The PEA Pod, February 2009
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February 2009 |
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From the Executive Director
My grandmother passed away on December 30. She was 88. She was ready to go. I traveled west to Bolivar, Tennessee for the funeral. I took along my new stainless steel coffee mug, a big jug of water, and some leftover Earth Day cups. I was able to make the entire trip without using any disposables. I also took a coffee mug for my sister, which she used once. She later purchased a cup of coffee from a convenience store, and I held my tongue when she came out with a paper cup. After the funeral, everyone gathered at Grandma’s house to eat the fried chicken, casseroles, cakes and pies brought by what seemed like the whole town. I refrained from audibly bemoaning the disposable containers, paper plates and Styrofoam cups. My cousin, Jimmy Glen, did part of the service. Although I have not known him well since he became a conservative preacher, I assumed that we would have nothing in common. After the family dispersed, he invited us over to see his house. I was delighted to discover that he had a backyard chicken coop and an expansive garden. So my cousin is eating local – one of the most important things you can do for the environment. But he would surely argue if I suggested he might be an environmentalist, or even have something in common with one. Grandma left behind many dozens of journals, notebooks, scrapbooks, and photo albums. She kept copious notes about everything from when she bought her Maytag to the State of the Union address. I cherish her notes, written on the back of an old envelope, about how to churn butter, pick cotton, and raise the best layers. For Grandma, eating local was a necessity born of growing up during the Depression and depending on the land to survive. Grandma’s death was not a sad occasion for our family. I found that I enjoyed seeing my family and learning that, while I lead a much different life and have much different views on most things, we do have some things in common – a love of family, a respect for tradition, and a craving for freshly lain eggs. Terri E. LeGrand PEA Excited to Announce 2009 Fair Sponsors
The Piedmont Earth Day Fair could not be sustained without the generous financial support of our sponsors. We are proud to announce the following sponsors have signed on to support the 2009 Fair. Sponsorships are still available. Email tlegrand@peaNC.org for more information. Platinum: Blessings Project Foundation, Great Outdoor Provision Co., Homes by Hamrick, Wake Forest University Exhibitor Space Expected to Sell-out
There are still booth spaces available, but act soon. Booth registration has been strong. We expect to sell out of booth space for the second year in a row, despite increasing exhibitor space by 50% for 2009. Reserve your space before Feb. 15 and save $15. Register on-line. Over 150 Volunteers Needed the Day of the Fair
Volunteers are critical to the success of the Fair. New this year, we are registering Earth Day Fair volunteers on-line. We need volunteers to help with a variety of jobs the day of the Fair, including parking, kids activities and vendor assistance. Please visit our website for details on all the job positions that need to be filled. Our new on-line system will help us easily schedule and communicate with our many volunteers. Please volunteer and ask your friends to volunteer too! Environmental Exchange on Greening Your Small Business
PEA invites everyone to attend an Environmental Exchange on Greening Your Small (or Medium Sized) Business on February 26, 7:00 – 9:00 p.m. Our panel of experts will provide practical information that you can use now to make your business practices more sustainable. Panel members include Peter Marsh, Founder and President of EcoLens Group and Vice-President of Workplace Strategies; Professor Dan Fogel of Wake Forest University Babcock School of Management, Founder and Chairman of EcoLens Group; Craig Whittaker, President of Environmental Solutions Group; Teresa Williams, Recycling Program Administrator for the City of Winston-Salem; Wayne Turner, Assistant Solid Waste Administrator for the City of Winston-Salem; and Ralph Kirschner, President of Kirschner Agency. Please join us at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Winston-Salem, 4055 Robinhood Road in Winston-Salem, for this informative event. You will leave with practical advice for how to improve your bottom line while making more sustainable choices. PEA Partner Fresh Air Carpet Offers PEA Members a Special Deal
Have you put off having your carpets cleaned? Fresh Air Carpet offers PEA members a 10% discount off carpet cleaning and other services as part of the PEA Partner Savings Program. This discount is available on-going. For the month of February, Fresh Air Carpet will also make a donation to PEA in the amount of an additional 10% of the invoice. PEA members can not only get a Green Clean for the New Year, but support the programming of PEA as well. Call today to schedule an appointment. Make sure you ask for the PEA deal. For more information, visit their website. Or, call Lois and Mike at 336-499-1974. Volunteer Spotlight - Elise Anderson
Without the support of our volunteers, such as Elise Anderson, PEA could not exist. In fact, there are currently no paid staff members running PEA. The Piedmont Earth Day Fair, quarterly Environmental Exchanges, The PEA Pod newsletter, and the PEA website are all run by dedicated volunteers. Elise Anderson has volunteered with PEA since its inception. She first heard about us through the Sierra Club, serving as a liaison for the first Earth Day Fair in 2006. Since then, Elise has volunteered in just about every capacity possible. She has helped recruit participants, posted flyers, picked up supplies and helped set up for the Fair. During the Fair she has assisted visitors with using the recycling and compost bins, run demonstrations on worm composting, assisted exhibitors, and sold water and lemonade to fairgoers. After the fair, she helps dismantle the fair structures and clean up the grounds. It has not been unusual to see Elise at the Fair from sunup to sundown, working the entire time. Member Spotlight - Environmental Solutions Group
Environmental Solutions Group (ESG) is a Greensboro-based firm that provides residential and commercial clients with comprehensive indoor and outdoor environmental assessment and testing services. In business since 2000, ESG is a member of PEA and a Gold Sponsor of the 2009 Piedmont Earth Day Fair. ESG has established a reputation for providing high-quality third-party verification and investigative services throughout the southeastern United States. ESG was formed to assist homeowners with indoor environmental issues because very few environmental firms are willing to do residential work. ESG now provides a wide range of services to support businesses, contractors and homeowners who wish to lower their carbon footprint and maximize efficiency. Please Support Us!
PEA is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization supported solely by membership dues and donations. All donations are 100% tax deductible. Please support our vision of a sustainable community by becoming a PEA member or by making a donation. To contribute with a credit card, visit our website. To contribute with a check, download a form and mail it to us. Thank you. |
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