<div dir="ltr">Kathleen,<div><br></div><div>This afternoon a statement went out to our entire subscription list, and we posted it on Facebook as well, but I wanted to take a moment personally to say that we took in comments from our presenters, from public health officials, well-wishers and supporters and deemed it our only responsible action at this time. We may have moved slowly, but today we did the right thing. We have notified Whitney Young HS and May Toy that we will not be able to take delivery of any oak saplings at this time.<br><br>Meanwhile be well and stay safe.<br><br>Here is the statement as it went out to our subscriber list.In light of the changing situation around COVID-19, we are postponing our 8th Annual Conference scheduled for March 21, 2020. We are supporting the guidance of Mayor Lightfoot and the Chicago Department of Public Health in doing all we can to minimize the impact of this virus on our community.<br><br>The CCGA Annual Conference has always been a celebration of Spring, a gathering of the beautiful community of gardeners in Chicago. Hugs are always plentiful and ideas flow freely. We are so grateful to those who registered, to the presenters who created an incredible line up of workshops, to our sponsors, and to our exhibitors and vendors. Please stay tuned as we reimagine the conference and make plans for a future event. Even though we won’t be gathering to kick off the gardening season together next Saturday, know that we are all connected by our passion for planting.<br><br>Regards,<br>Lorraine <br></div></div><br><div class="gmail_quote"><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_attr">On Thu, Mar 12, 2020 at 12:43 PM Ecklund, Kathleen <<a href="mailto:EcklundK@mwrd.org">EcklundK@mwrd.org</a>> wrote:<br></div><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rgb(204,204,204);padding-left:1ex">
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<p class="MsoNormal">We can deliver 35. Are you still having your event? <u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:12pt">Kathy Ecklund<u></u><u></u></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:12pt">Public Affairs <u></u><u></u></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:12pt">Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago<u></u><u></u></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:12pt">100 E. Erie<u></u><u></u></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:12pt">Chicago, IL 60611<u></u><u></u></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:12pt"><a href="mailto:ecklundk@mwrd.org" target="_blank"><span style="color:rgb(5,99,193)">ecklundk@mwrd.org</span></a><u></u><u></u></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:12pt">312.751.7927<u></u><u></u></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b>From:</b> Lorraine Kells <<a href="mailto:lxkells@gmail.com" target="_blank">lxkells@gmail.com</a>> <br>
<b>Sent:</b> Wednesday, March 11, 2020 3:30 PM<br>
<b>To:</b> Ecklund, Kathleen <<a href="mailto:EcklundK@mwrd.org" target="_blank">EcklundK@mwrd.org</a>>; M Toy <<a href="mailto:mtoy.usa@gmail.com" target="_blank">mtoy.usa@gmail.com</a>><br>
<b>Subject:</b> Delivery of trees to WY lHS<u></u><u></u></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Kathleen,<u></u><u></u></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Can you give us a window for delivery of 35 trees on the afternoon of Friday, March 20th. May lives nearby and can respond to a cell for the delivery date; however she will need help moving the tree saplings into the greenhouse and it would
be helpful to organize that in advance.<u></u><u></u></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Thanks,<u></u><u></u></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Lorraine<u></u><u></u></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">On Wed, Mar 11, 2020, 9:52 AM Lorraine Kells <<a href="mailto:lxkells@gmail.com" target="_blank">lxkells@gmail.com</a>> wrote:<u></u><u></u></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Kathleen,<u></u><u></u></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Thank you for continuing to offer the trees. With Corona virus concerns, affecting attendance we need to take the number of trees down to 35 but we have no way of picking them up at this late date. Can they still be delivered by MWRD?<u></u><u></u></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Best<u></u><u></u></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Lorraine Kells<u></u><u></u></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">On Wed, Mar 11, 2020, 9:14 AM Ecklund, Kathleen <<a href="mailto:EcklundK@mwrd.org" target="_blank">EcklundK@mwrd.org</a>> wrote:<u></u><u></u></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Hi Julie-<u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Thank you for your invitation but we will be unable to participate in this event. We can send the saplings on 3/20 if you wish; please let me know. Thank you.
