ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES COMMITTEE
February 17, 1999
EMU Maple Room


ATTENDEES: Karyn Kaplan, Cyndi Jones, Bev Murrow, JR Gaddis, Robyn Hathcock, Martha Ravits, Connie French, David Niles

Announcements:

The environmental law Land Air and Water conference begins the evening of Thursday, March 4 through Sunday, March 7. David Brower, founder of the Sierra Club, is the keynote speaker. A list of other speakers, panels and events is available on the web.

The H.O.P.E.S. conference is in April. Bev will provide the committee with an agenda and Karen will put it out to the environmental coordinators.

Special Guest - David Niles, bike coordinator for the University. David is working on an incentive program for faculty and staff where they would be rewarded for using public transportation, walking, biking, etc. They would earn credits which could be applied toward discounts on products and services. Bev mentioned that this sounds like the green stamps program and suggested that using that image would fit in with environmental concepts as the green party, etc. David plans to implement the program on the honor system through a web page log which will allow people to accumulate credits. He has started a list serve for transportation issues and is also working on a campus courier service for the spring. He’s tried to contact the Emerald (with no response yet) regarding writing a regular column and thought that it could be alternated with Karyn’s input on recycling issues. This would also be a way to attract more interest in EIC. Bev and Connie volunteered to help and suggested this might also be a good way to get student writer to work with the committee. It was suggested to expand the regular column to include all issues associated with the comprehensive environmental policy.

Committee Charge:

Karyn called Kay with the final changes "or designee" was added after Director of Purchasing and also for Printing Services. Before the end of the year Karyn suggested reviewing the structure of the committee. What can be done to make EIC more effective: Bev felt that a lot more education is needed especially at the department head level. Karyn asked for input on using the next three months to decide what needs to be accomplished to gear up for next year. Karyn asked Robyn to put the committee charge on the web.

Subcommittee Reports:

Martha, Transportation has not met recently

Robyn, Communication continuing to learn how to manage and design the web page and will be adding the committee charge, minutes, links to other colleges, environmental coordinators announcements in an archive system by subject. She would really appreciate feedback and help.

Connie, Bev, Karyn, Cyndi and JR, Sub Policy Implementation & Environmental Symposium - Connie, Bev, Karyn, and Kay Coots met last month. The policy is finished and ready to be implemented. Bev prepared the document with a menu of choices that each unit will have for implementing the policy. Karyn sent an e-mail with the proposal and has heard back from the those who have been asked to speak. The symposium can’t be held on Earth Day because Gerlinger Lounge is already booked. The only time available that week is April 20 and Karyn has booked it for a two hour session. Kay will talk with Dan Williams about putting a memo out to Deans, Directors and Department Heads with details and an invitation to attend. Environmental coordinators will also be invited. (the policy is on the web page)

Environmental Citizen Award will be awarded to a campus environmental citizen of the year and could be given at the symposium. Nominees will be solicited from EIC and environmental coordinators and submitted to EIC.

Old Business:

Karyn passed out copies of ads scheduled to run in the Emerald. Some concerns were raised over two of the ads and those ads will not be published. Karyn asked for assistance in developing the next set of ads.

JR announced that a decision has been made for the campus to use Rubicon 24 lb. tree free bamboo paper as the official stationary. It will have the UO seal watermark and they are going to try to put a tree free watermark in the paper too. Cost will only be an average of $8 more per year to departments. Print Services continues to sell more 50% and 100% recycled paper. Two meetings have been held to study the governor’s policy.

The next Environmental Issues Committee meeting is scheduled for March 17 at 11:00am in the EMU Maple Room.

Minutes submitted by Linda Johnson