Title: Coastal Kayak Instructor Workshop and Certification
Location: Texas A&M Teichman Facility, Galveston, Texas
Link out: Click here
Description: Internationally-recognized kayak instructor, Karen Knight to teach ACA course

Join the sensational Karen Knight and Artist Boat’s own Rani Henderson for an American Canoe Association instructor development workshop and instructor certification exam (Coastal Kayak Level 1-3) from March 12-15, 2010 (dates dependent on level) in Galveston, TX.

There are still a few spaces left for this comprehensive learning opportunity for both recreational paddlers and professional instructors. For details or to register, contact Rani Henderson (rhenderson@artistboat.org).

March 12 to 14, 2010, for Level 1-2 IDW/ICE
March 12 to 15, 2010, for Level 3 IDW/ICE
Start Date: 2010-03-12
End Date: 2010-03-15

Title: Boat Demo and Paddling instruction – Regatta prep
Location: Downtown’s Sabine Promenade along Buffalo Bayou
Link out: Click here
Description: FREE

Thanks to Austin Canoe & Kayak (ACK) for sponsoring this event. ACK will show you the latest boats available andteachcanoe and kayak paddling techniques – all levels are welcome.

Free parking located at Lot H (just off the Sabine Street exit from Memorial Drive and before Houston Avenue)

Kayak paddling will be on a first-come / first-serve basis. However, to guarantee a space for canoe techniques, we have 10 spaces per one-hour time period; 3pm, 4pm, and 5pm (30 people total). Please RSVP by February 26 to info@buffalobayou.org to make your free reservations.

Meet at the south bank boat launch at Sabine Promenade (click here for map). You will need to cross Sabine Street bridge and continue east until you reach the put-in location.

Reminders to those Regatta participants:

Free shuttle service will be provided at the finish line area from 11:30am-2:30pm to transport you back to the starting area Your boat numbers, t-shirts, and additional goodies will be provided at the check-in area on Regatta day. Free parking will be provided at the starting area, near 7700 San Felipe. We ask that everyone drop off their boats first, then park your car. Helpful hints and additional details will be sent to you the week prior to the race! Let the fun begin!
Start Time: 15:00 pm
Date: 2010-02-27
End Time: 18:00 pm

The Donor Development Coordinator is expected to cultivate strong relationships with potential business, corporate and community organization donors, and is responsible for achieving Armand Bayou Nature Center donor development objectives by 1) creating a system for contacting local
businesses to propose corporate sponsorships, and 2) establishing personal contacts with appropriate local business owners and managers to invite sponsorship contributions from beyond our current heavy emphasis on the petrochemical sector.  Satisfactory performance will be measured as success in diversifying support sources and increasing donor support levels.  The position is open now, and is a full-time, exempt employee.  Salary is negotiable depending on experience.  The preferred candidates will have strong marketing and professional selling skills.  More information about Armand Bayou Nature Center, and a complete job description, is available at www.abnc.org.  No phone calls please.  Resumes may be submitted by mail or email to tom@abnc.org.

The US Supreme Court ruled on February 22, 2010, that the highest court in the land will NOT hear the case against the US Fish and Wildlife Service brought by the City of Dallas (Dallas Water Utilities) and the Texas Water Development Board over the creation of the Neches River National Wildlife Refuge.

More information in the Lufkin Daily News.

Title: Hope for Creation: A Global Live Simulcast
Location: Blessed Earth website
Link out: Click here
Description: Blessed Earth is hosting a live, national simulcast event that will include special guests and music, an exclusive look at a new creation care video series, and an interactive discussion with leaders and groups across the country. A simulcast enables a program to be seen at various locations (colleges, churches, organizations, and homes) at the same time by a large audience.

A live, one-night-only national simulcast event featuring Dr. Matthew Sleeth of Blessed Earth Wednesday, April 21 via webcast from Northland Church in Orlando, with special guests, musical performances, audience participation, and an exclusive look at the new Blessed Earth video series.

Blessed Earth is an educational nonprofit that inspires and equips Christian communities to become better stewards of the earth. Through outreach to churches, campuses and media we build bridges that promote measurable environmental change and meaningful spiritual growth.
Date: 2010-04-21

Title: Material Samples recycling event!
Location: The Reuse Warehouse, 9003 North Main Street, on the west side of Main Street north of Crosstimbers and west of I-45.
Link out: Click here
Description: The following announcement is an event at the reuse warehouse. Please feel free to come volunteer and bring any materials or forward this announcement to a teacher you know.The Houston AIA Committee On The Environment is constantly looking for ways to recycle and protect the environment. Architectural and Interior Design offices, as well as product vendors, are continuallyupdating their product libraries and product lines. Rather than these excess and outdated materials going straight to a landfill, they propose to distribute these materials to teachers for use in student art projects. Product samples may consist of the following:
o Carpet samples (books and large samples)
o Fabric samples
o Wall covering samples
o Flooring samples (VCT, ceramic, vinyl, linoleum, wood, cork, etc.)
o Plastic Laminate samples
o Paint samples
o Glass samples
o Other appropriate samples

This is their seventh collection/distribution event and to date they have provided over 12,000 pounds of materials for art projects for Houston area students.

