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Greetings!
President's Message
2008/09 is shaping up as an exciting year for the Environmental Forum of Marin. On June 22 the newly elected Board of Directors held a one day retreat to get to know each other and how each board member fits into the continuity of EFM through their participation on the board. Two exciting things happened at this retreat. First the participants in the upcoming EFM strategic planning initiative met together for the first time. In addition to the directors, they are Nona Dennis, Kathy Cuneo, Phyllis Faber, Joan Boessenecker and Dianne Fruin. Second, the board established its tactical objectives for 2008/09. So, we're rolling.
This new board is amazing! I am so impressed by the energy and "can do attitude" of the directors. Hope all of you readers got a chance to visit our table at the Fairfax EcoFest ... and have just the perfect person you're encouraging to take this fall's Sustainable Environment Forum. Have that person call 415-479-7814. We'll take it from there! Vicki Rupp
Please join us for EFM's FIRST THURSDAY: The organizers of the sustainable, local and organic cooking class series will present slides from their first class and preview their next one: "Meat, Fire and Beer."
When: July 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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Harry Moore (1929-2008)
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We note with sadness the passing of EFM member and one-time EFM Board member Harry Moore (19), and we extend our deepest sympathy to his wife, Forum member Callita(19), and his family.
Mr. Moore was a longtime Marin County political leader, serving as a Novato school administrator, Novato mayor, member of the county Board of Supervisors and a trustee on the board of the College of Marin.
Memorial services will be held on Saturday, July 12 at 3 p.m. at the Margaret Todd Center in Novato on Hill Rd. Contributions can be made to the EFM Scholarship Fund for trainees at P.O. Box 150459, San Rafael, CA 94915-0459 or Sustainable Novato at #106, 852 Diablo Ave., Novato, CA 94947.
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Please spread the word about the next Sustainable Earth Forum
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Please help get the word out about the next 18-week SEF, which begins September 9, 2008. As always, the program will focus on sustainability, ecology, human impacts on the environment, resource management, and citizen and community action, with the goal to provide knowledge to individuals who are, or who would like to be, involved in making decisions affecting their community. The $380 fee covers all costs and includes a one-year EFM membership.
Registration for this one-of-a-kind opportunity is now open and enrollment is limited. Those who enroll before August 1 will receive a special rate of $350.
Contact info: admissions@marinefm.org or 479- 7814.
For more information and registration instructions, visit us at www.marinefm.org.
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Pax Scientific in the New York Times
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Jay Harman, the founder of 2008 EFM Golden Acorn recipient Pax Scientific was featured in a June 8, 2008 article in the New York Times.
Photo - Jay Harman of Pax Scientific.
To read the article:
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Pax Scientific in the New York Times |
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Marin City Farm Stand Opens
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The Environmental Education Council of Marin announced the opening of a farm stand in Marin City. The farm stand provides access to nutritious, sustainably grown produce and provides employment and job training for local residents. The farm stand also provides community education on nutrition.
The farm stand is located at the entrance to Marin City on Drake & Buchanan. It will run every Friday from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. & every Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. until the end of September.
If you would like to learn more about the stand please contact the Environmental Education Council of Marin at support@eecom.net .
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Environmental Education Council of Marin |
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EPA Bans Use of Wildlife Poisons
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An enviro victory: After more than a year of review the United States Environmental Protection Agency just announced that extremely toxic "second generation" rodenticides will no longer be available to consumers. Professional pest control operators will also face significant restrictions on their use - restrictions intended to protect children, pets and wildlife. In spring of 2007, WildCare's patient #0061, a Red-shouldered Hawk, was brought to Wildcare's wildlife hospital nearly dead from eating a rat poisoned by rodenticides in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park. This beautiful bird helped WildCare and others publicize the dangers of rodenticide use to our wildlife. To learn more about this issue and read this bird's amazing story, go to
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Wildcare |
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Vision Green Workshop for San Rafael's Climate Change Action Plan
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On Saturday, July 26, the City of San Rafael Community Development Department is hosting "Vision Green: A Community Workshop" - a collaborative brainstorming session for the San Rafael community to come together to envision a sustainable future.
WHEN: Saturday July 26, 9:00 a.m.- 3:00 p.m . (coffee available at 8:30 a.m., lunch provided only with RSVP)
WHERE: The MYC Youth Center 1115 Third Street, San Rafael
To receive a free boxed lunch, RSVP to intern3@ci.san-rafael.ca.us or 485-3067 by 5:00 p.m. Friday, July 18th.
