1. Welcome & Announcements

· Daniel Lawse welcomed new and existing participants – introduced his Co-chair, Cammy Watkins and the GOC Board Co-chairs, Andy Jameton and Tracy Bohofren
· Past meetings, focused on developing a workplan, were two hours in length
· General meetings, used for updates from committees and networking, are scheduled to be one hour in length

A. Green Omaha Coalition & Green Neighborhood Council Announcements

· New Calendar: GOC website has a new calendar – all events from the GNC wetpaint website should be migrated to the new google calendar at www.greenomahacoalition.org Any green events can be posted here
· Are You Interested?: GNC is looking for a point person to be in contact with the GOC webmaster. This volunteer would work as a liaison between the GNC and GOC, but would not need to develop/write documents to be posted. If you are interested contact Daniel Lawse or Cammy Watkins.
· Earth Day: GOC will be hosting a booth at Earth Day (Elmwood Park, 19 April 2008 from noon to 6:00 pm) If you would like to volunteer to represent GNC at the booth for an hour please contact Lawse or Watkins
· Peace & Justice Expo: GNC has a chance to host a booth at the upcoming Omaha Peace & Justice Expo on 26 April 2008. If anyone would be willing to help host this booth –even as a committee effort – contact Lawse or Watkins
· Zip Codes Needed: Please email Lawse with your zip code and encourage others to do the same. He has developed a map showing GNC representation from a variety of zip codes. This information is important when applying for grants because it shows active participation from a variety of locales. If you are associated/belong to a neighborhood association, homeowners’ association, or SID – please send that info to Lawse as well.
· Brochure: Watkins showed the Green Education Council’s brochure and suggested the GNC also put one together. If a person or persons are willing to create/help create a brochure please contact Lawse or Watkins.
· Wiki/Wetpaint Site: You no longer have to log-in to view the GNC wetpaint site. A log-in is only required to make changes to the site.

B. Membership/Funding Structure

· Watkins – funding structure is in the works and is primarily – at this point – supported by memberships
· Three levels of membership are currently in place: Individual, Business, or Organization
· In order to participate in the GNC you do not have to be a paying member – volunteer time is appreciated as much as dollars
· Paying members will receive benefits such as: newsletter (when developed), invitations to special events, discounts to special events

2. Collaboration

A. Inner-city Coalition on the Environment

· ICE is a grass-roots organization focused east of 72nd Street – similar mission to GNC
· Could partner w/ GNC – ICE can provide an organizational structure and GNC can provide volunteers
· ICE currently looking for a President
· ICE interested most in partnering/spearheading a project w/ the Energy Education & Outreach Committee

B. Benson Ames Alliance

· Teresa Gleason (Omaha by Design) – BAA covers 6
square miles – 1st City sponsored Alliance w/ the goal to be the 1st Green Alliance
· Opportunities for collaboration/partnering – newsletters, hosting wkshp locations, working with food group

C. Neighborhood Summit

· Bank of the West is sole sponsor of an Annual Neighborhood Summit – held this year in Omaha, NE. It’s a regional summit bringing people in from Missouri, Wisconsin, Minnesota, etc.
· Bank of the West hosts an Annual Awards Banquet – GNC has been invited to give out an award to a Green Nhbd at that Summit – September 4, 2008
· Summit will lend support to 2 GNC projects: 1) Green Neighborhood Scorecard/Award and 2) Green Streets Tour

3. Committee Updates

A. Food Group

· Food Group will be working with the Workshop Committee in hosting the June 28, 2008 Local Foods Workshop Event
· Focus is on gauging the need of local community gardeners/producers
· Making connections between producers and consumers
· Next meeting has not been set – check the GNC wetpaint site

B. Recycling Study & Outreach

· Mini-Recycling Centers Project – one main focus of the group
· Recycling Studies and Promotional Campaign – looking for volunteers to canvas neighborhoods
· See attachment for more details.
· Contact Dale Gubbels (Firstar Fiber) to learn more, dgubbels@firstarfiber.com

C. Energy Education

· Main project is Energy Info bags to be handed out at Earth Day
· Bag may contain CFL bulbs, caulk, pamphlet, etc
· Next meeting not scheduled – will be posted on the GNC website
· Contact Pam Goudrian

D. Green Streets/Homes/Garden Tour

· September 6, 2008 – afternoon
· 4 homes highlighted – Energy home, Water/Stormwater home, Waste Reduction Home, Local Food home
· Tour will focus on Lifestyle Changes and Affordability
· Portion of the Tour will be focused on sustainable nhbds, ie Gifford Park – start at the Energy House in Gifford Park Nhbd - walk past Gifford Park Community Garden – Jack Phillips will give tree tour during walk – end at 33rd& California at Community Bike Co-op
· Flatwater Chapter (local USGBC Chapter) and Omaha by Design are partners in the effort
· Next meeting 24 March 2008 at 6pm at Nhbd Center – contact Tim Hemsath – check the GNC website

E. Media Outreach

· Committee formed in January – has not met yet
· Goal of the Committee will be to handle publicity for GNC, specifically monthly green newsletter article, City Weekly, Reader, Omaha World Herald
· Goal also to promote green focused effort by media
· To be involved in the committee contact Lawse

F. Monthly Green Living Workshops

· http://omahagreenneighborhoods.wetpaint.com/page/Green+Living+Workshop+2008+Schedule - See this website for a list of upcoming wkshps
· Eleven workshops scheduled a year
· Currently scheduled thru January 2009
· Two hours in length
· Focus on practical ways to implement green living
· Handouts from the workshops posted on the website
· Next committee meeting May 6, 2008 – 3:30 at Sierra Club
· Contact is Cammy Watkins – camellia.watkins@sierraclub.org

G. Green Neighborhood Scorecard

· Goal of Scorecard is 1) awareness, 2) behavior change, 3) provide baseline, environmental information for nhbds
· Scorecard will be distributed to leaders of neighborhood associations, homeowners associations, SID’s in Douglas County – by April 15
· Scorecard will be scored/assessed and given various shades of green
· Nhbd(s) with darkest shade of green (highest score) will receive an award at the Bank of the West Neighborhood Summit on September 4, 2008
· Next meeting Friday, 28 March 2008 – 11am – contact Trilety Wade, trilety@hotmail.com

H. Grants

· GNC projects funded through grants –to help write grants contact Lawse
· Lawse/GNC submitting application for the Mutual of Omaha grant - funding will aid in current/active projects of GNC committees
· Lawse/GNC submitting application for Mayor’s Grant

4. New Items/Announcements – Feel free to add environmental events to the main GOC Calendar

· Jack Phillips: April 19, 2008 – Sustainable Urban Canopy Workshop
· Jack Phillips: Don’t prune oaks after April 15
· Jack Phillips: If you see a shiny green beetle that can fit on a dime – contact Nebraska Forest Service – could be Emerald Ash Borer
· Cammy Watkins: Earth Day Omaha Coalition is sponsoring the Power of One Service Project on Earth Day (April 19) – goal is to complete one year’s worth of volunteering in one day – lots of projects are scheduled – just need volunteers
· Cindy Smilley: Keep Omaha Beautiful – has 37,000 seed packets from MUD – call Cindy for seed, 444.7774
· Andy Jameton: City Sprouts – volunteers and garden-bed-sign-up is in progress

5. Next Meeting

· Wednesday, 21 May 2008 – 11:30 am to 1:00 pm at Neighborhood Center

6. Adjourn

Meeting officially adjourned at 1:05 – networking and discussion among committees and meeting attendees continued until 1:30 pm