The E-Update – September 10, 2007

The E-Update – September 10, 2007
The Newfoundland and Labrador Environment Network
A Network of more than 30 Member Groups
Many Voices for the Environment

In this E-update you will find:
1. First Letter Writing Session: Calling All Environmental Voters!
2. Contribute to NLEN E-Update
3. Volunteer Opportunities Database at the Community Services Council
4. Anti-Idling at MUN � seeking volunteers
5. It is Time To Celebrate!! � OCEAN NET DAY September 21, 2007
6. Reminder � NLEN Member Support Program
7. Beaches World Tour 2007
8. Project Green Looking for Bikes for BikeShare Program
9. The Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup
10. Much Ado about Mushrooms
11. Fall Plant Sale at MUN Botanical Garden
12. Art Show at MUN Botanical Garden
13. Green Speak Radio � Now on Tuesdays!
14. Nonprofit World Article: Mama Said Never Put All Of Your Eggs In One Basket: Boards, Strategic Thinking and the Need for Diversified Revenue
15. Just for Fun!
* A Message for the NLEN Members
** A message to Readers of the NLEN E-update
*** What is the NLEN about?
**** For more information.
Now for the details:
1. Letter Writing Session: Calling All Environmental Voters!
In light of the upcoming provincial election, the Northeast Avalon Sierra Club group would like to host the first NLEN letter writing session to ask candidates how their platforms address the voters� environmental concerns. A template letter will be provided with the message that the environment is a top priority for provincial voters and should be a key focus of this campaign.
Letter writers will be encouraged to customize their own letters around their own specific interests and concerns, and contact information will be provided for all candidates so that we can send the letters to any or all of them, depending on the issue. Media contact lists will be available if people are also inspired to write a letter to the editor.
This session is open to everyone including member groups and the general public. Paper, writing utensils and refreshments will be provided. Come and bring friends!
Where: Environmental Gathering Place Boardroom, 172 Military Road
When: Tuesday, September 18 at 7:30 pm
Who: NLEN Member Groups, Friends, Family, General Public
2. Contribute to NLEN E-Update
The fall season is an exciting time of year for new ideas and new projects, and we would love to hear about YOUR great news so that we can tell everyone else about it! With the changing of the seasons we are considering a slightly new format for the e-update, so we�d love to have lots of new submissions on anything and everything environment-related. Please send news, upcoming events, interesting articles, website links and anything else you come across that you�d like to share. We�d especially love to get media articles that feature our member groups. If you�re interviewed, or have a letter to the editor published, let us know!
3. Volunteer Opportunities Database at the Community Services Council
It’s great that NLEN is collecting and posting volunteer opportunities and putting a particular focus on positions for high school students. The Community Services Council is working with the Department of Education and organizations around the province to develop a module for Career Development teachers that will help prepare students for volunteering and connect them with community groups, and help groups develop suitable opportunities for students. Part of this is work is building the Volunteer Connections postings at enVision.ca, encouraging both organizations and students to use it.
So I would like to ask you to also post your volunteer opportunities at enVision.ca Volunteer Connections. Student opportunities will be flagged with a red dot. You must be member of enVision to post opportunities, but membership is simple and free.
Thank you for working with us.
Fran Locke, Research Associate, Values-Added CURA
Community Services Council Newfoundland and Labrador
Tel: 709-753-9860 Fax: 709-753-6112
Email: franlocke@csc.nf.net Website: www.enVision.ca
4. Anti-Idling at MUN � seeking volunteers
What: Anti-Idling Campaign
Where: Memorial University St. John�s campus
Who: Sustainability Office, Coordinator Shelley Pardy
When: September 10-14, 3-6pm
The Sustainability Office of Memorial University was opened in January 2007 and has as its broad mandate to �make MUN green�. The office is working with numerous stakeholders within the university community on a number of initiatives and projects to achieve this goal.
The Sustainability Office is currently developing a short-term Anti-Idling Campaign for the St. John�s campus to complement permanent signage that was recently placed on the campus, and targeting those drivers that keep their cars idling while waiting to pick up passengers.
The Anti-Idling Campaign will take place during the week of September 10-14 from 3-6pm each day. The campaign will involve approaching drivers to let them know they are in an Anti-Idling Zone and to give them an information pamphlet outlining cost and environmental savings to not idling.
