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Greetings!
The Environmental Forum of Marin begins its 35th year with a new Board of Directors. Also new are changes to the course names.
The old traditional Training Program is now called the Sustainable Earth Forum or Forum Series for short, while the Workshop Series is the Sustainable Communities Seminar or Seminar Series for short.
Note the new Forum Series begins September 11th.
Encourage friends to sign up!
Many thanks to Mia Pelletier (class 31) for compiling ENews and First Thursday emails so artfully for the past three months while I was away.
Enjoy this issue!
Sherry Stanton
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Welcome Message from President David McConnell
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In this, my first communication with my Forum co-members (and invited guests) as your President, I want to introduce our new Board of Directors.
Class 34, which graduated last February, is well represented by Bruce Ackerman (Community Education), Penny Clark (Publications), Barbara Thornton (Forum Series), Kim Sauvé (Forum Series Assistant ) and Valerie Merrin (Seminar Series). Two of them are double grads - Penny Clark and Barbara Thornton are also graduates of the Seminar Series so they know twice as much as the rest of us.
You officer team is myself, joined by a very strong group: Dianne Fruin returns to our Board as Vice President, Solvig Palm-Nicholls is Past President (of course!), Vicki Rupp continues as Treasurer, and Barbara O'Grady rejoins the Board, this time as Secretary.
Keeping their positions on the board are Anne Faught who oversees program admissions, David Weckler in charge of the IDC, Wendy McPhee Public Relations guru, and John Nygren keeping our website modern. Last, but not least, we will have the wisdom and experience of Joan Boessenecker as our Nominating Chairperson.
Remember that those are all volunteer positions, and each of us needs help from our members and non-Forum members (there is no requirement to be a member of the Forum to serve on one of our committees - all one needs is some available time, imagination, and a commitment to improving our natural environment). If you want to help make a difference in our world, contact any one of us - we have a place for you!
by David McConnell
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First Thursday Communty Choice Aggregation
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Another successful First Thursday event on June 7th with Supervisor Charles McGlashan (Class 30) and about 25 people in attendance. Charles described Community Choice Aggregation in Marin, how it would work, and what the potential risks and benefits are. The business plan should be completed in the next 6 to 9 months.
Charles answered a host of different questions demonstrating his command of the issues, and his political savvy about how the choice will progress. It looks very promising, as though they will be able to basically guarantee rates equal to or less than PG&E, with a fairly rapid ramp up of the renewable mix.
The revenue stream could enable some interesting financing options, for example, to help individuals and businesses decide to install solar, or to stimulate development of other renewable energy sources in Marin (perhaps small hydro in MMWD, tidal generation, wind).
by David Weckler
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Sustainable Marin Community Choice Aggregation page |
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Forum Series Program seeks Coordinators
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Barbara Thornton (class 2A & 34), Forum Series Director, seeks coordinators for two training days:
Geology 9/18 & Transportation and Energy 12/18.
If you are interested in planning an exciting program for either one of these days, or you know of someone suitable, please contact Barbara at Training@MarinEFM.org.
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Fairfax Bans Plastic Bags
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Fairfax is the first city in Marin to ban plastic bags in grocery stores, retail stores and restaurants.
Final approval will come July 11th and the ban would become effective around February 10th, according to the Marin IJ.
Fairfax follows the supervisors in San Francisco who initiated the war on plastic bags this past spring.
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See Marin IJ's article |
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The Clean Tech Revolution by Clint Wilder
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Clint Wilder (class 31) and Ron Pernick, have written "The Clean Tech Revolution" showing how clean-tech markets offer the best opportunity for wealth creation while solving some of the greatest issues facing humankind.
Congratulations Clint!
See "Events" below for book readings by Clint. .
Purchase The Clean Tech Revolution at your local bookstore!
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Clean Tech Revolution Web Page |
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Another book by Kimberly Rider
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Kimberly Rider (class 32) has just published her second book, "Organic Baby", following the release of her first book, The Healthy Home Workbook.
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See Kimberly's website |
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Climate Change and California
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Ellie Cohen, Executive Director of Point Reyes Bird Observatory, one of a handful of people trained by Al Gore to give the talk "An Inconvenient Truth", has her own talk on "Climate Change and California: How Conservation Can Help".
Contact Ellie to find out when or where her next presentation takes place. Or arrange a talk for your own group or organization.
Not to be missed!!
Ellie ends her talk with a peek into our grandchildren's world, via a short film, "Climate: A Crisis Averted", which looks back from 2056 and recounts how ordinary citizens in 2006 - realizing that global warming was a scientific fact and not a climatic theory -- take action to demand clean energy and other planet-friendly options.
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Watch the short movie |
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Seaflow Seeking Executive Director
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Seaflow is seeking an experienced environmental leader and inspirational organizational head to build upon their strong foundation to help usher in a new Seaflow chapter. Emphasis is on leadership, fundraising, media representation, and interpersonal relationships.
Applications with resume to info@seaflow.org or call 415 229-9366.
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Open Space Naturalist Walks
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Marin County Open Space District Naturalist Walks Program is on the website - take a look and chose one of the many offerings. This is a gift to local residents wanting to explore the diverse natural wonders of Marin County.
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For details see.... |
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College of Marin Courses
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The College of Marin Summer Programs include two by Charlotte Torgovitsky, Garden Education Manager of the Marin Art and Garden Center. Charlotte is a published author on the subject of gardening and is a Marin Master Gardener.
Sat June 30th, 10am-2pm - "Beauty from the Beast: Butterflies from Caterpillars" at their Kentfield Campus
and
Sat July 28th, "Home Composting" at Marin Art and Garden Center
Check Events, below, for the Native and Natural Gardens tour.
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Check the Website for registration |
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More Member News
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Carrie Sherriff (class 32) was part of the organizing committee for Mrs T's hugely successful "Clean Up Mill Valley Day" in April. Here she is at her stand.
Madeleine Wood (class 22) presents "Chasing The Sun", an exhibition of her oil paintings and watercolors.
July 16 to August 19 .
Founder's room gallery at the Belvedere, Tiburon Library,
1501 Tiburon Blvd.
You are invited to an opening reception on Saturday, July 21, from 1 to 3pm. Call 415-435-6269 if you would like a photo of a painting
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Upcoming Events
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Sat June 23rd, 7pm An evening with Paul Hawken at Toby's Feed Barn, Point Reyes Station. For tickets, Point Reyes Books or Marin Organic
Sat June 30th, 10am-2pm, Malt Walk on Gause Farm above Stafford Lake, Novato. See Malt website for a list of all their walks/hikes
Sun, July 1st, 7:00 pm George Lakoff, in conversation with environmental journalist Mark Dowie, Point Reyes Books
Wed July 11th, 12:30 pm Clint Wilder reads from "The Clean Tech Revolution" at Stacey's Books, San Francisco
Thu July 12th, 7:30 pm Clint Wilder at Books Inc., Alameda
Sat Jul 14th, 10am-2pm Native and Natural Gardens Tour
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