Green Affairs Updates

This week was super busy both school-wise and SGA wise. I met with the VCUQ students to talk about what kind of sustainability programs we're working on at school. I was really caught off guard by their enthusiasm and knowledge about the topic. It was great to hear what they had to say about the issues going on at their school concerning sustainability.

I had another meeting with Dr. Rodriguez to talk about green fee updates and other possibilities for future leaders.

Leah and I were busy publicizing the PTTG neighborhood clean up. Amazing turn out---about 50 people, collected over 40 bags of trash and around 20 recycling. The OH people were very happy to work with us. The energy was great and the pizza wasn't a bad touch either. Hopefully we can have a repeat before the semester ends. Next time I want to see more SGA people out there, only 6 of us were there!

More to come for this week...

On Tuesday, a couple other leaders and I met with a doctorate student who interviewed us for two hours about how student organizations based on environmental activism function. I spoke about SGA and what we do and what I'm working on right now--->green fees. I dropped Roberto's name a lot, of course, as he is a key leader in this movement at our school.

Leah and I got our flier made, we just need to get those printed and make sure we have $$$ for gloves, trash bags, and pizza.

EDPC went well. Threw around ideas of actual activities... SGA's going to hand out plants and create a follow up survey.

that's all!

COME TO THE CLEAN UP ON MARCH 6! 2PM! meet @ Mojo's.

Met with Jacek on Tuesday. Green fees are being dealt with with University Council, I believe. Roberto drafted a proposal with help from other administrators. We are not going to be able to do much with it this semester, so that entire project is on hold. I have a phone meeting set with Phil Zapfel, a lead environmental activist at William & Mary, who lead the green fee process over there.

Leah and I have been in contact with the clean up scheduled for March 6th. I'm pretty excited about it because with SGA AND Green Unity energy, we should have a great turn out, especially if there's free food! Speaking of street clean ups, there was one yesterday, fairly successful turn out, about 30 people.

I also attended the Earth Day planning committee, we are drafting a letter to send to vendors and I am getting Eberly to work on logo stuff.

This week felt a little bit of the burden from the snow...and thus some meetings were postponed. On Monday, Leah and I spoke about collaborating SGA & Green Unity for the "Paint the Town Green" clean up on March 6th.

Still trying to work on the the permit for the Farm 2 Family bus...

This coming week, I have the Earth Day Planning Committee meeting & another meeting with Jacek.

Happy Chinese New Years & Hapy VDAY!

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At the beginning of the week, a couple of us met with Jacek Ghosh, director of sustainability to talk about our upcoming meeting with President Rao. The piece that I was preparing to talk about was the progress of Green Fees. Jacek gave me some packets on William & Mary's success with Green fees, which they passed in Spring of 2008. Students there pay $30/year, which equals to about $220,000. With this money, they've been able to fund student research projects, several green building upgrades, more recycling/waste management projects, eco-dorms, etc. The meeting with President Rao this past Friday was a success. Roberto had Dr. Rao renew his dedication towards building a green and more sustainable VCU by signed the President's Climate Commitment, something that former President Trani had signed before he retired.

I e-mail Cameron Whitehead about the Art Materials Co-Op idea, but he said there was already something like that, but it's like an online craigslist that's only available to VCUarts students.

I'm meeting with Jacek again later on this week to talk about what else I want to get accomplished this year.

I attended the Earth Day planning committee meeting. We met up with Steve Heinitz, the director of recycling for VCU and his assistant Jordan, as well as two other members of Green Unity. We are trying to pull together all of our connections to blow this April up! This year should be pretty exciting and BIG because we are planning on hosting it at the compass point by Shafer and Cabell, and it's going to trickle down to Monroe Park where there's going to be music and active-hands-on-workshops.

On Wednesday, Green Unity's idea for the basketball team video was finally shown at the VCU v. Towson game. It consisted of the men's bball team picking up recyclables off of the courts. The whole purpose for this video was to emphasize the Siegel Center's desire to be green building certified. Hopefully we can get that clip up on youtube so everyone who missed it can view it.

