Week of May Day

Next meeting is tomorrow, Monday, April 27 at 5:00 pm in SMSU 229. We'll be looking at photos from our Earth Day fair, planting some seeds, discussing the upcoming elections week and a movie night, and what we hope to accomplish by the end of the year. If you missed our Earth Day fair and want to plant some seeds, bring some containers for yourself. Egg crates, coffee cups, and plastic tubs work well! We have the soil and tons of vegetable and herb seeds.

Thank you to all our Earth Day volunteers! You were amazing and made this event a success. We will be posting photos on the Environmental Club website soon. Many many herb and vegetable seeds are probably starting to sprout too - planted on Earth Day at the event!


PSU Student Elections May 4th - May 8th
Environmental Club endorses Lavallee-Proudfoot of the ACT slate

Elections for PSU student body president, vice president, Student Fees Committee (SFC), and Senate will be occurring next week. Starting Monday, May 4th, VOTE at https://banweb.pdx.edu/!

Why does it matter? You know that $200 in student fees we pay each term? It adds up to at least $12 million a year and the student gov't is the main allocator of that money. Specifically, the SFC decides where that money goes - some of it goes to student groups (including the Environmental Club), some to the maintenance of Smith Memorial Student Union (it's half owned by students), and some to Campus Rec and Athletics. Additionally, the Senate has oversight of the SFC, while also working for students on various campaigns from childcare to better student orientations to equal rights. The student body president and vice president represent students when working with administration. Their competency can go a long way in convincing administration to make PSU better for students. The president and vice president also hire an executive team that works on issues ranging from equal rights for students, leadership development, lobbying in Salem for financial aid, student voice, and education access.

That's why it's important you vote. Last year, less than 2,000 students out of 27,000 enrolled students voted. Your money, your tuition, your student groups, and your campus depend on you speaking up. And with such small turnout, your voice carries a lot of weight!

At the last meeting, the Environmental Club decided to endorse presidential candidate Collin Lavallee and vice presidential candidate Chris Proudfoot of the ACT slate after listening to their platform values. The other two slates (Multicultural and Sustainability slates) were invited to speak, but did not show up. The ACT slate includes Collin Lavallee for President, Chris Proudfoot for Vice President, and Amina Ali, Nicholas Mercury Carlstrom, Daniel Lyons, Daria Raskova, Fallon Roderick, Johanna Rose, Robert Lowe, Pakou Xiong, and Jarrell Townsend for the Senate. Check out their Facebook page.


Also on the ballot: The Green Initiative Fund
The Green Initiative Fund (TGIF) is a proposed student fee that will help create several new sustainability initiatives to save PSU students money, create new opportunities for students to learn and participate in sustainability, and reduce our community’s carbon footprint. PSU students will pay only $5 per term to help fund:

1. FlexPass Subsidy: Provide a subsidy to decrease the cost of the current FlexPass program. This is the first of many steps to creating a universal pass for all students at PSU.
2. Special Sustainability Projects Fund: Establish a student-governed grant making committee called the “Gravy Fund” for small scale sustainable capital projects, such as bike parking stations, bikes for the new bike loan program, water bottle refilling stations, etc.
3. Green Revolving Loan Fund: to support sustainability projects that will result in long-term savings for students. Such projects include energy efficient lighting, energy and water conservation projects and highly efficient computer labs. The Revolving Loan Fund will be self-sustaining and grow over time as the funds are constantly “revolving” or being used, earned back, and reinvested.
4. Conservation and Renewable Energy Manager: Provide a living wage salary for a new energy manager, who will focus on coordinating energy efficiency projects, as well as managing the Green Revolving Loan Fund.

Vote for TGIF May 4-8!

WE NEED VOLUNTEERS! Contact Brendan Castricano (donbrendoni at gmail.com) or Sam (samanthaspies at gmail.com) if you want to help with the campaign!

*The Green Initiative Fund has been endorsed by all three slates - ACT, Multicultural, and Sustainability. The Green Initiative Fund is neutral and does not endorse any particular slate.


The Human Revolution - Mystic Country Jam Rock Rocks Portland with Wake up America Tour!
The Human Revolution Love Revolution CD Release Party with special guests Medicine for the People & The Volt Per Octaves
Where: The Fez Ballroom. 316 SW 11th Ave Portland, OR
When: May 6th, 2009. Doors open at 8pm. $8 cover.

