January 13, 2004

Environmental Council Meeting

Minutes of Tuesday, January 13, 2004 

Old Chapel Room 206

Attending:  Nan Jenks-Jay (Co-Chair), Connie Leach Bisson (Vice Chair), Anne Knowles, David Stoll, Jeff Munroe, Diane Munroe, Gail Smith, Charlotte Tate, JS Woodward, McKalyn Garrity, Erika Holsman, Carolyn Barnwell, Suzanne Nagi, Ashley Clark, Robin Dean, Alyse Forrest, Kristin Fraser

Missing:  Steve Trombulak (Co-Chair), Andrea Hamre, Philip Aroneanu

The meeting began at 4:35 p.m.

I.  Minutes of December 2, 2003

The minutes of December 2, 2003 were unanimously approved as presented.

II.  Announcements

Connie reminded members that the Electricity Reduction Contest organized by a subcommittee of the Carbon Reduction Initiative and supported by the Commons Environmental Liaisons was underway for the month of January.  All residential buildings in each Commons are competing against the electricity used in that building in January 2003.  There will be one winning building in each Commons and they will receive a percentage of the savings up to the equivalent of $10 per person for use by that collective residence hall. 

Nan shared that the National Wildlife Federation sent an e-mail last week while review applications for their Campus Ecology Fellowships that Middlebury College was consistently mentioned by applicants as a model for adopting similar initiatives on their own campuses.  Connie also mentioned that UVM has implemented an environmental grants program this year, based on Middlebury's success.

Nan alerted members to a regional conference of the New England Environmental Education Alliance (Oct 14-17, 2004) that will be held at Bread Loaf.  The College will be co-hosting the event and there will be opportunities for students to attend (it will occur during fall break).  Building Sustainable Communities is the theme and there will be workshops, field trips and general sessions.  More information will be available in coming months.

III.  Environmental Grant program

Nan began the discussion by indicating that she might be able to dedicate $2000 from her Environmental Affairs budget to support a smaller environmental grants program this spring.  She shared that this would allow the EC to have continuously managed this program for five years, which would show its staying power.  The grants have been very successful with outcomes beyond the specific grant work – opportunities for exploration, experimentation and work in collaboration with people one might not otherwise encounter in one's academic path; learning of different skills than are covered in the classroom; experience in grant writing, funder review, grant management, and reporting; and community building. 

Members discussed the possibility of inviting the Commons to co-sponsor the grant program, requesting $200 from each Commons.  Connie will submit a proposal to the ICC.  She and Suzanne Nagi will offer to meet with the ICC at the regular Tuesday lunchtime meeting.  Diane offered to review the existing grant application to see if the scope should be scaled back for the shorter time frame and limited funds.  Collaborative proposals between faculty/staff/students will be emphasized and the grant announcement will indicate that the EC hopes to fund multiple proposals.  Diane, Charlotte and possibly Anne volunteered to serve on the Grants subcommittee.

4.  Other Business

1. Pharos software purchase – Carol Peddie is exploring possible funding opportunities for software that would assist in reducing paper consumption during printer use.  Connie asked that the Paper Reduction subcommittee provide an update on various software options so that the EC might then consider sending LIS a letter of endorsement for investing in one of these programs.
2. Paper reduction education – Ian Ausprey shared a log-in message (draft) focusing on the lost dollars from wasted paper in the labs.  Several members suggested ways to highlight this message, particularly focusing on money.  Should Env Council co-sponsor this with LIS? Erika encouraged the development of a table tent with similar information, noting that the current one on electricity reduction is very informative.
3. Connie shared that the Vermont Department of Public Service is seeking comments on a draft Vermont Energy Plan (20 year) through March 10th.  Connie attended a public hearing in Rutland and felt that more innovative thinking would be beneficial.  She hopes to find a professor interested in having a class review and comment on the plan.
4. New President – Nan reminded the EC that they report and advise President McCardell and may need to spend more time educating a new president.  This could slow or curtail progress in certain areas.  It may be important to review our mission statement and have a reality check about EC and what we might accomplish next year.  Each committee should think about this and what adjustments or planning need to take place as we prepare for this shift.

The meeting adjourned at 3:30 p.m.