November 12, 2008 RESAA Minutes
Rutgers EnviroStewards Alumni Association
Steering Committee Meeting Minutes
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
ATTENDANCE: Bill Curzie, Steve Foster, Harry Shallcross, Jim May, Fred Weisel, Will Sigle,
Marlene Robinson, Dionne Polk, Irene Sabin and Bruce Barbour
President Bill Curzie called the meeting to order at 10:09AM
APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Steve made a motion, seconded by Dionne, to approve the minutes
of the October 15, 2008 meeting. Motion carried.
CORRESPONDENCE:

Bill received a letter stating that all certified Rutgers EnviroStewards were nominated for
the New Jersey Governor’s Awards in the environmental category this year.

Thuy Anh (Duke’06) sent an email commenting on the EIRC material on Green Schools
which was sent out with the Nov 12, 2008 Agenda and provided by Marlene for the RES
educational event committee to consider as possible topics. Thuy suggested that RESAA
act as a clearinghouse for the vast amount of environmental information available on the
web and bring the best information to a central location which can be accessed by the
public. Thuy is currently unable to attend RESAA Steering Committee meetings because
she is working.
RES PROGRAM COORDINATOR’S REPORT

Trial Google Groups on various topics have been started by Nora Wagner for volunteers
who have completed the RES training courses at Duke Farms. Steve suggested that all
members of the Steering Committee be invited to join so that they can help evaluate the
process. Bruce has also started a listserve at Rutgers which has fewer options than the
Google Groups but can accomplish similar communication results.

Bruce stated that press releases are being sent out now asking people to sign up for the
2009 RES training sessions at Duke Farms (Central), Essex (Metro), Atlantic County
(Coastal)and the EcoComplex (Delaware Region). Classes will begin on January 16,
2009. Cape May is still a possibility for 2009, as well. A copy of the press release
announcing classes at the “Core Four” sites is enclosed for those who would like to send
it to local media.
COMMITTEE REPORTS
Please see discussion of Educational Event topics/ speakers under Old Business.
OLD BUSINESS
I. Educational Event
Dionne suggested that the information on “green schools”, sent out by Marlene, could be divided
by the Educational Event Committee into categories which would provide several topics for
speakers such as:
 Building or retrofitting “green” schools or other buildings
 Reducing energy costs, water consumption and noise pollution by going “green”
 The academic and health benefits of schools that are LEED certified. (LEED =
Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design).
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November 12, 2008 RESAA Minutes
I. Educational Event - continued
Marlene stated that the following topics and speakers are under consideration:
 Green construction with LEED requirements applicable to schools, businesses and
homes - EIRC's John Henry and/or other GreenSchools of NJ speakers
 Climate Change - David Robinson, NJ Climatologist
 Microbiology - how viruses and bacteria cause changes in living organisms
 Insects and invasives - agents of ecosystem collapse - Dr. Doug Tallamy, U of Delaware
Further discussion will take place at the committee meeting.
II. RESAA Website: Discussion was postponed because time was needed for the Bylaws.
III. Bylaws - The October 15, 2008 draft was reviewed and modified. There was discussion on
Quorums, number of Board members, RES representatives from various regions of New Jersey,
and the ultimate name of the Board since not all members will be officers. Irene will send out the
November 12 draft of the document for further refinement by email and at the next meeting.
NEW BUSINESS
Google Groups and Rutgers listserve – please see Bruce’s report. Discussion on how these
groups will affect the alumni website was postponed.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
For more information on the following topics, google the subject on the web or contact the person
in parentheses.

The Rutgers EnviroStewards website has a new slide show, "Invasives in Autumn," on
the Home Page that Bruce just put together from photographs he took this fall.
http://envirostewards.rutgers.edu/

Bill was quoted in an Asbury Park Press article about the November 10, 2008 meeting of
the Pineland Preservation Alliance which he attended. (Bill)

Endangered and Nongame Species Program's Geographic Information System (GIS)
Training: Participants learn how to access habitat maps for threatened and endangered
wildlife species. Upcoming Landscape Project training and information sessions will be
hosted by: Rutgers University - Friday, November 14, 1:00 - 4:00PM; The Richard
Stockton College of New Jersey - Friday, November 21, 1:00 - 4:00PM; Montclair
University - Friday, December 5, 1:00 - 4:00PM. For more information, please consult
http://www.njfishandwildlife.com/ensp/landscape_train.htm or e-mail
patrick.woerner@dep.state.nj.us.

Common Ground Leadership Seminars. Robert Williams 732-932-6812 X 590 (Harry)
The Next Meeting is at the EcoCenter on Wednesday, December 17, 2008:
9:30 – 10:00 idea exchange; 10:00 to Noon – business meeting.
Fred made the motion to adjourn, seconded by Steve. Motion carried. The meeting was
adjourned at 12:15PM.
Respectfully Submitted,
Irene O. Sabin
iosabin@earthlink.Net
908-806-8895
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November 12, 2008 RESAA Minutes
PRESS RELEASE FOR 2009 RES CLASSES (from Bruce)
Citizens Learn the Science behind Major Environmental Issues Straight from
the Experts in the Rutgers Environmental Steward Volunteer Training
Program
Imagine being able to discuss climate change with the State Climatologist or learn about
New Jersey’s Geology from the people who map it. How about learning about the role of
soils in the environment from the person who runs Rutgers’ Soil Testing lab? These are
some of the opportunities that are available to enrollees in the Rutgers Environmental
Steward Volunteer Training Program. Would you like to learn how local environmental
decisions get made from the head of the Association of New Jersey Environmental
Commissions or how land preservation can be done most effectively from some of the
leading players in land preservation in NJ?
Recruitment has begun for the Rutgers Environmental Steward Class of 2009. To learn
how you can become a Rutgers Environmental Steward contact the appropriate
coordinator for your region.
Essex/Metro
Training Location: Essex County Environmental Center, Roseland, NJ
Normal Class Time: Thursdays, January to May, 2008; 10:30 to 2:00 pm. Cost: $250
Contact: Jan Zientek, Zientek@rce.rutgers.edu , Program Coordinator, Rutgers
Cooperative Extension of Essex County, 621-A Eagle Rock Ave., Roseland, NJ 07068,
(973) 228-2210
Central/Duke
Training Location: Duke Farms, Hillsborough, NJ
Normal Class Time: Tuesdays, January to May, 2008; 9:30 am to 12:30 pm. Cost: $325
Contact: Rosalie Kelly, rkelly@ddcf.org , Duke Farms Foundation, 80 Route 206,
Hillsborough, New Jersey 08844 (908) 243-3606
Delaware Region
Training Location: Rutgers EcoComplex, Columbus, NJ
Normal Class Time: Fridays, January to May, 2008; 9:30 am to 12:30pm. Cost: $250
Contact: Laurie Magee, lmagee@aesop.rutgers.edu , Rutgers EcoComplex, 1200
Florence-Columbus Rd., Bordentown, New Jersey 08505-4200, (609) 499-3600 ext 221
November 12, 2008 RESAA Minutes
PRESS RELEASE FOR 2009 RES CLASSES (from Bruce) - continued
Coastal Region
Training Location: Atlantic County Utility Authority, 6700 Delilah Road , Egg Harbor
Twp NJ
Normal Class Time: Wednesdays, 9:30 am to 12:30 pm. Cost: $250
Contact: Amy Menzel, amenzel@acua.com , PO Box 996 Pleasantville, NJ 08232,
609.272.6950 ext 6934
More information including application forms and the current schedule for lectures can
be found on the web http://envirostewards.rutgers.edu .