Also playing at...
Where: Chaos Café Parlor 2620 SE Powell Blvd. Portland, OR
When: May 1, 2009. Show starts at 8pm. $5 cover.

Members of the mystic-country-jam-rock band The Human Revolution, based Mendocino Coast in Northern California, are coming to Portland, Oregon to perform their high energy, spiritually uplifting, non-dogmatic country-folk-funk music. The ‘Wake Up America Tour’ has multiple dates scheduled in Portland. From Portland, the tour will make its way through to New York and back across to California and will promote the values of peace, sovereignty, and freedom America was founded on, and to encourage people to become active participants in the emerging culture of social, spiritual and environmental awareness.

“We can regain the trust of the world and once again become a leading example of a culture free of hunger, destruction, and pollution, leading the way with modern technology…but for that to happen we’d better start wakin’ people up!” says Human, the group’s songwriter and front man.

The Human Revolution wowed audiences last fall with an opening gig for Willie Nelson in Humboldt, CA. These exciting performances will feature some of the finest in eco-conscious, and spiritually awakened music available.

For additional ‘Wake Up America!’ tour dates, videos, and music, log on to www.thehumanrevolution.org

~~~~
Earth Day is everyday!

Week of Earth Day!

Wednesday is Earth Day!! Get involved to help the planet and our future. Environmental Club is hosting a fair in the Park Blocks next to Smith. Come out and visit us between 11 and 3.

The next meeting is Monday, April 27 at 5:00 pm in SMSU 229.

PSU's Learning Gardens forum went really well! We had several panelists with educational gardening experience, ranging from Portland Community College's Learning Gardens, Southeast Learning Gardens Laboratory, and Tryon Life Community. A few administrators and students were present and all asked great questions of the panelists.

Focus the Nation townhall went really well also! Hoffman Hall was packed with people from all over Portland. I met a bunch of students from University of Portland, a high school teacher, and listened to Earl Blumenaeur!

Earth Day Fair
The Environmental Club is hosting an Earth Day Fair on Wednesday, April 22 from 11 to 3. We have invited a ton of sustainability groups to table with us in the Park Blocks. Come by and visit us!!

We have 4 tables that are Environmental Club related.

* Take Back the Tap
* Planting your own vegetable starters & Learning Gardens
* Letters to your legislator (with Sierra Student Coalition)
* Environmental Club main table & "To reduce my footprint, I will..." poster

PSU Senior Capstone - Nicaragua, Community, Sustainability
Be part of the solution! Join the next group of PSU students to travel in Nicaragua to make a difference with rural farming communities. In this two quarter Capstone, you will work with local and international NGOs to help design and implement a project that focuses on food security, watershed restoration, renewable and appropriate energy, and community development. Students will learn sustainable energy alternatives (ex. photovoltaics, micro-hydro, & wind).

This Capstone has two phases:
1) At PSU, students will address small-scale deployment of sustainable energy to support community health and economic development. You will have an opportunity to write a grant or fundraise for continuing the project; and
2) In Nicaragua, students will tour rural, community based renewable and appropriate energy projects and talk with men, women, and children about the local successes and challenges.

This Capstone is for the Fall 2009/Winter 2010 quarters. During winter break, students will travel to Nicaragua for 10-12 days and work directly with villagers on a variety of renewable and appropriate energy oriented service projects.

Dates: Fall and Winter Quarters. Travel Planned for Dec. 9 – Dec 18 (subject to change)

Want to see what we have done?
Go to: http://nicaragua-pdx.pbwiki.com/

If you are interested please contact:
John Rueter
Professor of Environmental Sciences and Management
rueterj@pdx.edu 503 725 3194

Cycling Club events
Coming up there are some fun cycling club rides you can go on and ride your bike. You can find specific information about these rides on the cycling club calendar
http://www.google.com/calendar/embed?src=dmlraW5nLmN5Y2xpbmdAZ21haWwuY29t

Here's the FUNdamentals:
LHTuesday: Meet in front of SB2 at noon, ride for a while. good training for the STP or any long ride you want to do this summer. Last week we rode up to skyline and then back down Germantown road, over st johns, and stopped at voodoo donut. It was fun. This week will be different, but hopefully still fun. Also, we might be making a movie about the cycling club so I'm going to wear my jersey, you should too! Bring water, snacks, tools, and some cash. Be prepared for flats, mechanicals, rain, wind, and fatty tasty sugar treats.

