A Brief History of T.R.E.E.

The Tampa Bay Reforestation and Environmental Effort Inc. was born in December 1982 as a group of environmentally conscious friends, gathered around a table in the now-non-existent Burrow Restaurant on Gandy Boulevard in Tampa, decided how to proceed with going "legit".  Their names were William Moriaty, Bob Scheible, Nancy Buckley, Greg Howe and Greg Van Stavern.  Having engaged in "guerilla" plantings in the Tampa Bay area since 1978, the group of friends had been encouraged to become an official, registered organization by a young Landscape Architect named J. Michael Callahan, who then worked at the City of Tampa Parks Department.  At that table, they decided the organization's name and original Board Members.  The name was based on a challenge from Bob Scheible to Will Moriaty that Will create a name that could be abbreviated to TREE.  The original name (Tampa Reforestation and Environmental Effort Inc.) was lengthened to Tampa Bay Reforestation and Environmental Effort Inc. in March 1990 when it was realized that half the members (not to mention Board Members) resided in Pinellas County.  The original Board Members were President William Moriaty, Vice President Bob Scheible, Secretary Greg Howe and Treasurer Greg Van Stavern.  T.R.E.E. Inc. received its tax-exempt 501(c)(3) status from the IRS in August 1991.

Current Board Members are President William Moriaty, Vice President Bob Scheible, Secretary Richard Bailey and Treasurer John Blechschmidt  Jr.  Elections are held in January of each year ; office may be held by any T.R.E.E. member in good standing.

The general philosophy behind this organization is spelled out in the corporate by-laws.  Specifically, our purposes are
    (1) to beautify and reforest the Tampa Bay region through the planting of landscape material;
    (2) to further public awareness of the merits of reforestation and landscaping of public and private lands;
    (3) to further public awareness and acceptance of native plants for use in the landscape;
    (4) to promote the increased utilization of species deemed desirable which have not traditionally been
           planted in this area;
    (5) to cooperate with and support the efforts of other organizations of similar purpose;
    (6) to be a clearinghouse of scientific and educational distribution to the public on the merits of species
           usage and selection in the Tampa Bay region;
    (7) The purpose for which this Corporation is organized are exclusively within the meaning of IRS
           501(c)(3) (activity Code 309) or the corresponding provisions of any future United States Internal
           Revenue Law.  Nor withstanding any other provisions of these By-Laws or Articles of Incorporation,
           this organization shall not carry on any activities not permit to be carried on by an organization
           exempt from Federal Income Tax under IRS 501(c)(3) or the corresponding provisions of any
           future United States Internal Revenue Law.  It is not organized for profit, nor shall any of its net
           earnings inure in whole, or in part, to the benefit or private persons, members, or trustees, except
           that the Corporation is authorized and impowered to pay reasonable compensation for services
           rendered or payments for furtherance of the organization  purposes.  No substantial part of the
           activities of this corporation is attempting to influence legislation by propaganda or otherwise,
           nor participating in any political campaign on behalf of any candidate for public office.

• T.R.E.E. Home Page

• T.R.E.E. Board Members and Directors

• Published Documents

• Project Listing

• Annual Report

• Newsletter

• Membership

• Plant Profile (updated quarterly!)

For more information, email us at treeinc@tampabay.rr.com