I have been in contact with Jacek Ghosh, Dir. of Sustainability, we are planning on meeting up soon to talk about my new initiatives. My new initiatives include trying to get the Farm to Family bus a permit to be able to host his farmer's market as a monthly, or bi-monthly routine. Also I would like to get more recycling bins, further the process of green fees, and also start an art's materials co-op.

This coming Friday, the environmental initiatives committee will meet with Dr. Rao to talk about the next steps of the climate action plan!

More updates to come! Should be a productive semester!

Busy week this week.
Eberly is still working on posters.
Late night Dining was a success, your man here almost was a champ but had fierce competition in the Pancake eating contest.
continuing projects from last week.
More to come later....

Hope everyone had a great break.

I compiled a list of green roof school.
-next step is to see the ones with corporate sponsors.
VCU and Ukrops collaboration maybe?

I compiled a list of news articles of schools around the country of schools that have implemented green fees,
-next step to compile list of schools past, present, and planned uses of greens fees.
- Library Hours reinstated, I give thanks to the pressures of SGA and Facebook.
- Dec. 2 Presidential Round table, will be having presenters from the Consulting firm auditing VCU, if you are available please come out.
- Hopefully meeting about green roofs this week with Steve H., Recycling Coordinator
- Will be meeting with Deputy to discuss some interesting developments
- Forgot to send tips out, look for an nice list in your mailboxes soon.

Update for the past 2 weeks,
Last Week:
* Established Leaders Society wants to do a Green Roof Garden, forwarded the contact information to roberto
* Made survey to gauge response on Green Fee Proposal-will be isolated to Rhoads/Brandt Residence Halls respectively for an initial outlook on how students
* Steve Heintz, Recycling coordinator for VCU, setting up meetings to discuss Green Roofs
* Wednesday, November 18th, 2009 11-3pm in the Commons Plaza is the Year of the Environment Student Kick-Off
* Working on Green Affairs Posters with Eberly
* I have contact information for Adam Werbach, hopefully he can come and speak about sustainability, for publicity is the only thing I believe we haven't tackeld this semester about getting people educated.


This week:
- Student Kick-off YoE was a success, a lot of people showed up, gifts ranged from free steel water bottles to bikes! yikes Very engaging of the community, good job gU, and Eberly for helping set up the SGA side.
- Finally got a paper survey out at YoE Student Kick-off, I hear there were over 600 signatures
- Meeting with Dr. Rao is coming up...
- Eberly is in the process of designing posters
- Worked with Steve Heintz and Jordan Starbuck Trash Dive event took place on Friday Nov, 19. Event was to promote recycling Need more presence. Roberto was the only other person to show up. People didn't believe him when he told them "And you get to keep the suit." Hopefully SGA will be cited in the article, we went through a large dumpster full of trash and recycled a lot of it.
- Morpheus photo opportunity is coming, tuition hikes cause videos like these: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UzEEi40tunE
- Forgot to mention that we do have Student Space on the http://www.vcugoesgreen.vcu.edu page, will be do a questionnaire as to what will make people use or pay more attention to the site.
- Dec. 2 Presidential Round table, will be having presenters from the Consulting firm auditing VCU, if you are available please come out.
- Will be emailing out a green tip list for the holidays tomorrow, Sunday Nov 22
- Will be speaking with Elle on how to reach out to students in an organized fashion to educate them on sustainable living practices.

- Contacted Mike Porter, VCU's Public Relation Specialist in regards to getting Green Fees publicized.
- Will be speaking to members of Board of Visitors about the logistics to getting Green Fees passed soon. Jacek Ghosh the Sustainability Coordinator has highly recommended this approach.
- Looking to get a speaker for the Nov. 18th event, Adam Werbach.
- Found a new vendor for Year of the Environment Student Kickoff, baker, working out details
- Looking to implement D.O.T. for Sustainability (Do One Thing)
- Wrote a poem for the SGA Green Affairs archive, doing the graphic design of new green affairs webpage, may make it an external blog.
- Submitting Tip list to SGA Green Affairs webpage.
- Elle and I will be researching other schools methods of getting the student body to be more involved and knowledgeable about 'green'
- Does anyone need performers for any events, I have slew of people that might be willing for the love of music.
- Please watch the following video, I would like everyone in SGA to implement this and post on the SGA facebook page one thing they did that was green a week.

