Communications Assistant
The Communications Assistant will help to engage community members as watershed stewards through use of communications tools, including but not limited to social media, grassroots campaigns, press releases and printed materials. The Communications Assistant will expand TTF’s public presence by growing the organizational email contact list, tracking stakeholders who do not have email access and develop new methods to reach them, maintain and improve a dynamic social media presence and website, design targeted print materials, write press releases and create monthly newsletter content. Apply online here.

Educator
The Educator will work with businesses, community organizations, schools and existing TTF partners to provide education and service-learning opportunities related to watershed issues and stormwater management. The goal of the Educator is to provide stormwater management and watershed education and to promote clean water practices through a series of lessons, trainings and stewardship activities. Once the VISTA has become familiar with stormwater management, watershed education, neighborhood issues, lesson planning and event coordination, s/he will begin to make connections with businesses, community organizations, schools and partners in the watershed. S/he will have the opportunity to draft a year long education/service-learning plan as well as organize and lead watershed presentations and workshops for new and existing partners. Apply online here.

Awards will be given in the categories below, although candidates may not be selected in every category. Awards will be presented at our first annual Watershed Milestones Award Ceremony & Reception this May 31 at the Fairmount Water Works Interpretive Center in Philadelphia. Nominations are due by March 15, 2012.

Award Categories:

Municipal: A municipality or municipal agency within the watershed that has made a significant contribution to improving or preserving the watershed.

Private Sector: A company that has demonstrated a commitment to improving the watershed through responsible land use and stewardship.

Educator: A teacher who has demonstrated an understanding and commitment to the environment, initiating change in student perspectives about the natural world.

Youth: An individual or group of individuals under 18 years of age who have made a significant contribution to improving or preserving the watershed.

Friend: An individual or group of individuals who have made a significant contribution to improving or preserving the watershed.

Download the nomination form here!

Show your support of TTF by bringing your friends and family for a delicious and fun dining experience at Trolley Car Diner & Café.

From Monday, December 12 to Sunday, December 18, we’re holding an important fundraising event at Mt. Airy’s Trolley Car Diner and East Falls’ Trolley Car Café. As part of their Helping Hands Week fundraising program, they’ll donate 15% of TTF coupon purchases towards TTF’s award-winning efforts. Please be sure to bring this coupon with you to support TTF — download the .pdf here!

Please join us — invite all of your friends — take your kids out to breakfast – your staff out to lunch – your mother out to dinner!

DATES: Monday, December 12 at 7:00 a.m. to December 18 at 9:00 p.m.
TIMES: Monday – Friday: 7 a.m. – 9 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday: 3:00 – 9:00 p.m.
PLACE: Trolley Car Diner, 7619 Germantown Avenue, Philadelphia, PA and East Falls’ Trolley Car Café, 3269 S. Ferry Road, Philadelphia
CONTACT: Contact TTF at 215-844-8100 or at info@ttfwatershed.org. For directions or more information about Trolley Car Diner & Café, go to www.trolleycardiner.com.

See a list of all Disaster Recovery Centers here. We will also be adding more flood recovery resources to our website, here.

The Cheltenham Township sanitary sewer system has been damaged by recent historic flooding, causing sewage to leak into the Tookany Creek at a few locations. EVERYONE IS ADVISED TO STAY OUT OF THE TOOKANY CREEK eastwards from Wall Park, through High School Park and along the Tookany Creek Parkway. Keep pets away from the creek as well.

The damaged sanitary sewer lines are located near Wall Park and the Melrose Country Club. In addition, the sanitary sewer bypass installed last summer has to be shut down periodically for repairs, increasing the possibility of sewage overflows near Ogontz Field and Shoemaker Road.

For more information, contact the Cheltenham Public Information Office at ngibson@cheltenham-township.org.

Gerry Kaufman, chair of the TTF Board of Directors welcomed Julie Slavet as the new Executive Director, saying, “Julie was selected from among a group of highly qualified finalists for the position. Slavet brings to TTF talents and experience that we need as we move forward with the Philadelphia Water Department and our other partners in implementing Philadelphia’s ambitious stormwater management plan.”

