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April's First Thursday
Executive Director, Marilee Eckert, Marin Conservation Corps The April 3 First Thursday features conversation and discussion with Marilee Eckert, executive director of the Marin Conservation Corps. The mission of the Marin Conservation Corps is to develop youth and conserve natural resources for a strong, sustainable community. MCC achieves its mission by: · Providing a diverse group of youth and young adults with opportunities to transform their lives through education, employability, civic engagement, and leadership. · Caring for our environment by conserving and restoring natural resources, and by improving recreational areas. · Creating the environmental leaders of the future by teaching environmental ethics and behaviors to children, teens and adults. · Making communities safer by reducing fire and flood hazards and by responding to public emergencies and disasters.
Founded in 1982, Marin Conservation Corps is the nation's first local nonprofit conservation corps. Since its inception, Marin Conservation Corps has shown more than 3,000 young people between the ages of 11 and 30 the way to a brighter future.
Where: CVNL/MarinSpace, 555 Northgate Drive, San Rafael (Across fromSears Auto Center in the Northgate Mall).
RSVP@marinefm.org if you think you might be attending. This will help us set up the room. Even if you can't tell us in advance you are welcome to decide at the last minute. Thank you - we'd love to see you!
Link to Directions.
For more information on the presentation |
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Greetings!
Please join us for EFM's FIRST THURSDAY, featuring Executive DirectorMarilee Eckert, Marin Conservation Corps Date: April 3, 2008 Time: 7 to 9 p.m. Location: CVNL/MarinSpace, 555 Northgate Drive, San Rafael
Click the first item on the left, below 'IN THIS ISSUE," for details.
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Sustainable Communities Seminar
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SCS is over and we have covered lots of ground. Moving from energy and fuels, we were on to water resources and toxics. On Water Day we heard from several people from Marin Municipal Water District and North Bay Water District about what they are doing to preserve and protect our water supply.
Some great information was also supplied on home landscaping and other ways to limit water consumption. Jeanne Ballestero and Joe Kohn (both Class of 34) coordinators for the session, both provided excellent additional information on native plants, preserving native habitats and landscaping ideas from Marin Master Gardeners. Brock Dolman of Occidental Art and Garden Center gave an enthralling and animated presentation on our life in a watershed and how we can live sustainably and protect our watersheds.
Toxics and the three R's featured three speakers on toxics (Sharyle Patton from the Biomonitoring Resource Center and Debbie Raphael and Robert Haley from SF Dept of Environment covered in depth the various toxins under study and what is being done about them. All news was not bad as SF and CA are leaders in legislation and education about the effects of toxins.
Garbage and recycling alternatives and facts were ably presented by Patty Garbarino of Marin Resource Recovery and Hilary Gans of SBay Waste Mgmt. Authority. Trip Allen (coordinator along with Louise Gilbert and speaker) gave us some additional insights using his own experiences to illustrate what can be done. Submitted by Valerie Merrin, Sustainable Communities Seminar Series Director (Class 34
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For further information |
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EFM's Sustainable Earth Forum training program begins September 9, 2008
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If you have not been through the comprehensive 18-week program, do not miss your opportunity this year. The environmental advocacy exposure and experiences offered are one-of-a-kind, leading the participants to an increased understanding of the scientific, social and economical aspects of the complex environmental issues facing our society.
Past class members have found their new knowledge to be life-changing as they try to live more responsibly in the limited space of earth. If you cannot participate this year, perhaps you can ensure that your concerned friends have the opportunity to receive this education by forwarding this email to them.
We hope you will join us in this ongoing effort to assist our community in making informed decisions on issues affecting the environment in which we live. Held on Tuesdays each week with the exception of holiday weeks, beginning on September 9 and ending with graduation in February 2009. Submitted by Kim Suave, Assistant Training Director (Class 34)
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Seminar series details |
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Member News
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Jordan Harris (Class 31), a founder of OZO Car has just launched a great new daily guide to the best of green living called OZOlife. This webzine/guide is great for keeping up with the best environmental news, views and other healthy lifestyle information. Add it to your favorite bookmarks
The former Chairman of Virgin Records US, Jordan co-founded Rock The Vote, and is a member of the board of Global Green. In 2006 he started OZOcar with Roo Rogers. Jordan's Marin County solar-powered house is a source of endless entertainment for his wife and two sons.
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OZOlife |
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Kimberly Danek Pinkson, the founder mentioned in a recent NY Times article, is a member of the current Sustainable Communities Seminar. One of the country's wealthiest places, Marin County, is hardly a hub of voluntary simplicity; its global footprint, according to county statistics, is 27 acres per person, a measure of the estimated amount of land it takes to support each person's lifestyle (24 is the American average). There is an average of 4.5 acres of biologically productive surface of the earth per person worldwide--and half of that needs to be reserved for wildlife. So, we in Marin use 5-10 times our fair share of biocapacity.
Members of the EcoMom Alliance "are fighting a values battle," said Tim Kasser, an associate professor of psychology at Knox College in Galesburg, Illinois, and the author of The High Price of Materialism. "They are surrounded by materialism trying to figure out how to create a life more oriented toward intrinsic values."
