities exist in our office at the Visitor & Education Center.  Activities include clerical work, answering the phones, organizing the library, preparing materials for educational programs, greeting visitors, etc. We presently have openings Monday and Wednesday afternoon and anytime Thursday and Friday. Please call us to review a convenient schedule for you. Our office hours are Monday-Friday 8:30-5:00.

Rose Garden Work Days
The Rose Garden is a collection of more than 4,000 antique and modern roses. Established in 1995 through an extensive community effort, the garden contains more varieties (3,500) than any other rose garden in the western hemisphere. While the City of San Jose supplies materials, it is maintained primarily by volunteers. Projects will vary with the time of the year. Volunteers can learn on how to maintain their own roses or just enjoy helping with the maintenance of this special rose garden. On going volunteer workdays: Every Saturday and Wednesday 9:00 am to noon (8:00am to 11:00am June-September). Special summer evening sessions (June-September) 5:30pm-7:30pm. (We will not be meeting on December 26, 2009 because of the Holidays!)

Volunteer Profiles

Guadalupe River Park Conservancy Board Member: Scott Landsittel Scott Landsittel is a Development Manager with Boston Properties, a national commercial property owner and developer.  Scott is involved with a number of projects in San Jose, including the management of Almaden Plaza, an 84,000 sf office development contemplated for a downtown site along the Guadalupe River.  He sees the park as a critical element to the future development of Downtown, and particularly the park as an amenity to the local business community.  Scott represents Boston Properties as an active member of the SJ Chamber of Commerce and Downtown Association.  He is an active member of NAIOP and the Urban Land Institute (ULI), where he sits on the ULI Young Leaders Group steering committee for the South Bay.  Scott holds an MBA from the Haas School of Business at Berkeley, and an undergraduate degree from the University of Michigan.  Scott currently lives with his wife in San Francisco.

Meet Erika Ricketts Erika joined the Heritage Rose Garden volunteer group in January 2004. She comes to the garden every Wednesday and we appreciate her contribution to maintaining more than 4000 roses. In 1965 Erika and her two sisters traveled to San Francisco to visit for one year. The visit was extended to a permanent stay. She met her husband here and never returned to Germany. After 25 years, she retired from a wholesale food distribution office in San Jose. In her spare time, Erika enjoys snow skating, hiking and babysitting her two grandchildren. You will enjoy talking to Erika and finding out more about her. Erika, thank you for your dedication and great smile.