Bylaws    First Minutes and Issues

Council Background and Accomplishments

1991

• Initial meeting
• Developed and passed by-laws
• Incorporated with the State of Tennessee
• Reviewed America the Beautiful grant proposals

1992

• Developed membership brochure
• Established a bank account
• Held the first state-wide Urban Forestry Conference
• Reviewed the Urban & Community Forestry grant proposals

1993

• Approved tree planting guidelines
• Held the second annual state Urban Forestry Conference
• Reviewed the Urban & Community Forestry grant proposals
• Participated in a preliminary Urban forestry planning session

1994

• Developed proposal for Executive Director
• Printed stickers of the Council logo
• Held the third annual state Urban Forestry Conference
• Reviewed the Urban & Community Forestry grant proposals

1995

• Re-introduced the newsletter
• Established an annual board retreat for planning purposes
• Held the fourth state Urban Forestry Conference in Chattanooga, with the Society of Municipal Arborists (National organization)
• Reviewed the Urban & Community Forestry grant proposals

1996

• Received Sales Tax Exemption status 
• Established a telephone line
• Purchased an educational display board with TV/VCR unit
• Made an urban forestry video and two Public Service Announcements
• Established the Landmark and Historic Tree Register 
• Expanded the fifth annual state Urban Forestry Conference to 1.5 days
• Reviewed the Urban & Community Forestry grant proposals

1997

• Published a Tree Topping brochure with the Division of Forestry
• Used the display at 6 National, Regional, State and Local conferences
• Held the sixth annual state Urban Forestry Conference 
• Reviewed the Urban & Community Forestry grant proposals

1998

• Proposed Executive Director's Position
• Revised newsletter format and name to Branching Out 
• Established Landmark and Historic Tree Register
• Reviewed the Urban & Community Forestry grant proposals

1999

• Hired first Executive Director, Jennifer Smith
• Established web site, www.tufc.com
• Added Trade Show and Silent Auction to Conference
• Established the Tree Climbing Championship
• Established Arboretum Certification Program
• Established Committee structures
• Updated by-laws, added executive committee
• Updated Logo
• Board members attended National Urban Forestry Conference 
• Reviewed the Urban & Community Forestry grant proposals

2000

• Established new membership categories and membership brochure 
• Initiated rotating board meeting around state with Town Hall meetings
• Meetings in Nashville, Cookeville, Nashville, Jackson
• Green Industry Field Day partnership established
• Fall Creek Falls Board Retreat
• Updated and adopted by-laws revision
• Reviewed the Urban & Community Forestry grant proposals

2001

• Board meetings in Clarksville, Nashville/Brentwood, Knoxville
• Purchased table top display for east TN
• Sponsor ReLeaf Tennessee to raise seedling funds
• Arbor Day Poster Contest evaluation
• Urban Forestry Conference in Knoxville
• Natchez Trace State Park Board Retreat
• Board members attended National Urban Forestry Conference in Washington D.C.
• Ex. Director serves on the National Grassroots summit committee
• Reviewed the Urban & Community Forestry grants proposals

2002

• Board Meetings in Nashville, Memphis, Harrogate, Murfreesboro
• March meeting tied in with Arbor Day Poster Contest & Tree Planting at State Capitol
• Conference held in Nashville at Cheekwood
• Reviewed the Urban & Community Forestry grants proposals
• Purchased table top displays for middle and west TN.
• Developed new membership brochure to tie in with ReLeaf TN
• Board retreat in Chattanooga in conjunction with TNLA Conference
• Revised and Updated web site

2003

• Board Meetings in Nashville, Sparta, Pulaski
• Conference and tree Climb in Chattanooga
• Revised web site
• Created Rules and Public Relations Committee
• Direct Mail Marketing of new Membership/ReLeaf brochure
• Appointed Parliamentarian
• Updated and adopted by-laws revision
• Power Point UF Awards Presentation 
• Established Executive Committee Conference Calls
• In-Kind forms by e-mail
• Montgomery Bell State Park Board Retreat
• Created Action Plan
• Board members attended National Urban Forestry Conference in San Antonio
• Ex. Director presented at National Conference
• Ex. Director testified to the US House Appropriations Committee
• Reviewed the Urban & Community Forestry grants proposals

