Minutes March 12, 2008

Sustainability Committee Meeting, 3/12/08
Minutes
Present: Julie Ramsey, Monica Charpentier, BJ Shoemaker, Jim Biesecker, Jim Wiltgen, Marissa Mizeski, Miriam Parson, Gretchen Natter, Pete North, Rhonda Good, Kathy Bradley.

1. Gathering info on current sustainability practices - Miriam

- She has contacted all secretaries and is continuing to contact more departments.

2. GRASS - Miriam

- is reconvened to help with the info gathering process from the student side and to be a continual student voice to this Committee, and especially to do any legwork that can help this Committee accomplish institutional goals.  It will lay out its structure and set some educational goals this Spring for the coming academic year.

3. Get Acquainted Day - Marissa and Rhonda

            - have a table at GAD  

            - hand out Green Books and possibly ribbons

            -orange bikes displayed

            -herbs from garden possibly on display

            - jumpstarting sustainability initiatives by making already planned events more sustainable in material use, etc.

                        - GIV Day

                        - GAD outdoor recycling

            -a Library display about sustainability in conjunction with their projects - Rhonda

3. Forest Stewardship Council copy paper - Pete North

            -"mixed source" paper proposed

            - FSC:  http://www.fscus.org/paper/

            -same price as current copy paper

            -lower brightness level

            -other initiatives to reduce paper use proposed:

                        : one inch settings on all margins

                        : double sided printing on all campus printers - Kathy to talk with IT

4. Climate Commitment - Jim Biesecker

            -20% renewable energy contract signed since wind power contract lapsed

                        - switch to biomass

            -investigating purchasing more energy star appliances, especially for large institutional machines

            -official reports for Commitment requirements will come from Facilities with Committee input

            - conference at University of Maryland 4/1-4/2 - contact Jim

5. Julie Ramsey

            - Committee should serve as body to nudge departments in sustainable projects

                        -"Ambassadors to campus."

            - student concerns, too - GRASS

6. ACPA Sustainability Conference - Jim Wiltgen

            - June 11-14 in Boston

            - assemble a team to go?

7. Follow Up Actions

            1. Miriam will continue gathering benchmark information from campus

            2. Randy will outline a process to use for planning Committee activities outside of the Climate Commitment, using the GRASS proposal from last year as suggestions.

            3. Please submit all budget/personnel requests to Julie.

            4. Randy will follow up with the correct people about developing a website.