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Greetings!
President's Message Well, it's beginning to feel like the home stretch. The Sustainable Communities Seminar concludes tomorrow, March 28 ... and we're all looking forward to the Annual Meeting on May 16. Both the Sustainable Earth Forum and the Sustainable Communities Seminar were very successful, producing many newly minted advocates for Marin's environmental community. Many of them are concurrently enrolled in Dominican's Sustainable Practices Certificate Program. We're hoping for a big turnout at the Annual Meeting, which will once again be at The Club at McInnis, to celebrate another successful year ... and look forward to the future of EFM. This meeting is for members only so if you haven't paid your dues, please do so soon.
Vicki Rupp
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EFM Survey Coming Soon
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EFM will soon be sending out via email a survey of your interests, how we might better serve you, and how you might be able and willing to contribute to our cause. We'll also send the survey by hard copy to those who request one. Please take this opportunity to let us know what is on your mind! We are in this environmental boat together and want to facilitate connection and activism among our members.
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Sustainable Communities Seminar Final Update
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SCS 2009 is drawing to a close on Saturday March 28 and it was a great success. We had great attendance, great speakers, and the support of all the coordinators among EFM members who really pitched in to fill out the program. From two stimulating energy days covering fossil fuels and climate change we moved on to waste issues which covered the mantra REDUCE, RECYCLE and REUSE. Land use and planning covered Marin County's plans and the ins and outs of land use issues, some creative architectural ideas to build more sustainable homes and the concept of permaculture. Last week we covered various options for transit here in Marin focusing on the local transit links necessary to make mass transit accessible.
Our last session will be a forum covering what each of us can do to move towards a more sustainable Marin and we will have presentations from several successful non-profits established here in Marin who have made a difference. Hopefully they will get some new volunteers and members from among our participants.
Once again, thank you to all who helped us put on another successful Sustainable Communities Seminar. Valerie Merrin, Director Donna Bohegian, Asst. Director
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Sustainable Communities Seminar |
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Holiday Party Leftovers
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Our host, Susan Rusche, still has a lovely Christmas plate, a shell-shaped bowl, two serving spoons, two serving forks, and a butter spreader. People wishing to claim these items should contact Susan at susan@rusche.com.
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EFM Members In Action
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Sustainable San Rafael - an EFM project by Class 32 members Kiki La Porta and Sue Spofford - now has a new Board with Kiki as President and Bill Carney as Vice-President. SSF has been working with the San Rafael City Planning Department to create a San Rafael Climate Change Action Plan (see below). Starting in May, SSR is planning to have regular SSR Forums and Community Education events.
The members of San Rafael's Green Ribbon Committee, including EFM's own Chrise de Tournay Birkhahn (35), Kay Karchevski (35), Kiki La Porta (32) and Damon Connolly (3A) held their final meeting on Wednesday March 18, and approved last revisions to the final draft of the Climate Change Action Plan. That plan will be presented to the San Rafael City Council on Monday, April 20. If enacted, the CCAP will mark a significant shift of focus on the part of City government. Hopefully all of Marin's cities will follow suit.
Please let us know what you're doing so we can include more information about EFM members. Email enews@marinefm.org. Thank you!
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Marin Conservation League 75th Anniversary Dinner
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This is a special year for Marin Conservation League - the League's 75th anniversary! The League is staging several events and projects to commemorate the occasion. Ongoing throughout the year is MCL's history project, a book that is being written with the help of Marin historian Barry Spitz. The League's history, which is inseparable from the history of conservation and environmental activism in Marin, is in pieces - in clipping files, boxes of photos, history room archives, etc. - so we are pulling that together into an illustrated book, to be published later this year. The history of MCL has also been intertwined with the history of the Environmental Forum, so the shared stories should be of interest to members of the Forum.
Immediately on the horizon is MCL's Annual Dinner on April 17th, at the Mill Valley Community Center, 5:30 to 9:00 p.m. It will be a special 75th Anniversary event ("Honoring the Legacy - Looking to the Future"), with tributes by our local and state politicians, and a program to both enlighten and entertain. Keynote speaker is Bill Press, well-known news commentator, who led environmentalist Peter Behr's successful bid for State Senator. The dinner is MCL's official "annual membership meeting" but is open to all who are interested. Information can be obtained from MCL's web site or by calling 415-485-2657.
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Marin Conservation League |
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Going Green in Marin: Land, Water, Food & Sustainability
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The Marin History Museum and Dominican University will be presenting a panel discussion on sustainable food production in Marin. The keynote speaker will be Richard Heinberg, author of "Peak Everything: Waking Up to the Century of Declines." Panelists include: Francine Allen, Growing Gardeners, John Finger, Hog Island Oysters, Helge Hellberg, Marin Organic, Neysa King, Tomales Bay Watershed Council, and Lynn Giacomini Stray, Point Reyes Farmstead Cheese.
