|
Democracy is Alive and Well . . . If You Take Part
Your State Representative, your County Commissioner, your City Council Member, and your Electric Co-Op Director all sitting side by side. Was this some official hearing? A press conference? No, it was during a
conversation after a musical about pee. How great is that!? During a time when eyes are glued to the theater of national politics (pun interned) it's easy to forget that the front lines of democracy are in your own home town.
I am so proud to be a citizen of a community represented by people who will take the time out of their Sunday to sit down and have a conversation with the public, mostly students, about how government affects their day to day lives. I'm even prouder to be part of an organization like the Environmental Center that fosters students like Zach Bauer who help come up with these ideas. But I also realize that far far too many people these days think of government as an overbearing monstrosity of faceless bureaucrats. Government, at least at the local level, is not that. I know because I've met our elected officials on many occasions.
"How do you get people to care about things like paying for infrastructure?" one insightful FLC student asked the panel. The panel laughed and then all agreed on an answer along the lines of "if you figure that out, PLEASE let us know!" Public hearings and comment periods hear from the same small group of active citizens over and over. I suppose the rest of the people in our community either don't know, don't care, or are simply content to grumble to friends over drinks than take the time to show up to voice their opinion.
Governing is about compromise. It's about figuring out what is fair and best for a community. It's about finding out what services the people demand, and then figuring out the best way to pay those services. The best elected officials need to hear from as many people as they can in order to make sound decisions. And the worst, those officials who only listen to their campaign donors, need a watchful public to hold them accountable come election time.
Stay active in your Democracy! Oh, and definitely
Sincerely,
Marty Pool, Assistant Coordinator
|
Environmental Center Happenings
|
|
Want to Stay Up-To-Date on All EC Happenings?
Like us on Facebook!
You'll have easy access to everything you need to know about all events hosted by the EC, locals, and regional organizations.
We also frequently post job opportunities, thought-provoking articles, and more.
Click Here - Don't miss out on the fun!
|
|
|
|
Fort Lewis College Climate Symposium
Join the Lifelong Learning Program for an afternoon of lectures on the science, impacts, value systems, and solutions associated with climate change. The symposium features Nobel Laureate and NCAR Distinguished Senior Scientist, Dr. Kevin Trenbreth, along with EPA Southwest Climate Hub Director, Dr. Emile Elisa, and FLC Faculty members, Dr. Gary Gianinny, Dr. Heidi Steltzer, and Dr. Ryan Haaland.
The EC will be hosting a carbon footprinting table to help people understand their individual climate impacts, and what they can do to change for the better!
When:
Thursday Nov.
9, from
1 - 5 p.m. with a meet and greet to follow
Where: Student Union Ballroom at Fort Lewis College
Cost:
Free and open to all!
RSVP:
|
|
|
Get some Cream Bean Berry limited edition Local Apple Pie Ice Cream (from locally picked apples) and support the Environmental Center
The Environmental Center and Cream Bean Berry have been hard at work to bring you this year's local apple pie ice cream. It's environmentally friendly, bear-smart, and delicious!
This fall, two apple-laden trees on campus were tempting some of Durango's hungry bears. To save the bears, our Glean & Clean crew harvested the apples and worked with ice cream queen, Katie Burford, at Cream Bean Berry to turn them into a tasty, one-time-only masterpiece ...whose proceeds will benefit the EC!
When:
Buy ice cream before any showing of Urinetown, the musical.
Available Wednesday through Saturday,
Nov. 8, 9, 10, 11 at 6:30 - 7:30 p.m.
Where: Available at the Fort Lewis College production of "Urinetown" showings at the Campus Theater.
Cost: Scoops will be $4 with all proceeds benefiting the Environmental Center's efforts to support regional food security.
