SWCS-NCC Meeting Notes
December 13, 2007Participants: George Utting, Ross Braun, Suzy Friedman, Bill Boyer
Membership:
Chapter membership recently increased by four. They are: Dana York, Associate Chief, NRCS; Sarah Bridges, Natural Cultural Resources Specialist, NRCS; Rebecca Roose, an Environmental Protection Specialist with EPA is an attorney working on the CAFO; and Julie Javier, a PhD Environmental Engineer, also working on CAFO projects and is an intern at EPA. 2008 Chapter Elections: All officers on the ballot for 2008 were unanimously elected. Ross reviewed the list of new officers and the term of each position.2008 Awards:
Nominations for national awards and the National Capital Chapter's Norman A. Berg Conservation Legacy Award were discussed. The officers need to receive a nomination with background information to consider each and make a nomination; Ross will collect these. George and Suzy will develop background information for the nomination of Dr. Tom Simpson. Ross will develop information for the nomination of Tracey Meehan. Bill and Sarah Bridges will develop information for the nomination of Dr. Lawrence Clark and Dr. Marc Safley. Henry Zygmunt, with EPA Region 3, has been nomination for the Harold and Kay Scholl award.2010/2011 National Conference:
Washington, DC may be selected for the site of the 2010/2011 national conference. Ross has contacted neighboring chapters (Maryland, Delaware and Virginia) and the Virginia Chapter indicated solid interest in helping. We may contact other chapters in the SWCS Northeast Region. The Keystone Chapter will support our bid to host the 2010 or 2011 international meeting.Energy Conservation Workshop:
Lynn Knight, a former SWCS member now with EnSave http://ensave.com/, would like to work with NCC to sponsor an energy conservation workshop. Bill will solicit NCSAF involvement and set up a teleconference with representatives of these three organizations to determine the level of commitment needed and next steps.Smithsonian Soils Exhibit:
Ross met with Dr. Paul Kamps, Development officer with the Soil Science Society of America-a co-sponsor of the exhibit. They discussed opportunities for NCC to help. They need help developing awareness and interest in the exhibit, which opens July 19 and will be displayed in the Natural History Museum for 18 months. They want to target local schools to reach science teachers and students. Suzy Friedman will research this as her husband is a third grade teacher and a friend of his is a member of the National Association of Science Teachers (NAST). Also, we should check with the Association of Women in Soil Science. FYI-Paul Kamps is opening speaker at the SWCS meeting in Tucson Arizona, H. Wayne Prichard Lecture.Meeting adjourned at 12:55pm. Suzy Friedman offered to host the February meeting at Environmental Defense.
Next Meeting January 10, 2008, 11:45 am - 12:45 pm @ EPA Conference Room 7402.
The SWCS-NCC Board meets the first Thursday of each month from 11:45-12:45.
The location will cycle among the organizations represented by Board members and be announced prior to each meeting.