Public parking is available across the street in the Third & A Street garage or the Third & C Street garage.
BACKGROUND: The San Rafael Climate Change Action Plan Green Ribbon Committee (which includes several EFM grads) has started its work to create a vision for a sustainable San Rafael. The City of San Rafael wants to hear from residents, business owners and community members about what can be done about purchasing, recycling, sea level rise, weather adaptation, energy, land use, transportation, green building and urban forestry. This project has been funded in part by a grant from the Bay Area Air Quality Management District.
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EFM Members In Action
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Nona Dennis (0) - President of the Marin Conservation League. One of EFM's very own esteemed founders, Nona Dennis, is the new President of the Marin Conservation League. We congratulate Nona and wish her well in her new endeavor.
Grass-fed Beef - Yum
Get your taste buds ready for a delicious way to support Marin agriculture. EFM grads Helene Holl(35), Beki Simon(35), Marcia Sitcoske(35) and Leigh Kenny(35), in partnership with the Marin Agricultural Land Trust (MALT), will be holding the second class in their popular seasonal cooking series, focusing on grass-fed beef. The class will take place in Pt. Reyes on August 3, and feature Marin Sun Farms meat, with Christian Caiazzo of Toby's Feed Barn as the chef. The class has 20 spots open. For registration please call Hope Radner at the MALT office: (415) 663-1158 x307.
Talk about members in action . . . Steven Katz (35), 57, of Larkspur, was the 35th finisher of the Dipsea in Stinson Beach on Sunday, June 8, 2008. The first 35 runners received the coveted black t-shirt, Katz' first in 24 years of running the race. Way to go Steve!
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Nature Hikes Galore
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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. The Society will be slowing down its hiking pace this summer. Joe would like to urge everyone to broaden their horizons with David Herlocker of the Marin County Open Space District, as his 2-3 walks each week have a more general focus on nature, and he can teach you all about birds, insects, trees, snakes, birds, you- name-it and David knows something about it.
Alternately, noted Botanist Glenn Keator offers eight weekday hikes during the month of July in his "California Native Plant Habitats" course at Merritt College. This course meets at eight different parks around the Bay Area, so that you'll get to hike, and learn from the expert, in as many different native habitats imaginable. The cost is only $40 for all eight hikes. Such a deal!
Additionally, if you like to rough it and camp out (and laugh a lot), please consider signing up for Stew Winchester's "Alpine Labs" course at Merritt College. There are botanically oriented trips planned in July to the Ruby Mountains and to the Siskyous, and for the more adventurous, backpacking trips as well. The cost for this class is $20, plus $20 in expenses for each trip. If you sign up early enough, you'll get a seat in the school van on at least one trip, and the State of California will even pay for the gas.
For information on the above Merritt College classes, visit http://peralta.edu. Once there, click on "Class Schedule Summer/Fall 2008." Then choose the option to "Search For Classes" and then choose "Landscape Horticulture" from the pop-up menu.
For further information or questions, call Joe Kohn (415-459-0231) or e-mail him at joko@foxvalley.net
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Marin Open Space District Walks |
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The more the merrier!
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There's a new enviro group in Marin: The Institute of the Golden Gate is part of a new luxury resort in Sausalito, called Cavallo Point. The result of a partnership between the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy and the National Parks Service, the Institute "promotes dialogue, collaboration and problem solving for a sustainable world. Gathering global leaders in various sectors, the Insitute connects scientists, policy makers, youth leaders, and managers to develop solutions for the environment. "
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The Institute of the Golden Gate |
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Take Advantage of Free Water Use Audits
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With water rates rising and the coming drought, now would be a great time to take advantage of Marin Municipal Water District's free water use consultations. A conservation specialist will come to your home and evaluate your indoor water- using fixtures, landscape irrigation system, and water use patterns, and then provide ideas for water- efficiency improvements. To set up an appointment, call MMWD at 415-945-1512.
In addition, MMWD has partnered with Marin Master Gardeners to offer free home garden assessments to advise homeowners how to reduce their landscape water usage. Call 415-945-1521 to sign up.
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Share your green tips!
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Have you made any green changes to your home or life? Please send your green tips to Ellen at obwho@aol.com and we'll print them in the enews. Thank you and may your days be green!
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