November 29, 2000
Environmental Council Meeting Minutes
November 29, 2000
Le Chateau D
Chair: Nan Jenks-Jay
In attendance: Nan Jenks-Jay, Ben Wessler, Kathy Morse, Caitlin Hicks, Amy Seif, Krista Siringo, Katy Saunders, Oren Frey, Charlie Sargent, George McPhail, Erik Skovsted, Mike Snow, Pete Ryan
Absent: Story Parker, Carlos Lopez-Hollis, Jon Isham, Tom Kelly
1. The meeting was called to order at 4:25 p.m.
2. The minutes from the November 8, 2000 meeting were approved.
3. Environmental Fair Wrap-Up
A. The Event:
Oren reported that the event went well, and it was followed by a positive article in The Campus. About 20 organizations had tables at the Fair. Dining received no negative feedback about the vegetarian items. The Council thanks Oren, Story, Carlos, Charlie, George, Caitlin, and everyone who sat at the EC table for their help with the event.
B. Survey Results :
The results of the survey asking about A/C switches in Ross indicated that most students wouldn't mind if there was a switch for A/C that only worked in the summer in their rooms. The issue, however, for Facilities Planning appears to be the cost of A/C switches.
4. Environmental Council Related Activities
A. Presentation to the SGA:
Katy talked to the SGA at their last meeting about the activities of the Environmental Council for this year. The SGA is very interested in the parking issue. The VP of the SGA is interested in attending an Environmental Council meeting.
B. Parking Study Committee:
The Committee has not yet made a decision on first year parking. The committee intends to develop several options and then hold a public meeting to discuss the options.
C. Student Workers for Dining Events:
In order to offer re-usable diningware, student help is needed during the Holiday Party on December 15 and during the Midnight Breakfasts during finals week. Students interested in helping with dishwashing during the Breakfasts should contact Kit Quesnel in Proctor. Students interested in helping separate compostables during the Holiday Party should contact Amy Seif. Students are paid for their time. Each student in the EC will try to find 2-3 people to help out during the Holiday Party.
5. Sub-Committee Updates
A. Environmental Grants :
No new grant applications have been received as of yet. The recipient of the greenhouse grant requested an additional $2000 to cover expenses that were not originally accounted for. Amy will send out additional announcements about the grants during J-term.
B. Climate Change:
The group is waiting for the methodology for an emissions inventory, which should be available from UNH in a month. The group will work on a Climate Action Plan for the College. The A/C policy is almost finished.
C. Environmental Peak :
The Peak sub-committee is presently reviewing recommendations from Pathways to a Green Campus.
D. State of the Environment Report:
The group has collected websites that define the Ecological Footprint concept. They are making plans for gathering infromation next semester, and they are following last year's list of contents.
6. Other Business
A. Debbie Edleson Award :
Professor Steve Trombulak asked the Council to consider reviving the Debbie Edleson Award for Environmental Activism, which has only been awarded twice in the last five years. The trophy sits in Steve's office. There is no institutional memory for which organization originally presented the award, but we know that it was not Debbie Edleson's family. Mike knows the Edlesons and will ask them if they remember which group sponsored the award. The Environmental Council will try to be the institutional memory for the award and will make other grups aware of its existence. The award should be publicly displayed in Bicentennial Hall.
B. Socially Responsible Investing :
An information session on socially responsible investing is taking place in Burlington on November 30. Derek Hammel, the College's investment administrator, is attending the event.
C. Outdoor Recycling Bins :
A student petition is going around that asks the College to purchase recycling bins for the outdoor trash stations around campus.
7. Sub-Committee Meetings
The Climate Change sub-committee and Environmental Peak sub-committee met. Sub-Committees should consider what items need to be discussed with President McCardell during our annual meeting with him.
7. The meeting was adjourned at 5:45 pm.
Minutes respectively submitted by Amy Seif on December 4, 2000.
