Environmental Action Committee

Wheel

The Rotary Club of West Chester

Meeting Location: West Chester Country Club
111 W. Ashbridge Street, West Chester, PA 19380
Time: Thursdays at Noon.


CAUTION: Clicking on the links on this page may take you out of the Rotary Club of West Chester website.
These links provide access to environmental information which may be useful to members of the club. The Rotary Club of West Chester is not affiliated with the owners of the linked pages. No endorsement of any organization, product or service which may be advertised on the linked pages is implied. If the content of any linked page fails the 4-way test or is contrary to the club constitution or bylaws, please report the issue to the webmaster.
Coming Events
Open letter from Ed Malet:
First, I hope you'll mark Nov 13 as a don't-miss lunch. The management team of Open Sky Energy Systems will be presenting that day. I learned about Open Skies several weeks ago, listening to a podcasted NPR interview. Based in Swarthmore, it's a start-up energy systems consultant, currently focused on residential and small commercial solar applications. Frankly, although I've been a fan of solar for over 35 years, I'd viewed it as a meaningful alternative mainly for in Florida, Texas, Arizona, etc. Open Sky, however, believes it now deserves attention right here in Pennsylvania. And just this morning, in a conference of energy lawyers, I learned that Pennsylvania's government has committed over $100 million to solar over the next 8 years (not to mention another $550 million for other energy alternatives.) The Open Sky is one of four programs planned for the 08-09 year. We're also considering a how-to presentation on energy conservation in the home, on transportation planning, and on the condition and restoration of Chester County's streams, rivers and watersheds. For the moment, these programs are still in pencil. I'd like to get your ideas. Besides lining up presentations like these, the environment committee is exploring opportunities for hands-on volunteering and recreation, e.g., hazardous waste collections, stream cleanups, wildlife appreciation hikes, canoe trips, club bike rides, etc. Personally, I'd like to see our club supporting and/or participating in Earth Day in April, e.g., by sponsoring some sort of contest or demonstration. In fact, I'd like to get the club involved in the establishment of a NEW HOLIDAY! (For more info, see http://www.countylinesmagazine.com/article.aspx?aid=210 So, if any of this sounds interesting to you, please stay for a few minutes after lunch this Thursday, Nov 6. (I'd like to get a sense of who is interested in the Committee's work.) And then the following week, on Nov 13, after the Open Sky presentation, we'll do a longer meeting, to share and discuss goals, projects, etc.
Thanks,
Ed

International Resources
  • The United Nations Environment Programme provides information on climate change. For more information  Click Here.

  • National Resources
  • The EnviroLink Network is a non-profit organization which has been providing access to thousands of online environmental resources since 1991. To view their resource list  Click Here.

  • Environmental Health and Safety Online provides one consolidated page for federal government environmental information on the World Wide Web. To view this resource Click Here.

  • Green is Universal is a website run by NCB with many suggestions on how to protect and improve our environment. To view this resource Click Here.

  • Regional Resources
  • The PA Environment Digest is a searchable online newsletter which includes information about environmental issues and legislation. To view the current issue Click Here.

  • The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection provides information on all aspects of resource conservation in the state. To learn more  Click Here.

  • The Pennsylvania Environmental Council publishes information on environmental issues. It has recently published a "Pennsylvania Climate Change Roadmap". To learn more about this organization and read the roadmap Click Here.

  • Invasive plants impact native plant and animal communities by displacing native vegetation and disrupting habitats as they become established and spread over time. To learn more about how they are affecting the eastern United States Click Here.

  • Local Resources
  • The Chester County Solid Waste Authority provides useful information about recycling and the safe disposal of hazardous materials right here in the Greater West Chester Area all year round. To learn more Click Here.

  • The Chester County Health Department's Bureau of Environmental Health Protection provides monitoring, sampling, and testing, services for various aspects of the environment. To learn more Click Here.

  • The Chester County Water Resources Authority provides basic science, analyses and planning necessary to protect public safety, to preserve the integrity of the County's natural water resources and watershed systems. To learn more Click Here.

  • Rotary Projects
  • What are other Rotary clubs doing about the environment? To find out Click Here. Then either browse the environment projects or start a more specific search of the database.

  • What are other Rotary clubs doing about the global warming? To find out Click Here.

  • Educational Tools
  • How green are you? To find out your carbon footprint and what you can do to improve our environment Click Here.

  • The Chester County Water Resources Authority offers tips on water conservation at home. To learn more Click Here.
  • Back to West Chester Rotary Home Page