Minutes
sustainability group
Wednesday, November 2, 2005 • 3:00 – 4:30 pm • Building 16, Room 211
Attendees:
Jennifer Hayward, College Operations
Brian Kelly, Foodservices
Joseph Newton, Science
Amanda Poston, Conference and Culinary Services
Joe Russin, Science
Anna Scott, College Operations – Energy Conservation
Mike Sims, College Operations – Recycling
Jennifer Steele, College Operations
Minutes:
Debrief Tony Cortese Meeting and Bioneers
Members listed things that they appreciated and/or key messages from Tony Cortese’s visit and things that they would recommend doing differently for future facilitated conversations with sustainability experts.
Benefits of Cortese Visit |
Improve for the Future Events |
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1. Appreciated the sense of community that Cortese inspired.
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1. Figure out a way to make outcomes or directions from event(s) more obvious. |
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2. Felt inspired.
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2. Allow more time for group conversation. |
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3. Felt motivated.
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4. Tested assumptions.
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5. Key message: need to develop a strategic plan that drives more action and policy development.
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6. Key message: include sustainability in core values.
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7. Key message: communication and promotion are critical.
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Members also listed things that went well during the Bioneers Conference and things on which the Conference could improve next year.
Went Well at Bioneers |
Improve for the Next Year |
1. Balance of satellite broadcast and breakout sessions was good. |
1. Ensure same or greater level of student participation by offering free access and incorporating Bioneers into classes. |
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2. Earlier recruitment of faculty. |
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3. Look at infrastructure to distribute conference around campus. |
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4. Shorter days. |
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5. Don’t use the big, main room for breakout sessions. It was too noisy because other people used it simultaneously for networking. |
Indicator Reports
Sims reviewed the draft recycling indicator report noting that plastic recycling opportunities are expanding. Scott reviewed the draft energy indicator report. Scott will send a hardcopy to Newton for review. Members noted that the energy report includes energy cost information and suggested that the water indicator report should also include this information. Hayward will include costs of water in the water indicator report. Newton suggested that the top priority recommendation in the water indicator report should be more metering.
Earth Week 2006
Hayward reported that a group of faculty have expressed to her that in order to incorporate Earth Week activities into their spring term classes, they would need to see an Earth Week schedule by mid-winter term. Hayward asked if any members would help plan Earth Week 2006 activities. Newton will help plan. Hayward will contact OSPIRG and ASLCC to ask if they will help plan. Hayward will also ask faculty to recruit students to help plan the week’s events.
Clarify roles of sustainability group (“SustainLane”), sustainability and learning group, and the sustainability core group
Hayward presented the following diagram that shows the roles of each of these groups and their relationships to each other.
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sustainability group
-oversight
-big picture |
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sustainability & learning group
-Group of faculty and others who are working on incorporating sustainability into curriculum at Lane.
-Current projects include creating a list of classes at Lane that already address sustainability and developing principles of sustainability that can be used to create a shared understanding of sustainability that all faculty can use to incorporate these concepts into curriculum. |
energy conservation marketing group
-Reports to the sustainability group.
-Develops and implements energy conservation promotional initiatives. |
sustainability core group
-Essential a Sustainability Office staff meeting. Participants are Sustainability Coordinator, Energy Analyst, Recycling Coordinator, Vice President for College Operations, Assistant to the Vice President for College Operations, and one or more faculty representatives.
-Follows up on directions provided by the sustainability group. |
Members discussed the names and purposes of each group and suggested that the “sustainability core group” name be changed to “sustainability operations group.” Hayward will prepare a document that lists each group and it’s purpose/mission. The sustainability group will review/approve this document. Once it is finalized, Hayward will post it on the sustainability website.
Organic Milk for Childcare
Hayward explained that a faculty member who has a child in Lane’s Childcare program has asked if the sustainability group could help facilitate the use of organic milk for Childcare. Kelly noted that Foodservices orders all of the food for Childcare. He said that the milk is from Lochmead Farms. This is a local, family-owned farm that is not certified organic, but they do not use growth hormone. Members discussed whether the sustainability group could fund the difference in the cost of organic vs. conventional milk for a trial period. Scott and Kelly will research whether the USDA funds that Childcare receives to purchase food can be used for organic milk. Kelly will also determine the cost difference between organic and conventional milk.
Other Business
America Recycles Day: Sims reviewed events planned for America Recycles Day. Master Recyclers will be staffing a table in the cafeteria to promote buying recycled, recycling, and particularly electronics recycling on Tuesday, November 15. There will also be a green bag lunch on electronics recycling on Thursday, November 17.
Northwest Earth Institute Discussion Course: Russin explained that he is working on getting a discussion group together to meet at Lane and do one or more of the courses offered by the Northwest Earth Institute. Course topics include such things as “Voluntary Simplicity,” “Choices for Sustainable Living,” and “Discovering a Sense of Place.” Russin will contact the sustainability group via e-mail to let them know when initial meetings will be.
Next Meeting: The next meeting will be Wednesday, December 14 from 3:00 to 4:30 pm in Building 7, Room 201.
Minutes prepared by: Jennifer Hayward
Date: 1/10/06
Action Items:
Laundry Environmental Audit
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Venturi to audit environmental practices in the Laundry to determine whether improved environmental practices could be implemented. The investigation will include: chemical use; water volumes; temperatures; and heat recovery (Ebbage noted that an Energy Management class could help the laundry investigate heat recovery strategies).
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Hayward to ask the Green Chemistry Club coordinator, John Thompson, whether the Club’s students would be interested in researching Laundry chemical use as a project.
Coordination with Facilities Council
“Green bag” lunches
- Hayward to determine whether architect, Galen Ohmart is available to do a presentation on Lane’s proposed Model Sustainability Building as a green bag lunch.
- Scott to work on planning an energy conservation &/or renewable energy for homeowners green bag. She will contact the Energy Outlet to determine whether there are some give-aways that they could donate.
Foundation account
Indicator Reports
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Hayward, Newton, and Gosar to schedule a meeting to work on the Landscape Maintenance indicator.
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Hayward to include costs of water in the water indicator report.
Biodiesel Project
Earth Week 2006
General
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Hayward to prepare a document that lists each sustainability group and its purpose/mission.
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The sustainability group to review/approve this document.
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Once it is finalized, Hayward to post it on the website.
Organic Milk at Childcare
Northwest Earth Institute Discussion Groups
