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NEWSLETTER: February 2016

In this issue:

Valentine's Adopt-a-Rose
Super Guadalupe River Run
Master Plan Updates
Staff Updates
Volunteer Corner
Legacy Giving

Valentine's Adopt-a-Rose

Looking for a distinctive Valentine's gift? A bouquet of roses will last a week, but a rose bush will bloom throughout the year. With your donation of $60, we will help you select the perfect rose and prepare a gift box for your Valentine. Click here for more details.

Super Guadalupe River Run

Our Feb. 7, 2016 Super Guadalupe River Run is the perfect incentive to keep that New Year's resolution. 10K and 5K finishers earn a medal and t-shirt. Earn your game-time guacamole on the Guadalupe! Click here to register.

GRPG Master Plan Updates

With the downtown building boom, changes will be coming to Guadalupe River Park & Gardens. Our March newsletter will focus on the proposed developments and possible park investments.

Staff Updates

We are pleased to announce the appointment of Joe Salvato (above) to the role of Operations Director. We first encountered Joe years ago as a volunteer from Bellarmine. He joined the GRPC staff in 2011 after graduating from the University of San Francisco and served in several roles on our education team. Most recently, Joe was working as our part-time Executive Assistant while pursuing an MBA at SJSU.

Volunteer Coordinator Jessica Gonzales (below) is leaving us for a position with our friends at the Open Space Authority. Jess was hired as part of our education team after a successful internship in 2012 and took on the volunteer coordination role in 2014. We will miss her positive attitude and wonderful smile.

If interested in the full-time Volunteer Coordinator or part-time Executive Assistant position, send an email to jobs@grpg.org.

Volunteer Corner

Many hands make light work of annual pruning in the Heritage Rose Garden!

A hearty thanks to all the volunteer groups that toiled to make GRPG a more beautiful place this past December:

Creekside School
Friends of Children with Special Needs
HOPE Services
LDS San Jose Missionaries
Misson Bay
Morgan Autism Center
Notre Dame High School
Pioneer High School
San Jose State University
Silver Creek High School Key Club
South Bay Heritage Rose Group

And that is only the groups! We also appreciate the scores of individuals who come out weekly to make a difference. We logged 932 volunteer hours in December.

Upcoming Volunteer Opportunties

Rose Garden Work Days/Pruning Lessons
Weds. and Sats. 8:30-11:30 am. More info.

Historic Orchard Volunteer Work Day
Sat. Mar. 12th, 8:30 - 11:30 am. Sign up.

River Clean Up
Saturday, Mar. 19th, 8:30 - 11:30 am. Sign up.

Front Desk Volunteer
On going 2-5 hour commitment on either Wednesdays, Thursdays, or Fridays (adults only please). Sign up.

Meet Volunteer Daniel Harman
Daniel is one of our trusty front desk volunteers. While rehabbing from a work related injury, Daniel is sharing his positive persona with us on a daily basis. When he isn’t busy welcoming visitors in our lobby, he enjoys mountain biking, hiking, and exploring new sights all around the Bay Area. A San Jose native, he enjoys the challenge in finding new adventures in our area. Thank you for all your help Daniel!

So many ways to give:
Adopt A Rose, General Donations,
Rotary PlayGarden,
The Donor Walkway, Memberships,
Endowment, Critter Donations

Upcoming Events

Homeschool Programs

Flower Power

Explore the science of flowers in the beautiful Guadalupe River Park and Gardens! Students will learn about the various types of pollinators and their adaptations while exploring the Heritage Rose Garden and Historic Orchard. Thursdays in February are full, but classes are now offered on Mondays, too!

Hooked on Hummingbirds
February 1st

Buzz Worthy Bees
February 8th

Flower Investigation
February 22nd

The Seeds of Science
February 29th

More info.

Successful Backyard Birdhouses

Saturday, February 13th
10:00 am to Noon
$10/members, $15/non-members

If you’d like to study the art of building birdhouses, join us for an adult workshop led by Mike Azevedo, County Coordinator for Santa Clara Valley Audubon Society’s Cavity Nester Recovery Program. Learn how the location of your residence, the layout of your garden or patio, and the birdhouse’s design and size all factor into the habitability of a birdhouse.

More info.

Rose Pruning Lessons

Wednesdays & Saturdays through February
8:30 to 11:30 am
Free!

Hands-on rose pruning lessons will be offered at the San Jose Heritage Rose Garden every Wednesday and Saturday. Lessons begin promptly at 8:30 am.

Come to learn, engage with community members, and have fun! Please bring leather gloves and bypass shears, if you have them; loaners are available if needed. Wear closed-toe shoes and bring a full water bottle. Meet in the center of the garden.

More info.

Spring Walking Series

Saturdays, March 5th through 26th
8:30 to 9:30 am
Ages 18 and up
$20/members, $30/non-members

Burst out of winter with a new walking series sponsored by the Guadalupe River Park Conservancy. Step by step, you’ll be healthier as a result of this class that leads you through the paved trails along the Guadalupe River. Learn proper stretches, toning exercises, and walking technique as you meet others who enjoy exercising outdoors along the way. Varied fitness levels will be offered.

More info.

Sustainable Gardening

The City of San Jose Environmental Services Department, in partnership with the Regional Eco-Gardens Coalition, is excited to launch a new online one-stop sustainable gardening resource. Click here for more info.

Legacy Giving

Why Should You Include a Charitable Gift in Your Will (Or Living Trust)?

  1. It's simple to do. It can be as easy as including language stating, "I give $20,000 to Guadalupe River Park Conservancy."
  2. You can change your mind. We won't receive the gift until after your death. During your lifetime, you can amend anything you choose, i.e., beneficiaries, amounts, etc.
  3. Tax-wise, it could be beneficial. Gifts to qualified charitable organizations reduce the value of your estate for estate tax purposes.
  4. It's an easy way to support Guadalupe River Park Conservancy, and we'd be grateful for your gift. Bequests of every size build our future financial strength.

 

 

 

 
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408-298-7657 -- EIN: 77-0166797
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