"It's like eating too many brownies one day and then jogging extra the next," said Kimberly Danek Pinkson, 38, the founder of the EcoMom Alliance, speaking to the group about efforts to curb eco-guilt through carbon offsets for air travel.
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For 'EcoMoms,' Saving Earth Begins at Home |
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Sustainable Earth Forum grads form monthly hiking group
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Recently graduated Class 35 of the Sustainable Earth Forum have created a monthly hiking group. The first hike was in February, coordinated by Marcia Sitcoske, who led the group to Carson Falls in Fairfax. The weather was spectacular and everyone had a great time.
Top photo: bottom row--Kathy Cuneo, Anne Moore, Marcia Sitcoske, Bob Cuneo, Peter Theran. Top row--Vicki Dotterer, Mary Chapman, Kim Sauve, Barbara Lovejoy, Beki Simon, Paul Moore, Grace Livingston, Lee Fitzgerald. Bottom photo: Anne Moore, Lee Fitzgerald, Marcia Sitcoske, Pete Theran, Beki Simon.
Submitted by Kim Suave, Assistant Training Director (Class 34)
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Volunteers Needed to Staff EFM Booth at Pickleweed Park Eco-fair
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Volunteers are needed to staff the EFM Booth on Saturday, April 19 at Pickleweed Park, where San Rafael Clean will hold an Eco-fair. If you are interested in helping to staff a booth to promote the environmental education opportunities that EFM offers please contact Teri Meadows at volunteer@MarinEFM.org
The following shifts are available: 11:45 am - 1:00 p.m.; 12:45 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.; 1:45 pm - 3:00 p.m. Feel free to bring a significant other and buddy up for a shift! It should be fun!
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Marin Environmental News in the "news"
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There will be a public hearing for SMART on April 9th at 6:30 PM in Novato at the School District office. Also another public hearing in Santa Rosa on April 16th. The last day to comment on the DSEIR will be April 24th. If you are on the mailing list to receive a hard copy of the document, they will be mailed out in the next day or so. Person in charge of distribution of the hard copies is Chris Coursey. Otherwise, you can find the DSEIR posted at the SMART website.
Marin Municipal Water District Rebate Program- Bay-Friendly Landscaping & Gardening.
MMWD encourages its customers to adopt Bay-Friendly landscaping and gardening practices by offering a rebate program for the purchase of efficient irrigation equipment and supplies to upgrade existing landscapes. Rebates range from up to $350 for residential customers and up to $3,500 for commercial customers to help Marinites improve and beautify their existing landscapes.
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For more information: |
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Nature Hikes
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Spring is finally here - time to enjoy the lovely weather and the wildflowers. Marin County Open Space Walks Join David Herlocker on Marin County Open Space Spring Walks. Check the schedule on the Website at the above link.
California Native Plant Society Hikes Take a hike with Joe Kohn (34) and the Marin chapter of the California Native Plant Society. All hikes are free and open to the public, so please invite your friends. All walks begin at 10 a.m. · Thursday, April 3, 2008, Deer Park · Sunday April 6, 2008, Jepson Prairie Preserve · Thursday, April 17, 2008, Pump House Road · Sunday, April 20, 2008, Missimen Wildflower Preserve · Tuesday, April 22, 2008, Rock Spring · Tuesday, April 29, 2008, Chimney Rock
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Meeting points for Native Plant Society hikes |
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An Evening with Diane Wilson, author of " An Unreasonable Woman"
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March 29, 7:30 p.m. at the Dance Palace in Point Reyes Station, a fundraiser for the Chicken Ranch Beach Restoration Project
Diane Wilson, author of An Unreasonable Woman: A True Story of Shrimpers, Politicos, Polluters and the Fight for Seadrift, Texas. The book is a lyrical and gripping narrative about Diane's life as a fifth generation shrimper fighting toxic pollution on Texas' Gulf Coast. Molly Ivins called her "the most extraordinary woman." This event is a fundraiser for the Chicken Ranch Beach Restoration Project, co-sponsored by Point Reyes Books and the Tomales Bay Watershed Council. $10-20 suggested donation
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World Environmental News in the "news"
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Can green cities save a blue planet? That question was posed last week by Harvard climatologist Daniel Schrag, director of Harvard's Center for the Environment. The professor of Earth and planetary sciences and professor of environmental science and engineering was one of three technical experts who spoke at a conference March 5 - co-sponsored by Harvard and the city of Boston - on the regional impacts of global warming. The short answer: Cities can help. For one, the experts say, they generate 75 percent of the greenhouse gases contributing to climate change. And cities are the teeming brains of the world - "incredible focal points for innovation," said Schrag.
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Earth Day, April 22
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Use Google to find exciting Earth Day events in which you can participate.
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Creating Undersea Yosemites: The Marine Life Protection Act
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The Environmental Action Committee of West Marin and Ocean Conservancy invite you to an exclusive preview of the new underwater state parks and reserves being created along our coast.
When: Tuesday April 1, 6-8 p.m. Where: Four Points Sheraton, San Rafael, CA (1010 Northgate) Learn how you can participate in this public process to provide real habitat protection for California's marine life. Submitted by Frederick Smith, Jr. (Class A3)
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