All teachers are welcome to pick up samples.

The Reuse Warehouse
9003 North Main Street
Houston, TX 77022
281-814-3324

http://www.houstontx.gov/solidwaste/reuse.html

The building is on the west side of Main Street north of Crosstimbers and west of I-45.
Plenty of free parking.
In addition to obtaining free material for art projects, you will be able to meet teachers from other districts and discuss use of materials and lesson plans.
All materials are distributed on a first-come first-serve basis and they go fast.
Start Time: 09:00 am
Date: 2010-02-27
End Time: 10:00 am

Title: Living Paradigm–Find Out About Contruction!
Location: The Reuse Warehouse, 9003 North Main Street, on the west side of Main Street north of Crosstimbers and west of I-45.
Link out: Click here
Description: If you are interested in construction, now is the time to get involved! Living Paradigm would like to invite you to come visit with us about our progress and getting involved with construction on Saturday, February 27th from 10am to 2pm at the Reuse Warehouse. We will also be volunteering at the Reuse warehouse to help with the event below and denailing wood.
Please RSVP to livingparadigm@gmail.com.
Start Time: 10:00 am
Date: 2010-02-27
End Time: 14:00 pm

National Fish and Wildlife Foundation: Keystone Initiatives Grants Program
The mission of the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation is to sustain, restore, and enhance the nation’s fish, wildlife, plants, and habitats. Through the Keystone Initiatives Grants Program, the Foundation awards matching grants in the categories of bird conservation, fish conservation, marine and coastal conservation, and wildlife and habitat conservation. Prospective applicants should contact the targeted category’s Keystone Director to discuss project ideas prior to submitting proposals in order to help ensure the relevance of funding requests. The upcoming preproposal deadline is April 1, 2010. Visit the Foundation’s website for detailed information about the Keystone Initiative objectives.

Title: Legacy Land Trust Picnic at the Preserve
Location: Little Cypress Creek Preserve Cypress, TX
Link out: Click here
Description: Save the Date!

Legacy Land Trust’s annual Picnic at the Preserve will include a picnic lunch, outdoor fun, guided nature tours, and canoe rides at one of Legacy Land Trust’s permanently protected nature preserve. Explore the Little Cypress Creek Preserve, a 58-acre Preserve owned by Harris County Pct. 4 Parks Dept. with a conservation easement held by Legacy Land Trust.
Start Time: 11:00 am
Date: 2010-05-01
End Time: 13:30 pm

Title: The Center for Houston’s Future 2010 Annual Luncheon
Location: Hyatt Regency Hotel – Imperial Ballroom 1200 Louisiana Street
Description: Save the Date!

The Center for Houston’s Future is celebrating 10 years of successful service to the Houston region! Join us for this special 10th year Annual Luncheon.

Speaker: James A. Baker, III, 61st U.S. Secretary of State Eugene Vaughan Civic Leadership Award: Jack S. Blanton
Start Time: 11:30 am
Date: 2010-04-15
Link out: here

Title: Benchmarking Existing Building Performance Using LEED EB: O&M as a Framework
Location: TBD
Link out: Click here
Description: This program provides a methodology by which to cost effectively optimize existing building sustainability performance using the LEEDEB: O&M rating system. Participants will learn about the LEED EB: O&M Rating System and the process to benchmark current performance, identify and prioritize enhancement strategies and successfully implement and track them.

Presenter- Elaine Aye, Green Building Services
CEUs: USGBC LEED Professional: 3-hours “Professional Development” Category
AIA: 3-hours HSW and Sustainable Design (to be facilitated by USGBC Houston)
BOMI: 3-hours (GBS is an approved BOMI provider and this course is BOMI approved)
This is an EPP approved program from USGBC.

REGISTER NOW FOR LATEST INFORMATION & EDUCATION
USGBC-Houston/Texas Gulf Coast is pleased to announce the addition of half-day workshops to meet the educational needs of the building industry. During the first half of 2010, we are offering two workshops that will give you the latest information on some of the most timely topics in our region.

In these workshops you can navigate LEED 2009 and learn how it relates to you and take back benchmarking tools for using LEED EB O&M as a framework in your business.

Registration is open now so mark your calendars and get educated at the Houston/Texas Gulf Coast chapter!

