|
2009 EFM Annual Meeting a Huge Success!
EFM held its annual meeting on May 16 at McInnis Park in San Rafael. Fifty people attended including eight from Class 36 and three from 5A. Our president, Vicki Rupp, opened the meeting asking that folks fill out the EFM survey, which will remain up until the end of May. Class 36 members Linda Nave and Whitney Merchant reported on Class 36's grey water advocacy project. Their advocacy persuaded the Legislature to change its proposed recommendation!
Vicki then introduced the 2008-2009 Board of Directors, thanking and bidding adieu to those going off Board this year: Bruce Ackerman, Vicki Dotterer, David McConnell, Valerin Merrin, John Nygren, Cathy Rosekrans, Kim Sauve, and David Weckler. Our 2009-2010 Board of Directors are: President: Vicki Rupp (33) Vice President: Heather Furmidge (34) Treasurer: Leonard Hand (35) Secretary: Bruce Richard (35) Ed. Program Director, Sustainable Earth Forum: Marcia Sitcoske (35) Ed. Program Director, Sustainable Communities Seminar, Donna Bohegian (35) Communications and Marketing Director: Christienne de Tournay Birkhahn (35) Membership Director: Susan Rusche (24) Outreach Director: John Malenic (36)
Lenny provided the treasurer's report, Vicki updated the audience about the Board's stragetic planning, and many attendees shared updates on their efforts to save the planet. . Susan Rushe then presented a gift to Vicki to show EFM's appreciation for her hard work and dedication. The afternoon ended with inspirational songs from local artist Singing Bear.
Photo by John Nygren
|
|
|
Greetings!
President's Message I'd like to thank all the Forum members who attended the annual meeting. It was fun to see so many people so happy to see each other again; and the sound of people enjoying themselves is always so satisfying. I think everyone was pleased to meet the new graduates who were in attendance and learn a bit about what they've been doing since completing the Sustainable Earth Forum and Sustainable Communities Seminar. We were able to conduct our yearly business quickly, and I'm really excited about working with the new board, which will begin at our June 6 offsite. We're already recruiting for this fall's Sustainable Earth Forum. Please direct potential candidates to www.marinefm.org. Enews will be taking a break in July. We'll be back in August. In the meantime, I wish all readers a safe and satisfying summer. Cheers.
Vicki Rupp
|
|
|
|
|
Tremendous Response to EFM's 2009 Online Survey
|
|
Over 115 people completed our recent survey of Forum graduates. These graduates are not sitting still. About 40% indicated they attended a Forum Conversation in the last two years; 50% have publicly advocated on a particular issue, and over 60% have volunteered time at other environmental organizations!
Aside from offering insight on environmental topics and activities we also got great suggestions for improving and expanding EFM education programs.
Considering that the Environmental Forum has graduated over 1000 folks, we'd like to hear from a few more of you. If you did not get our message about the survey or possibly lost it in the deluge of daily email, you can link to the online survey directly at: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx? sm=_2b4L89vUXBeczIzTwkgBnOg_3d_3d Your input will greatly benefit us as we implement the initiatives in our new three-year strategic plan. If you have trouble with this link or wish to scribe your thoughts and ideas on a paper version of the survey, please contact Bruce Richard, mail to: bruce.richard@ymail.com.
|
|
|
|
|
EFM Members In Action
|
|
Class 36 members, Hilary Jeffris and Marie Kerpan announced at the annual meeting that after a couple of years hiatus, Sustainable Mill Valley is relaunching with an organizational meeting on June 2nd. The meeting will be held at Tam Bank on Miller Avenue from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Hilary and Marie ask that you please come prepared with an open mind, ready to discuss any ideas or questions you may have about how the organization can best move forward. They look forward to seeing you there!
Congratulations to Donna Miller (32), Education Director for Sustainable Communities Seminars 2A & 3A, who has just completed the 18- week U.C. Cooperative Extension's Marin Master Gardener Training Program. Donna hopes that if you go to the Marin County Fair on July 5, you'll visit the Master Gardener booth between 1:00 to 3:00 p.m., where she'll be disseminating water- conservation-in-the-garden information.
