2011 EPA Earth Day Events and What You Can Do

In Washington DC - Join the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Saturday and Sunday, April 16-17 for Earth Day on the National Mall. With more than 40 interactive exhibits, kids and adults can have eco-fun with hands on activities, art, music and storytelling. Visitors will learn how to. Also, the 7th Annual National Sustainable Design Expo on April 15-17 on the Mall features environmentally friendly, sustainable technologies developed by college student teams from across the country.

Around the country - EPA offices around the country are listing events and activities in and near your community. Events range from easy, family-friendly events to more strenuous volunteer environmental cleanup opportunities. For example, there's a Mystic River cleanup in Massachusetts, Auntie Litter's Parade in Birmingham Alabama, the Mountain Area Earth Day Fair in Evergreen Colorado, and many, many more. See the events page to find events, dates, and times near you!

Events page: http://www.epa.gov/earthday/events.htm for DC and around the country.
ONLINE ACTIVITIES

Pick 5 for the Environment. Join others in the US and around the world and commit to small steps that fit your lifestyle, but are powerful actions that help protect the environment.
http://www.epa.gov/pick5

State of the Environment Photo Project - Starting in April 2011 and over the coming year to Earth Day 2012, EPA is inviting photographers to submit photos on the state of the environment as they experience it, to add to the Documerica project. Read more about the history of Documerica and how to enter your photos.
http://www.flickr.com/groups/1667216@N23/

Sign up to get a daily environmental tip by email during April, and listen to the daily audio tip podcast.
http://www.epa.gov/earthday/tips.htm

Join us on Facebook and share your Earthday experiences, or use hashtag #earthday on Twitter.
http://www.facebook.com/epa
http://twitter.com/search?q=%23earthday
On the go? Get your daily tip from EPA's mobile site!
http://m.epa.gov
¿Habla español? Aprenda más acerca del Día del Planeta Tierra y de lo que usted puede hacer para ayudar a proteger el medio ambiente. Escuche los podcasts ambientales. Inscríbase para recibir un consejo por correo electrónico en abril.
http://www.epa.gov/earthday/espanol

University of Miami - April 08: The Economic and Ecological Case for Good Urbanism

The Economic and Ecological Case for Good Urbanism
April 8th, 12:30 pm

In this eye-opening presentation Joe Minicozzi presents cutting edge research that reveals the dramatic impact that different types and patterns of development have on the fiscal health of our communities. If you are looking for the fiscal foundation for creating sustainable communities don't miss this lecture!! Bring your elected officials, your planning staff, your real estate developers and brokers, your property tax assessors!! You will see the plans, buildings and places in your community in a whole new light by the end of this lecture.

Description: Joseph Minicozzi, AICP is the Executive Director for the Asheville Downtown Association. He also partners with Public Interest Projects, Inc. (PIP); a private for-profit real estate development company focused on historic preservation, urban infill, and investing in business start-up in downtown Asheville, NC. Joe is a founding member of the Asheville Design Center, a non-profit community design center dedicated to creating livable communities across all of Western North Carolina. He received his Bachelor of Architecture from University of Miami and Masters in Architecture and Urban Design from Harvard University.

Cost: Free and open to the public
Location: Jorge M. Perez Architecture Center, Glasgow Lecture Hall, 1215 Dickinson Drive, Coral Gables, FL 33146
More information: mredu.arc.miami.edu

April 10, 2011 at the GASC - 1st Annual Friendship Soccer Cup

Please see flyer for the upcomign Friendship Soccer Cup at teh German American Social Club in Miami. 11919 SW 56th Street (Miller Drive), this sunday: Arpil 10, 2011.

Floating Stage Design Contest Awards Ceremony+Dinner May 2 at the Rusty Pelican

Since February, we have been collaborating with DawnTown, the annual public international architecture ideas competition for Downtown Miami, to sponsor a design contest for a floating stage of for the Miami Marine Stadium. The competition is co-sponsored by the Miami Chapter of the American Institute of Architects, the National Trust for Historic Preservation and Dade Heritage Trust. The contest has picked up a great head of steam with over 160 teams- from all over the world - already registered to enter. The Awards Ceremony will feature a viewing of contest entries, announcement of the winner and semi-finalists, a presentation by Frank E. Sanchis III, Director of United States Programs for the World Monuments Fund and a three course, sit down dinner-all for only $30! Click here for details. Viewing of contest entries and cocktail hour begins at 5:30, dinner begins at 6:30 and the Awards Ceremony starts at 7:30 PM.

