Social Justice
Council
Environmental Task Force
-- Green Sanctuary
Committee
The Environmental Task
Force and Green Sanctuary Committee welcome you to our web page. Here you will
find updates on our activities, how to join us and other pertinent information.
We Need YOU! …
Some ideas for committees are: Reduce, reuse,
and recycle. Reduce our carbon footprint.
*Reduce the amount of paper that your
committee uses; using recycled paper (back of paper that is in the small room on
the right with the large scale copier)
*Reduce energy use. If a room you are
meeting in is hot or cold, report it to the Facilities Committee. Turn out
lights when leaving the room you meet in.
*Reduce packaging. Buy in bulk. Reuse packing
materials that are generated by things that the church or your committee
orders or take it to a UPS store.
Receptions:
*Reduce the amount of trash receptions
generate by using china, instead of disposable paper products, and silverware
instead of plastic utensils. Get members of your committee to wash things in the
dishwasher. Conserve water when cleaning up.
*Recycle everything possible in the proper
containers in the kitchen and other rooms. After a reception or meal, check to
see that paper, cardboard, bottles, cans, and plastic are in the proper
containers so the maximum amount is recycled. Learn what new things can now
be recycled in Montgomery County since July, 2008.
*Serve more nutritious food at receptions
than the usual baked goods, sodas, and sweet punches. Include fruit and
vegetables, hummus, salsa, and other plant based dips. Serve whole grain breads.
Serve juice and tap water. Use organic food.
*Compost the vegetables and fruit in the
new silver compost bin. Take it down to the compost bin at the bottom of the
kitchen stairs when full.
* * * * *
If YOU have an interest or an
ability to help on Green Sanctuary initiatives, join the Environmental Task
Force. Meetings are generally scheduled the
fourth Sunday of each month, from
12:15 – 2:00
p.m. in the Chalice House.
Or, contact Janet Fox at
jfoxdreamart@aol.com,
Molly Hauck at
mollyhauck@verizon.net
or Charlotte Brewer at
jarvischarlot@aol.com. We’ll
do our best to find the right “Green” fit for your interests, skills and
talents.
New … The ETF
asks you to support the inkjet printer cartridge and cell phone collection and
recycling project, coordinated by 9th
Grade RE Class. This project not only furthers our green sanctuary
goals by reusing and recycling items that otherwise end up as waste, but it is
also a fundraiser. Items can be dropped off during the social time after Sunday
services.
The Environmental Task Force
congratulates the entire Grounds Committee
for becoming a National Wildlife Federation Certified Wildlife Habitat! In
order to become certified,
Cedar Lane’s landscape must include food, water,
cover and places for wildlife to raise their young. The grounds of CLUUC passed
with generally high marks. Areas to work on include our excess of invasive
ground covers (like vinca), and general lack of diversity in small plants. This
is according to Marney Bruce, who has worked with the Audubon Naturalist Society
on this issue. She recommended that we try to substitute mulch and native
groundcovers like partridge berry, native ginger, and ferns. She was impressed
with our lovely mature canopy of native trees, and abundant small trees ready to
take off and grow, should a hole in the canopy open up. The family of deer that
has moved into our backyard has frequently greeted church members in broad
daylight this summer, also bears testament to our now “official” status as a
Wildlife Habitat! Congratulations to Carrie Meyer and the entire Grounds
Committee for their hard work and continued efforts!
To see the certificate,
click here.
UU Resources:
Want More Info …
Join the UU Climate Change Listserve.
To join the UU Climate Change Listserve, visit
http://lists.uua.org/mailman/listinfo/globalwarming.
The purpose of
this listserve is to help UUs share technical information about the causes and
implications of global warming so we can develop appropriate strategies for
individuals and congregations to combat its dangers.
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ETF Green Tips Notebook
ETF Program Report - April 2006
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