Please let us know what you're doing so we can include more information about EFM members. Email enews@marinefm.org. Thank you!
|
|
|
|
|
National Wildlife Federation at the Commonwealth Club - June 9
|
|
Road to Copenhagen: Are We on Track? Speakers: John Bryson, Retired CEO, Southern California Edison; Co-founder, Natural Resources Defense Council, Bill Reilly, Chairman, Climate Works Foundation; Former Administrator, EPA, and Larry Schweiger, President & CEO, National Wildlife Federation; Board Member, Al Gore's Alliance for Climate Protection, Is the world on track to make an environmental deal of unprecedented scope? In six months more than 180 nations will gather in Copenhagen to hammer out one of the most far- reaching international treaties since the post-war order was established nearly 70 years ago. The Obama administration is taking a proactive approach. Environmentalists and businesses are weighing in. Is the world on track to make a deal? What will it look like? How is California helping set the agenda?
When: Tuesday, June 9, 5:30 p.m. networking reception, 6:00 p.m. program Cost: $12 members, $18 non-members Where: Blue Room, The Commonwealth Club, 595 Market St., 2nd Floor, San Francisco To Purchase Tickets:
|
|
Commonwealth Club |
|
|
June Native Plant Walks
|
|
Joe Kohn (34) will again be leading wildflower hikes in June. Saturday, June 6 at 10:00 a.m. The Rare Plants of Tiburon - Ring Mountain and Old St Hilary's Marin County's most beloved rare plants make their appearance in two Tiburon locations at the end of May/beginning of June, and in what has become a yearly pilgrimage, we'll be visiting the Calochortus tiburonensis (Tiburon Mariposa Lily - pictured) of Ring Mountain and the Strepthantus niger (Black Jewel Flower) of Old St Hilary's Preserve. On Ring Mt, we'll also likely encounter the colorful Silene californica (Indian Pink) and rare Hesperolinon congestum (Marin Western Dwarf Flax). At St Hilary's we're also likely to see the stately and glorious Lillium pardalinum (Leopard Lily)! This year the trip will be co-sponsored by NARGS - the North American Rock Garden Society - whose members will be joining us for a fun filled floral fiesta. We'll meet at 10:00 a.m. at the top of Westward Drive. To get there, exit 101 at Paradise Drive in Corte Madera, go east about a mile and turn south on Westward Dr, following it uphill to the end. We'll have lunch at the top of Ring Mt, and then travel by car to Vistazo West (a right turn off Lyford Drive near downtown Tiburon) for our second stop of the day to see the precious Jewel Flower. Saturday, June 27, 2009 10:00 a.m. The Rare Plants of Bull Point - Pt Reyes National Seashore As June turns into July at Bull Point on Pt Reyes, what looks to most like just another cow pasture turns into Rare Plant Central!! Last year when we visited this splendid location, we saw a thought- provoking ten CNPS-Listed Rare Plants, all within 1/4 mile of the parking area. There's the fragrant and rare Horkelia marinensis which, on a warm day, will scent the air like honey perfume. There's rare Leptosiphon as far as the eye can see, and colorful and fragrant Monardella growing in the sand dunes. And last but not least, there's rare and/or uncommon orchids and lilies! How is it possible, we wondered, that there could be such a concentration of so many rare and endangered plants in one small location? To get to Bull Point, take Sir Francis Drake Blvd west, past the town of Inverness, and at the fork in the road several miles past Inverness, follow the sign towards the Pt Reyes Lighthouse. Bull Point is a few miles from the fork in the road, about a mile or so past the Drakes Bay Oyster Farm.
All hikes are free and open to the public, so please invite your friends. Please come prepared for any type of weather or conditions, and please bring lunch and plenty of water, binoculars and/or hand lenses, and your favorite field guides. For further information, contact Joe Kohn at 415- 459-0231 or drop him a line at joko@foxvalley.net
|
|
Marin CNPS |
|
|
6th Annual Fairfax EcoFest - June 13 & 14
|
|
Who says "being green" isn't fun? The Fairfax Ecofest 2009, a festival within the Fairfax Festival, is an ecological celebration! Come share your ideas with local environmental groups, shop for organic goods and services, indulge in organic food, wine and beer, hear locally grown music, view art and have fun with the kids. The festival starts Friday night, June 12th with a family friendly film shown on Central Field at 8:00 p.m. Bring a blanket or low back chair to sit on and they'll supply the popcorn. On Saturday and Sunday, don't miss organic beer and wine tasting featuring a wide variety of local and international producers. The Ecofest Music Stage hosts local performers to keep you entertained. This year they have over 50 organizations for you to interact with, several local artists will show their work and there's a place for kids to romp. Since its inception in 2004, Ecofest has showcased vast changes in public awareness and behavior around environmental pollution, dwindling resources and climate change. The vision for the Fairfax Ecofest was a collaboration of local residents led by Fairfax Councilmember Larry Bragman who wanted to use the historic Pavilion building as part of the long standing Fairfax Festival weekend. It's a place where businesses and individuals with expertise in sustainability interact with the community by offering resources and information for healthier, more conscious lives.
