Coalition Notes 05-21-2012

1. The North Face Never Stop Exploring – Speaker Series: Mark Synott. The Woods Project has been selected as the Houston non-profit agency to receive funds raised by The North Face Never Stop Exploring – Speaker Series. The first speaker is legendary climber, Mark Synnott. Mark’s exploits are beyond amazing and he will be using his life story to communicate the core messages of The Woods Project – visioning outside the box and developing the skills required to succeed in college and beyond. The presentation will take place on May 24th at 7pm at the Wortham Giant Screen Theater at the Houston Museum of Natural Science. For more information, please contact Steve Rosencranz at Steve@thewoodsproject.org. Purchase tickets at http://thenorthface.inticketing.com/.
2. Fresh Air Friday: A Picnic in the Plaza! H-GAC Commute Solutions Program will host the tenth annual Fresh Air Friday event on June 1st, 2012 at the Jones Plaza in Downtown Houston from 11am-1pm. Come out to learn about Commute Alternatives and Alternative Fuel Options while enjoying free food, and entertainment! For more information, contact Rick Guerrero at rick.guerrero@h-gac.com or 832-681-2589 or visit the website www.cleanairaction.org.
   
3. Galveston Bay Foundation: Bay Gazer Photo Contest. Do you have photos that exhibit the natural beauty of Galveston Bay? Give GBF your best shot by submitting up to three photos to the Bay Gazer Photo Contest for a chance to win cash prizes and have your photo professionally framed and showcased around the Bay Area. Submissions are being accepted through May 28th. Then come out and join us at Bay Day, at the Kemah Boardwalk on June 9th, for photo judging and announcement of the winners! There are three aged-based entry levels starting from age 11 and up. Submissions must represent Galveston Bay scenes, animals or people within the last year. Help celebrate nature through imagery with GBF by showcasing Galveston Bay through your lens! Learn more about the contest and submit your photos at http://galvbay.org/.
4. Online Auction with Galveston Baykeeper. If you missed the wonderful Earth Day Art Auction on Taylor Lake, it’s not too late! Check out the auction online at Galvestonbaykeeper.org then send an e-mail to info@galvestonbaykeeper.org with your contact information and a bid for paintings, photographs, and jewelry! Bidding will close at 5:00 pm on May 28th.
5. The Heartbreak Turtle Today. The Heartbreak Turtle Today is a documentary that features the story of the dramatic recovery of the critically endangered Kemp’s ridley sea turtle in the Gulf of Mexico. The Heartbreak Turtle Today was produced as a sequel to the documentary The Heartbreak Turtle, which was completed and aired on public television in 1979. The Kemp’s ridleys were near extinction in the aftermath of a massive oil spill. The BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill that began on April 20, 2010 occurred in the middle of production for The Heartbreak Turtle Today. Devastating images, dramatic footage, and emotional interviews capture this tragedy and the horrific consequences many fear it will have on the recovery of sea turtle populations in the Gulf of Mexico. Order a copy today at http://www.seaturtles.org/.
   
6. Houston Green Film Series: The Greenest Building. The Houston Green Film Series continues on May 23rd at the Media Center (2030 University Blvd) at 6:30pm. The film, The Greenest Building, is a new hour-long documentary that presents a compelling overview of the important role building reuse plays in creating sustainable communities. The Greenest Building explores the myth that a green building is a new building and demonstrates how renovation and adaptive reuse of existing structures fully achieves the sustainability movement’s triple bottom line: economic, social, and ecological balance. This event is brought to you by the Rice University Environmental Club, Houston Tomorrow, Emerging Professionals of the Houston USGBC, Houston Green Scene, and Transition Houston in collaboration with the American Institute of Architects’ Committee on the Environment. Learn more at http://houstongreenscene.org/.
7. GBF Clean Water Partnership. The Galveston Bay Foundation recently launched its new Clean Water Partnership program, a community-led effort to create change towards improved water quality. The program focuses specifically on high bacteria levels in several portions of the Bay which has led them to be deemed restricted shellfish harvesting areas. The first partner is Marina Del Sol, an organization that is leading the way with the help of its proactive marina management team and supportive local businesses like Maritime Sanitation and Redfish Island Marine. The Clean Water Partnership was designed to benefit the Galveston Bay and the community through effective outreach.
8. Save the Date: Bay Day – June 9th, 11am-4pm.