<u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Kathy<u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:12pt">Kathy Ecklund</span></b><u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:12pt">Public Affairs
</span></b><u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:12pt">Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago</span></b><u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:12pt">100 E. Erie</span></b><u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:12pt">Chicago, IL 60611</span></b><u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:12pt"><a href="mailto:ecklundk@mwrd.org" target="_blank"><span style="color:rgb(5,99,193)">ecklundk@mwrd.org</span></a></span></b><u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:12pt">312.751.7927</span></b><u></u><u></u></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b>From:</b> Julie Samuels <<a href="mailto:jsamuels1966@gmail.com" target="_blank">jsamuels1966@gmail.com</a>>
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<b>Sent:</b> Tuesday, March 10, 2020 9:26 PM<br>
<b>To:</b> Ecklund, Kathleen <<a href="mailto:EcklundK@mwrd.org" target="_blank">EcklundK@mwrd.org</a>><br>
<b>Subject:</b> Fwd: Completing your registration for the CCGA Conference<u></u><u></u></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:9pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;color:black">Mimecast Attachment Protection has deemed this file to be safe, but always exercise caution when opening
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12pt">Hi, Kathy, , Thank you for your tree donations and the rain barrels and also for your patience! </span><u></u><u></u></p>
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<span style="font-size:12pt">our </span>Exhibitors and Vendors and below are the links for completing your registration and payment: <u></u><u></u></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12pt">W</span>e have two requests . Because the MWRD is running candidates in this year's election we would like you to not incorporate any political information
in your exhibit. Also we have read that the biosolids from the MWRD are not to be used in organic gardens and therefore not where community gardeners are growing food. We would like you to provide that information in your exhibit. Finally, you asked if we
could waive your fee for having an exhibit. Unfortunately, as a totally volunteer, unfunded organization we need to be able to cover the expenses for holding the event<span style="font-size:12pt">. T</span>he modest fee
<span style="font-size:12pt">we are asking also </span>include<span style="font-size:12pt">s</span> breakfast and lunch for vendors<span style="font-size:12pt">. S</span>o, I'm sorry, but we can't waive
<span style="font-size:12pt">your </span>exhibitor fee. <u></u><u></u></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"> I hope this is all acceptable because we are eager for gardeners to have the trees you will provide and I know they will be excited about a chance to win a rain barrel. We would
like to know how and when you will be running the competition for the rain barrels in the conference. <u></u><u></u></p>
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<b><u><span style="font-size:10.5pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">Exhibitor payment link and instructions:</span></u></b><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif"><br>
</span><span style="font-size:10.5pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(88,86,214)"><br>
</span><span style="font-size:10.5pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">Please follow this link to pay the exhibitor/vendor fee:</span><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif"><br>
</span><a href="https://charity.gofundme.com/o/en/campaign/ccga-8th-annual-conference" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(17,85,204)">https://charity.gofundme.com/o/en/campaign/ccga-8th-annual-conference</span></a><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif"><br>
</span><span style="font-size:10.5pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:black"><br>
<b><u>And here is how to do it: </u></b></span><span style="font-size:10.5pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Arial,sans-serif"><br>
Click the green Donate button and select $50. You can adjust the tip amount (for GoFundMe Charity) by clicking on the arrow to the right of 10% and selecting Custom. You can also pay on-site the day of the conference. Please let us know if you plan to do that.</span><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif"><br>
</span><span style="font-size:10.5pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(88,86,214)"><br>
</span><span style="font-size:10.5pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">Please note that your receipt from your GoFund Me payment will reflect the name of our fiscal agent, NeighborSpace.</span><u></u><u></u></p>
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<span style="font-size:10.5pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">If you have any questions or concerns let me know. If not....I will see you there!</span><u></u><u></u></p>
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<span style="font-size:10.5pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">Julie Samuels</span><u></u><u></u></p>
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