Saatchi True Blue- Choosing Your DOT

Upcoming Events
Year of the Environment Kick off - Nov. 18
Presidents Roundtable - Dec. 2
Brandon/Sanjay leave the Country Dec. 26

http://www.news.vcu.edu/vcu_view/pages.aspx?nid=3122

- Met with Green Unity this week, YoE Student Kick-off, SGA has a table at this event the details are listed at the end of this post. Please contribute any ideas if you can between now and the end of next week.
- I am unhappy with the Green Initiatives web-page and will be talking to Kanwar about doing a complete overhaul, I feel it has too much content to be thrown together in a heap on one page.
- Roberto has told me that we will possibly getting a green roof on top of the Pollack building, uses could included a memorial garden, solar panels, art etc.
- Met with Brian Walters and Green Unity at Seigel Center, Asst. Director for Seigel Center about a half-time show. We have 5 min. to promote the environment. Ideas welcome.
- Will be contacting Eberly for some SGA Green Logo Graphics to go on SGA apparel and the Green Initiatives page.

Hope everyone has a safe and happy halloween.

YoE - Year of the Environment

Green Unity 4 VCU presents VCU's Year of the Environment Student Kick-Off!

NOVEMBER 18th, 11am-3pm @ VCU Student Commons Plaza (outdoors)

VCU's Year of the Environment officially began on October 1st, and is modeled after Va Governor Tim Kaine's Virginia Year of the Environment which highlights education, research and physical contributions to the University as well as community leadership that will improve both the University's and Virginia's sustainable practices in order to preserve the environment for future generations.

Our event plans to highlight many of these practices. The event will be held outdoors at the VCU Student Commons Plaza, we plan to divide the Plaza into four quadrants that will represent each of the four seasons. In each quadrant, there will be a specific focus pertaining to the season:
a. Winter-Energy Conservation
b. Spring-Gardening
c. Fall-Eating in Season
d. Summer-Recreational Activities and Transportation
**All provided by community vendors and student organizations with various activities, workshops, and educational materials to share.

(generously funded by VCU SGA)

>>>Tentative participant list:
(Winter) VCU Recycling, Energy Management, Linux User Group, CFL Exchange
(Fall) VCU Dining Services/Aramark, Farm to Family, Center for Rural Culture, The Well, Twin Oaks Community
(Spring) Backyard Farmers, Tricycle Gardens, VCU Student Gardening Club, Chesapeake Bay Foundation, VCU Alternative Spring Break
(Summer) Outdoor Action Program, VCU Cycling Club, Student Government Association


-There will be many educational and interactive games and activities that students will be able to participate in to win various exciting prizes.
-VCU Catering will also be providing lots of FREE seasonal snacks.
-We will also be providing a rock-climbing wall!
-VCU community members will be able to bring their old electronics by to be recycled properly
-&&& listen to good music!

If you are interested in getting involved, want to volunteer, or learning more about living sustainably, feel free to contact us at GreenUnity4VCU@gmail.com or come see other things our organization is working on at our weekly meetings, every Wednesday evening at 7pm in the basement of Cabell Library, room B-41

Thank you!
Green Unity Executive Board

Met Philip Zapfel at the Green College Conference, It was great, he gave a lot of guidance as how to implement green fees.
Developing Survey to go live hopefully before November
Elle has developed a logo and is now ordering water bottles.
Copenhagen has been dropped due to lack of interest.
Developing Tips for SGA Green Initiative page

-Green Fees is looking good, meeting the creator (Phillip Zapfel) of the Green Fee Project for W/M on Thurs 10/22, hopefully he can present to Senate soon.
-Attended the Sustainability Administration Sub-Committee - looking for feed back on bike sharing
-Attended Virginia Library Advisory Committee in place of Gonzi, looks like no 24/5 this year
-Elle is working on a logo for November-Fest which SGA is cosponsoring
-Working on some Poster designs with Eberly to put up around campus
-Copenhagen, I know Roberto, I know.
-Need monies for Sustainability conference in Baltimore Next year
-W/M will probably want to partner with us on some project soon, will be getting their University President to vouch for them so expect big things
-Please come out the VCU Year of the Enviornment Conference on Thurs 10/22 at the Commons, food will be provided I think. 9am - 3pm

