January 21, 2003

Environmental Council

January 21, 2003

Minutes

Present:  Megan Smith, Nan Jenks-Jay (Co-Chair), Charlotte Tate, Diane Munroe, Connie Leach Bisson (Vice Chair), Helen Young, Andi Lloyd, Ben Wessler, Andrea Hamre, Katy Saunders, Suzanne Nagi, JS Woodward, Nick Benjamin, Mikey Azzara, Gabe Epperson

Missing:  David West (off campus during J-term), Ben Brouwer (off campus during J-term), Mandy Helwig, Jesi Warren

1.  Minutes of January 7, 2003  No changes requested.

2.  Discussion of Transportation Survey and EC sponsorship

Nan briefed the EC on some of the work that led to the development of the transportation survey (dialog with HR on transportation demand management, work by the ES 401 spring 2002 class, Gabe's summer research as a Ron Brown fellowship and student employment work to conduct the survey this fall).  Unfortunately, despite on-going dialog with members of the Administration during the fall about the survey and other recommendations from the ES 401 class, the Administration recently declined to send it out.  Thinking it would have more receptivity if it came from an entity such as the Environmental Council than from an individual student, the survey is now before the EC for their consideration.

Suggestions to improve the survey included an extended introduction of why the survey and the potential benefit to employees, rewrite certain sections to increase anonymity, consider asking another entity to co-sponsor (such as HR), test the survey on a few people before distributing it to all employees.  Nan requested that the survey be tabled for discussion at another meeting since more work was needed on the survey and how best to collect the data.  Gabe was thanked for the hard work he has contributed to improving transportation options at Middlebury.  Gabe graduates in February and will be working for a transportation agency in Utah that he interviewed during his Ron Brown Fellowship.

3.  Graduation Pledge and EC endorsement

JS presented information on the 2003 Graduation Pledge which states:

I pledge to explore and take into account the social and environmental consequences of my daily actions and of any job I consider, and I will try to improve those aspects of any organization for which I work."

The Environmental Council unanimously supported being an endorser of the 2003 Graduation Pledge.

4.  Carbon Reduction Initiative Working Group

Nan briefed the EC on the first meeting of the CRI stating that she is very excited about the potential of the Working Group to be a useful model both at Middlebury and other institutions.  The first meeting was largely informational with the CRI hearing presentations from Rich Wolfson and Doug Dagan.  Many CRI members were able to attend a presentation the following day in the J-term class that is exploring ways to enable Midd to become carbon neutral.  Jon Duckworth is videotaping key points of the process and will produce a video documentary.  The CRI will attend a final presentation of the J-term class and then meet later in the week to begin discussing some of these recommendations.

5.  Committee Updates

1. Education – JS announced that Cook Commons will be hosting an environmental film "Empty Oceans, Empty Nets" on Tuesday, Jan 28 at 7:30 with a discussion to follow hosted by a faculty member.  Helen reported that this is the prototype of what the Education subcommittee hopes will be supported by the other Commons.  Helen met with Environmental Liaisons from three of the Commons about co-sponsoring environmental films and has sent a list of possible films to them for consideration.
2. Land Use – having reviewed the ES 401 draft report, the subcommittee sees its tasks as defining why it would benefit the College to have a cohesive, unified land stewardship policy.  They plan to develop a framework of specific policies that would be part of the comprehensive policy and then define a process for its implementation.  The subcommittee is taking advantage of land management expertise on campus this week, meeting both with Jose Alminana and Laura Moorehead, landscape architects from Andropoggin Associates and Gary Nabham, Director of the Center for Sustainable Environments from Northern Arizona University.  The subcommittee will be sending a letter to President McCardell outlining their objectives and requesting an opportunity to meet and discuss their goals.  Their desire is to set up a process that is inclusive and to meet with key players early on and develop a policy that is mutually beneficial.
3. Purchasing & Consumption – The purchasing subcommittee will be meeting with Charlie Sargent, purchaser for dining services next week to learn more about meat and fish purchasing done by the College.  Other issues the subcommittee is exploring includes looking at whether there is a need for a guidance document for purchasing furnishings and appliances for new buildings and renovations, cleaning products and from a consumption focus, how to increase the use of double-sided printing on campus.  The subcommittee is considering developing educational materials on specific types of purchasing and environmentally preferable products.

6.  The Environmental Council saluted Feb graduates Katy Saunders and Mikey Azzara, thanking them for their significant contributions to environmental initiatives while at Middlebury, and especially their work on the Environmental Council.

The meeting adjourned at 5:30, allowing the Land Use subcommittee the opportunity to meet with landscape architects Jose Alminana and Laura Moorhead.