Hump Day Hustle (Wednesday):
Meet in front of SB2 at 6:30-ish. ride leaves at 7. This will be more urban, so bring your lights and lock. we'll ride up a hill or two, but not hammer on them. This is NOT a training ride, but is intended to be fun, and a little challenging, and social. We'll try to wrap it up around nine, depending on how folks are feeling.

BIKE POLO:
It's polo, but on bikes, so no horsies. Sorry. However, it is on campus, at the tennis courts just south (uphill!) of Shattuck hall, and will be wicked awesome. Starts at 6PM, but show up as soon as you can. Goes until everyone is tired or it is too dark to play, though the calendar says 8.

As always, there will be a Saturday ride. check the calendar!

Also: If you have ideas for awesome rides you want to lead, or you know of a neat place we should go, or something else, please come on a ride and tell us about it, or email, or call.

City of Portland: Overlook clean-up starts at new Pittman Addition HydroPark
10 am - 12 pm, Sat April 25
Pittman Addition HydroPark

Help out with the annual Overlook neighborhood clean-up!

Bring leather gloves, and heavy boots or shoes. Community members will meet at the newly developing Pittman Addition HydroPark at the north end of the Concord Street pedestrian overpass (just west of Interstate and N Going). Volunteers will help remove some non-native plants at the new park site and then move on to other nearby sites and finish up with litter pick-up along Going Street down to N Greeley Avenue.

The clean-up is being sponsored by the Overlook Neighborhood Association, Portland Water Bureau, Bureau of Planning and Sustainability, and Metro.
http://www.portlandonline.com/water/index.cfm?mode=calendar&cal=DisplayEvent&event_id=40562&c=30155

YouTube's Live Green channel
Tips and Ideas for Eco-living... and a bunch of videos!
http://www.youtube.com/ytlivegreen


Drop your homework and go outside!

April Rain showers

We have a meeting today, Monday, April 13 at 5:00 pm in SMSU 229.

We also have a new Learning Garden Research Coordinator! His name is David, he's a graduate student here at PSU. He's had several years of experience creating, maintaining, and teaching in Learning Gardens. David will be helping us research and develop the Learning Garden.

Water Awareness Week was awesome - tons of Klean Kanteens sold!

Earth Day Fair volunteer opportunities
The Environmental Club is hosting an Earth Day Fair on Wednesday, April 22 from 11 to 3. We have invited a ton of sustainability groups to table with us in the Park Blocks.

We need some help with:

* getting donations for a raffle
* being at the tables. We have 4 tables that are Environmental Club related. If you can spare an hour, 2 hours, or even more, sit at the table & help interested students! All the tables will be next to each other, so you won't be alone!
o Take Back the Tap
o Starting your own vegetable starters & Learning Garden table
o Letters to your legislator table
o Environmental Club & "To reduce my footprint, I will..." poster
* helping us create a giant poster & pieces of paper for people to write on


PSU's Learning Garden forum
11:30 am - 1:00 pm, Tuesday, April 14
SMSU rm 298

What: A panel of experts will share their experiences and answer questions about garden-based education. Afterwards, audience members will be able to share their ideas for PSU's Campus Learning Garden.

Why: In the effort to create an on-campus PSU Learning Garden, we want to give PSU administrators and students a chance to learn and plan with the professionals - those with experience creating and sustaining a Learning Garden.

The Environmental Club and ASPSU have been working on creating a Learning Garden on the PSU campus. The garden will provide hands-on experience with urban agriculture and will be used as an educational tool by classes and student groups. Local food production will be a central theme of the Learning Garden.

The Environmental Club was recently awarded a small grant through the Miller Gift and the Center for Sustainable Processes and Practices and has hired a graduate student to begin the development of a Learning Garden program. This forum will bring together experts, students, and decision-makers and will guide the next steps in the creation of a Learning Garden.

We'd like you to attend because students are the main benefactors of a Learning Garden. We have invited several administrators who are key in the decision to allow a Learning Garden - this is their chance to learn why a Learning Garden is so great and address their concerns. As students, this is also our chance to learn the benefits of a Learning Garden, ask questions, and provide ideas, but most of all, this is a chance to show our support of a Learning Garden to the administration.

