First week of Fall term

Environmental Club members& supporters,

Summer has officially ended, and we are back in the classroom, forbetter or worse.

The beginning of Fall term brings with it a bunch of cool events, fromthe Bike Fair in the Smith Ballroom tomorrow to Party inthe Park on Thursday to Econvergence this weekend with NoamChomsky. Keep reading to find out about upcoming events,volunteer opportunities, renewable energy trainings,pay-by-mile auto insurance, and where to find a list of PSU'ssustainability classes.


Volunteer Opportunities

Bike Fair -volunteers at tables/booths
Wednesday,September 30th 10:00am-4:00pm
3rd Floor Ballroom, SmithMemorial Student Union

• Free coffee stand (2 pershift_4 total)
• Photo booth (mostlycrowd control/general help, 1 per shift_2 total)
• Registration table(includes handing out raffle tickets to each attendee, answeringquestions, and more - 2 per shift_4 total)
• Bike Art Table(overseeing the creative process/making sure the materials don't gettoo out of control. (i.e.. Nothing spilled on the floor) 2 per shift_4total)

Shifts will be 10 am to 1 pmand 1 pm to 4 pm.
http://gettoknowyourbike.com

Partyin the Park - composting monitors
Thursday,October 1, 11 am - 3 pm
South Park Blocks

3,000-5,000students are expected to attend this enormous resource fair and, forthe first time, SALP is partnering with PSU Recycles! to make it aslow-waste as possible. Compost stations will be set up alongside ofgarbage and recycling to divert as much food waste away from thelandfill as possible (as well as the compostable cups and plates).

Volunteers are desperately needed to ensure this process runs smoothlyby monitoring the stations.  Training and gloves will be provided, butno contact with food or waste is expected of volunteers.

The two Thursday shifts are:

• 10:45a - 1:00p
• 12:45p - 3:00p

Please respond to Honoré Depew (honoredepew@gmail.com).

Econvergence - ushers, registration
Interested in seeing Noam Chomsky for free this weekend? Do you want tomeet great people and attend incredible workshops that address thecurrent economic and ecological crises? Volunteer for Econvergence! Allvolunteers that want to be put on the "will call" list to see NoamChomsky on Friday night are required to work for at least four hours onSunday.

The duties are simple and fun, and may include:

• registering attendeesand/or guest speakers,
• navigating people aroundSmith Center,
• being an usher for aworkshop or discussion session.

If this sounds like somethingyou are interested in, email Christine Kendrick(kendrick.christine@gmail.com).


PSU Bike Fair
Wednesday,September 30th 10:00am-4:00pm
3rd Floor Ballroom, SmithMemorial Student Union

Remember wheeling your way on a tricked-out tricycle through theneighborhood? Whatever your status, this is Portland. Portland loves tobike. In New York, you gaze out on a sea of cabs. Here it’s a dailyparade of bicycles rolling along, rain or shine.

And so, in celebration of biking culture and community, Portland StateUniversity invites you to join us for the GET TO KNOW YOUR BIKE eventon September 30th! http://gettoknowyourbike.com

What to expect?
    * Vendors from all over the city selling bike gear and accessories
    * Locally based organizations dedicated to bicycle advocacy
    * PSU student groups to provide information about biking resourcesavailable on campus
    * Bike Art Station
    * Maintenance and Repair Demonstrations
    * Costume Photo Booth
    * Car Piñata
    * Roller Races
    * Free Coffee
    * And more…

Good people. Good cause. Good stuff.


Party in the Park
Thursday,October 1, 11 am - 3 pm
South Park Blocks

Student Activities and Leadership Programs (SALP) is hosting a fair forcampus-wide student groups! Come browse all the student groups oncampus and see what interests you!


Econvergence with Noam Chomsky and Derrick Jensen
Thursday, Oct. 1 at 7 p.m. pre-conference gathering
Friday,Oct. 2 through Sunday, Oct. 4
First Unitarian Church andPortland State University Smith Memorial Student Union

Over 50 Northwest labor, environmental and social justice organizationsand hundreds of community organizers will gather to explore ways torespond to the current global economic and environmental crises at theupcoming Econvergence Conference (www.econvergence.org).A pre-conference gathering happens on Thursday, Oct. 1 at 7 p.m. withscheduled conference events from Friday, Oct. 2 through Sunday, Oct. 4.Admission to the three-day conference is FREE, and events will be heldat First Unitarian Church Portland and Portland State University. Visitwww.econvergence.org forfurther information about the conference program, speakers, andparticipating organizations.


