Oregon Women in Timber (OWIT) will be hosting our 30th Annual Talk About Trees Auction virtually, on Wednesday, February 24, 2021. Our theme is RESILIENCE! 2020 presented many challenges for OWIT members and our Talk About Trees Program. Our auction theme speaks directly to the strength and determination of forest professionals, Oregon families and our communities despite devastating wildfires and COVID-19. Our silent auction will be open from Saturday, February 20th to Saturday, February 27th. Our virtual live auction event will open on Wednesday, February 24th, in conjunction with the 83rd Oregon Logging Conference events.
All proceeds from the auction will benefit OWIT’s statewide education program, Talk About Trees (TAT). This award-winning program provides free, forest education to students in preschool through eighth grade. The goals of the TAT Program are to encourage awareness and appreciation for the value of trees and forests in our daily lives and to encourage an understanding about the protection, management and conservation of the renewable forest.
Last March, in-person learning shifted to online learning for all Oregon school children. TAT Facilitators quickly adapted the existing Talk About Trees curriculum. TAT is now offering 30-minute online, interactive, engaging lessons. Topics include tree identification, forest health, renewability, careers and more. There is much demand for online lessons from teachers, home school groups and community childcare organizations. Additionally, TAT is offering limited, in-person lessons, teaching small groups outdoors in safe, socially distanced environments.
OWIT, TAT and Forests Today and Forever will also be offering 4th and 5th graders a virtual Logging Conference Tour this winter and not just for Lane County students! Due to our new online platforms, this year, students statewide will have the opportunity to “attend” a virtual Logging Conference Tour.
OWIT continues to partner with Oregon Logging Conference to raise funds for the OLC Scholarship Foundation and Talk About Trees Program, through the sale of the 2021 Commemorative lapel pin. The “Partners in Education” pins will be offered for $100. (This year there will be no prize awarded due to regulations regarding the online purchase of raffle tickets.)
OWIT has members around the state that will gratefully pick up your generous donations. Please contact info@orwit.org for arrangements. Contributions are critical to the ongoing success of TAT. OWIT is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, all donations and purchases are tax deductible. The volunteers of OWIT, the TAT Program and millions of students throughout the state of Oregon thank you for your continued support!
Please consider donating and virtually attending our auction event. Registration is free! Save the date, Wednesday, February 24th, and watch for more details on how to participate. A registration site will be posted by January 1st, to our Facebook page, our website: www.orwit.org, and in upcoming issues of the OLC newsletter and OLC website: www.oregonloggingconference.com.
We know that due to the extreme hardships of 2020, many organizations are reaching out for donations. We appreciate your past support and hope that you can continue to support us this year.