Please email any questions to PJ Houser of the Environmental Club, ecpsu@pdx.edu


Focus the Nation - townhall at PSU
Friday, April 17th, starts at 6 pm. Show up as early as 5 pm.
PSU's Hoffman Hall

Join Town Hall participants Senator Jeff Merkley (via video message), Congressman Earl Blumenaeur, Representative Ben Cannon, Representative Jules Bailey, Mayor Sam Adams, and Commissioner Jeff Cogen for an examination of current federal and local climate policy, and how it translates to the Portland/Metro area.

Mayor Sam Adams will release the Multnomah County Climate Action Plan for the first time to the public, and we will be the first people to provide feedback, raise questions, and insert our value bases into this city-wide document!

Interested in asking a question to the reps who will be there? There will be opportunities to develop an idea of the question that you want to ask ahead of time, and also time to develop questions at the town hall. We suggest that you:
1) Identify a topic area of interest you feel passionate about (for example... know of any state policy up for vote? got a sweet idea for how the city can improve their waste reduction? are you working on a sweet campus project/ or do you have ideas for uniting the state's climate needs with centers of education?)
2) Write it down
3) Bring it to the town hall, listen to the dialogue that's happening and customize it on the spot if necessary to make it as relevant as possible to the conversation.


Power Down for the Planet - sign the pledge!
Have you signed the pledge at http://www.powerdownfortheplanet.org/pledge? If you are interested in helping put out the word, email Kelli at .


Addicted to Plastic - documentary
7 pm, Tuesday, April 21
SMSU 296
Hot Lips Pizza and Soda Provided!

"The truth is, only about 5% of all plastic actually gets recycled." Ian Connacher

"From early plastic like bakelite, now a collectible, to plastic water bottles, the use of plastic is pervasive. The cheapest, strongest, most ubiquitous material ever invented, that might be quietly poisoning us," states Connacher, in this point-of-view documentary that takes him to 12 countries, five continents, and to the middle of the Pacific Ocean where plastic debris accumulates. Through interviews and expert views, he offers possible solutions to recycling, toxicity, and biodegradation. At the forefront of Addicted to Plastic (2008) is how we might rethink future consumption and production of plastic. A wake-up call becomes a call for change for the rest of us. http://www.crypticmoth.com

This program is sponsored by SLECL.

Oregon State Board of Higher Education - Sustainability Initiatives Committee
Oregon is a place where sustainability is a core value and its university system puts knowledge, example and experience at the service of the state, student and the larger world but not without your help. The Board’s Sustainability Initiatives Committee is charged to lead a collaborative effort that sets the system and its institutions on a course to become a recognized international leader in sustainability.

The Committee needs your help to prepare for a system-wide workshop on May 27 that will engage students, faculty and staff in developing an action plan. The first step is to assess how well positioned we are now to grasp the opportunity. We invite (and need) your help in answering three basic questions framed around a draft vision and goals:

What does your campus do now that helps us reach our vision?
What else could your campus do?
What is needed, what barriers need to be overcome to reach our vision?

Go on-line to post answers and comment by May 8: http://www.ous.edu/state_board/workgroups/sust/blog.php

David Yaden
Chair, Sustainability Initiative Committee
Oregon State Board of Higher Education

Please send any questions to:
Bridget Burns
Policy and Research Associate
Oregon University System
541.760.4090


Seriously, register now for SPROG - Youth Grassroots Organizing Training
The SSC's Student Environmental Leadership Trainings, are week-long peer-to-peer training programs led by the nation's top youth organizers. Develop your grassroots organizing and leadership skills, network and bond with fellow students, engage in fun activities and enjoy tasty vegetarian cooking (the low carbon diet for the climate). Not only will you come away changed, you'll have the skills and confidence to be a force for change!

* Oregon: August 16-23
* Washington State: June 21-28

COST: It looks like PSU will be able to send students for free. So register away!

It's raining, it's pouring, the old man is snoring... Wake up!

Careers in Sustainability Forum

RSVP today to attend the Careers in Sustainability Forum on Monday,
April 13th brought to you by your PSU Net Impact Chapter in concert