Slavet brings to TTF over 20 years of increasing responsibility in community affairs, program development, and personnel management. Most recently, she served as the senior district staff member for Congresswoman Allyson Schwartz, leading constituent services and outreach efforts in a district of 650,000 constituents in Montgomery County and Northeast Philadelphia. Throughout her career, Slavet has been instrumental in building relationships with elected and appointed officials at all levels of government, as well as in corporate, educational and community-based organizations. Prior to serving as District Director, Slavet expanded the programs, membership and reputation of the Eastern Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce while serving as Executive Vice President. Slavet also serves as a Director of the Hiway Theatre Board, an Advisor to the Jenkintown Community Alliance, and a Director of the Montgomery County Democratic Women’s Leadership Initiative.

“I’m excited about bringing my skills, experience, network, and energy to working with TTF’s incredible Board, staff, and partners to continue to build upon its effectiveness and critical impact upon the watershed and region,” says Slavet.

The TTF Partnership would like to acknowledge the outstanding contributions of former Executive Director, Sarah RobbGrieco, who expanded the organization from a volunteer-based partnership to a fully staffed highly successful nonprofit organization. During her tenure as Executive Director, RobbGrieco expanded the organizational staff from one to four full time employees and raised the organizational budget by 500%.

For more information about the TTF, please visit www.ttfwatershed.org. To contact Julie Slavet, email julie@ttfwatershed.org.

It is with both excitement and sadness that I announce my impending move and resignation from TTF. My husband and I have been offered a home in Vermont close to our family, and we are choosing to take hold of this opportunity to start a new chapter of our life near our parents, siblings, nieces and nephews, aunts and uncles.

This is a bittersweet move for me. Though I am gaining the proximity to family that I crave, I am losing a family of another kind. It will be very hard for me to leave TTF and all the incredible friends I have made through the work of improving our watershed together. I cannot imagine a better group of people to work with than TTF’s Board, staff, partners, volunteers and community members. It has been a life-changing time for me here at TTF and, as I have told many of you, this is surely the best job I will ever have.

I want to thank you all for four wonderful years. I have learned and grown so much in that time because of you. Thank you for sharing yourselves and your work with me. I will cherish this experience always.

We are currently searching for a new Executive Director to guide TTF through its next phase of growth, and we plan to make that transition in mid-June. We have posted the position on Idealist and a number of other websites. Please feel free to spread the word.

All the best,

Sarah

Budget Hearing
Tuesday, April 12, 2011 at 2 p.m.
Philadelphia City Hall, Room 400

Show City Council that YOU support work of the Philadelphia Water Department! If you want Philadelphia to be a green city with clean waters, please join us! Rally for stormwater management and the protection of our drinking water supplies! Thank you for your support.

Penn State Cooperative Extension Master Gardener Program

This program consists of a volunteer training course designed to provide experienced home gardeners with the information and skills necessary to share their experience and knowledge with others and to promote horticultural and environmental stewardship. Once weekly, three hour long, classes will be held starting Wednesday, August 10th, 2011 and continue for 14 weeks.

In exchange for over 50 hours of instruction, candidates must agree to donate 20 hours of volunteer service a year to Penn State Cooperative Extension. Some volunteer activities currently carried out by Master Gardeners in Philadelphia include teaching container gardening to senior citizens, instructing youth in raised bed vegetable growing, and answering gardening questions at special events and on the “Hortline” garden phone.

There is a program fee of $175.00 to cover the cost of the training manual and other materials. Applications are being accepted through June 15, 2011. For more information please contact Doris Stahl, Horticulture Educator or Kim Labno, Master Gardener Coordinator, at the Penn State Philadelphia Outreach and Cooperative Extension office, 111 N. 49th Street, 3rd floor north, Suite KN3-100, Philadelphia, PA 19139 or call (215) 471-2200.

The Pennsylvania State University is committed to the policy that all persons shall have equal access to programs, facilities, admission, and employment without regard to personal characteristics not related to ability, performance, or qualifications as determined by University policy or by state or federal authorities. The Pennsylvania State University does not discriminate against any person because of age, ancestry, color, disability or handicap, national origin, race, religious creed, sex, sexual orientation, or veteran status. Direct all inquiries regarding the nondiscrimination policy to the Affirmative Action Director, The Pennsylvania State University, 201 Willard Building, University Park PA 16802-2801; tel. (814) 863-0471.