Mar 2025
This is a packed newsletter with a lot of exciting updates! In this edition:
Commissioner Upthegrove Visits Friends of Hooven Forest
Working With UW Bothell to Value Hooven Forest
Looking for CRM Expertise
Introduction Mindfulness Class in Nature Starts March 23
Donations to Friends of Hooven Forest
Commissioner Upthegrove Visits Friends of Hooven Forest
This past Thursday, February 27, 2025, from 7-9pm, the Friends of Hooven Forest welcomed Washington State Lands Commissioner Dave Upthegrove to speak with the community about the future of Hooven Forest. An impressive gathering of approximately 90 community members filled the Crystal Lake Clubhouse (echoing the strong turnout from our November meeting) to hear the Commissioner's insights.
After the overview presentation by the Steering Committee outlining the significance of Hooven Forest, Commissioner Upthegrove spoke about his priorities, including preserving "complex forests" like Hooven Forest. A "complex forest" refers to a forest ecosystem with a high degree of structural diversity, meaning it has a variety of tree sizes, ages, species, and canopy layers, creating a rich and intricate habitat with multiple niches for different plants and animals to occupy; essentially, a healthy forest with a diverse range of life forms across different levels of the ecosystem, from the forest floor to the canopy.
For those unable to attend, the Commissioner's speech and Q&A are now available on YouTube. The complete meeting video with the Steering Committee presentation is also accessible online.
The two highlights of the evening were:
Commissioner Upthegrove’s commitment to prevent the sale or timber harvest of Hooven Forest for the duration of his tenure at the Department of Natural Resources. This pledge was met with enthusiastic applause from the audience.
Commissioner Upthegrove’s call to action to protect this forest beyond his 4 year term. He identified the State Trust Land Transfer program as the most promising potential avenue for securing Hooven Forest’s permanent preservation. Further, he committed to connecting Friends of Hooven Forest with a dedicated DNR staff member to assist in developing our application for this program.
So, we have some time, which is good, because we still have work ahead to protect and preserve Hooven Forest beyond Commissioner Upthegrove’s term! After Commissioner Upthegrove's talk, the floor was opened to Q&A and discussion. Many connections were made and conversations continued until 9:30pm.
A special thanks to Lindsey Crofoot, who graciously and spontaneously narrated our “Walk Through Hooven Forest” video when technical difficulties arose. Her eloquence and insightful representation of the Native Pacific Northwest Peoples' perspective were invaluable. As Lindsey reminded us during the Q&A, the Treaty of Point Elliott of 1855 remains a vital document for tribal sovereignty, safeguarding the rights of Native American tribes in the Puget Sound area regarding natural resource access and customary tribal practices. The Friends of Hooven Forest remain steadfast in our commitment to collaborating with members of the Tulalip, Muckleshoot, and Snoqualmie tribes to preserve Hooven Forest. We also encourage you to watch this video filmed in Hooven Forest featuring Lindsey and Tulalip tribal members, highlighting their continued use and connection to the land.
We are also very grateful for the many volunteers who helped distribute flyers for the meeting, posted on Facebook, brought baked goods, helped with our merchandise table, helped set up the Clubhouse beforehand, received food, made coffee, helped with the parking lot, and helped clean up afterwards: Richard Dixon, Mickie Gunderson, Gail Duke, Freddy Howe, Karen Preston, Sherry Scott, Connie Lessard, Nancy Holm, Addison Lewis, and Zach Stevens. Additional thanks to Alex Campbell from onewoodinville.org for videotaping the meeting and Crystal Lake Community for allowing us to use their Clubhouse for the meeting.
Working With UW Bothell to Value Hooven Forest
We are pleased to announce that Friends of Hooven Forest will be partnering with the University of Washington Bothell on one or more undergraduate Capstone projects as part of our Valuing Hooven Forest initiative. Project matching occurs in the fall, and during the winter, students fully engage in the project work, collaborating with community partners to tackle real-world challenges.
As we continue to gather data and research how to value Hooven Forest beyond its timber and real estate value, we hope to work with these UWB students to catalogue the flora, fauna and ecosystem services, and even potentially to create tools we can pass along to others looking to value and preserve intact ecosystems like Hooven Forest.
Watch a video from volunteer Kayo Stone describing the challenges and questions we have for the community around how to value this beautiful forest.
Looking for CRM Expertise
The Friends of Hooven Forest is looking into CRM and/or database software to manage the ever-growing volume of information as we gather steam with projects, donors, stakeholders, volunteers, and committees. The Steering Committee is interested in hearing from anyone who has experience sourcing or using these software tools, especially for nonprofit specific use. Please contact Randy Whalen at randy@hoovenforest.org.
Introduction to Mindfulness Class in Nature - Starts March 23
Do you ever wish you could experience your days with a greater sense of calm, ease and joy?
Do you ever feel overwhelmed and irritable when coping with the pressures of modern day life?
Are you interested in building a supportive community with others in your neighborhood?
Would you like to enjoy the benefits of time in nature?
Join us for a six week Mindfulness Practice Group where we will learn to cultivate present moment awareness and establish a meditation practice.
Class dates: March 23, March 30, April 6, April 13, April 27 and May 4th; all classes are held on Sundays from 4-5:30pm
Location: South Side entrance at 166th Ave NE / 85th Ave SE (Map, Video). We will meet at the trailhead for the first one, but the meeting location going forward will be an open area a few minutes in – at the first fork in the trail
Cost: This class is free thanks to Ana’s support and we welcome donations of $10-20 per class in support of Hooven Forest
For more information, please contact Ana Huston at ae1031@hotmail.com or 425-236-4383
Ana Huston has been practicing mindfulness for the past 12 years. She completed a two year Mindfulness Meditation Teacher Certificate Program with Jack Kornfield and Tara Brach. She also trained in “Awakening Joy”with James Baraz and is currently in the Community Dharma Leaders Teacher Program at Spirit Rock Meditation Center.
Donations to Friends of Hooven Forest
We are currently accepting donations to Friends of Hooven Forest (now a 501c3 organization)!
After donating, you may request a hoodie or beanie using this form:
For a $60+ donation you may request a Friends of Hooven Forest printed full zip hoodie
For a $30+ donation you may request a Friends of Hooven Forest embroidered ribbed knit beanie
For a $100+ donation you may request both!
Thank you for reading our Newsletter, and we hope to hear from you soon!
Friends of Hooven Forest Steering Committee
Randy, Rosa, Jeff and Solveig
This newsletter will be published approximately monthly at the beginning of the month. Please forward to your friends and neighbors — we want to get the word out about our effort to preserve Hooven Forest and recruit more support. If you are receiving this email from a friend or neighbor, you can sign up to receive your own copy of Friends of Hooven Forest Newsletters in your inbox by filling out this form at hoovenforest.org.
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