PSU Environmental Club

2/23/09

Summer Internship Program with Sierra Student Coalition

Summer Internship Program at the Sierra Club's Oregon Chapter

Summary

The Summer Internship Program at the Sierra Club's Oregon Chapter is designed to expose high school and college students to the day-to-day operations of a premier non-profit environmental advocacy organization. Depending on a student's abilities and area(s) of interest, Sierra Club staff will work with qualified applicants to design a meaningful internship program that provides work experience and builds skills in a range of areas including community organizing, policy and advocacy, communication strategies, volunteer engagement, and organizational development.

About the Sierra Club

Named "the most influential environmental organization" in an Aspen Institute poll, the Sierra Club gives the public the information and the means to make their voices heard. As the world's oldest and largest grassroots environmental organization, the Club's 750,000 members in 65 chapters and over 400 local groups nationwide possess the unique ability to empower people and influence public policy through community activism, public education, outreach and litigation.

The Sierra Club's Oregon Chapter represents the organization's 20,000 members in Oregon and has worked to protect Oregon's environment and natural resources since 1978. Today, the Sierra Club employs eight staff in Oregon who work with volunteer leaders to advance the chapter's conservation priorities. Current priority conservation efforts of the Oregon Chapter include protecting Oregon's wild forests, Protecting Oregon's high desert, stopping irresponsible liquefied natural gas pipelines and terminals, and promoting clean energy solutions.

Additionally, the Sierra Club maintains a professional presence at the state capitol and is active in efforts to influence legislative and administrative decisions that impact Oregon's environment. The Oregon Chapter also conducts a wide array of activities that engage members and the general public in efforts to explore, enjoy and protect our shared environment; including outdoor hikes, service activities, community forums, and research efforts.

AVAILABILITY: Up to 3 Summer Internship Positions
SALARY: Unpaid. In exchange for a summer of service, the Oregon Sierra Club Chapter will fund students to attend SPROG (Summer Program).*
COMMITMENT: Minimum 20 hours/week for 8 to 12 weeks. Preference will be given to applicants committing to a 37.5 hour work week for a 10-12 week period.
DEADLINE: Rolling deadline. Applications will be reviewed beginning March 15, 2009, interviews will be conducted with selected applicants, and positions will remain open until filled.
* SPROG is a nationally-recognized week-long summer training program. Run by the Sierra Student Coalition (the student branch of the Sierra Club), SPROG offers trainings to high school and college students in an outdoor setting on grassroots organizing and leadership skills. For more information: http://www.ssc.org/trainings/

Responsibilities

The following are examples of the types of responsibilities that an intern's work might include depending on the applicants skills, experience and interests:

* Research and write, articles, letters, reports and/or fact sheets related to the Oregon Chapter's conservation priorities and advocacy work
* Assist in drafting and submitting comments to federal, state, or local agencies concerning projects and proposals that impact Oregon's environment and natural resources.
* Assist in lobbying activities and monitoring policy making at the state capitol and/or administrative bodies.
* Plan and implement public outreach events such as a press conference, public rally, or house party; engage and recruit volunteer attendance at important community meetings or public hearings.
* Draft web content, action alerts, and news releases.
* Attend SPROG

Qualifications

The preferred candidate will possess the following traits and qualifications:

* High-energy, creative, and detail-oriented team players who are able to work independently as needed.
* Superior oral and written communications skills.
* Excellent interpersonal skills. Ability to listen well.
* Self-starter. Strong initiative and ability to work with minimum supervision.
* Ability to prioritize and manage multiple tasks successfully.
* Computer literate: proficiency in Word, Excel, and internet search engines.
* Passion for protecting Oregon's environment and natural resources.

To Apply

Provide (1) a resume and (2) a letter of interest that describes:

1. The dates and hours of your availability during Summer 2009
2. Any deadlines you might have for securing outside funding for this internship
3. The specific aspects of the Sierra Club's conservation work that interest you
4. Why you believe a Sierra Club internship would help you grow both personally and professionally

Materials can be sent to brian.pasko@sierraclub.org or mailed to:

Brian Pasko, Director
Sierra Club Oregon Chapter
1821 SE Ankeny Street
Portland, Oregon 97214

No telephone calls, please.


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Rainy week bowling update

We went bowling at the last meeting. Jealous? It was awesome, and I scored terribly. Next meeting is March 5 at 6:30 pm in SMSU 258. Thursday is "Bring your brother to an Environmental Club meeting" day.

If you recently got an email that said you've been unsubscribed to e-club lists and you didn't intentionally do os, don't worry about it. I've been experimenting with the listserv, but you are all still on the email list! And again, if you don't want to be, just email me and let me know.

Recylemania 2009 - looking for volunteers, 20 minutes or 20 hours, everything helps!
PSU Recycles! is in full swing of RecycleMania 2009 and is looking for volunteers to help move PSU to the top of the rankings. RecycleMania is a friendly 10 week competition among more than 500 schools.

