Connecticut Chapter, The American Chestnut Foundation : Organizational

CT Chapter of The American Chestnut Foundation. Illustration by Dr. Fred Paillet.

TACF Regional Science Coordinator - Mid-Atlantic Regional

American Chestnut Foundation seeks Mid-Atlantic Regional Science Coordinator

The American Chestnut Foundation is seeking a Regional Science Coordinator, which supports the science-related activities of TACF chapters in MD, VA, and WV and cooperates and participates with the other regional science coordinators and with the chief scientist of TACF. The coordinator supports and advises on chapter breeding programs following accepted breeding-program protocol, including such activities as pollinating, seed collecting, harvesting, storing seeds, selecting planting sites, planning plantings, distributing seeds, directing the planting and maintenance of chestnut trees, inoculating and selecting trees, and record keeping.

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Long Term Planning for the Connecticut Chapter, The American Chestnut Foundation

The CT Chapter, as part of The American Chestnut Foundation (TACF), has made great strides in the effort to restore the American chestnut tree to its former range. As part of the back-cross breeding program, we have planted thousands of tree in dozens of plantings in our breeding orchards across the state. Within the next year or two, we will begin testing the BC3F1 trees for resistance to the chestnut blight. Nuts from resistant trees will be be planted in seed orchards, and nuts from the most blight resistant of trees grown from those nuts will then be used for more extensive restoration efforts.

However, the planning documents that guide our current work are reaching the end of their scope. TACF is currently preparing an overall American Chestnut Restoration Plan. This will provide high level context and direction for the next several years. In addition to this, the CT Chapter needs to develop a long term plan, with more specific recommendations based on our local conditions, needs, and resources. At its last meeting, the CT Chapter Board of Directors authorized the creation of a working group to gather relevant background material, draft a Long Term Plan for the chapter, and based on input from interested parties, present the plan at the next Board meeting.

Please read the full article for more information, if you are interested in participating or contributing to this effort.

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Norman Borlaug, Nobel Laureate, TACF Director, Dies at 95

Norman Borlaug, a plant scientist who in the 20th Century was perhaps the person most responsible for teaching the world how to feed itself died Saturday. He was 95 and lived in Dallas. NYTimes Obit

Borlaug was often called the father of the Green Revolution. He was one of only five people to have won the Nobel Peace Prize, the Presidential Medal of Freedom and the Congressional Gold Medal. He was also a recipient of the Padma Vibhushan, India's second-highest civilian honor.

Borlaug had served as an Honorary Director of The American Chestnut Foundation for many years. He wrote an essay included in Mighty Giants - An American Chestnut Anthology that talks to his fascination and support of what TACF was doing with breeding a blight resistant American chestnut.

The American Chestnut Foundation honors his contributions and will miss his presence and counsel.

Proposed Modification of the Organization's Bylaws

In 2007 The Chapter initiated a process to review certain sections of the 1991 Bylaws to ensure alignment in the way business was being conducted and to leverage opportunities provided by changes in strategic direction, communications (ie: the Internet), and understanding of actual operations.

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