Accomplishments

Ongoing

  • Publish a monthly FWW newsletter

  • Attend White Township Supervisor Meetings, and White Township Planning meetings

  • Conduct interviews with radio and print media, including 1160 WCCS, Indiana Gazette, HawkEye

  • Monitor the letters to the editor in the Gazette

  • Communicate with DCNR 

  • Contact relevant community environmental and special interest groups

  • Created and distribute yard signs

  • Develop and distribute promotional and educational materials

  • Sponsor Zoom webinar events​

  • Apply for grant funding to support educational and advocacy activities

 

2021 Accomplishments

  • January 2021:​

    • Margaret Brittingham, PhD, “Community Forests:  Benefits for Birds and People – Options and Challenges.” January 14, 2021

    • Todd Sherbondy i-Tree Analysis Presentation to White Township Board of Supervisors, January 27, 2021

  • February 2021: ​

    • Bonnie McGill, PhD, “Comfortable Spaces for Uncomfortable Conversations: The Climate and Rural Systems Partnership of Western Pennsylvania.”  February 11, 2021

    • Presentation to the Indiana Evening Rotary Club, February 15, 2021

  • March 2021: ​

  • April 2021: ​

  • May 2021: ​

    • Drs. Sara Keubbing and Marion Holmes, University of Pittsburgh Invasion Ecology Research Lab, “Ecological Impact of Invasive Plant Species,” May 20, 2021.​

  • June 2021: 

    • FWW receives Huplits Grant from the Allegheny Group of the Sierra Club. Huplits grants support projects that directly impact wildlife in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania on a regional or statewide level. Entries that involved public education, grassroots campaign organization, litigation, land acquisition, or research that directly focuses on protecting Pennsylvania wildlife, its habitat, and preventing cruelty to animals were considered.

  • August 2021:

    • FWW receives the Evergreen Award from the Evergreen Conservancy. The Evergreen Award is given to individuals, groups, or businesses who have demonstrated grassroots environmental leadership in a variety of areas, including: 

      • new or innovative technology to prevent harm to the environment;

      • activities that show a direct positive effect on the environment;

      • preservation of  historical, natural or cultural resources;

      • and notable stewardship of the environment.

  • September 2021: ​​

    • Alyson Fearon, Senior Director of Community Conservation and Resiliency for the Allegheny Land Trust. FWW webinar presentation, September 28, 2021: “Carbon Offsets: Producing Income from Valuable Greenspace"

  • October 2021:
    • Dr. Sara Keubbing and Dr. Marion Holmes, of the University of Pittsburgh Invasion Ecology Research Lab, presented an FWW webinar, “Invasive Plant Inventory and Management Report for White's Woods”

​

2020 Accomplishments

  • April 2020: 

    • Discovered attempt to timber WWNC

    • Secured legal counsel

    • Contacted DCNR

  • May 2020: 

    • Met with Mike Lawer, person hired by White Township to work in WWNC

    • Enlisted support of expert scientists: ecology, forestry

    • Filed a legal complaint asserting violation of the Sunshine Act and the Second Class Township Code pertaining to contract bidding

    • Sent mailing to over 1,000 households that border WWNC

    • Posted a petition on Change.org protesting protesting timbering in WWNC

    • Designed and solicited responses to a consumer survey about use of WWNC using Survey Monkey

  • June 2020: 

    • Hired consulting forester Mike Wolf of Appalachian Foresters to review the Millstone plan and provide guidance for WWNC

  • July 2020:

    • Obtained over 8,000 signatures on a Change.org petition

    • Compiled survey responses from 232 participants

    • Engaged consultant forester Mike Wolf to present his assessment of WWNC at a White Township Supervisors meeting

    • Prepared a 255-page response to the Millstone Plan and submitted copies to the Township and to DCNR.

  • August 2020:

    • Submitted a successful grant request to the Indiana County Endowment

    • Contacted the Pennsylvania Parks & Forests Foundation, The Nature Conservancy, The Natural Areas Association, and the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy for information and guidance.

  • September 2020:

    • Earned the Gold Star level of Transparency with the GuideStar Nonprofit Directory

    • Gavin Deming, Allegheny Goatscape, “Using Goats to Treat Invasive Species.” September 24, 2020

  • October 2020:

    • Submitted a grant proposal to Mountain Dew Outdoor Grants – currently awaiting response

    • Submitted a grant proposal to Walmart Community Grants – currently awaiting response

    • Appalachian Forest Consultant Mike Wolf, “The Health of White’s Woods.”  October 22, 2020

  • November 2020: ​

    • FWW met with Davey Resource representative Todd Sherbondy to initiate an i-Tree analysis of White’s Woods.​

    • Vincent Cotrone, PSE, “The Role of Trees and Forests in Stormwater Management.”  November 19, 2020