2004

• Annual Board Retreat/Planning Session at Fall Creek Falls State Park (Held first new board orientation at retreat)
• Directors met in TSU Nashville, UT Knoxville, McMinnville, Dickson Renaissance Center
• Held Conference, Trade Show, Silent Auction in Franklin
• Held Annual Tree Climbing Championship in Nashville- Ellington  (New equipment trailer, educational signs and scoreboard)
• Presented Awards of Excellence, Arboretum Certifications, Landmark & Historic Trees  (Developed Heritage Tree designation)
• Developed Policy and Procedures Manual
• Adopted our first chapter, West TN Chapter, and updated bylaws to reflect chapters 
• Proposed Urban Forestry curriculum for UT Knoxville
• Directors attended Southern State Forestry Councils Cooperative Workshop in Atlanta
• Represented at Week In Washington Community Forestry Issue Workshop
• Reviewed the Urban & Community Forestry grants proposals
• Developed Tool Boxes for professional development and distributed regionally
• Developed Notable Trees of Tennessee Traveling Educational Photography Exhibit
• Revised web site and developed Historical Information

2005

• Annual Board Retreat/Planning Session and New Board Orientation in Jackson
• Town Hall/Board Meetings in TSU - Nashville, Cookeville, Nashville, Johnson City
• Held Conference, Trade Show, Silent Auction, ISA Exam in Germantown (Helped host with West TN Chapter)
• Held Annual Tree Climbing Championship at the Memphis Botanic Garden
• Presented Awards of Excellence and Landmark & Historic Trees
• Reviewed the Urban & Community Forestry grants proposals
• Developed a Budget
• Notable Trees exhibit premiered at the Legislative Plaza of the state capitol & eight other locations
• Nine members attended the National Urban Forestry Conference in Charlotte, NC
• Members helped host the National ISA conference in Nashville – Opryland and Ellington

2006

• Annual Board Retreat/Planning Session and New Board Orientation at Montgomery Bell State Park
• Town Hall/Board Meetings in Legislative Plaza of the State Capitol – Nashville, Cleveland, Jackson and Clarksville with a dedication of the memorial Tuttle Grove
• Held Conference, Trade Show, Awards/Landmark & Historic Tree Banquet in Nashville. Opening reception at The Parthenon. Co-Presented with American Planning Association and American Society of Landscape Architects
• 8th Annual Tennessee Tree Climbing Championship with Tree ID contest – Hadley Park, Nashville
• Reviewed the Urban & Community Forestry Grant proposals
• Notable Trees photo exhibit – showcased in seven locations across the state. Developed and sold note cards. Received Copyright for Notable Trees photos
• By-law change to add a 2nd vice president position
• First President’s Award presented
• Developed promotional CD
• Initiated Partnerships: municipal workshop series with UT’s MTAS and TN Groves with TDOT
• Created Tennessee Tree Fund for ReLeaf funds for community tree planting
• To honor TUFC 15th Anniversary – planted trees on the state capitol grounds with seven past presidents in attendance and Centennial Park prior to the conference’s opening reception at the Parthenon

2007

• Annual Board Retreat/Planning Session and New Board Orientation at Dubois Conference Center, Monteagle
• Conference - Building great Communities - Memphis - with American Society of Landscape Architects, American Planning Association, Urban Land Institute and the US Green Builders/LEED
• 9th Tennessee Tree Climbing Championship, 6 states represented - Memphis Botanic Garden
• Presented Awards of Excellence and Landmark & Historic Trees
• Workshop series on Community Urban Forestry programs with UT’s Municipal Technical Assistance Service: Johnson City, Knoxville, Collegdale, Franklin, Cookeville, Bartlett, Jackson
• Included urban forestry as part of the Governor’s Three Star Program
• Town Hall Board Meeting held at the Legislative Plaza of the State Capitol, Chattanooga including a city tour, Morristown including arboretum tour and Lebanon
• Changed Branching Out newsletter to an electronic format using color and photos
• Presenting urban forestry programs and exhibit at the Tennessee Public Works conference in Clarksville
• Reviewed the urban and community grant proposals
• Arboretum Certification program to create outdoor classrooms continues with 49 certified and 10 applications in 2007
• Notable Trees Educational Exhibit has been showcased in 5 locations in 2007, 20 locations in three years.
• West TN Chapter of the TUFC – Instrumental in the Memphis city council passing the proclamation for the establishment of a tree board, hosting an official Arbor Day ceremony and work on becoming a Tree City USA