October 4, 2000

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Environmental Council Meeting Minutes
October 4, 2000
Le Chateau B
Chair: Nan Jenks-Jay

In attendance: Nan Jenks-Jay, Story Parker, Ben Wessler, Kathy Morse, Carlos Lopez-Hollis, Caitlin Hicks, Amy Seif, Krista Siringo, Pete Ryan, Katie Saunders, Eric Skovsted, Charlie Sargent, George McPhail, Tom Kelly, Mike Snow, Oren Frey, Jon Isham

Absent: Linda Pitkin

1. The meeting was called to order at 4:20 p.m.

2. Introductions
The members of the Council introduced themselves. The eight student members were welcomed to the Council.

3. Introduction to the Council
Kathy Morse presented the history of the Environmental Council. The Council was started in the 1970's by Dave Ginevan as the Energy Council. The Council makes recommendations to the President on issues of environmental responsibility and human welfare, organizes the Environmental Fair and Earth Day events, and provides input, planning and coordination for environmental projects. The Council is a standing committee that meets with the President twice a year. The position of Environmental Coordinator and Director of Environmental Affairs are relatively new positions created that help with Council activities.

4. Environmental Grant program
A. Publicity: Amy has publicized the grants program through Middpoints, The Campus, all campus emails, table tents, and through the ES program.
B. Update: No applications have yet been received, but Amy has heard word of interest in getting solar panels for Weybridge House, developing an urban rooftop garden, designing blueprints for the Environmental Center, and others. Amy will put information on last year's grant recipients on the Environmental Council website (http://community.middlebury.edu/~enviroc/).
C. Selection Committee: One of the sub-committees this year will be the Environmental Grants Selection Committee, the committee who will make decisions about grant recipients. The selection process is detailed on the Council website. This committee should be comprised of at least 1 faculty member, 1 staff member, 1 student, and one staff/faculty from outside the Council.

5. Council Issue of the Year
Several potential issues of the year were discussed. These included Climate Change, Responsible Purchasing, Chemical Use on Campus, and Responsible Investing. The issue of the year is a focal item for the Environmental Council, an issue that we try to "come to grips with" by the year's end. The group was interested in both responsible purchasing and climate change, but decided to work on responsible purchasing by encouraging student projects in this area instead of designating this as the issue of the year. Climate change, which involves both energy and transportation issues, is the Council's Issue of the Year .

6. Sub-Committees:
It is suggested that Council members pick one or two sub-committees that they would like to sit on and email this information to Amy before October 11.
A. Climate Change Sub-Committee : Develop agenda for Council and assist in implementation, includes developing an air conditioning policy for Ross Commons.
B. State of the Environment Report Sub-Committee : Define what will be in the report and recommend methodology and how information with be gathered.
C. Environmental Peak Sub-Committee : Integrate Pathways report with academic program, use Pathways to determine vision for the next five years.
D. Events Sub-Committee : Organize environmental fair and Earth Day events.
E. Grant Selection Sub-Committee : See above.

7. Meeting Dates:
The Council will meet on Sept 20, Oct 4, Oct 11, Oct 25, Nov 8, Nov 29, and Dec 13. All future meetings will held in Le Chateau D, unless otherwise announced.

8. Other Business:
None

9. The meeting was adjourned at 5:40 pm.

Minutes respectively submitted by Amy Seif on October 5, 2000.