9/14/2009 Sustain Mid-Maine Update

Posted by Steve Kelleher 
 
Steve Erario, a Colby student, and Jamie Nemecek, a Unity College student, presented an update on Sustain Mid-Maine, a grassroots nonprofit group working on environmental sustainability issues.
 
Rotary Meeting for Monday, September 14, 2009 held at the Alfond Youth Center - Here is a recap in case you missed our meeting!

Sergeant at Arms

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Janet Parkhurst was our Sergeants of Arms today. Thanks Janet!!!!!

Greeter

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Kim Hawkes served as Greeter today. Rick MacKenzie will be our Greeter for the September 21st meeting.

50/50 Tickets

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Gene Beaupre sold $104 for the 50/50 raffle today and Nancy Gallagher was the winner of $52. Nancy will find a substitute to sell tickets next week. Since no one claimed 10 free tickets in next week's 50/50 drawing on September 21st, the tickets will go to Rotary.

World Service Cup

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The donations for this month's World Service Cup will go to support efforts to address Post Polio Syndrome, which affects polio survivors many years after the initial affliction.

Fined for pictures in the Paper

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There Kim Lindlof's picture was in the paper last week and she was fined accordingly.

 

Cell Phones

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A $10.00 fee for cell phone ringing continues for the 2008-2009 Club year. No fines assessed today.

On Leave

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Cynthia Corbin.

Visiting Rotarians and Guests

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There were no guests or visiting Rotarians this week.

What can you do?

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* Tell Board Members what you are passionate about for community projects

* Tell the program committee about interesting speakers/topics you would like to listen to

* Be involved, join a committee

* Be active

* Be positive

Happy Dollars

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Seth Sherwood and family did a Diabetes Walk in Portland and raised $250. Seth's son is diabetic.

Tom Longstaff's son is safely home from Iraq.

Nancy Gallagher is happy because she won the 50-50 today, and also because she now has a fourth great-grandchild, Amiah Lynn Laweryson.

Don Plourde invited members to come to the Business After Hours he is hosting on Wednesday at Coldwell Banker Plourde Real Estate.

Elizabeth Vanderweide is celebrating 1431 Alfond babies now eligible for a college scholarship, courtesy of Harold Alfond.

Announcements:

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Nikki Desjardins announced a Domestic Violence vigil from 5 to 7pm in Castonguay Square on October 7.

Upcoming speaker schedule:

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September 21, 2009 Lauri LaChance, Maine Development Foundation

September 28, 2009 Tom McAdam, Kennebec Behavioral Health

October 5, 2009 International Woodfuels

Waterville Rotary Club Web Site

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http://www.clubrunner.ca/waterville

Today's Program: Sustain Mid-Maine Update (Steve Erario, Colby College Student, and Jamie Nemecek, Unity College Student)

Doug Carnrick introduced Steve Erario, a Colby student, and Jamie Nemecek, a Unity College student, who presented an update on Sustain Mid-Maine, a grassroots nonprofit group working on environmental sustainability issues. Erario and Nemecek were among a small group of college interns focusing on these issues through the summer.

Sustain Mid Maine has 50 to 65 active members working to determine what mid-Maine would look like in 2020 in the five areas of energy, transportation, solid waste recycling, education, and local food. Mid-Maine currently emits over 500,000 tons of greenhouse gases. The group helped create a community garden on North Street, and outlined how to replicate this project.

On August 5 they hosted a Green Living Expo in downtown Waterville to build awareness of Sustain Mid-Maine and provide information on how to live green.

They mailed a community survey to educate the public on Sustain Mid-Maine, raise awareness for green initiatives, gather information on current community progress, seek interested volunteers, discover community interest in additional specific areas, and to gauge support and gather feedback. Results were incorporated into a PowerPoint presentation.

Q. Are volunteers accepted?

A. Yes

Q. Are efforts being made to tighten up homes?

A. The Governor's plan calls for all Maine homes to be weatherized by 2020. The State does a few hundred yearly, and the average homeowner rate is slow. We need 22,000 homes done yearly in order to me this goal.

Q. How do you find a reputable energy auditor? Average cost?

A. The State has an information line. Check out Efficiency Maine or KVCAP for certain auditors. Cost is $200-$400.

After his presentation, Sarah presented Steve and Jamie with a Rotary Four Way Test keychain with the thanks of the Club.