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NEWSLETTER: January 2017

In this issue:

Adopt-a-Rose for Valentine's Day

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

Kick off Super Bowl Sunday with the annual Super Guadalupe River Run at 9 AM on Sunday, February 5th.

Don’t fumble the opportunity to burn some calories. Whether you go long for 6.2 miles or tackle the 3.1 mile quarterback sneak, you’ll earn your game-time guacamole on the Guadalupe. Huddle with family, friends, training partners, neighbors, co-workers to run a 10K or 5K -- cross the goal line to score guilt-free indulgence during the game.

You won’t want to miss the first in our series of collectors’ shirts (graphic above)! Proceeds benefit our education and stewardship efforts.

Click here to register.

Pruning Lessons in the Heritage Rose Garden

Wednesdays and Saturdays through February 25th
8:30 to 11:30 am

Hands-on rose pruning lessons will be offered at the San Jose Heritage Rose Garden every Wednesday and Saturday through February 25th. Lessons begin promptly at 8:30 am. Rain cancels.

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.

Click here for more information.

Volunteer Corner

In 2016, we started handing out the President's Service Award, the President of the United States' recognition of volunteers who have donated more than one hundred hours of service. We awarded the bronze (100+ hrs) to 18 of our volunteers, the silver (250+ hrs) award to 3 volunteers, and the gold (500+ hrs) award to 1.

Please join us in congratulating the following award recipients:

Gold: Melanie

Silver: Alejandra, Marie, Paulen

Bronze: Alice, Carolyn, David, Erika, Eve, Gabriella, Greg, Ian, Joseph, Kammy, Kathy, David, Marianne, Mary, Mike, Rose, Scott, and Vibha

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

Boys Team Charity

California San Jose Mission

Cristo Rey High School

Cupertino High School

Friends of Children with Special Needs

Girl Scout Troop 61492

HandsOn Bay Area

Homestead High School Nat'l Honor Society

Hope Services

Lynbrook High School

Mission Bay

Morgan Autism Center

Notre Dame High School

Prospect High School

Santa Clara County Office of Education

Valley Christian High School

Yerba Buena High School Nat'l Honor Society

And that is only the groups! We also appreciate the scores of individuals who come out weekly to make a difference. We logged over 1.238 volunteer hours in November..

Upcoming Volunteer Opportunties

  • Heritage Rose Garden Workdays
    Weds. and Sats. 8:30-11:30 am. More info.

  • Historic Orchard Volunteer Workday
    Sat. January 7th, 8:30-11:30 am. Sign up.
  • Monthly River Cleanup
    Sat. February 18th, 8:30-11:30 am. Sign up.
  • Martin Luther King, Jr. Service Day
    Mon. January 16th, 9:00 am - 12:00 pm. Sign up.

Meet Board Member Erica Carr
Originally hailing from Madison, AL, Erica is a Source Code Auditor Ninja at Adobe by day and a variety Twitch streamer by night. As a downtown resident of San Jose and former downtown resident of Washington, DC, Erica brings an urban perspective coupled with creativity and lots of energy. Erica also has worked with several non-profit organizations over the years including United Way, the Save Darfur Coalition, and René Cassin in London. Thanks, Erica, for your service!

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

Upcoming Events

Homeschool Classes

January
Physics of Play

Get Ready...Get Set...PLAY!
January 5/6

Time to Touch Toes
January 9/12/13

Muscles, Muscles, EVERYWHERE!
January 19/20

Challenge Accepted!
January 23/26/27

Click here for more information on our homeschool program.

Still Life Painting - Family Workshop

Saturday, February 11th
10:30 am to 12:30 pm
Ages 8+ with adult chaperone

Looking to learn the secret of watercolor pigments? Art specialist Heather Engle is excited to teach you and your family! Discover the magic behind the brush and learn how to translate a photo into your own art!

Through exploration of local and seasonal items, Heather will be covering topics such as pigment levels, color, and light in a fun and engaging class. This workshop will also cover: primary colors, secondary colors, and watercolor mixing techniques. See our website for more details!

Click here to sign up.

Coming Soon! - Building Successful Backyard Birdhouses

Sunday, February 12th
1:00 to 2:30 pm
Ages 12+ with adult chaperone

Have you ever wondered about the mystery behind birdhouses? Where to build them, how big to build them, or even how to build them at all? Mike Azevedo, County Coordinator for the Santa Clara Valley Audubon Society’s Cavity Nester Recovery Program, will be partnering with Guadalupe River Park Conservancy to answer these, and many other questions!

Learn how to build a birdhouse as well as how, why, when, and where to install them. Mike will be covering a variety of topics ranging from restoration of bird populations through nesting programs, to monitoring nest boxes for Bluebirds and other cavity nesting birds. This knowledge is valuable to all members of your family, and can provide learning and observation for years to come.

Save the Date! Registration will be active here soon.

Martin Luther King, Jr. Service Day

Monday, January 16th
9:00 am to Noon

Want to make a difference in your community?

Join us for a morning of service on January 16th. Large storms leave behind lots of trash so we will likely be doing a river clean up but will have other projects available if the river is too high. Families are welcome; children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult.

Click here to sign up.

Legacy Giving

Retirement accounts, which are subject to income tax, are good vehicles for charitable gifts. Charities aren't subject to income tax so your gift goes farther.

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