The Anti-Idling initiative is very important and with YOUR HELP this short-term campaign can really make a long-term difference to making MUN a sustainable institution, and to keeping unnecessary greenhouse gases out of the atmosphere. All volunteers will receive a sustainability gift as a thank you.
To volunteer for this important initiative (for 2 or 20 hours!) please contact the Sustainability Coordinator Shelley Pardy by emailing sustain@mun.ca or by calling 737-2637.
5. It is Time To Celebrate!! � OCEAN NET DAY September 21, 2007
�OCEAN NET DAY 2007 TO BE CELEBRATED WITH ENVIRONMENTAL ACTIVITY THROUGHOUT PROVINCE�
�Ocean Net Day�
Friday – Sunday, September 21-23, 2007
As Ocean Net continues with events and programs to highlight its 10th anniversary year (1997-2007) planning is underway throughout the province to celebrate its third annual Ocean Net Day. In a Proclamation signed jointly on September 13, 2004 by the Premier and Environment Minister, the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador declared the third Friday in September annually to be Ocean Net Day �to celebrate the legacy of proactive, positive environmental “education by action” initiated by Ocean Net and continued throughout the province by its board, network of volunteers and the people of the province.”
During the weekend of September 21-23, 2007 environmental events throughout the province will be spearheaded by Ocean Net volunteers to celebrate the marine environment and to foster positive attitudinal change.
Well-known environmentalist and musician Gayle Tapper will once again bring her team together from communities in the Bonne Bay area to clean up the shoreline of one of the most scenic and visited areas of the province, most of it within the environs of Gros Morne National Park. For the second time this year, teams of volunteers including those from the Park, Fisheries & Oceans Canada and local municipalities will come together to complete the cleanup of approximately 25 km of shoreline.
In Port Saunders/Port aux Choix, a volunteer team, under the direction of Harbor Master and Deputy Mayor Maurice Ryan recently cleaned up a total of 12 beaches in that area to celebrate Ocean Net Day 2007 � continuing the great record set by this group over the past five years in taking action and empowering young people which sets a benchmark for other communities across the province.
Other volunteers throughout the province will take to the beaches/shorelines to cleanup in celebration of Ocean Net Day. Ocean Net�s five NL Environmental Action Teams (NEAT) will also be getting in on the action! NEAT Regional Coordinators throughout the province will be mobilizing their volunteer teams to lead beach/shoreline cleanups on this, the 3rd Annual Ocean Net Day. Our goal is to educate by action, empower communities, and create change in how we look at our coastal marine environment � the environment that is the backbone to our province’s economy and our growing tourism industry.
Ocean Net invites people throughout the province to register and join forces to cleanup their marine environment after the summer. Call us at 753-3680, email us at info@oceannet.ca or check us out online at www.oceannet.ca where you will find all forms related to a cleanup. Once we received your completed �Inventory Form�, your group will be entered in our annual $1000 �Milestone� draw which includes all groups which undertake a cleanup during the year.
Media Contacts: Robert O’Brien/Kay Coxworthy 753-3680
6. Reminder � NLEN Member Support Program
Hello Members,
As we all move into the fall season, and projects start gearing up again, keep in mind the NLEN Member Support Program!
The Member Support Program has been created to lend financial support to member groups that require assistance. The NLEN covers partial costs associated with attending workshops or conferences, planning events or producing educational or informational publications of our member groups. Check out the member groups section on our website at www.nlen.ca for more info.
7. Beaches World Tour 2007
We are pleased to invite you to the Beaches World Tour 2007, taking place Tuesday, October 9th to Thursday, October 11th at the Marriott Downtown Eaton Centre Hotel in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Please email nlen.ed@gmail.com to receive the brochure for additional information, and visit www.blueflag.ca for full conference details and online registration.
Please mark your calendars and plan to attend this exciting and informative event! Beaches World Tour is a conference on best practices and key issues at beaches and coastal areas around the world. Panel discussions will address health and water quality, coastal zone management and sustainable tourism, equity and access to coastal resources, and impacts of climate change on coastal areas. Hear about best practices at specific beaches in over 20 countries and how the Blue Flag program has helped to improve coastal environments.
Opening keynote speeches will be made by Murray Simpson (Research Scientist at the Centre for the Environment, Oxford University) on the impacts of climate change on sustainable coastal tourism, and Lara Hansen (Chief Climate Change Scientist, WWF International) on the effects of climate change on ocean and coastal habitats.