with the School of Business Administration. The first event of its
kind at PSU, the Careers in Sustainability Forum will be the highlight
of the spring term!

Set yourself apart from the competition in the career marketplace by
finding out what sustainable companies really look for in a new hire!
Gain market awareness and potential leads for job opportunities and
internships in a variety of professions.

We designed this event to give students direct contact with
professionals and hiring personnel from firms. This is our response
to the recent job fair. This time it's just PSU students! Get answers
to your burning questions, network, and enjoy free breakfast.

Make connections with representatives from companies such as:
McKinstry - http://www.mckinstry.com/
PECI - http://peci.org/
ECOS Consulting - http://www.ecosconsulting.com/
ShoreBank Pacific - http://www.eco-bank.com/
EnviroMedia Marketing - http://www.enviromedia.com/
Guayaki - http://www.guayaki.com/
Green Building Services - http://www.greenbuildingservices.com/
Seven Planet Green Stores - http://www.sevenplanet.com/
Ned Space - http://nedspace.com
and more!

This event is open to current students in the MBA, MSFA, and MIM
programs.

RSVP by April 8 to impact@pdx.edu

Monday, April 13

SMU 328-329

Event Schedule:

8:30am Check-In and Continental Breakfast

9:00am Panel Discussion featuring leaders from local
sustainable organizations

9:45am Introduction of visiting companies

10-11:30am Networking and informal discussions with companies

While this is not a recruiting event, it is an excellent opportunity
to build your professional connections and gain awareness of local
companies.

See you there!

Water Awareness Week this Week

The next meeting is next week, Monday, April 13 at 5:00 pm in SMSU 229. Several regular members are unable to attend this term because of our starting time. We may alternate starting times for meetings to allow more participants. If we have half the meetings start later on Monday, will 6 or 6:30 work better for y'all?

We hired a Learning Garden Research Coordinator! We will introduce the new research coordinator next week.

Water Awareness Week - this week! April 6 - 10
Environmental Club's Take Back the Tap Campaign group is working to reduce plastic water bottle consumption on campus by selling Klean Kanteen water bottles at a subsidized price all week, raising awareness of the issues of water sustainability and the negative environmental impacts of plastic water bottles, and lastly, installing a tap water filtration system on campus. Come to the events this week to learn more on the issue!

Tuesday, Apr 7
Blind Water Taste Tests
Tables between Smith and Neuberger, 11:30am
Come watch some of PSU's highest profile staff take the blind water taste test! Can YOU taste the difference?

Wednesday, Apr 8
Portland Water Bureau Speaker
SMSU 238, 7:00pm
Come listen to Briggy Thomas, the Education Program Manager at Portland Water Bureau give a one-hour presentation on the water cycle from the perspective of a drop of water. This presentation will discuss where our water comes from in the Pacific Northwest and Bull Run in particular, and there will be a powerpoint presentation with graphics talking about climate issues, water quality issues, conservation methods, and Portland's status on ending bottled water.

Thursday, Apr 9
Water Sustainability Art Competition and Reception
SMSU 298, 6:30pm
What does water sustainability mean to you? Join in on PSU's first annual Art for Sustainability night! Contribute to the One-Hour-Creations contest- while timing yourself for one hour, create a piece of artwork (in any medium that you wish) that represents what water sustainability means to you. Bring your piece to the event for others to see! If you're not an artist, come look at others' art, join in on discussions about water sustainability, and enjoy snacks from Food for Thought! Please come, and BRING FRIENDS!

Friday, Apr 10
Movie showing of the amazing documentary FLOW
5th Avenue Cinema, 7:00pm
Following the film, there will be a presentation by Nancy Matella from Food and Water Watch!

And... all week from 10 am to 2 pm:
Also, there will be a Take Back the Tap table between Smith and Neuberger. At the table, PSU students can buy a Klean Kanteen and learn more on how to become a more conscious consumer when it comes to water.

COME VOLUNTEER AT THIS TABLE! It will be a fun and great learning experience for everyone! Email Lisa Meersman if you are interested (lisameersman@hotmail.com).

We need lots of support at all these events, so please come to any or all of them!


Earth Day Fair volunteer opportunities
The Environmental Club is hosting an Earth Day Fair on Wednesday, April 22 from 11 to 3. We have invited a ton of sustainability groups to table with us in the Park Blocks. Last year, this turned out awesome despite a little bit of rain. We're hoping to make it awesome again this year!