ZoeWeil talks about her book Most Good, Least Harm
Friday,October 9th, 11:30 am – 1:00 pm
Portland State University
School of Business Administration Building, Room 170
Co-sponsored by Students for Leadership in Ecology, Culture, Learning(SLECL) and the Social Sustainability Network.

Please join SLECL (Studentsfor Leadership in Ecology, Culture, and Learning) and the SocialSustainability Network for a free talk by Zoe Weil, author of MostGood, Least Harm: A Simple Principle for a Better World and MeaningfulLife.

Every day we are bombarded by doomsday scenarios, advertising thatpromotes endless consumption, a declining American economy, and growingenvironmental problems. But when we do the most good and the least harmin our daily choices, acts of citizenship, community, work, andvolunteering, we create a life of inner peace while contributing to thebuilding of a peaceful, sustainable world for all.

“Zoe’s talk was the most inspirational experience I’ve had in years. Ifind myself reevaluating my life. Her talk has kindled a fire in me fora proactive life. ~ Martha Ohrenberger, Penobscot, Maine

These events are free of charge, and organized in partnership with TheNorthwest Earth Institute (NWEI). NWEI will offer sustainabilityresources at these events.

If you can't make it at 11:30, Zoe will also be speaking later thatafternoon at the University of Portland:
Friday, October 9th, 4:00 – 5:30 pm at the University of Portland
Shiley Hall, Room 319, School of Engineering
5000 N. Willamette Blvd., Portland, OR 97203
Co-sponsored by the Moreau Center and Environmental Science Department.

MORE INFO:
info@HumaneEducation.org
(207) 667-1025
http://www.humaneeducation.org/
http://zoeweil.com/


Training on Renewable Energy for the Developing World- FREE for 2 Env. Club members
2.5 days -- October 23--25, 2009
Partners: In coordination with the Portland chapter of EngineersWithout Borders and the PSU Environmental Club
Cost: $250 (FREE for 2 Environmental Club members who volunteer for atleast an hour at any of our events or new office, the GreenSpace. Emailme for more info!)
Location: at Portland State University -- TBA
Contact: Jason at (503) 284-5774 -or- jason@greenempowerment.org

Come join us!  This workshop covers the skills necessary to design andwire a solar system on a community building, health center, or school--and-- the skills needed to size a water pumping system to deliverclean water to a village of rural farmers. In addition, the courseincludes information not usually discussed in other programs -- workingwith partner NGOs overseas, engaging in social and cultural issues,identifying and training local villagers to operate and maintainsystems, completing the logistics of equipment purchase, identifyingpossible productive uses of the system in addition to lighting, anddiscussing case studies from GE's wealth of experiences over the last12 years. Hands-on exercises are an integral part of the curriculum. Please check out a blog overview of last October's course:
http://greenempowerment.wordpress.com/2008/10/30/anatomy-of-a-technical-training/


Pay-by-mile auto insurance survey
In particular, the objective of thesurvey is to gain insight into consumer appetite for a pay-by-milepolicy option. This type of policy would reward the consumer fordriving less….but it also saves $$ for 70% of the populationwithout any behavior changes at all (individual savings will range from1-50% in dollar amount – the equivalent of $8-$400/yr for the typicalOregonian driver).

The survey is anonymous, but people can opt to input their emailaddress. And if they choose this option, they are eligible to win a $20iTunes gift card.

http://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?formkey=dDhrc2ljbzZVcU81d1FXSU1jU0N1MXc6MA


Sustainability Classes at PSU
Students can now see allsustainability classes offered at PSU.  Here's a link to the page. Feel free to spread the word.
http://www.ecowiki.pdx.edu/class-projects/fall-2009.html


Welcome back to the madness,

PJ Houser
Portland State University
Environmental Club coordinator
Campus Sustainability Office Assistant


Check out our website at http://eclub.groups.pdx.edu

Also, check out the EcoWiki at http://www.ecowiki.pdx.edu/

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