Other noteworthy presentations will be made by Calum McPhail (Scottish Environmental Protection Agency) speaking on Bathing Water Signage and predictive water quality models in Scotland; Donna Francy (US Geological Survey) describing predictive and rapid methods to provide �nowcasts� of bacterial levels at Great Lakes beaches; and Blue Flag representatives from numerous countries discussing Blue Flag coastal management initiatives and successes at beaches around the world.
The conference will include an evening reception, refreshment breaks, daily luncheons, and one conference dinner.We encourage you to make your travel and accommodation arrangements as soon as possible. A block of rooms has been reserved under the name �Environmental Defence October Conference� at a special rate of $169 per night. Please call the Toronto Marriott Downtown Eaton Centre Hotel at 1-800-905-0667 before September 17th, 2007 in order to receive this special rate. Additional information is available at www.blueflag.ca
We look forward to seeing you in Toronto!
Blue Flag Canada
Program of Environmental Defence
317 Adelaide St. W., Suite 705
Toronto, ON M5V 1P9
Tel: 1-866-420-8477 (only in Canada), or
416-323-9521, ext. 233
Fax: 416-323-9301
Email: jfrye@environmentaldefence.ca
8. Project Green Looking for Bikes for BikeShare Program
MUN Project Green is getting ready for the launch of our exciting new BikeShare project! We�d love to add to our collection of bikes so that we can offer the service to as many campus community members as possible. If you have an extra bike lying around the basement or garage, please send us an email at enviro@mun.ca We take all kinds of bikes as long as they are in decent condition. We�ll also take bike parts! Stay tuned in the next few weeks for the announcement of our launch.
9. The Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup
September 15-23, 2007
Help us protect Canada’s shorelines.
Every September, Canadians from all walks of life take action to restore the health of their local shorelines.
Be a part of the solution.
Register today to organize or join a shoreline cleanup in your community. It�s easy, it�s fun and it�s good for our environment. Shoreline cleanup supplies and support materials are provided free of charge.
To get involved go to www.vanaqua.org/cleanup or call (toll free) 1-877-427-2422.
10. Much Ado about Mushrooms!
The Brother Brennan Environmental Education Centre is hosting a weekend
getaway devoted to learning about mushrooms. “Much Ado About Mushrooms”
(October 12 -14, 2007) is an intensive week-end at a location perfect for
study of the natural environment. The Instructor, Dr Andrus Viotk, will
present lectures, workshops and field excursions to enthusiastic beginners
who wish to learn to identify many of Newfoundland’s beautiful mushrooms.
The course will conclude with a search for edible mushrooms to take home.
The course fee of $170 includes instruction, accomodation and all meals.
There are discounts for students and children. For more information visit
www.brotherbrennancentre.ca or email helenspencer@esdnl.ca
Thanks for your support.
Helen Spencer
“”””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””
“””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””‘”””””
Helen Spencer
Environmental Education Teacher
116 Strawberry Marsh Road
St John’s, NL
A1B 2V5
11. Fall Plant Sale at MUN Botanical Garden
Fall plant sale on Saturday, September 8, 10 a.m. at MUN Botanical Garden, located at 306 Mount Scio Road. Offered by the Friends of MUN Botanical Garden (FOG).
This popular fundraiser, offered every fall by the Friends of the Garden, will start at 10 a.m. sharp, Saturday, September 8. Most plants are usually sold by 12 noon, so come early for a good selection.
The sale usually features a good selection of heaths, heathers, shrubs, and perennials suitable for our local area, as well as some unusual rhododendrons. This event is offered by the volunteer members of the Friends of the Garden (FOG). All proceeds raised help support the Garden. Plant sale lists will not be available until the day before the sale. For more information, please call 737-8590 or visit www.mun.ca/botgarden.
12. Art Show at MUN Botanical Garden
Painting in The Garden � MUN Botanical Garden Art Group Exhibition
Art works related to nature � plants, scenery, etc. in watercolour, pastel, oil, acrylic, gouache, pen and ink, and mixed media. On display at MUN Botanical Garden from Friday, September 7 to Sunday, September 23, 2007. For more information on the art show, please contact Joyce Cho (telephone: 722-4278, e-mail: cho@physics.mun.ca).