Admission at Door, General Public $10 Students & Marin History Museum Members Free
When: Saturday, April 4, 2009, 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Where: Angelico Hall at Dominican University, San Rafael
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Marin History Museum |
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March Native Plant Walks
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For the time being, Joe Kohn (34) has turned over the reins of leading the plant walks to Doreen Smith, who Joe calls "THE expert when it comes to the flora of Marin County."
Please check the website for upcoming walks.
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Marin CNPS |
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Friends of Giacomini Wetlands
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The newly formed "Friends of the Giacomini Wetlands" held its kick-off event on Saturday March 21st. The Friends group idea was a class project for recent grad, Tony Williams (36). Volunteers had the opportunity to get their hands dirty at the recently restored Giacomini wetlands site in Point Reyes. Later in the evening, Ann Russell, Associate Research Scientist at UC Davis presented on "Effects of Climate Variability and Long-term Changes in Tomales Bay and the Northern California Coast."
To celebrate the formation of "Friends of Giacomini Wetlands," the Point Reyes National Seashore Association and the National Park Service are hosting a series of field seminars in 2009. Open to the public at no cost, the seminars will meet at 10 a.m., at the corner of 5th and C Streets in Point Reyes Station, and last around an hour, unless otherwise noted.
The first seminar will be on Saturday, April 25 on the topic of Breeding and Migrant Birds. Jules Evens, Principal, Avocet Research Associates will lead the discussion.
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National Park Service |
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Desalination Project On Hold
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To dispel public perception that its recent water rate hike was tied to a proposed desalination project, board members from the Marin Municipal Water District have postponed approving the environmental impact report for the desalination plant. The Pacific Sun reports, however, that "according to MMWD officials, that does not mean they have decided against pursuing to desalinate bay water; a final decision regarding design and operation for the possible facility will come later--and may be put off until 2011."
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Reclaiming Marin's Water Future
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DFA Marin and Progressive Democrats of Marin will be presenting a free program on the environmental and economic realities of conservation over desalination. Author and syndicated columnist Norman Soloman will moderate a discussion between James Fryer, former MMWD water conservation manager, Kerry Stoebner, Attorney, Marin County Water Coalition, and Larry Rose, M.D., occupational/environmental medicine specialist.
When: Tuesday, April 7, 2009, 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. Doors open at 6:15 p.m. for public to talk with local rainwater catchment system suppliers. Where: Mill Valley Community Center, Mountain View Room, 180 Camino Alto, Mill Valley
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Help Wanted For EFM'S Database
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EFM has been evaluating our current database, and determining organizational needs for a revised database structure. We are now at the point where we need to find someone who is familiar with alternative platforms, and can further advise us on selection and implementation. We have money in the budget set aside for this purpose, and a description prepared of our needs. If you have skills to offer on database consultant selection, please let us know. If you know a highly qualified consultant who fits our needs, please let us know so that we can contact that person.
A well-functioning database helps us in our ongoing effort to stay connected with our membership. Contact Bruce Ackerman at bruce@laughingcrows.net to assist in this endeavor.
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Help SPAWN Restore Local Habitat
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Creek Habitat Restoration Every Saturday in April 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. rain or shine. Come on out and help SPAWN plant, prune, and remove invasives along the San Geronimo Creek, essential spawning habitat for the endangered (and quickly disappearing) Coho salmon. Bring your friends and family and join other like-minded folks for a lovely day of sharing stories and restoring Coho habitat! The location varies so please check www.spawnusa.org/upcomingevents/number-5 for updates. Also check out what we've been doing in our Restoration Blog : http://spawnusa.org/pages/page- 202
Native Plant Nursery Days Every Friday in April 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. rain or shine. Join SPAWN volunteers in cultivating beautiful native plants destined for our restoration sites. Everything from native blackberries and grasses to majestic redwoods and douglas fir! Be a part of transforming creekside habitat from the ground up! More information available at http://www.spawnusa.org/upcomingevents/number- 48. Email for directions if interested: Blaine Vossler, Americorps WSP Intern, at blaine@tirn.net.
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SPAWN |
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March Green Tip - Celebrate Earth Day
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Earth Day 2009, April 22, will mark the beginning of the Green Generation Campaign, an initiative that will culminate with the 40th anniversary of Earth Day in 2010. With negotiations for a new global climate agreement coming up in December, make Earth Day 2009 a day of action and civic participation to defend the Green Generation's core principles: (1) A carbon-free future based on renewable energy that will end our common dependency on fossil fuels, including coal; (2) Individual commitment to responsible, sustainable consumption; and (3) Creating a new green economy that lifts people out of poverty and transforms the global education system into a green one.
Check out the website to find an event near you.
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Earth Day 2009 |
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Inspirational Quote
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Submitted by Marcia Sitcoske (35): "What will you do with your one wild and precious life?" Mary Oliver
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