12th Annual Watershed Leadership Conference, February 27-March 2 in Montgomery, AL

Bringing water issues to the Alabama state capitol this election year.

http://www.alabamarivers.org/

Keynote Speaker, Janisse Ray

February window display at Huntsville Public Library

During the month of February, check out the green coalition's display at the main branch of the Huntsville Public Library. It is located inside the double doors on the right just before you get to the Auditorium.

Meeting: Monday, February 1, 2010 at 6:00 PM

Main Public Library on Monroe St. upstairs on the 2nd floor

Agenda for the Green Coalition Feb. 1st meeting

TBD

Guest speaker: Dove Stackhouse, Market Manager of the Clean Food Network,

The Clean Food Network is a group of sustainable, certified naturally grown and transitional farmers from northern Alabama and southern Tennessee who are dedicated to providing clean unadulterated food fresh from their fields to your dinner table.They have come together to create markets at which they can collectively sell their produce, meats, eggs, and value added products to a larger market almost year round through area farmers' markets, restaurants, and a locally grown on-line market. Online orders are delivered weekly at drop off points at certain locations within the city of Huntsville.

Meeting: Monday, November 9, 2009 at 6:00 PM

Main Public Library on Monroe St. upstairs on the 2nd floor

Agenda for the Green Coalition Nov. 9th meeting

Report on Adtran's Social Responsibility workshop- Lynn
Starting an online newsletter-
Membership recruitment
Steps to connect with other green businesses we have met
Is there a "Green Directory" in Huntsville?
Possible speakers for our next meeting - December Meeting - Dove Stackhouse of the Clean Food Network will be our guest speaker
Christmas Party?

Event: Invitation to Best Practices in Sustainability

Lynn Leach is going to this event. Anyone else want to go??

You are cordially invited to the Corporate Social Responsibility Best Practices Conference on October 15th. Featured speakers will share best practices in sustainability, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), and green issues.

Corporate Social Responsibility Best Practices Conference
When: Thursday, October 15th,
9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Where: ADTRAN East Tower
Conference Center 901 Explorer Blvd. Huntsville, AL 35806
Registration: 8:30 a.m.
Lunch: Served at Noon
Keynote Address: Huntsville Mayor - Tommy Battle

Please Register

Conference Hightlights

> Driving innovative environmental improvements in products, operations, and supply chain
> Designing, constructing, and operating a LEED Silver Certified building
> Developing environmental initiatives and sustainability activities within manufacturing operations and the corporation as a whole
> Incorporating CSR into the company's culture
> Monitoring and managing enterprise assets for increased energy efficiencies with EAM tools

Event: Keep Albany-Dougherty Beautiful Flint River Clean Up Call for Volunteers

Protect the Flint

Keep Albany-Dougherty Beautiful
Is hosting its 6th Annual
Flint River Clean-up

on October 24, 2009

Location and Time: Canoes/Kayaks
meet at the Georgia Power Dam at
8:30 a.m. in Albany, GA

Keep Albany-Dougherty Beautiful is looking for
volunteers that have canoes & kayaks, and for those
who can serve as bank walkers!
Send email to kkirkman@jonesctr.org to register.

Take out will be the Radium Landing
(near Marine ditch).
Why: Water Is Our Planets Most Precious Resource

Rivers Alive is a state initiative
that encourages clean ups along all 70,150 miles of
Georgia ’s rivers, lakes, and streams.

Event: Electronics Recycling & Mercury Collection - Saturday, October 17, 2009

Mark your calendars!

Bring your old electronics and mercury containing items to our
Electronics Recycling & Mercury Collection Event

Saturday, October 17, 2009
9 am to 3 pm
Joe Davis Stadium

Sponsored by
City of Huntsville Operations Green Team
Madison County Commission
City of Madison
Covanta Energy
The Solid Waste Disposal Authority of the City of Huntsville

We will be collecting (free of charge) computers (CPUs, laptops, mainframes and peripherals), monitors, telephones, cell phones, telephone systems, fax machines, printers, copiers, rechargeable batteries, stereo equipment, electronic games, PDAs, electronic circuit boards, and components as well as thermometers, thermostats, mercury batteries, mercury switches, and other mercury containing items.

Fluorescent light bulbs will not be accepted at this event, please bring them to the Household Hazardous Waste Collection held on the 1st Saturday of the month.

Televisions will be accepted for a $10 fee.

Covanta Energy is offering $10 gift cards for the mercury thermostats (limited to the first 50 people bringing mercury thermostats) and $5 gift cards for mercury thermometers. A $50 gift card will be given to the first person bringing in a mercury thermostat and mercury thermometer.

If you have more than 10 items, please contact SWDA at 256-880=6054.

Our community is partnering with Creative Recycling Systems from Nashville. Creative Recycling Systems' data sanitization methods exceed U.U. Dept of Defense specifications for security and electronics disposal.

For more information contact Operation Green Team
256-532-5326 (53-CLEAN).

