The Olmsted Society of Riverside offers a wide variety of programs and tangible assets to the Riverside residents and the Village itself. Our work is performed through standing committees. We are always interested in volunteers – let us know if you can help for a little bit or more! We’d love to talk with you!
Landscape: This committee works with the Village of Riverside and other local organizations to identify public green spaces in need of restoration. Scheduled workdays for the year are posted in March and may include removing invasive plants, mulching and planting native species to replace invasive ones. All are welcome at the scheduled workdays & service hour credits are available.
A significant portion of the Society’s budget is dedicated towards restoration efforts. This includes purchasing trees & other plant material, purchasing workday supplies and prescribed burn supplies. Funds also pay for select contracts with outside companies to perform restoration activities not suited to volunteers.
Membership: This committee seeks to encourage new members, and helps existing members renew their affiliation with the Olmsted Society. The committee manages an annual Membership campaign, helps maintain the membership database, and sends required communications. As needed, the Committee communicates with members to explain the Society benefits.
Presentations: Part of the mission of the Olmsted Society is to offer informative presentations about Olmsted and the nature of Riverside. Often this takes the form of multimedia presentations at the Riverside library. Sometimes workshops and walking tours are sponsored. The presentations committee vets the lecturers, schedules, and helps to host the presentations. Topics include Riverside history, environmental issues, urban planning, landscape, design, and more.
Library: In 1986, the Olmsted Society, with guidance from Board members Michael Higgins and Frances Winter, established the Olmsted Collection. This collection of books and other materials related to Frederick law Olmsted has been referenced by local and national scholars, along with many library patrons curious about Olmsted and Riverside. Housed at the Riverside Public Library, the Olmsted collection offers patrons one stop shopping for information related to Olmsted and landscape design, and urban planning. The library committee seeks emerging research and studies about Olmsted, and donates books of topical interest to the library.
Tours: the Olmsted Society sponsors walking tours monthly, from May through October. These two-hour tours, led by knowledgeable Olmsted Society members explore history, lore, and unique attributes of the Village of Riverside. The committee trains docents on an ongoing basis, schedules the tours, and occasionally will conduct special interest tours for groups from around the world. Recently, the tour program expanded in October to add special “ghost tours”— historical tours with an emphasis on the spooky.
Media: The media committee prepares press releases and social media updates on Olmsted Society events and programs. This committee also evaluates the use and effectiveness of various forms of advertising.
Tributes and Trees Donation Program: This committee manages special recognition donations from members and the general public to help enhance the Village Landscape. The landscape needs such as plants, tools, sedges, grasses and more are collaboratively determined by the Landscape Co-Chairs, the Village Forester and the Tributes and Trees Committee.
Architecture: this committee identifies exemplary work by homeowners or public officials in restoring historic buildings or landscapes. Candidate properties are vetted, and awards prepared and distributed.
Website/Newsletter: This committee prepares a monthly electronic newsletter for members and edits and maintains the organization’s websites.
Events: In addition to these standing committees, the Society hosts major events which require planning throughout the year. These include: Annual Meeting (typically in January; a gathering for members and prospective members) Fourth of July Parade; Vintage Baseball Game: (A free exhibition of old-time baseball typical held in July); HopStop (the Society’s major fundraiser, a craft beer festival typically held in September, co-hosted by Riverside Foods).
“Behind the Scenes” Committees: There are also a few “behind the scenes” Board of Director committees that may need input or provide volunteer opportunities from the members at large. These include: Long Term Planning, Research, Advocacy/Village connection, Chamber of Commerce Liaison In addition to your membership donation, we invite you to become actively involved in one of the Society’s committees:
Board of Directors: Every year, we have new board members joining as others move on to other projects. You can look at the job descriptions for different board roles and reach out to the nominating committee at membership@olmstedsociety.org
Board Member
If you have interest in participating, please reach out to the membership committee at membership@olmstedsociety.org.