Coalition Notes 08-06-2012

1. H-GAC Regional Recycling Roundtable: Waste Audits. This roundtable will cover waste audits, understanding the results, and knowing how to implement changes and get results. Speakers include Candace Seger and Joanna Taczanowsky of Solid Waste Solutions and Sarah Mason of the City of Houston. The event will take place on August 9th, 10am-12pm at Houston-Galveston Area Council, Conference Room A, 2nd floor (3555 Timmons Lane). For more information or to RSVP please contact Erin Livingston at 832-681-2525 or erin.livingston@h-gac.com. More at http://www.h-gac.com/.
   
2. Transitions – An Exploration of Recycled Art. The City of Houston’s Solid Waste Management Department (SWMD) and The Center for Recycled Art invite the public to view the art exhibit, Transitions – An Exploration of Recycled Art. The exhibit features local artists that specialize in using recycled material in their work, some of which came from the SWMD’s own facilities The Reuse Warehouse and the Environmental Service Center South. The exhibit can be seen at the Bob Lanier Public Works Building, 611 Walker, Ground Level Lobby, through August 24, 2012. The exhibit is free. More at http://www.houstontx.gov/ and http://www.facebook.com/.
   
3. Register for the Sixth Annual Environmental Challenges and Innovations Conference. The Texas Association of Environmental Professionals has just announced that online registration is now available for the Sixth Annual Environmental Challenges and Innovations Conference: Gulf Coast 2012, which will take place on Thursday, October 11, 2012! The conference will provide a local forum for environmental professionals in industry, government agencies, and consulting service companies, as well as university students in the greater Houston area to share technical presentations with their peers. Register at http://taep.memberclicks.net/registration.
4. Keep Houston Beautiful Awards. Keep Houston Beautiful is now accepting entry applications for the 28th Annual Mayor’s Proud Partner Awards. Nominate groups that have worked to support our city through enhancement, beautification, or conservation & awareness activities. Examples of eligible entries: Beautification & landscaping installation, Neighborhood cleanup, Environmental education program, Volunteer park improvement, Waste minimization effort, Litter prevention program. The deadline for entries is September 7th. More at http://www.houstonbeautiful.org/.
5. H-GAC’s Draft Public Participation Plan. HOUSTON-GALVESTON AREA COUNCIL invites you to comment on the Draft Public Participation Plan. Your input and comments are needed on H-GAC’s Draft Public Participation Plan (PPP). The PPP outlines H‑GAC’s public involvement process for the Regional Transportation Plan (RTP), the Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) and the Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP). The Draft PPP is posted on H‑GAC’s website at www.h-gac.com/taq/public_info. The comment period will end on August 22nd at 5pm. Written comments may be submitted to Transportation Public Information, Houston-Galveston Area Council, P.O. Box 22777, Houston, TX 77227-2777, faxed to 713-993-4508 or emailed to PublicComments@h-gac.com. There will also be a public meeting on the Draft PPP on August 9th at 5:30pm at the H-GAC offices (3555 Timmons Lane, 2nd Floor, Room A).
   
6. Houston Galveston Regional Plan – Community Training. There are 5 remaining opportunities to participate in Community Training. These sessions will cover topics including improving your neighborhood one project at a time, public participation as a way of life, incorporating public input for planning, and tools for getting started. Register online at http://www.eventbrite.com/.
   1. Wharton Community Training – August 7th from 6-8pm at Wharton Civic Center O’Quinn Room (1924 N Fulton St, Wharton, TX 77488)
   2. Angleton Community Training – August 8th from 6-8pm at Angleton Recreation Center (1601 N Valderas St, Angleton, TX 77515)
   3. Conroe Community Training – August 8th from 6-8pm at Lone Star Convention Center (9055 Airport Rd, Conroe, TX 77303)
   4. Houston/St. Martin’s Community Training – August 9th from 10am-12pm at St. Martin’s Episcopal Church (717 Sage Rd, Houston, TX 77056)
   5. Anahuac Community Training – August 9th from 6-8pm at American Legion Hall (1704 S Main St, Anahuac, TX 77514)