Week of October 5th
--------------------

Hey all,
-Met with Elle earlier this week. We are launching a publicity campaign. Stating with a presentation in SGA to get SGA on board for being a green example.
-I want to buy some recycled paper and some soy ink for the sga office. I have emailed Gonzalo Aida and have yet to hear of a response.
-Writing VCU Sustainability Pledge
-Met with Dr. Rao during the Rice Center event, he is on board for Green.
-Chris Brown arrival has been delayed, finding alternate opportunities
-Emailed W/M Green organizations
-Waiting for Roberto to set me in the right direction with Green Fees
-Recruiting team to pitch the Legislative Sustainability Committee
-Meeting with the Library Committee on Friday to discuss new ideas on sustainability, possibly a double-flush toilet system.
-Water Bottle Challenge - researching banning water bottles on College Campuses.

and....
Wizards Baby, what more can I say

hey all,

~Will update cabinet with Sustainability committee meeting information.
~Any one interested in having a green cookout?
~Elle and I are going to develop a VCU pledge of Sustainability for incoming and graduating students, input is welcome.
~October 1st is coming up and I'd like to throw an event for Year of the Environment, hopefully we can get all the Student organizations around campus to contribute
~We are meeting with President Rao soon so I will have a complete list of information to update the cabinet about all of the activity on campus related to the environment and how it will affect the university and the student body.
~Rice Center grand opening is coming up with the Governor and President Rao, give me a shout out if anyone wants a spot, i might be able to pull some strings
~Planning a trip to William and Mary hopefully in October to meet with the green organizations there
~Finalizing Chris Brown proposal, possibly he may come to the Wizards Game @ Siegel Center October 6th.
~Need to find information on creating a new committee in the Legislative Branch solely for sustainability efforts, will be especially helpful for the implementation plan of the presidents climate commitment.
~Will keep cabinet posted on event opportunities for green events and speakers.
~Thank you Kanwar for linking the Year of the Environment Events on the VCUSGA Green Initiatives page. I hope to have enough content to start a micro-blog soon dedicated to green organizations and activities.
~Roberto and I and whoever else might be interested are working on a proposal to deal with the Green Fees.
~Can we cosponsor G4U events, in a way to cut down on just throwing a bunch of our own.
~would like to start a green film library and have a green movie night twice a month
~Looking for Greek involvement (need ideas)
~Let me know if anyone thinks of anything else.


Holla.

Updates real quick:

• Met with G4U this week, had a massive brainstorming session, and hope to invite them to come speak at a cabinet meeting.
  
  
• Planning a Campus Sustainability Day, see youtube below at the jump.
  
  
• Planning to attend Society For College and University Planning 2010 Mid-Atlantic Regional Conference -see the page at the jump
  
  
• Creating Green Fee contact list of administration at VCU who can support the cause. Also contacting other school to gather new ideas.
  
  
• Need to have a poll or survey from students about how they want the Green Fee money used. Then we may be able to get a petition going, total process may take up to a year.
  
  
• Will have calendar of anticipated goals by next cabinet meeting.
  
  
• Would like to develop a Green publicity campaign, starting with educating cabinet. Goal is to have everyone in cabinet to do at least one green thing a day. Its year of the environment yall.
  
  
• Attempting to contact Chris Brown who is doing Community Service around Richmond to see if he can speak on behalf of the environment. If anyone has contact information please let me know ASAP.
  

Society For College and University Planning 2010 Mid-Atlantic Regional Conference

Campus Sustainability Day

Campus Sustainability Day at UofA

Society for College and University Planning

Last week kicked off with a wonderful documentary screening on Wed. that was very popular. It provided an exciting look into everyday American lives and how we are all affected by what we eat. It advocated for sustainable and ethical food practices. Hopefully this is something that Elle and I can futher as the year goes on.

Also began researching the implementation of green fees at other colleges.
Need to meet with Roberto to discuss how it will be implemented and setting up a meeting with one of the Boards and possibly President Rao.

SGA Master Plan for the Environment is next on the agenda.

Have a great week

.