December 13, 2000
Environmental Council Meeting Minutes
December 13, 2000
Le Chateau D
Chair: Nan Jenks-Jay
In attendance: Nan Jenks-Jay, Kathy Morse, Caitlin Hicks, Amy Seif, Krista Siringo, Katy Saunders, Oren Frey, Erik Skovsted, Pete Ryan, Story Parker, Jon Isham, Tom Kelly
Absent: Carlos Lopez-Hollis, Ben Wessler, Charlie Sargent, George McPhail, Mike Snow
1. The meeting was called to order at 4:25 p.m.
2. The minutes from the November 29, 2000 meeting were approved.
3. Membership
A. Students Going Abroad:
Katy Saunders is going abroad during J-term and spring semester. Oren Frey is going abroad during spring semester. Amy will talk to Carlos to determine his plans.
B. New Members :
The Council this year already has one student over the alloted number, so with two students going abroad we will need to find one new student member. The SGA will appoint the new member, and Amy will announce the opening via table tents.
4. Sub-Committee Updates
A. Climate Change:
Since Katy is going abroad, Mike Snow has volunteered to be the new Chair. The text for the A/C Policy has been drafted with Jon Woodbury's approval, and Nan will bring it to the senior staff. Once the senior staff have given their comments, the EC will vote on the policy. The A/C Policy will focus on residential buildings. Clean Air-Cool Planet is interested in working with the EC on the emissions inventory and action plan, and an MOU is being drafted. Charlene Garland from CA-CP is interested in visiting to discuss this with the entire Council.
B. Environmental Peak :
The sub-committee will read selected articles on sustainable campus initiatives to become familiar with where the college can go from here. Leaders in thinking on sustainable campus issues will be invited to visit Middlebury to meet with the EC. These visitors may include Tony Cortese from Second Nature and Bill Moomaw from Tufts University. The group is finding that, since Middlebury is already a leader in this area, it is hard to find information on what more we could be doing.
5. Meeting with President McCardell
A. Date and Time :
Tuesday, January 23 has been chosen as the date for EC to meet with the President. Meetings during J-Term will take place on Tuesdays (9,23). For the Jan 23 meeting, we will meet in Old Chapel 206.
B. Agenda:
The Council discussed items that should be on the agenda for the meeting with President McCardell. Items include the Environmental Grant Program (what grants have been awarded, next year's funding), the Council's interest in reducing our greenhouse gas emissions (Clean Air-Cool Planet partnership, Recycling Center's potential use of alternative energy, deregulation and generating alternative energy, visions for the future, costs), Clean Cities Initiative (thank the President for signing plan), A/C Policy, and Midd's strength on sustainable campus issues (on the forefront with Peak Task Force and greenhouse gas emissions inventory, publicly disseminating responsible building standards).
6. Semester's End Report
A. Accomplishments :
This semester, the Council has awarded seven environmental grants, collected missing diningware from the residence halls, put on a successful Environmental Fair, developed an air conditioning policy for the college, and determined the ecological footprint to be the focus for the next State of the Environment report. The students on Council were commended for the great enthusiasm and committment shown this semester.
B. Looking Ahead :
By the end of the academic year, the Council expects to spend the remaining $12,000 for Environmental Grants, conduct a greenhouse gas emissions inventory and get started on a Climate Action Plan, conduct research for the next State of the Environment report, develop a section in the Peak Report on sustainable campus issues, and plan Earth Day events.
7. Sub-Committee Meetings
The Environmental Grants sub-committee and Events sub-committee met. Another grant has been awarded; a grant for $2020 will go to Ben Wessler for his project, "The Environmental Impact of Middlebury's Outdoor Orientation Programs." The Events sub-committee discussed possible Earth Day events.
7. The meeting was adjourned at 5:45 pm.
Minutes respectively submitted by Amy Seif on December 18, 2000.