Cover letter for the Berry Botanic Garden

I finished my cover letter and have already heard back from Cheryl with suggestions. Here it is in final form



March 23, 2009

Andrea Raven
Conservation Biologist
The Berry Botanic Garden
11505 SW Summerville Avenue
Portland, Oregon 97219-8309
Dear Ms. Raven:

I’m writing to apply for this year’s Summer Conservation Internship. It is a very close match to what I’d like to do for a living after college. I am trained on leaf porometers and a time-dependent reflectometer as well as simple measurements and this is an area that I excel in and enjoy. I also am excited about conservation and botany in general.

I believe I would be an excellent intern for Berry Botanic Garden because I’m a motivated college senior and am ready to start my botany career. I have been working with invasive species in my work-study jobs since summer, 2006. I am trained on monitoring and measuring invasives, and spend my Saturday mornings working for Hands on Greater Portland pulling English Ivy and planting trees. I have always been interested in science and have even served as an intern for the Oregon Regional Primate Research Center. However, my recent studies and experiences have underscored for me how much I cared for botany and conservation. I am very experienced in keeping records during research and know how to use the computer to ensure accuracy. If I had to describe my qualification in a word, it would be "savvy."

The Berry Botanic Garden looks to be as much of a match for me as my last position (blackberry propagation research) which was nearly perfect. I can "do good" while I work which is the direction I need to go. I will meet more people whose work is important to me. I will have a chance to embrace my precision-oriented and natural sides and to grow. I will be excited again to go back to work in what I love to do. Your web site is a place of daydreams for me.

Thank you for reading my letter and considering me for this position. I’d also like to be contacted if you have volunteer positions that I will take (in the meantime or instead) as it is hard to find a paying job or internship. I hope we have an opportunity to meet face to face to discuss your position and the skills I can bring to Berry Botanic Garden.
Sincerely

Mary Wright

Enclosures