Water Choice best practice Forum. University of Miami - Feb 28, 2011

Leaders Call for Information, Best Practices in Water Choices
February 14, 2011 — Coral Gables — The University of Miami will host the Florida Earth Foundation’s Water Choices Forum II on February 28 at the BankUnited Center Fieldhouse, 1245 Dauer Drive, on UM’s Coral Gables campus.
Florida faces many complex challenges around water quality and regulation; natural systems and restoration; and planning for growth, distribution, and treatment. During the first Water Choices Forum, leaders and experts from across the state called for expedited formation of a water ethic. The second forum, beginning at 8:30 a.m. Feb. 28, will examine and discuss the challenges and implementation of the EPA Nutrient Numeric Criteria and an exploration of the use of water credits across the state.
Several divisions of the University of Miami are engaged in the forum, including the Leonard & Jayne Abess Center for Ecosystem and Science Policy, The Knight Center for International Media and the School of Communication. The event will be streamed online at http://knight.miami.edu
“The Abess Center is honored to support this event. Water resource management is a critical issue on a global scale, particularly as the effects of extraction for agriculture, industry and human consumption are exacerbated by pollution and climate change. It will take a concerted effort across disciplines and stakeholder groups to confront the challenges we face,” said Abess Center director Kenneth Broad, associate professor of marine affairs and policy at UM’s Rosenstiel School for Marine and Atmospheric Science. “This conference is an opportunity to bring diverse perspectives to bear on the policy issues regarding appropriate criteria for allowable nutrient levels and allotment of water credits.”
The mission of the Abess Center for Ecosystem Science and Policy is to create innovative, interdisciplinary initiatives that bridge the gap between science and environmental policy. The Abess Center is the nexus for flexible undergraduate and graduate programs, which gives students the opportunity to learn in a problem-solving context and gain substantial hands-on experience.
The Florida Earth Foundation, a collaborative partner with UNESCO and center of training and best practices in sustainability, has committed to a think tank approach to the forums. Participants will take an active role raising questions, testing definitions, and setting the agenda for emerging conversations.
“Our Foundation is committed to respond to calls for discussion and international best practices as we approach a period of big water challenges in our regions, in the courts, and in the industry,” said Florida Earth Foundation Board Chair, Ernest A. Cox. “Leaders and experts from all fields that deal with water want a place to draw on the best possible data, express their concerns, and seek consensus. Our board has made these forums our 2011 priority.”
The conference will include a diversified audience of water system managers, public officials, international experts, attorneys, law students, scientists, educators, videographers and documenters, and engineers. Their counsel will impact the Florida Earth Foundation’s compendium of online best practices and recommendations on the future of water in Florida. The Employ Florida Banner Center for Water Resources will also provide an update on the strong job and career connection to technical training and certification in the industry.
Fairfield Index, Inc. President Don Upton, a nationally renowned expert on regionalism and collaboration, will moderate the discussion. Other noteworthy participants include Jeff Fulgham, head of GE’s Ecomagination and Dr. Cameron Brooks, Director of Water for IBM’s Smarter Planet Initiative.
The Knight Center for International Media, based at the University of Miami School of Communication, will show an excerpt of its award-winning documentary on the subject of the world’s water crisis, One Water.
Thanks to sponsors, the event will offer international audiences the opportunity to ask questions of the panelists.
Registration for the event costs $195, and includes lunch. Students with ID can register for free for limited seating. To register, or for background and notes from the first Forum, and details on CEU credits visit www.floridaearth.org or call the Florida Earth Foundation, 561-686-3688.
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The University of Miami’s mission is to educate and nurture students, to create knowledge, and to provide service to our community and beyond. Committed to excellence and proud of our diversity of our University family, we strive to develop future leaders of our nation and the world. www.miami.edu.
Florida Earth Foundation is missioned to bring people together through education, public outreach, and facilitation to ensure the future integrity of Florida’s environment and quality of life. This mission is carried out in by developing new and enhancing existing FEF programs, and by seeking out and funding qualified projects through the grants and initiatives. The Florida Earth Foundation is committed to the guiding principles of: non-advocacy, partner engagement, resource pooling (combining resources and collaborating with partners to avoid duplicative efforts in programs and projects), gap-filling (seeking areas of endeavor that represent gaps in programmatic activity and educationally-related infrastructure); and diversity. More information on the Florida Earth Foundation is available at www.floridaearth.org.

