Spring community activities update

[Gil Ben-Meir]

Hello everyone,

Here is a quick update as to
what we are participating in and upcoming events and milestones.

Cool cities-yesterday I hosted a meeting to discuss our plan to make the Nyacks mayors to sign the cool cities agreement and to enforce Clarkstown to follow through their energy audit. We agreed that Laura will approach Upper Nyack Mayor and request a meeting before April 9. We also agreed that Debbie and Tom will continue persuing Mayor Shields for a meeting before April 9. If we succeed to schedule a meeting, we will meet again before that meeting to prepare a presentation. Peggy and I will continue persuing the Clarkstown board to approve the Cool Cities agreement.In our April 9 Sierra Club chapter meeting we will work as a group to plan the Cool Cities campaign which will include an outdoor music event, like Tom suggested, to hopefully announce the Nyacks commitment to the agreement or to continue persuing them to sign. The event will be held in late spring.

The Rockland Sierra Club chapter
Will hold its next meeting on April 9 at the VC library. We will report our progress and plan the cool cities campaign.

Tom is performing at the HOPE concert in Irvington on earth day April 18.

I plan to host a spring planting day on April 27 where our kids will participate. Details will follow and all of you are invited.

Lastly, a quick update about the children sustainability education program which Anne and I have been working on. We had a successful session about sustaining the "web of life" last friday. I am looking forward to our next sessions about sustainable food consumption, water and energy conservation and alternative energy. In May, we are planning to take a field trip to Bluefield farm where the kids will experience organic gardening, livestock, and explore the Hackensack River widelife.

I am very excited and looking forward to all these events and hope you all find a way to contribute to these activities.

If I missed any details please feel free to add your comments.

Happy Spring, everyone!

Gil

[Anna - Rockland Green Map]

I dont know if this is what you want to know, but here is some member activities:

Rockland Green Map will give a presentation to the Environmental Mangement Council tonight, Wednesday March 19 (open to the public) in New City (see my previous Forum post for more information). Welcome!
We will also participate in the following events (with a table for outreach and education):
* Nyack Garden Club Flower Fest (April 12)
* Earth Day at RCC (April 22)
* River Auction, Rockland Parent Child Center ("GO GREEN TO GROW")

Maybe the Nyack Street Fair and the Spring Fest in Nyack (More details in a few weeks).

And of course we will be active on April 19 joining the county and Keep Rockland Beautiful for the big SPRING CLEANUP. I hope you have put together your own team, or will join a team somewhere in the county!

[Gil Ben-Meir]

Thanks for the update, Anna. Please keep us posted on the results of tonight's meeting as we may need your assistance in approaching the county about their commitment to the Cool Cities agreement.

We will probably participate in the spring cleanup event as a group. Can you tell us about you involvement in this event?

Thanks

Gil

[Anna - Rockland Green Map]

Just back from the EMC meeting! It was great to be there, thanks to Mary Hegarty who invited us. The council members and the members of the public who came gave us a lot of input and comments (and some skepticism too). Met some great new people, including the Rockland Sust. Comm. member Deverelle!

Who to talk to Cool Cities agreement: I don't know, but talking to people "at the top" would probably be good - a county legislators that works for the environment is Connie Cokershe would be someone to ask for advice on how to proceed and who to talk to.

Re the Clean-up/my involvement: I think it is a great initiative and a great way for the community to come together, show your neighbors and the younger generations that you care about the environment and the beauty of our living space. Last year we were ~10 people cleaning up a section of the Sparkill Creek in Orangeburg/Blauvelt. Afterwards we all sat down and enjoyed a lunch together. For 2008, we have registered but not yet picked a spot.

It is generally a great event for children (mine are 3 and 6), but be careful because they could try to pick up some nasty stuff where even gloves doesnt help. My kids loved it for 2 hours, then we did a 4 hour non-planned picnic and trash clean up on the Piermont Pier a week later just for the fun of it. They know more about about Styrofoam now than they need :)

Decide a place where you want to clean up and then go to the Keep Rockland Beautiful and register your team, your site (you can always contact KRB for site suggestions), and when and where you will meet. If you want you can come to the kick-off meeting in the County Legislature (11 New Hempstead Rd, New City) and pick up t-shirts, trashbags and gloves (I think). That is also a nice time for meet and greet.

Anna

[Yelena Silverman]

The sustainability education program sounds like a great idea. I am getting my masters in teaching right now to teach high school biology, and I want to incorporate this concept in my teaching as much as possible. I just read a great book, David Wann's "Simple Prosperity: Finding Real Wealth in a Sustainable Lifestyle," and I think that all high school students should read it.

By the way, I just joined this group and would love to know when the next meeting/get together is.

Thanks,
Yelena

[Gil Ben-Meir]

welcome to the site Yelena.
you are welcome to join the Sierra Club and attend our next Rockland chapter meeting on 5/22 at 7pm at the Valley Cottage Library. our group is working on persuading the towns and villages of rockland to sign on to the U.S mayors climate protection agreement (www.coolcities.us) and to help them implement the cool cities campaign and raising environmental awareness through education and other community activites.
Gil

[Yelena Silverman]

Thanks Gil, I might have class that night but am definitely interested in getting more involved.