Meeting: Monday, October 5, 2009 at 6:00 PM

Main Public Library on Monroe St. upstairs on the 2nd floor

Agenda: TBD

Event: Energy Forum - October 13-14th - Register and promote to your networks

Energy Forum 2009: Challenges and Possibilities for Alabama. October 13-14 2009, at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens Sign up now! And send the attached Energy Forum 2009 flyer and schedule, along with a personal note, to your colleagues, friends, and work and faith communities.

Consider becoming an exhibitor or sponsor, and invite others to contribute as well. Energy Forum 2009 is hosted by the Interfaith Environmental Initiative of Alabama“Engaging faith and science to sustain and enhance the life of Earth” www.interfaithenvironmental.org

Please consider how you would like to help make Energy Forum 2009 be the success we all hope it will be. Thanks for all you are doing for Care of Creation. See you at Energy Forum 2009! Ginny and Eleanor Virginia N. Brown, M.S.E.M., Co-Convener, Interfaith Environmental Initiative of Alabama browngnbrown@charter.net Eleanor McKenzie DelBene, D.Min., Co-Convener, Interfaith Environmental Initiative of Alabama Liaison, Episcopal Diocese of Alabama Task Force for The Stewardship of Creation eleanor@presence.org

Event: Saturday, Sept.12 2009 - Interfaith Mission Services Volunteer Day

Just a reminder that Saturday Sept.12 is the Interfaith Mission Services Volunteer Day and one of the environmental projects is clearing trails at Hayes Nature Perserve. Please register and get all information at http://www.interfaithmissionservice.org/unity2009.html

The Day is designed for those who want to improve our community through opportunities to connect through service. There are projects for all ages and abilities - some are local agencies, others global - all can be completed in just a few hours. As we work we do that most human thing- we talk, we dialogue, we recognize one another as people who care about this world we share. The physical work will be completed that day but the experience of working with others who have differences but believe that together we can create a better world will be long-lasting.

Citizens will arrive between 7:30 and 8:00, gathering for breakfast and fellowship. From 8:00 to 8:30 there will be a unity celebration, creative dialogue, and a time of matching of people with diverse teams that will then leave to work at their site locations. The day will end at each site mid-day. The score of service sites located across Madison County with a variety of great projects will allow people to connect and serve working through diverse teams “side by side” with other members of your community.

Article: One Man’s Trash ...

Great example of reuse!!!
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/03/garden/03recycle.html

Indeed, city officials worked closely with Mr. Phillips in 2004 to set up a recycled building materials warehouse where builders, demolition crews and building product manufacturers can drop off items rather than throwing them in a landfill. There’s no dumping fee and donations are tax deductible because the materials are used exclusively by charitable groups or for low-income housing.

Meeting: Monday, August 31, 2009 at 6:00 PM

Please come to our next meeting this Monday, August 31, 2009 at 6:00 at the Main Public Library 2nd floor lounge to help finalize our plans for the Green U on Sat. Sept. 26th. This may be the most important environmental event of this year. Our positive presence linking with the public will help our organization, become better known so we can have more of an influence with the body politic. We appreciate all the hard work that has gone into this organization thus far.

Please continue helping us make the Green Coalition a household name in our community.

See you Monday! Have a good week, Lynn

Event: Flint Riverkeeper: Cookout, Campout, and Canoe to help Protect the Flint

Join the Georgia Conservancy and the Flint Riverkeeper on the banks of the Flint River at the Gerald I. Lawhorn Scouting Base (about an hour south of Atlanta) on Thursday September 24th for a cookout and a bluegrass concert featuring the world famous Packway Handle Band.

The evening will also feature leading experts on protecting the Flint River including Georgia Conservancy President Pierre Howard and Flint Riverkeeper board chair Paul Deloach. There will be the opportunity to campout (tents and air mattresses provided) and take a canoe trip the next morning on the Flint River (canoe, paddle and safety equipment provided).

• Who: Friends and members of the Flint Riverkeeper and the Georgia Conservancy
• Cost: $25 for cookout ($40 for two tickets), $50 for cookout, campout, paddle, $150 family cookout, campout, canoe
• Where: Gerald I. Lawhorn Scouting Base, Molena, Ga (south of Pine Mountain and north of Sprewell Bluff)
• Description: A fun evening on the Flint River - guests have the option to camp out and paddle the next day

Event: National Public Lands Day Clean up on the Flint River - September 19, 2009

National Public Lands Day Clean up on the Flint River - Flint River Conservation Association
Plan to attend. Details coming soon!

Questions contact: flintriverconservation@gmail.com

Save the date: September 19, 2009

Event: Free Alabama Water Watch Workshop - Saturday, August 29

Free Alabama Water Watch Workshop - Flint River Conservation Association

Attend this free workshop to learn how to test water chemistry to determine if water contains e-coli bacteria. More information coming soon!

Questions contact: flintriverconservation@gmail.com

Save the date: Saturday, August 29

Meeting Minutes: Monday, July 6, 2009 at 6:00 PM

Hi Green Coalition Folks,

Out next meeting is on Monday August 3rd upstairs in room D. in the main Public Library on Monroe Street at 6:30. Thanks Anna, for getting us this room!!

I am sorry it has taken me all month to get these notes out, but better late than never.

Our last meeting was in room A&B on July 6th at the main library.