But we need some help with:

• getting donations for a raffle! At the fair, people can enter the raffle by writing a letter to one of our legislators asking them to support a variety of environmental issues (we will provide a list of suggestions). Each letter earns two tickets. We will be providing envelopes, stamps, paper, and legislators' addresses. So we need help getting donations to encourage people to write letters. If you are interested in stopping by any of the following places and helping us obtain donations like gift certificates, bike parts, books, etc, let us know!
• local breweries
• restaurants
• bike shops
• food co-ops
• bookstores, don't forget PSU's!
• coffee shops
• grocery stores (like the downtown Safeway or Whole Foods)
• setting up a planting table! We have a bunch of seeds, egg crates & pots, and soil, so to encourage people to grow their own food, we will be having a planting table where people can make their own starters.
• We need someone to be at the table helping people on Earth Day (Wednesday), Apr 22, from 11 to 3
• We also need someone with a vehicle to help PJ pick up some potting soil and egg crates and transport them to the school before Earth Day.
• We need help cutting up the egg crates so they're in groups of 4!
• We also need some help writing, printing, & cutting instruction sheets for each type of seed
• helping us create a giant poster of "individuals add up! ways to reduce your carbon footprint". The poster will be like a bar graph. On the horizontal axis, there will be a list of some things people can do to reduce their carbon footprint. On the vertical axis, there will be lines indicating how much CO2 is reduced! Above each item on the horizontal axis, we will fill in the vertical bars as people verbally commit to doing this or that. The goal is to show how little actions with a lot of people add up!

Tryon Farm Permaculture Design Course and Immersion Program
Permaculture Design Course at TLC Farm
http://tryonfarm.org/share/pdc
TLC Farm will be hosting a full 72-hour Permaculture Design Course this summer. This course will be a two-week non-residential intensive that will meet from June 23rd to July 7th, in conjunction with the Sustainable Community Immersion program. The fee for the course is $850-1000 sliding scale. Limited work trade may be available.

Summer Sustainable Communities Immersion Program
http://tryonfarm.org/share/node/683
Located at TLC Farm's unique seven-acre community farm in Portland, Oregon, this internship program will inspire dynamic leaders in the sustainability movement who will be able to use their new skills and knowledge to benefit their home communities. TLC Farm's internship program consists of two summer sessions, and each session will immerse ten interns, 18 and older, in a hands-on, holistic approach to sustainable living and community.


Invasive plants Google map
One of the members of our listserv completed a website with a map & info on all the invasive plants found on PSU's campus for her ESM class - Ecology and Management of Biological Invasions (585). It's pretty interesting. Check it out: http://psuinvasiveplants.blogspot.com/


Power Down for the Planet - sign the pledge!
We are now in week 2 of Power Down for the Planet competition!! I also hope you all have signed the pledge at http://www.powerdownfortheplanet.org/pledge!

As of now, PSU is in fourth for pledges, but schools are catching up quickly, and we are losing our lead! In an effort to increase student pledges, tabling has been set up in Parkway North from 10 to 2 for 4/8, 4/13, 4/14, 4/16, 4/17. Anybody free to table? Tabling will consist of sitting there, attempting to flag down people to sign the pledge and chatting with students/staff about energy type stuff. Two laptops have been secured with wireless access. These laptops will be set up on the table for students to quickly sign the pledge. Reply to this email (at ecpsu@pdx.edu) if you are interested in helping out. But at least sign the pledge!


Portland: 3rd least wasteful city!
Portland is America’s third-least wasteful city, according to a study.
http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/stories/2009/03/30/daily13.html

Some other excerpts:

The study found overall that 78 percent of Portland residents consider themselves to be “eco-conscious,” 88 percent plan on being more environmentally conscious in the next year and 57 percent think their city is on the right track to becoming more environmentally responsible.

Portland ranked first for using reusable containers....

San Francisco ranked No. 1 overall and Atlanta ranked last.


Flowers & leaves are appearing everywhere. Don't forget to do your homework amidst the sunshine!