Environmental Caucus Notes
April 12th, 2013. ARD, Large Pod
Attendees: Derek Hansen, Adrah Parafiniuk, Liz Wiggen, Tim Clark, Rod Parnell, Cat
Sullivan, Abrahan Garibay, Eva Putzova, Lindsey Wagner, Meg Eastwood, Robert
Douglass, Liz Taylor, Jim Allen, John Morris, Chris Harnois, Scott Perelstein, Cori
Cusker, Cherae Bilagoby, Nolan Bade,
I. New introductions & Announcements:
A. TransAT- A presentation by Derek Hansen. If you would like the fully
presentation, please email Derek.Hansen@nau.edu
i. TransAT works towards creating a multi-modal culture and campus.
It is part think-tank, part focus group, and part action group.
This presentation shares accomplishments and also goals ahead.
B. Update on Office of Sustainability:
i. Had a meeting last week to discuss the manager position. 25 people
came and shared input. Taken comments to put into job description.
Will work with human resources for correct salary.
ii. NORESCO resources can help. Facilities can help support this
position with implementation and outreach.
ii. Would like to see this position keep a neutral role, and an
independent office of sustainability.
iii. Will get the job description out. If you are interested in
participating in the candidate selection for this position, let John
Morris know.
C. Earth Week and Sustainability Awards- Green Jacks (10 min.)
i. Go to nau.edu/earthweek for event info. Please send students and
people interested to this website for event details or send them Liz
Wiggen’s (ecw52@nau.edu)
ii. This is the 3rd year that the Green Jacks are organizing Earth Week.
It is completely student led, and run. Lots of exciting events, especially
two hosted by the Environmental Caucus: Mary Ellen Hannibal’s talk
and the Campus Sustainability Awards. Hope you can make it!
II. Connection to community:
A. Liz Taylor- FoodLink: Asking how to better work with community.
Questions from caucus:
 How do we incentivize community members to come on campus to
participate?
 Sees passionate students; how to partner with the community and
participate?
 How to learn about and participate in outside organizations.
 Think beyond the classroom.







Is Foodlink talking to local retailers?
How do we expand into the community?
Bridge the gaps.
Students not as knowledgeable with food systems. How to expand
knowledge?
Learning projects
Direct action between students and community
How can the caucus specifically support Foodlink and is there an area
Foodlink needs extra support or help?
B. The Island phenomenon: Foodlink is already connecting to the campus.
Very connected to SSLUG. Very ambitious and driven to create a local food system
and policy council. Came out of Center for sustainable environments. Focus was on
creating school gardens and educating children about local food and community.
Very strong connect to NAU. Success has been created through relationship with
NAU and our students.
C. Killip Elementary School and Garden: part of the reluctance of the
community to work with NAU students is that it takes work to do so. Easier for NAU
students to come to Killip. Challenge is the high turnover of students. (little time) vs.
community members that spend lifetime here. Freshman come to campus and are
overwhelmed. Huge difference between freshman and senior year. New skills
freshman are learning. Takes a long time to understand the inner workings of Killip
school, for example. Different levels of understanding and routine. Multiple
programs wanting interactions with classroom. The school is as busy and
overwhelmed as NAU. Relationships are key. Faculty delegates. Graduate students
usually don’t come from Flagstaff. Are clueless as first years when it comes to
community and relationships. Must understand the community’s culture
fundamentally. Flagstaff is little and relational.
D. Will the University students contribute to our focus, goal, and our students
needs? Showing up for activities planned. Takes a lot of energy to get university
students to show up. Community needs to tell us how we can support the
community. It’s usually one-time events. Want a deeper meaning and learning; it
requires an ongoing relationship.
E. More thoughtful transition from one graduate students to the next. This is
a new program and is a ‘start-up’. Achieving one level of stability and predictability
is going on. Shared relationships between the University and NAU. When you are
new in a place, there is only so much you can take in. We need to have reasonable
expectations. Process needs to be structured properly. People are asked to do what
they can do based on their skill level, ambition, and qualities as a person. Much
easier to work with people that are motivated rather than required.
F. Bricks and Criollo are a sponsor for us this year. 1% of all cash purchases
at Bricks. We don’t have a lot of resources here. We have limited retailers. Know one
another, have history with one another. See how it benefits them. Reciprocal
relationship is key. Only hires are project-based hires. Fund or partially fund garden
coordinator. No money from the City of Flagstaff. Have piecemeal for funding a
garden coordinator.
III. Summer retreat this summer:
A. Think about future processes with community and campus partnerships.
B. Chair serves two-year term. Associate term takes over this summer- Scott
Perelstein. Take on a more strategic perspective over the next two years.
C. Retreat of Environmental Caucus steering committee where they meet
individually with Vice Presidents across campus to get a feeling of their
needs, but also with community members.
D. Will be doing it during June. If you have ideas for participants, topics,
process, goals, let Rod know. (usually strategic plan comes out of it).