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