When: June 13 - 14 Where: Fairfax Pavillion
|
|
Fairfax EcoFest |
|
|
Marin HomeCARES
|
|
Marilyn McConnell (30) is coordinating a fantastic program to recycle medical equipment and supplies at Marin HomeCARES. You can bring clean and useable equipment and supplies to their recycling depot in San Rafael on any Wednesday between 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. You can donate unwanted wheelchairs, walkers, canes, crutches, bath benches, shower stools, grabbers, and unused soft goods such as diapers, sterile dressings, and bed pads. If you need this type of equipment, you can obtain it free from the program.
HomeCARES is a locally run, non-profit program that collects durable medical equipment and gives it to individuals in need. Call HomeCARES Equipment Recyclers voicemail at 415-388-8198 and leave a message, someone will call you back. You can also call Marilyn McConnell for more information at 415-897-2664.
|
|
|
|
|
Friends of the Giacomini Wetlands Seminar - June 20
|
|
Did you know that five creeks including Lagunitas Creek drain into the Giacomini Wetlands at the headwaters of Tomales Bay? Come learn about the amazing hydrology of the Giacomini Wetlands on June 20. This second of five planned field seminars sponsored by the Friends of the Giacomini Wetlands (Tony Williams' Class 36 project) will be led by two key people that were involved in the restoration of the wetlands: engineer Rachel Kamman, (Kamman Hydrology and Engineering), and hydrologist Brannon Ketcham (National Park Service Water Resources Chief).
When: Saturday, June 20, 10:00 a.m. Where: Point Reyes Station. Meet at the entrance gate at 5th and C Streets
|
|
|
|
|
EFM Classifieds
|
|
EFM renews its call for help with our revised database structure. We are looking for extra help from those who are 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. Thank you.
|
|
|
|
|
Walk Into History With Marin Conservation League - June 20
|
|
Marin Conservation League and the Marin County Parks and Open Space District are proud to present a Walk Into History on "Northridge" as part of MCL's 75th Anniversary Celebration. The Blithedale Ridge above Mill Valley serves as an important open space link between communities. "Northridge" was preserved in 1976, after fifteen years, thousands of volunteer hours and donations from the communities of Mill Valley, Larkspur, Corte Madera and Kentfield. On this free 3-mile hike, the first of four Walks Through History scheduled in honor of MCL's 75th anniversary, local historians will talk about the passion and creativity it took to preserve this land and MCPOSD naturalist David Herlocker will describe the native habitat and its species.
When: Saturday, June 20, 2009, 9:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Where: Meet at the Crown Ridge Trailhead at the end of Crown Road in Kentfield. From Sir Francis Drake, go south on College Avenue, right on Woodland Road, left on Evergreen Dr., left on Crown Road and proceed to the end. Carpooling is recommended. To register, please call MCL at 415-485-6257 or email us at mcl@marinconservationleague.org.
|
|
Marin Conservation League |
|
|
Corte Madera Approves In-Fill Housing
|
|
The Pacific Sun reported that the Town of Corte Madera gave the go ahead to add 300 apartments on top of The Village shopping center and 180 new units at the WinCup location. Corte Madera has already added public apartments and is the only city in Marin to show a gain in population according to the US census report last done in 2007. Corte Madera added 134 people in the period from 2000 to 2007.