Tickets to the musical may be purchased at
the FLC Theater productions page or 970-247-7657
You can pre-order pints or get more information by contacting Zach Bauer, Glean & Clean Coordinator, at
|
|
|
|
Extra Help Needed in the Campus Food Forest
Winter is coming and that means our trees need some love. For those who are interested, we will be caging trees to prepare for winter time protection. No prior experience needed, just a willingness to work and a love for trees!
When: Every Monday 8:30 a.m. -12 noon, Tuesday 8:30 - 10 a.m., Wednesday 9:30 - 11 a.m.
If available to help on other days, contact Grace Ann (contact info at the bottom) to work out a time!
Where: Meet at the Campus "Food For Thought" Orchard just north of Pine Hall
Cost: Free
For More information, contact Grace Ann Robinson at [email protected] or 501-519-3795
|
|
|
|
More EC and FLC Happenings
|
|
EC is selling Be Local Coupon Books
Come one, come all to pick up this year's edition of the Be Local Coupon Book!
These books feature great coupons to many of Durango's awesome independent and locally owned businesses. Favorites always include the 2-for-1 train ticket, discounted pints at all of the Durango's breweries, great meal discounts, offers on health and fitness and more! These make for great holiday gifts, employee appreciation gestures, and creative date ideas!
Cost: $25 each - a portion of the proceeds go to the Environmental Center
Questions or more information, contact Marty Pool, EC Assistant Coordinator, at [email protected]
|
|
|
|
Real Food Challenge Team Reflects on October Conference
The EC's Real Food Challenge team presented at a conference and expo hosted by the Association of the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education, or AASHE, in San Antonio, TX.
Not only did they crush their presentation, they returned home with new ideas, valuable insight into today's sustainability sphere, and revived enthusiasm for their projects.
Check out this awesome interview-style video featuring student perspectives from AASHE '17: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WogvySkVnfc
|
|
Mark Your Calendar for Dec. 5th for the 16th Annual REEL Film Experience featuring Chasing Coral
Once again, REEL promises an evening of incredible cinematography, powerful conversation, and inspired action. This year our event features the award-winning documentary, Chasing Coral. Watch crews
set out on an ocean adventure to discover why the reefs are disappearing and reveal this underwater mystery to the world. The beauty of the underwater world is not to be missed on the big screen!
All proceeds from the screening benefit the Environmental Center's work: cultivating tomorrow's environmental leaders through advancing campus and regional sustainability today.
When:
December 5 and 7. Doors open at 6 p.m. and screening begins at 7
p.m.
Where:
Vallecito Room, Fort Lewis College Student Union
Cost:
$12 advance suggested donation and $15 at the door. Tickets include an amazing, ethical dinner and a movie! Tickets can be purchased at
www.fortlewis.edu/environmentalcenter
or Maria's Bookshop beginning Nov. 1.
For More Information: Visit the Environmental Center at Fort Lewis College on Facebook or email Rachel at [email protected]
|
|
|
|
From the Blog: Yippee! We Went to AASHE!
By Kaidee Akullo, Real Food Challenge
Hello world, I would like to start out by saying: the Real Food Challenge Team at Fort Lewis College is amazing! Last semester I had the distinct opportunity and pleasure to attempt to cohesively summarize all of the work that our team of powerful women does in relation to the Real Food Challenge. This summary took the form of a proposal: a 200 word snapshot of our Vote Real initiative for a chance at presenting at the annual conference by the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE) . . .
Read more
|
|
From the Blog: Moloch Comes
By Dylan Hamilton, Aesthetic Activist
Let's be honest. Things are getting weird.
It's hard to remain calm at times. Everything about our society and our lifestyles is designed to maximize our various anxieties and to produce revenue from advertising. I don't mean to suggest that this is the product of some multinational conspiracy; the truth is probably that this is all happening on accident . . .
Read more
|
|
Thank you Botanical Concepts!
A huge thank you to Jeanie and the team at Botanical Concepts for their generous donation of trees, perennials, herbs, and seeds that we will put to good use in the Environmental Center Campus Garden, Food Forest, and Orchard! We can't wait to invite them over to join us for a harvest dinner next Fall!