Tickets must be purchased in advance no later the April 25 Deadline by calling Dade Heritage Trust at 305-538-9572

Integrated & Regenerative Design workshop - April 1, 2011

Excellent workshop coming up Friday April 01, 2011. 1-5 pm. Earn 4 CEU's in the process.

Village Green Man

Marine Stadium Floating Stage Design Contest

For more information on the competition, please contact the following:

Joachim Perez , Executive Director Don Worth, Co-Founder
DawnTown Miami Friends of Miami Marine
Stadium
dawntownmiami1@gmail.com
dontonton@gmail.com
Website: www.Dawntown.org
Website: www.marinestadium.org
DawnTown's Awards Ceremony for Floating Stage Design Contest
On Monday, May 2, 2011

Winners Will Be Announced During Awards Dinner
At the Rusty Pelican Restaurant on Virginia Key


Miami, FL-DawnTown, the annual
International architectural competition, announces that the awards Ceremony
for the Miami Marine Stadium Floating Stage Design Competition will be held
Monday evening, May 2 at the Rusty Pelican restaurant on Virginia Key.

The event will feature a display of all of the contest entries as well as
the announcement of the winner and semi-finalists. There will also be a
keynote speech by Frank E. Sanchis III, the Director of the U.S. Programs
for the World Monuments Fund. Tickets for the event, which includes a sit
down three course dinner, are only $30. Viewing of the entries and cocktail
hour will begin at 5:30 PM, dinner will be at 6:30 PM, and the Awards
Ceremony and keynote presentation begins at 7:30 PM.

This year's competition seeks creative architectural ideas for the design of
a floating stage to complement the Miami Marine Stadium. The Miami Marine
Stadium, located on Virginia Key just five minutes from downtown Miami, has
become an internationally recognized icon - now slated for renovation by the
City of Miami and a key priority of Miami Mayor Tomas Regalado.

The contest, announced in January, has drawn significant attention. "We're
delighted with the response" said Joachim Perez, Executive Director of
DawnTown. "We're seeing more entries than we have compared to other contests
we have run, and there is a lot of international interest as well."

Built in 1963, the 6,566 seat Miami Marine Stadium has played an important
role in the City's cultural history. Originally built for boat racing, it
also hosted many Concerts, Easter Sunrise Services, Television Shows,
Political Rallies, and Boxing Matches - all from a floating stage that was
towed directly in front of the Stadium. During performances, the Stadium
became an "aquatic theatre in the round" -surrounded by the many boats
attending the events. The Miami Marine Stadium was shuttered by the City of
Miami after Hurricane Andrew in 1992 (though there was no hurricane damage)
and has remained closed ever since.

In 2008, a new organization called Friends of Marine Stadium was formed
under the aegis of Dade Heritage Trust, Miami-Dade County's foremost
historic preservation organization. The Friends group has successfully
focused national and international attention on the structure. The Stadium
is now considered an architectural gem. Designated Historic by the City of
Miami, the stadium has achieved international recognition through inclusion
on the 2009 "11 Most Endangered List" of the National Trust for Historic
Preservation and the 2010 Watch List of the World Monuments Fund. Even
singer Jimmy Buffett, who performed many concerts there, taped a public
service video endorsing restoration of the Marine Stadium. .

DawnTown is fortunate to have Hilario Candela on the judging panel. Candela
designed the Stadium at age 28 and is now a leader in the efforts to restore
it almost a half century later. "I look forward to receiving the proposed
entries to the competition" said Candela, "This is an opportunity to think
outside the box, but with a real project."

The complete Jury for the DawnTown 2011 Floating Stage design competition
includes:

Hilario Candela, Architect of the Miami Marine Stadium in1963
Walter Meyer, Principal of Local Office Landscape Architect
Jorge Hernandez, Architect and Co-Founder of Friends of Miami Marine Stadium
Michele Oka Doner, Internationally recognized Artist
Lawrence Scarpa, Principal of Brooks + Scarpa
Frank Sanchis, Director of U.S. Programs of the World Monument Fund

"We are thrilled with the Floating Stage Design contest" said Don Worth,
Co-Founder of the Friends of Marine Stadium, "This is an 'ideas' contest and
we are hoping to see some great creative concepts that will foster as many
different types of events and viewing experiences as possible." The Friends
group is helping to sponsor the contest awards, along with Miami Chapter of
the American Institute of Architects, the National Trust for Historic
Preservation and Dade Heritage Trust.

