Saturday, June 13, 2009

Housing needeed

Greetings Friends,

I’m an irregular but proud student of the Merritt environmental department. I recently moved out east to Diamond/Laurel this past October into the old Peralta family dairy house.

I have become friends with a mother, father and 6 year old son from El Salvador in the neighborhood; Milagro, Juan and Jeramia. They have very little means and live with a single woman around the corner in a small two bedroom home. She graciously shares her home with them in exchange for house/yard work. However, she is now forced to ask them to leave by the end of June to make room to house her son’s family.

Basically, if anyone has or knows of a vacant room or in-law unit in the area that is available for this small family to live while they search for steady work, it would be a generous and compassionate gesture. They are kind, quiet people and have an excellent references.

Thank you for reading. Feel free to call or email me.

Sincerely,

Philip Salcido

2471 Humboldt Ave

Oakland, CA 94601

(510) 926-9818

Tuesday, June 2, 2009

TREE INVENTORY SPECIALIST (AmeriCorps)

TREE INVENTORY SPECIALIST (AmeriCorps)
DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS
Incumbents are expected to have no previous meaningful work experience with conducting tree inventories or plant taxonomy, but must have a willingness to learn and apply their academic training to the required assignments.
EXAMPLES OF DUTIES
Assists with the following:
• Conducts neighborhood inventory of street trees in the public right of way, measuring and recording data such as the species, height, girth and spread of the trees, assessing the tree’s general condition and possible interference with vehicular and sidewalk clearances, signs, signals or street lights and notes critical site characteristics.
• Inputs the observed data into hand-held data collectors and uploads the data into an inventory database.
• Reviews records, identifies discrepancies and researches information.
• Performs related work.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
Education and Experience:
You must have a high school diploma or equivalent, be a U.S. citizen or legal resident and have attained the minimum age of 18. College education and/or experience in plant sciences, such as Urban Forestry, Horticulture, Botany, Environmental Science or Landscape Architecture is highly desired. A 675 hour commitment is required. Transportation to and from the neighborhood inventory sites will be the responsibility of the trainee but compensation will be paid by mileage for the use of a personal vehicle.
Knowledges and Abilities
• Knowledge and ability to use computers and related applications.
• Ability to learn taxonomic characteristics of trees for accurate identification.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relations with others.
• Ability to carry out oral and written instructions.
• Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.
Licenses and Certificates
Possession of a valid driver's license authorizing operation of a motor vehicle in the State of California will be required in performing duties.

Benefits
$6000 stipend – distributed evenly over the term of service
$1800 AmeriCorps education scholarship