Environmental Sustainability Council

Environmental Sustainability Council Education Task Group MINUTES Thursday September 18, 2019 5:30 – 6:30 p.m. Oak Room, City Hall, 300 Park Avenue, Falls Church, VA 22046 Priority Tasks 1. Naomi and Anu - Book and Plan for Program Kickoff on October 9. Cookies, activities, promotion. 2. Anu - Follow-up missing plaques 3. Anu - Put up plaques at schools 4. Sarah – Pass on activity ideas from last year’s sheets 5. See other ACTION ITEMS Draft Minutes Call to Order: Anu Gupta (Chair); Kate Walker; Naomi Goodwin, Megan Hauber, Sarah Beaman Bayldon Public Comments: None Review of Previous Minutes: N/A Introduction of attendees and roles:  Megan Hauber – VPIS Liaison  Kate Walker – City Liaison  Naomi Goodwin – Outreach coordinator, especially via Mr. Brown’s Park  Sarah Bayldon – TJ Coordinator and ESC Liaison  Anu Gupta – OPEW Program Coordinator Ongoing Business: Review 2018-2019: See Appendix 1 Strategize for 2019-2020 1. Goal for Year a. Due to new School Coordinators, keep program operating as is. b. Pump up promotion to increase participation: i. ACTION ITEM: Send out another “Backpack Flyer” in November that says, even if you didn’t do October, you can still participate and make up October. 2. Monthly Activity Themes a. Include activities on VPIS Rainsmart Program/rain barrels (Idea: Scavenger Hunt???) b. Highlight Environmental Chapter of Comprehensive Plan in January c. Also think about when/how to highlight stormwater plan and solid waste management plan. d. Also include the student-generated ideas. i. October 2019 Worksheet includes a question to students on what they want to do ii. Last year’s sheet had ideas for activities: ACTION ITEM: SARAH to pass on those ideas via email. 3. Targeted Events a. City cleanups, recycling days, etc. b. Attic Treasures (May 2020 – can include in March sheet) c. VPIS Tree Plantings (not really kid-friendly but see how to link) 4. Cross-links with Falls Church City and VPIS a. Rainsmart b. FYI: VPIS and City’s Urban Forestry Planting are working together on where to put trees 5. What to do with Plaques a. Follow-up missing plaques. Need to be consistent in working with TJ office to find them.  b. Discussion about putting them up in City Hall concluded with decision that it’s best to keep them in the schools. c. ACTION ITEM: Make sure contact information is on the back of the plaques. d. ACTION ITEM: Operation EarthWatch takes a more hands-on approach to putting them up in the schools – can’t just leave them there. e. Could consider sending schools a letter asking them to put them up (“stressing” their importance). f. LONGER-TERM ACTION ITEM: See about replacing names that were taken off old plaques. Budget would allow it. (Noting that names have already been redone once). 6. Special Events (Spring picnic, Pop-ups in the park) a. Already did FCCPS Info Night b. Do a Program Kickoff in Mr. Brown’s Park (set for Wednesday, October 9 at 3:30). OK to buy cookies, budget will allow. c. STEM Night d. Memorial Day Parade e. Spring Picnic f. Need to follow-up with Saint James 7. Fundraising (financial targets and donors) a. Same as last year. b. FC Garden Club sent check to City (automatically) – how to forward. Kate to see if Garden Club will resend to VPIS/OPEW. 8. Volunteer Recruitment a. Missed the GMHS Volunteer Info event – ACTION ITEM: Get on radar for next year’s event – email MaryBeth Connolly b. ACTION ITEM: Reach out to Homeschool networks more. 9. Promotion Ideas (all ACTION ITEMS) a. Saint James Friday Blast – need to send information in time b. FCCPS Morning Announcements c. Info in City announcements: email Susan Finarelli and Claire Casey d. Send info to NewsPress (can’t hurt) e. Reach out to Library – when they move to TJ can we partner in some way? f. November Backpack Flyer Next Meeting: February (TBA) to pick a t-shirt design Appendix 1: Review of 2018-2019 1. Participation: MD: 50 TJ: 45 SJ: 6 TOTAL: 101 2. Potluck Party: 20-25 (including organizers, drop-in) 3. Fundraising and Financial Status: IN (Received since December 2018) Total Amount BUSINESS Name received Art and Frame 200 Bikenetic 250 Clare & Don's 200 Don Beyer Volvo & Kia 244.2 Online fee* 2 years worth – sent to City and Kate Falls Church Foot and Ankle Center 450 forwarded Falls Church Garden Club 150 Sent to City and Kate forwarded Family Medicine in Falls Church 200 Annandale-Falls Church Lions Club 200 O’Hara Law Firm, PLC 200 Point of View Eyewear 200 Baroody Camps 150 New Quinn's Auction Galleries 150 New Oasis Pediatric Dental Care and Orthodontics 150 New TOTAL 2744.2 * donation amount was $250; paid via VPIS online system so fee was deducted OUT (Since December 2018) Total Amount ITEM spent 103 T-shirts $1,436.23 Reimbursed Box of 100 envelopes and 40 stamps $30.58 Reimbursed Plaque engraving $120.00 Not yet reimbursed/haven’t requested Frames 29.95 Not yet reimbursed/haven’t requested TOTAL $1,616.76 Potluck Party Costs: $0 – Free park, potluck, and remaining materials from Anniversary Party (plates, napkins, lemonade; etc.) Those items have been used up. “Assets” Materials on hand: Paper (full year), Parade Posters, Laminating sheets, 2 frames