List of different volunteer oppurtunities:
-Chalk the boards of as many classrooms, sidewalks, and lecture halls as possible. (What to write is in attached document)
-Hang posters on as many bulletin boards as possible
-Collect recyclables you see lying around and put them in the correct bins.
-Distribute flyers and posters to academic departments
-Help Staff the outreach tables on campus
-Help out the day of an event.

If you are interested you can send an email to jcousins@pdx.edu

Green Empowerment's Intensive 2.5 day Technical Training
April 17th to 19th ~ 2009
SMSU 229
Electricity for Rural Areas in Developing Countries, Photovoltaics (PV), Water Pumping, Case Studies in International Sustainable Development

* Friday, 4/17: 6-9pm
o Introduction to GE and our development model; phases of a project’s development.
o Case Study on a solar water pump installation in the Philippines.
o Case Study on planning and training at a nationally sponsored conference in Ecuador for utility operators, government officials, and village leaders.
* Saturday, 4/18: 9am-5pm
o Primer on electricity (1.5hr).
o Solar electricity as source of power for rural communities (system components, hands-on measurements, and sizing/design exercises).
* Sunday, 4/19: 10am-5pm
o Solar Water Pumping (system components, sizing exercises)
o Review
o Q & A

Cost is $250 (20% discount available to PSU students) Enrollment is open now. Registration deadline is Friday, March 20th.

Contact: Jason Selwitz, Director of Service Learning: jason@greenempowerment.org
Or, please call (503) 284-5774.
Check out: www.greenempowerment.org


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2/6/09

Feb 5 Meeting notes


Env Club meeting in rm 258

Thursday, Feb 5, 2009

6:30 pm

Present: Laura, Heather, Honore, Asami, Scott, Miranda, Jessi, Michelle, Becca, Lisa, Brendan, Blake, PJ, Andy, Elysabeth

  1. Assistant coordinators - email & involve

    1. Andy

    2. Laura

    3. Elysabeth

    4. Miranda - wants to set up Karen Coulter & movie night (Scott will help)

  2. Project updates;

    1. Take back the tap

      1. $6000 to purchase waterbottles from Kleen Kanteen, to sell, then take money back

      2. waterbottles, sell at:

        1. Food for Thought

        2. events

        3. Water Awareness Week

      3. 500 surveys - why students drink from bottled water

        1. impure water = #1 reason

      4. Water Awareness Week

      5. Use water bottle sales to reinvest in water bottle refiller stations

      6. Goal: 15% reduction in bottled water sales by June

      7. Proposal at Idea Generator:masked for $8000

        1. but the money will be earned back - and then used for water filtration system

    2. Learning Garden

      1. Goal: plots for classes & groups

      2. Proposal @ Idea Generator: asked for $2500 for supplies & co-op coordinator until June

      3. land space - near Research Greenhouses

        1. may be conflict

        2. need secondary options

      4. continuity needs to be worked on

        1. co-op - how to set one up

      5. Idea Generator notes:

        1. Wiewel wants one

        2. collaborating with Container Gardening

        3. Garden co-op can be used for : resources & tool rental

      6. So I need help

        1. distinguish between community garden & Learning Garden

      7. PCC - Rock Creek has nice Leraning Garden (Asami)

    3. Earth Day Event

      1. Earth Fair - got list of interested people in forming Earth Day committee to plan it

        1. music

        2. sell water bottles

        3. sustainability related groups

        4. advertise for other events

        5. tie together all events Earth Day week

        6. Lacey Riddle = important contact

        7. Cycling Club - fixed gear tricks!

        8. frisbee competition

        9. speakers

          1. Kevin Tuerneff: share stories of going to UN Climate Convergence

            1. ask fee again

    4. Karen Coulter - Miranda is arranging this

        1. Speaker's Board (up to $3000 per year, $2000 per event)

        2. SFU will fund it

        3. what will she talk about?

    5. Brendan: - Green fee
      1. How far is it?
        1. ballot initiative? - Senate has to get it on the ballot
        2. legal aspect
        3. Rock the Vote during elections -
    6. Split into groups


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2/1/09

Our next meeting will be Feb 5 at 6:30 pm. And I don't have a room yet. I'll email you, I promise. I'll know in 2 days!

Other Events

RecycleMania
Welcome to week three of RecycleMania! This week, PSU Recycles! focuses on Energy Awareness. As PSU continues to save energy and money through the use of compact fluorescent light bulbs, a question continues to pop up... what to do with CFLs after they have burnt out? Imagine a campus where all CFLs are recycled properly?

If a CFL burns out in your office or residence hall room, request a waste pickup by completing a work order request at www.fac.pdx.edu/workorder/index.html. If you have any questions or need supplies, please call the campus waste lab at 503-725-3403.

PSU Recycles! will be tabling in Parkway North this week. Stop by and keep your eyes and ears open for more recycling opportunities during this exciting ten week competition, and check in with www.ecowiki.pdx.edu for PSU's stats, rankings, and recycling information! Go Viks!


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