1. Start somewhere. Just get your campaign rolling. Learn from those doing similar work. You’ll figure out how to roll it as you go.
2. Get help to do the rolling—a lot of these things need to be rolled uphill. Collaborate and work to your strengths.
3. Keep it rolling. Difference-making takes patience and persistence. Pick your battles, prioritize, and interact with people one-on-one as much as possible.
4. Pause often to rest, recharge and re-strategize – but mostly to glance back downhill to see how far you’ve come.
5. Don’t be discouraged when “the top of the hill” turns out to be just a narrow ledge before the next climb. There’s always further to go. And even if we don’t win this war, today’s advances help us prepare for tomorrow’s battle.
Jane A. Clark is a volunteer and freelance writer based in Toronto’s west end. In 2013, she helped spread the word about EAB and ash trees in her neighbourhood. To learn more about her experience as an EAB Ambassador, check out her great blog series from last year:
How I Spent My Summer Vacation
On Saturday May 31st, come join LEAF and York Region for a free and very informative workshop on EAB. Learn how to identify ash trees and the signs of EAB, the most effective ways to share information with your neighbours, and about planting programs to get new trees growing in your neighbourhood. This workshop will set you up with all the tools you need to become an outstanding EAB Ambassador!
We must act now to defend our urban forest. Help spread the word. Become an EAB Ambassador. It’s easy and we help you every step of the way.
LEAF’s EAB Ambassador Program and this training workshop are made possible by the support of York Region and Ontario Power Generation.