If you have any tools, equipment, expertise, trees, you name it, that you would like to donate to support the Environmental Center, we'd love to hear from you! Please contact Rachel at [email protected] or (970) 247-7091. Thank you!
|
|
|
|
Community Events & Opportunities
|
Local
|
|
Events and Happenings in our Local Community
|
Don't Miss the Last Green Drinks of the Year!
November's presenters are Local First, Citizen's Climate Lobby, and the La Plata County Economic Development Alliance |
|
This Month's Green Business Roundtable: Durango's Regional Food Recovery Hub
Join the San Juan Citizens' Alliance at this month's Green Business Roundtable.
Topic: Non-Profits Collaborate to Launch Innovative New Program: Durango's Food Recovery Hub (HUB)
Speaker:
Darrin Parmenter, Extension Director for La Plata County.
His Extension education efforts focus on home and commercial horticulture - leading the Master Gardener Program and working with the area's new and established farming and agricultural enterprises.
When:
Wed, Nov. 8th, Noon-1 p.m.
Where: Henry Strater Theater, 699 Main Avenue, Durango
Cost: $22 to cover event fees and a delicious lunch!
Click HERE for more event details!
|
|
|
|
|
 |
| Photo by Jerry McBride, Durango Herald |
|
Environmental Center and community partners received $356,000 USDA grant to launch the Durango Food Recovery Hub
The Environmental Center at Fort Lewis College, along with community partners' Bear Smart Durango, Local First, CSU Extension, Cooking Matters, the Garden Project of SW Colorado, and Healthy Community Food Systems are excited to launch a Durango Regional Food Recovery Hub. The Hub will address food insecurity, create secondary markets for our farmers, stimulate new regional economic enterprise, mitigate bear-human conflicts, and provide exceptional FLC student learning opportunities.
The Hub expands on an existing EC-supported fruit gleaning program.and has numerous benefits. It will provide opportunities for applied research at FLC, create paid positions for students, mitigate food insecurity, and act as a model program for other communities across the nation.
The Hub Steering Committee is currently accepting applications for a full-time Hub Coordinator. Full job description and application materials found at
www.fortlewis.edu/environmentalcenter
|
|
|
Opportunities
|
|
Jobs, Scholarships, Internships, and more!
|
|
The Alaska Center is Hiring!
The Alaska Center is seeking an enthusiastic and talented individual to serve as an Interior Organizer. This position will work to build power for salmon conservation in Alaska by educating and engaging thousands of individuals to take action and volunteer on an array of campaigns and issues. This position will also support The Alaska Center's work to elect decision makers who will stand up for clean air and water, promote solutions to climate change, and support a strong democracy.
Job Title:
Interior Organizer
Reports to
: Political and Field Director
Status:
Full time
Salary:
Commensurate with experience
Location:
Fairbanks, Alaska
|
|
College to Congress Internship - All Costs Covered
Have you thought about interning in Washington, D.C. for a member of Congress? An internship on the Hill can give you lifelong skills and connections for your political career.
Start yours today by applying through College to Congress. They help place you in an office and give you all the funding you need to live in Washington.
When: Deadline is Nov. 3. Apply today, link below!
Where: Intern in Washington D.C.
Cost: All participation costs covered, see application for more details.
|
|
Market Manager Position Available
The Durango Farmers Market is hiring for their Market Manager position.
The Market Manager is responsible for providing the day-to-day operations of the Durango Farmers Market (DFM) and is one of only two paid positions at the DFM.
If interested, go to
|
|
Further Resources and Opportunities
|
No regional events came our way this time around, but if you have anything you wish to let us know about, please email
[email protected] and we can include it in future Digests!
|
| Have Something You'd Like to Contribute to Future Digests? |
If so, please fill out our Online Form to submit content to us. We'll look it over and promote it in upcoming Digests. We look forward to collaborating with you!
|
|
