Galveston’s Annual Arbor Day Celebration

Title: Galveston’s Annual Arbor Day Celebration
Location: Various places in Galveston
Link out: Click here
Description: Veteran broadcaster Dan Rather will be the featured speaker at Galveston’s annual Arbor Day celebration, Friday, April 27, 2012.

Mr. Rather, longtime anchor of the CBS Evening News and a frequent contributor to 60 Minutes, currently hosts the weekly Dan Rather Reports on HDNet, a program specializing in investigative journalism and international reporting. Rather became nationally known in 1961 for his broadcasts from Galveston on Hurricane Carla, one of the most powerful storms ever to strike the United States.

This year’s Arbor Day will celebrate the community’s efforts to replant the trees destroyed by Hurricane Ike’s salt water storm surge in 2008, says Jackie Cole, President of the Galveston Island Tree Conservancy, a non-profit established to replant the Island.

“Mr. Rather’s return to the Island will help to highlight the tremendous loss of tree cover on the Island and help us raise the funds needed to continue replanting,” she says. Thus far, the Conservancy has planted 8,000 trees in a program that includes the replanting of Galveston’s major thoroughfares, parks and schools.

In honor of his visit, Mayor Joe Jaworski will issue a proclamation naming April 27, 2012 as Dan Rather Day in Galveston. “It’s only fitting, given Mr. Rather’s long association with Galveston, that we honor his efforts to help our citizens replant.” Jaworski notes that a number of events are planned for the day, each of which is highlighted below.

Mr. Rather last visited the Island on September 8, 2000 when he headlined Galveston’s 1900 Storm Commemoration effort.
Scheduled Events

1. Arbor Day Celebration in Adoue Park
11 AM to Noon, Adoue Park, 12th Street, Galveston, Texas (between Winnie and Ball Street), Galveston, TX
Dedication of the Fannie Adoue Tree Carving — Robert Lynch, Kempner Fund
Dan Rather Day Proclamation — Mayor Joseph Jaworski
Planting of the 2012 Arbor Day Tree — Dan Rather

2. Conversation and Cocktails With Dan Rather
Meet Dan Rather, one of America’s Foremost Broadcast Journalists
6PM to 7:30 PM, Davidson Ball Room, Tremont Hotel, 2300 Ship’s Mechanic Row, Galveston Sponsored by George P. Mitchell; Media passes available upon request

3. Donors’ Dinner
Tremont Hotel, 2300 Ship’s Mechanic Row, Galveston, Texas
Sponsored by George P. Mitchell
Ticket information available at www.galvestonislandtreeconservancy.org

Sponsors
George P. Mitchell
Peaches and Shrub Kempner

Corporate Sponsors
Galveston.com
GDS Corp
McCoy’s Building Supply
hez
Suzanne and George Sullivan
Dancie and Jim Ware

Host Steering Committee
John and Lynn Eanes
Joe and Rebecca Jaworski
Jackie Cole and Harvey Rice
Chula and Ramon Sanchez
Susanne and Gerald Sullivan
Date: 2012-04-27