We discussed Green U at the Huntsville Botanical Gardens on Sept. 26th. Green U is a day that will promote green activities, events, booths by various groups, business concern going green, vendors and the like. We were asked to be a part of this event several months ago. Our main focus will be on recycling. We will be demonstrating what is found in people's garbage, by using simulating bags of trash as examples. Dixie Bray of the Huntsville Solid Waste Disposal will let us share a display with a glorified recycling bin, handouts and other things we can use for a booth.
We should have a

• compost display
• an activity for children
• tee shirts to sell
• a free give away
• rain barrel display
  

We need more people to sign up for this day's event. So far, Angela and Lynn will be setting up 8:30 to 11. Sandy and Margrit will man booth for two or so hours. Paul will help set up and man booth, Doug will help when he can and also tear booth down. Allison said she could also help. We need to have at least four more folks to step forward and help at this very visible event.

It was decided, we need to form a recycling committee to become experts on all questions about recycling to be an additional resource for the community.

It was brought up that the Monday night music in Big Springs Park did not provide recycling bins. Sandy, Margrit, Anna, Doug and myself went to the event the following Monday and were pleasantly surprised to see recycling bins out beside the trash cans. Someone does need to do oversight to make sure the city will provide the same coverage during Big Spring Jam.

We learned we could hand out fliers without a permit.

It was discussed that some of us were getting too many emails from Green Coalition. I am still unsure how to use the blog page. I will be discussing this with Cathy soon.

It was brought up that we could have a rain barrel display on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/pages/Coalition-for-a-Green-Huntsville-and-Madison-County/84956101835?ref=ts

Treasury report: There is a positive amount in the account.

It was discussed to bring in Unity Church as a new member

Our Articles of Incorporation papers have been filed at the courthouse and the Sec. of State

We still have work to do about getting our 501c3 status

Oct. 24th is a grassroots day of awareness to reduce our carbon footprint. We can choose to take part in this with the national event www.350.org or as individuals.

Please try to attend our next meeting. Our name is getting around as an important networking organization. We are making a difference in our community.

Thank you for your support. best regards, Lynn

Meeting: Monday, August 3, 2009 at 6:30 PM

Main Public Library on Monroe St. upstairs in room D on the 2nd floor

Agenda:
The main point of discussion a will be around Green U on Sat. Sept. 26th at the Botanical Gardens. We have had good response for folks signing up for booth duty but we need at least 3 to 4 more volunteers. This meeting should get into the nuts and bolts of what our demonstrations are going to be and how the booth will look. I will not be able to attend because of a prior commitment. I will be in contact with our Green U volunteers next week. Talk to you all soo

Note: Meetings are every first Monday of the month.

Event: Awakening the Dreamer, Changing the Dream Symposium - Sunday, July 5, 1:30-4:30

Awakening the Dreamer, Changing the Dream Symposium
Sunday July 5, 1:30 pm --4:30 pm
Unity Church on the Mountain,
1328 Governor's Drive SE, Huntsville.

The purpose of the Awaken the Dreamer, Change the Dream Symposium is to explore an emerging world vision built on sustainability, spiritual fulfillment and social justice. Through dynamic group interaction, leading edge information presented in a multimedia format, participants will explore the state of our industrial world and the thinking that got us where we are today and critical concerns of our times, new ideas of what really matters, greater realization of our deep connections, the new global paradigm that is emerging to reclaim our planet’s future, how each of us is part of it, and the synthesis of surprising new answers empowering individuals to make a global difference through actions in one’s own back yard.

Awaken the Dreamer, Change the Dream Symposium was designed through the collaboration of some of the finest scientific, indigenous, and activist minds in the world in partnership with The Pachamama Alliance. Among the leaders who have come together and given this symposium, which began in 2005, in dozens of countries are South African cleric and activist, Desmond Tutu, Budhist monk and peace activist, Thich Nhat Hahn, environmental activists Paul Hawken, Julia Butterfly Hill,social justice advocate, Van Jones, author, cosmologist and educator, Brain Swimme, artist, environmental and social activist, Majora Carter, Achauz leader Domingo Paez and others. This collaboration explores our plante’s biggest challenges and opportunities from a new perspective and connects the participants with a powerful global movement to reclaim the planet’s future. This symposium is meant to shake up, inspire and move participants to action in accelerating an environmentally sustainable, spiritually fulfilling, and socially just human presence on this planet.

Event: The big green bus visits UAH campus June 30, 2009

A group of Dartmouth students is touring the country in a bus powered by vegetable oil
spreading the word about climate change awareness and action.

Tuesday, June 30, 2009: 1pm Event at the University of Alabama campus.

Wednesday, June 31st, 2009: Depart for Memphis, TN.

Please spread the message.

http://www.thebiggreenbus.org/

Event: Household Hazardous Waste Collection - Huntsveille/Madison Co - July 4, 2009

Household Hazardous Waste Collection (free)

Solid Waste Disposal Authority of Huntsville/Madison County
4100 Leeman Ferry Road, Huntsville, just south of the Leeman Ferry and Johnson Road intersection

Saturday, July 4 (8 am to noon)

http://www.swdahsv.org/household.html