Fall Color: Not Just for Trees Anymore

Each day of glorious warm sunshine like the one we are enoying in Portland today causes us to wonder if it will be the last for a good while. But even if it is, we're beginning to see a lot of fall color in our world. I've especially been noticing the maples turning scarlet and red and crimson and vermillion and everything in between lately.

But have you noticed that fall color is not just for trees? Check out the Beautyberry (Callicarpa) that's causing passersby in front of my house to stop in their tracks and stare these days. Between it and the fruit on our porcelain berry vine and Clerodendrum tree, we are sitting pretty even if we don't count the leaf color. Yet more reasons to be grateful we live in a gardening paradise.

Now to the news, delivered by our evermore blogging staff members:

• We've announced our first grants of Fall 2011, which include eight awards for Community Food Systems support. READ MORE
• Program officers Kim Thomas and Sally Yee led the Community Food Systems work for MMT and have shared what they and others have learned so far. READ MORE
• Director of Grants Administration Phoebe O'Leary offers up a summary of MMT awards during our most recently completed fiscal year. READ MORE
• Technical Operations Manager and Geek-in-Residence Aaron Nelson explains why the loss of Dennis Ritchie is an even bigger loss to the tech community than Steve Jobs, may they both rest in peace. READ MORE

Here are a few interesting things I've come across in recent days you might find useful:

Do you think physical gatherings will be increasingly replaced by online convening? Here's an interesting report from the Case Foundation – Your Virtual Seat Awaits: Key Takeaways from Planning and Executing a Virtual Convening. It finds that "While some will argue that an online convening could never replace the value of the relationships built and the networking opportunities that stem from being in the same physical location at the same time – there is a strong argument to be made for keeping costs and travel expenses at a minimum and involving individuals from a wide spectrum of backgrounds and industries who may not be able to otherwise participate. What’s more, the shortfalls of the traditional meeting model, with an on-stage presenter talking to a passive audience, is replaced by a much more interactive and dynamic exchange that allows for dialogue not only between speakers and participants but between participants themselves."

Ready to think big? The Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University has published The Million Dollar List, described as "the nation's most complete data on million dollar gifts" and "the only public and free record of publicly reported gifts of $1 million or more since 2000." The site includes a list of top donors and recipients in each state, including Oregon's list.

With that, I'll turn you loose so you will have more time to go out and fall for fall color. :)

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