Start Time: 09:00 am
Date: 2010-04-28
End Time: 12:00 pm

Title: USGBC Workshop: LEED 2009: Managing the Transition
Location: TBD
Link out: Click here
Description: REGISTER NOW FOR LATEST INFORMATION & EDUCATION
USGBC-Houston/Texas Gulf Coast is pleased to announce the addition of half-day workshops to meet the educational needs of the building industry. During the first half of 2010, we are offering two workshops that will give you the latest information on some of the most timely topics in our region.

In these workshops you can navigate LEED 2009 and learn how it relates to you and take back benchmarking tools for using LEED EB O&M as a framework in your business.

Registration is open now so mark your calendars and get educated at the Houston/Texas Gulf Coast chapter!
LEED 2009: Managing the Transition

Wednesday, March 31st
9:00-12:00 PM (noon)
Location: 3 Greenway Conference Center

• Presenter- Alan Scott , Green Building Services
• CEUs: USGBC LEED Professional: 3-hours “Professional Development” Category
AIA: 3-hours HSW and Sustainable Design (to be facilitated by USGBC Houston)
This is an EPP approved program from USGBC.

LEED 2009 takes performance potential and verification to a new level. This program is a comprehensive overview of the new LEED 2009 rating system and USGBC´s new professional accreditation program.

Participants will gain an understanding of the intent, strategy, and structure of LEED 2009.

Participants will also gain insight into how LEED 2009 will impact their projects, how to communicate these changes to clients, and how the new accreditation and maintenance program impacts current and future LEED-APs.

Note: Green Building Services led the authorship of the LEED 2009 Rating Systems and USGBC Exam Prep Study Guides.
Start Time: 09:00 am
Date: 2010-03-31
End Time: 12:00 pm

The typical visitor to a Texas state park is a middle-aged white non-Hispanic from out of town traveling with a spouse or other family member, but no children, to camp, hike, relax or just enjoy the scenery. Those are just some of the results from a comprehensive statewide visitor survey conducted between 2002 and 2007 at 70 state parks, and whose results were recently compiled and analyzed by Sam Houston University.

The visitor survey of 27,000 customers showed, too, that the vast majority of state park visitors are satisfied with their park experience and that Texas state parks are a major tourism draw to the local area. Two-thirds of the park visitors surveyed report coming to the area for the primary purpose of visiting the park and one-third also said they visit other attractions in the local area and stay overnight in local area accommodations other than the park.

More information on the TPWD website.

Title: USGBC Lunch & Learn–Healthy People, Healthy Bottom Line: Applying LEED in Healthcare Facilities
Location: Webcast
Link out: Click here
Description: This program addresses planning and design strategies to create interior environments that are optimized to support occupant health, well being and productivity.

Using the triple bottom line as the primary measure of success, participants will understand the ways in which healthy spaces can lead to increased productivity and survey design issues such as lighting, thermal comfort, space design and biophilia.

The program also includes case studies to illustrate the presented concepts and strategies.

CEUs:
USGBC LEED Professional: 1-hour “Professional Development” Category
AIA: 1-hour HSW and Sustainable Design (to be facilitated by USGBC Houston)
This program also meets the educational requisite for the LEED General Associate Exam

Trainer: Elaine Aye, Green Building Services, Portland
Start Time: 12:00 pm
Date: 2010-05-12

Title: USGBC Lunch & Learn–Using LEED on Historic Projects
Link out: Click here
Description: This program uses the tenets of historic preservation to identify and explore synergies between historic preservation and green building. Participants will learn some of the challenges and alignment between preservation and sustainability in buildings and successful approaches for greening historic projects.

CEUs:
USGBC LEED Professional: 1-hour “Professional Development” Category
AIA: 1-hour HSW and Sustainable Design
This program also meets the educational requisite for the LEED General Associate Exam

Trainer: Ralph DiNola, Green Building Services, Portland

This event is a Lunchtime Education-based Webcast:
Education-based Webcasts are designed to provide a brief, very-specific educational experience. The purpose may be to provide timely coverage on a topic that is of immediate relevance. Webcasts are assumed to be low-cost and delivered via the web. GBS will deliver the webinars from our Portland office.
Start Time: 12:00 pm
Date: 2010-04-14

Title: Project Wild teacher workshop
Location: Kleb Woods Nature Preserve, 20605 F.M. 2920 Hockley, Texas 77447
Link out: Click here
Description: Kleb Woods offers the Project Wild teacher workshop. More about Project Wild at http://www.projectwild.org/.
Date: 2010-04-17

Title: Kleb Woods Bird Biology Class
Location: Kleb Woods Nature Preserve, 20605 F.M. 2920 Hockley, Texas 77447
Link out: Click here
Description: Join folks at Kleb Woods to learn about bird biology.
Start Time: 09:00 am
Date: 2010-03-05
End Time: 11:00 am