Green Associate prep course at Chamber South - 2.19.2011

www.ChamberSouth.com for more information or contact Sebastian@SebastianEilert.com

Greenworking in Miami - LA Bar 2/17/11 @ 7pm

Join us for the
Miami Dade & The Keys Branch GREENWORKING event at LA Bar in the heart of Brickell
Come unwind with the Miami Dade & The Keys Branch and enjoy an an evening of GREENworking at LA Bar in the heart of Brickell. Expand your network while you mingle and meet with other branch and chapter members in a casual, fun atmosphere.

Our networking events are always highly attended so be sure to rsvp!

Complimentary well-drinks from 7-8PM
Suggested $10 donation (tax-deductible)

Business Casual Attire

MiMo Conference in Miami - March 11-12

For Immediate Release Contact: Becky Matkov
305-358-9572; info@dadeheritagetrust.org

Miami Marine Stadium to Be Spotlighted at “Meet MiMo” Conference March 11-12th

The Miami Marine Stadium, once threatened with demolition, will be showcased at a Dade Heritage
Trust conference on Miami Modern Architecture, to be held March 11-12, 2011 at the Eden Roc Hotel
on Miami Beach.

Designed by the Cuban American architect Hilario Candela at the age of 28, the Miami Marine Stadium on Virginia Key is considered an icon of Modernist architecture. Sited on the blue waters of Biscayne Bay, the Marine Stadium’s cantilevered roof appears to float over the 6500 seats of the stands below. From its opening in 1963 to its closing after Hurricane Andrew in 1992, the Marine Stadium was a place of spectacle and celebration, with boat races and concerts on a floating stage.
Dade Heritage Trust and its Friends of the Marine Stadium have campaigned for three years to rescue this landmark, securing its historic designation by the City of Miami and attracting national publicity and widespread support for its reuse.
A presentation on the Marine Stadium will be given at the conference by Don Worth, a co-founder of Friends of Marine Stadium, who will discuss plans towards its restoration.

Architect Hilario Candela will be honored at the conference’s “Living Legends” luncheon for creating a Modernist masterpiece, “an architecture for that place where the land and the sea kiss.”
A boat tour of the Marine Stadium and Basin on Virginia Key is planned for Saturday, March 12th.

AIA Continuing Education Credits will be offered at the “Meet MiMo” Conference .
Dade Heritage Trust’s partners include the National Trust’s Trust/Modern, the Florida Trust, DoCoMoMo-US/Florida, the University of Miami and the University of Florida. Sponsors are Miami Dade County Cultural Affairs, Bacardi U.S.A., Inc., The Villagers, Inc., The Goldsmith Family Foundation, and Swire Properties.

Full conference registration, including presentations, luncheon, Bacardi reception and tours is $275; $240 for DHT members.

For full details and to register, contact Dade Heritage Trust, 305-358-9572, info@dadeheritagetrust, www.dadeheritagetrust.org.

GSA Trades shop is officially Miami Dade County’s first LEED certified building.

This morning, in the Commission meeting of February 01, 2011 county mayor Carlos Alvarez officially announced the first LEED certified building as the GSA Trades Shop facilities. The LEED plaque was presented by Carole Schafmeister of the South Florida USGBC to the mayor and the commission. Many of the GSA staff were present in the chamber as was the Director, Jose Perez and the design Team of PJB and consultants, the builder MCM and the LEED AP, Sebastian Eilert.
Special thanks to Ruben Bravo of MCM, who’s ongoing efforts during all phases of the project, including the follow up with all of the team, were invaluable to the project’s success.



Congratulations to the county and the staff… may the Trades Shop facility set the tone for all new buildings in the county.
Before honoring the LEED certified project and team, the mayor declared today to be Mr. Percival day, who was honored with the declaration and also presented Greenline, the county’s sustainable initiative plan. We are very interested to see the commission continue in the path that is outlined by the plan and how it will continue to make Miami Dade County more sustainable, in all departments.