Tickets for the event must be purchased by April 25. For more information
and to purchase tickets, call Dade Heritage Trust, 305-358-9572

Michael Graves lecture at UM - March 24, 2011 - 6 pm

A Grand Tour – A lecture by Michael Graves, FAIA
Thursday, March 24, 2011
6:00 pm
Stanley and Jewell Glasgow Hall
Jorge M. Perez Architecture Center
1215 Dickinson Drive
Coral Gables campus

DHT Antique & Vintage show & tell - March 23, 2011

Dade Heritage Trust's
"Antique & Vintage Show and Tell"
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Dade Heritage Trust
190 SE 12th Terrace, Miami

Bring your favorite heirloom, garage sale find or Mid-Century vintage piece for evaluation with Art and Antique Appraiser Tara Finley of Anubis Appraisal & Estate Services, Inc., who will also talk about how to identify your hidden treasures. Tour the 1905 original clinic of Dr. James Jackson, now the headquarters of Dade Heritage Trust, Miami's largest nonprofit historic preservation organization. Refreshments served.

FREE Admission.
$10 donation per item evaluated.
RSVP to 305-358-9572 or email info@dadeheritagetrust.org

Integrated and Regenerative Design lecture - 4/1/11 1-5 pm

30 Easy Recipes for Greener Cleaning

This is a wonderful article on green cleaning by a fellow blogger, RNCentral.com

30 Easy Recipes for Greener Cleaning:

While keeping your home clean can play a big part in keeping you healthy, you may be doing more harm than good if you're using harsh and potentially harmful substances. It may seem simpler to just pick up cleaning supplies at the store, but making your own at home won't require a degree in chemistry-- just some basic household essentials and a few minutes. If you've ever wanted to try some greener cleaning recipes, then here are some to get you started. There's a recipe to help you clean nearly every room of your home, keeping things healthy for both you and the environment at the same time.

Basics

These basic cleaning recipes will help you get started with greener cleaning.

Cleaning Kit: If you want to construct the perfect green cleaning kit, use this list from the Care2 network to bring together all the items you'll need, including baking soda, washing soda, tea tree oil and vinegar.


Read more on their website that also includes links to more details...

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.
# # #

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.

German American Social Club - Family night this Friday January 28, 2011

As a new director for the GASC (German American Social Club) of Greater Miami, please join us this Friday, January 28, 2011 at the club for a fun Family night with Table Tennis (Ping Pong), Skat and other fun games and food...

See you there!

USGBC South Florida - Cliamte Refugees screening. January 19th

The USGBC South Florida chapter is presenting a networker screening on January 19th, 2011.

101 Way to Conserve Water in College - guest contribution

Nice article about more ways to conserve water:

www.onlineclasses.org

50 Ways to Go Green at your Wedding - Guest Blog

Interesting story about what you can do to Green up your wedding.

Today, green is the new white. To truly go green for your big day, you may have to sacrifice an extravagant dress, artisan-designed invitations and plastic decorations, but who really needs those things anyway? Green weddings are just as beautiful, chic and enjoyable as any other wedding, but with the bonuses of saving money, being environmentally friendly and getting back to the basics. Here are 50 ways to go green at your wedding:

Green Wedding Guides

These green wedding guides will help brides and grooms explore their eco-friendly options and get inspired in no time.

1.Green Wedding Shoes: Get inspired by these cool Southern California style weddings and DIY decorations that are cheap and eco-friendly.
2.Great Green Wedding: From eco-friendly wedding flowers, green wedding invitations to re-used wedding gowns, this blog provides tons of resources to green any wedding.
3.Eco-Beautiful Weddings: By the looks of this ultra-chic wedding blog, you'd never guess they plan environmentally-friendly weddings.
4.Ecopolitan Bride: This site will make you rethink the normal wedding traditions and consider more original ideas, such as ethically sourced birthstones, vintage bouquets and organic cotton wedding dresses.
5.Wedvert: Check out this site's experts tips and resources for planning a green wedding that minimizes your environmental impact and still looks beautiful.
6.Etsy Wedding: Eclectic brides, who also care about the environment, will enjoy this innovative bridal blog and its eco-friendly finds.
7.Emerald Weddings: Get inspired by the green weddings this Seattle-based wedding consultancy puts together.
8.Green Bride Guide: This site has awesome resources and clever ideas to guide you through green wedding planning.
9.Ethical Weddings: See what this online green wedding magazine and planning resource can do to green your weddings to the max.
10.How to Reuse it Creatively: From paperless RSVPs, a reused wedding dress to bringing your own food to the reception, this blog will teach you new creative ways to make your wedding green.


Read More:

http://www.toponlinecolleges.com/blog/2010/50-ways-to-go-green-at-your-wedding/

50 Online Resources for Eco-Friendly Schools - Guest contribution

Please see a good article on the "50 Online Resources for Eco-Friendly Schools" published on Bestcollegesonline.net

Village Green Man