|
|
|
|
|
SPAWN June Activities
|
|
SPAWN has a lot going on in June. In addition to their weekly Native Plant Nursery Days on Fridays, from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., and Creek Habitat Restoration on Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., SPAWN is involved in or is sponsoring these additional activities:
Volunteer Appreciation Celebration on Tomales Bay. Sunday, June 7. Potluck, silent auction, and awards ceremony celebration taking place 4:00 to 9:00 p.m. at the beautiful Inverness Yacht Club along the edge of Tomales Bay. Bid on kayak trips, fantastic art, new Patagonia gear, and more! Fundraiser at Iron Springs Pub & Brewery in Fairfax. Tuesday, June 9. SPAWN is the benefactor of "Give Back Tuesdays", the weekly fundraiser at Iron Springs Pub & Brewery. A portion of all food and beverage sales will go directly to SPAWN. Three cheers to fundraising beers! Fairfax ECOFEST and Parade. Saturday, June 13. Join SPAWN in a raucous jaunt through downtown Fairfax to kick-off the Fairfax Festival and EcoFest in the annual Parade! Later, SPAWN will be set up in the EcoFest Pavillion. SalmonAID. Saturday and Sunday, June 20-21. SPAWN will be set up in Jack London Square, Oakland, for the second annual SalmonAID festival! Fisherman, environmentalists, artisits, and musicians band together to spread the word that salmon need our help.
Please email blaine@tirn.net or visit the website for more information.
|
|
SPAWN |
|
|
The Story of Stuff in the New York Times
|
|
Many of you have undoubtedly seen the amazing 20-minute video about the effects of human consumption and how much we waste. Now the video is getting even wider play. The May 11 New York Times article about the video made the most e-mailed list.
You can read the story here:
|
|
"A Cautionary Video About America's Stuff" |
|
|
Green Sangha June Events
|
|
MARIN FARMERS' MARKET (MFM). Sunday, June 21, 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Having eliminated styrofoam from the Thursday night market in 2008, MFM last week eliminated plastic produce bags from the Fairfax market. Their goal: voluntary elimination of plastic produce bags by customers and vendors in all eight of their markets. Cathy Rosekrans (20) is leading our volunteers in customer education at the Civic Center market on the third Sunday morning of each month. If you have participated in the Rethinking Plastics training and would like to help, RSVP to Cathy: katerine2@earthlink.net. RETREAT: INNER & OUTER RESTORATION AT GREEN GULCH FARM. Sunday, June 28, noon to 6:00 p.m. This event is a highlight of each season. Green Sangha opens with lunch in the dining hall of the Zen Center, then participants gather for a brief orientation. Our gentle supervisor, Sukey Parmelee, guides us through an afternoon of work which seems almost leisurely. Yet, looking back, we see tangible results: removal of invasive plants, building of trails, restoring of stream banks, planting of native shrubs and trees. At 3:30 we gather for tea and muffins, then retire for a Green Sangha discussion. We conclude with meditation at 5:00 p.m., followed by a brief Zen ceremony. "ADDICTED TO PLASTIC." Can we live with plastic? Can we live without it? This entertaining film by Ian Connacher explores these questions in vivid detail. Mainstreet Moms of West Marin, joining the Rethinking Plastics campaign, has organized a screening of this important film on Monday, June 29, at the Dance Palace in Pt. Reyes Station. Film at 7:00 p.m., discussion at 8:30, and homeward at 9:00. Donation for the Rethinking Plastics campaign requested. RETHINKING PLASTICS TRAINING. This two- session class provides a basic understanding of plastic pollution, an overview of creative solutions, and core skills of communication that are useful for tabling, talking to store managers, or persuading friends to reduce their plastic consumption. We also explore mindfulness meditation as taught by Thich Nhat Hanh. Donation covers costs of instruction and course materials ($25 suggested). Dates will be arranged after the showing of Addicted to Plastic on June 29. Location: Pt. Reyes. If you would like to get on the list for this class, RSVP to Elizabeth Little (510) 532-6574 or info@greensangha.org.
|
|
|
|
|
June Green Tip - Save Gas on Your Summer Roadtrips
|
|
The Union of Concerned Scientists' top tips for saving gas:
- Don't Speed. Most cars hit their fuel-efficiency sweet spot around 55 miles per hour, but fuel economy quickly declines at higher speeds. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, observing the speed limit can boost fuel economy between 7 and 23 percent.
- Check your tires. Vehicles with underinflated tires require more energy to move down the road. According to the DOE, keeping tires properly inflated can boost fuel economy about 3 percent.
- Get a tune-up. According to the DOE, replacing a dirty air filter alone can boost mpg as much as 10 percent.
- Be weight conscious. Don't overstuff your car. For every 100 pounds of extra weight in your vehicle, fuel economy decreases by 1 to 2 percent.
- Over the long run, buy a high MPG vehicle. Consumers can save the most money by driving less and buying the most fuel-efficient vehicle that meets their needs.
|
|
Union of Concerned Scientists |
|
|