Exhibit hours may vary due to private bookings. Please call the Garden at 737-8590 for more information.
13. Green Speak Radio � Now on Tuesdays!
Green Speak Radio, Mondays 4-5pm, 93.5FM or www.chmr.ca
PLEASE NOTE that Green Speak Radio has switched it’s airing day. You can now listen to Green Speak Radio on TUESDAYS from 4-5pm, switched from it’s long standing slot on Mondays. I hope that GSR listeners make the move to Tuesdays with me, sincerely Shelley.
The Tuesday, September 11th episode of Green Speak Radio will feature an interview with the Greg Noel, the Director of Environmental Initiatives with the NL Lung Association and the musical guests will be various artists from the new release “Singalongs and Shanties 3”.
Have an idea for a feature guest or artist for Green Speak Radio?
Email your suggestions to greenspeakradio@gmail.com
Green Speak is sponsored in part by the NL Environment Network, the
Western Environment Centre, MUN Project Green, the Wellness Coalition
St. John’s Region and 93.5 CHMR-FM.
14. Nonprofit World Article: Mama Said Never Put All Of Your Eggs In One Basket: Boards, Strategic Thinking and the Need for Diversified Revenue
It is very common for an organization to have a core means of fundraising that acquires the �lions share� revenue � and as the organization increasingly relies on this proven success, this method of fundraising becomes more and more pressed � and stressed – to raise money as the organization grows.
This article is very helpful in explaining why organizations need to expand on the types of fundraising activities to engage in. Readers will receive very practical advice and a decision making grid for boards to evaluate the feasibility and potential success of other fundraising ideas. It�s also a wonderful reminder of all of the ways funds can be raised with an empowering reminder from author Terrie Temkin: �Nonprofit is a tax code � not a goal!�
For a copy of this 5-page, 103 KB document published in July 2001 email info@sustain.web.ca
15. Just for Fun!
http://www.truegreenconfessions.com/
* A Message for NLEN Members
This E-update is intended to announce your meetings and showcase your interests and events. Please send notices by Friday 10 a.m. as a paragraph with 12 point font, no bold/italics/underline/all caps, single spaced and left hand justified. Notices less than 200 words, and with no attachments, are best.
** A Message to Readers of the NLEN E-update
Attempts are made to cover a range of environmental issues and events. You are welcome to contribute information by Friday 10 a.m. At this time not all submissions are guaranteed.
*** What is the NLEN about?
The NLEN (www.nlen.ca) is a network of more than 30 member groups and associates throughout the province. The goal of the NLEN is to facilitate communication between non-government environmental organizations, and assist members with initiatives through non-advocacy means. Member groups operate to conserve, protect or restore the Earth’s ecosystem through action, education; stewardship and/or modeling ecologically sound ways of life. All provinces and the Yukon have environmental networks funded by the Canadian Environment Network. Visit CEN /RCEN at www.cen-rce.org.
The NLEN recognizes the link between environment and health and therefore is a member of the Environmental Health Working Group of the Provincial Wellness Advisory Council as well as a member of the Wellness Coalition � St. John’s Region and a member of its’ Healthy Environments Sub-Committee.
The NLEN is located on the third floor of the Environmental Gathering Place, sharing space with 5 environmental groups including: Protected Areas Association, www.paanl.org; Northeast Avalon Coastal Action Program, www.naacap.ca; Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society-NL, www.cpawsnl.org ; and the Atlantic Canada Sustainable Energy Coalition.
**** For information about the environment, NLEN mandate and membership, or this E-update (comments, contributions, subscribe, unsubscribe, preference for E-update with NO attachments) contact:
Executive Director, NL Environment Network
nlen.general@gmail.com
ph:709-753-7898, fx:709-726-2764
The Environmental Gathering Place
172 Military Road – PO Box 5125, Stn. C,
St. John’s, NL, A1C 5M3
—
Katie Temple
Executive Director
ph: 709-753-7898, fx:709-726-2764
Newfoundland and Labrador Environment Network, www.nlen.ca
Located at the Environmental Gathering Place
172 Military Road
P.O.Box 5125, Stn.C
St. John’s, NL
A1C 5M3
The NLEN is a member of the Wellness Coalition – St. John’s Region and recognizes the link between environment and health. The NLEN also recognizes the link between environment and adventure tourism. All provinces and the Yukon have Environment Networks, funded by the Canadian Environment Network.