40th Spotlight: Veteran Board Members Reflects on KSB’s 40th Anniversary
As Keep Smyrna Beautiful says goodbye to its 40th year, the three longest tenured members of the board of directors came together to reflect on past successes and future goals of the organization.
Board Chair Phyllis Owens joined the board in 2015. Lisa Castleberry came on in 2014. Nell Robinson, the longest serving member, joined in 2004. Together, the three women have contributed an impressive total of 40 years of service to the board.
Memories of the past
Castleberry was born and raised in Smyrna. Her mother, Betty Williams, was already active in KSB when she joined. In addition to Castleberry’s board duties, she and her husband Robert have an adopted mile of roadway in Rose Garden Park as part of KSB’s Adopt-a-Mile program.
“When we got our Adopt-a-Mile sign, people thought they’d changed the name of the street,” longtime KSB Board Member Lisa Castleberry recently shared. “That was so funny!”
A councilmember and childhood friend recruited Nell Robinson after she moved to Forest Hills. She recalls how becoming part of the board helped her meet new friends.
“Being on the board gave me an introduction to the community,” said Robinson. “You’re picking up litter all over the area, you’re meeting friends that you never had before. It’s a great way to meet people and be exposed to all the different programs available.”
Owens, who was initially a stop on the Smyrna Garden Tour, agrees. “Once I was on the garden tour and met all the fabulous people on the board, I was pulled in,” she said.
Building community while serving
All three board members identify KSB’s Garden Tour as a point of entry for many residents over the years.
Each year, five Smyrna residents open their private gardens to tour ticketholders. The event serves as the primary fundraiser for Keep Smyrna Beautiful while also providing inspiration for gardeners at all levels from beginner to master.
In recent years, the tour has also placed an emphasis on native plants and pollinators. Visitors have had the chance to learn how they can support pollinators, which are responsible for one out of every three bites of food we eat.
While not as glamorous, the three women say that litter cleanups also create their own kind of inspiration and sense of belonging.
“I remember the last time I did a cleanup and someone at a house down the street yelled ‘Thank you!’ and I thought, oh that feels so good to help,” said Owens. “It feels good to know that someone appreciates the work. We all want our home to be special.”
Meeting people where they are
“One of the wonderful things I’ve always appreciated is how many programs we have,” said Robinson. “If you’re not interested in gardening, you can pick up litter or mark storm drains. And there are so many education opportunities for children and families.”
Even the Bring One for the Chipper Christmas tree recycling event can be seen as an educational opportunity, Robinson pointed out. Many people don’t know that you can recycle Christmas trees by turning them into mulch.
Other popular events include Document Shredding, where residents can bring their personal documents to be safely shredded and recycled and the fall Jonquil Bulb Sale. KSB also works with schools to bring programming to the classrooms and provides annual School Grants. Smyrna schools to apply for money to be used toward environmental education, beautification, and school gardens.
There truly is a Keep Smyrna Beautiful program for almost every member of the community.
Looking to the future
When thinking about the next 40 years, these KSB board members hope to keep doing the work that Keep Smyrna Beautiful is known for while increasing awareness and reaching more residents.
“I would love if everyone knew Keep Smyrna Beautiful’s name and what we stand for,” said Owens. “And then by that, I envision a huge volunteer team!”
“I hope we keep growing, keep doing,” added Castleberry. “And more and more people learn about what we do and about the recycling center. You’re never too old to learn something new.”
Keep Smyrna Beautiful Executive Director Julie Barwig agrees.
“Inspiring our community to be clean, green, and beautiful is Keep Smyrna Beautiful’s mission,” she said, “and part of that is making sure people are aware of our work and are aware of the ways they can personally be better stewards of the environment.”
Looking ahead, KSB has a lot to be excited about. Last month, KSB broke ground on the first of many planned Pollinator Pockets—small, easy-to-recreate gardens that support the lifecycle of native pollinators.
In addition to the Pollinator Pocket program, in the next year, KSB is working to grow the Adopt-a-Mile litter abatement program, reach more students with critical environmental education, and expand access to recycling education for residents of all ages.
