Coalition Notes 10-29-2012

1. What is the Future of Our Region? H-GAC Think 2040 Survey. In less than 30 years, our region is expected to add 3.5 million people. The Houston-Galveston Area Council and partners are working on a Regional Plan for Sustainable Development to help local governments prepare for this growth. You are invited to take a 10-minute survey about four alternative futures: Current Course, Less Time on the Road, Greener Region, and Competitive Workforce. Please contribute your thoughts about these alternatives and the tradeoffs involved with each of them. Then, pass on the survey to others! You can find out more about the planning process and take the survey at www.ourregion.org. The survey ends on November 16. Survey respondents will be entered in a drawing for one of four $25 Amazon.com gift certificates to be given away each week.
   
2. 3rd Annual LEED for Neighborhood Development Symposium. The 3rd Annual LEED for Neighborhood Development Symposium will take place October 30th, 8:30am-2pm, at 1002 Washington Ave., 2nd floor. Come hear from key stakeholders in the region on how they are scaling up sustainability and learn about the LEED rating system for Neighborhood Development. Featured projects include Mueller, Springwoods Village, and Washington Avenue Livable Centers Study. Project showcases will be followed by a panel discussion and an exclusive opportunity to have your site plans reviewed by two LEED ND experts! At least 4 GBCI CE credits are expected to be approved. Cost: $95. Learn more and register at http://usgbctexasgulfcoast.org/.
3. Nurture Nature Festival. The annual Nurture Nature Festival returns to the Baytown Nature Center, 6213 Bayway Drive on Saturday, November 3 from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. Enjoy a FREE event for the whole family that introduces the plants and animals of the Baytown area: nature walks, children’s activities, guest speakers, exhibitors, live animals and MUCH more. Learn more at http://www.facebook.com/.
   
4. 2012 Run in the Park. Sign up now for the 2012 Run in the Park! Proceeds benefit Hermann Park Conservancy. Run in the Park will take place in Hermann Park on November 3rd from 8am to 11am and will include a 5K Run & Walk, 1K Kids’ Run, and Post Race Party complete with live music by Wheelhouse! Registration online is $28 for adults, $12 for kids. For questions, please contact Mindy Campbell, Run in the Park coordinator, at 713-524-5876 ext. 357 or mcampbell@hermannpark.org. Learn more and register at http://www.hermannpark.org/.
5. Electronic Waste Recycling. Keep Kingwood Green and Compucycle are sponsoring an E-Cycling event in Kingwood on November 3rd from 9 am to 3 pm at the Metro Park and Ride location. The goal for November is to collect 30,000 pounds in six hours. This is after a successful event in October where area residents donated 29,000 pounds. Keep Kingwood Green holds an Electronic Waste Recycling Event on the 1st Saturday of each month. More details at www.keepkingwoodgreen.org.
6. Transition Houston’s November Meeting: “Rail Transportation and Travel.” Transition Houston’s November meeting on Monday, November 5, will have a very special program around the theme of “Rail Transportation and Travel.” Two experts will talk about current rail options in the Houston region (and beyond) and potential for improvements including high-speed rail: former Harris County Judge Robert Eckels (President – High Speed Rail, Texas Central Railway) and Maureen Crocker (Executive Director of the Gulf Coast Rail District). Appropriately enough, the meeting will be at the Green Building Resource Center, 1002 Washington Ave., Houston, 77002, located next to the Amtrak Station. The meeting starts at 7:00pm with our program and a short business segment, then breaks at 8:30 for conversation, community, and refreshments until 9:00pm. Please see the event listing at http://www.transitionhouston.org/ or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/.
7. Native Prairie Plant-a-thon. Volunteers are needed to plant 2,500 native coastal prairie grasses. This event will help the park continue the restoration of 400 acres from farmland to native prairie habitat and reestablish the diverse wildlife that it once had. Located in northeast Harris County, Sheldon Lake Environmental Learning Center is visited by thousands of children and adults each year who take guided nature walks, study ecosystems, go fishing, experience pond ecology, and see alternative energy in action. Restoring this prairie will enhance the educational programs at the Learning Center. The restoration will take place on November 10th from 8am-12pm. More at http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/.
8. Armand Bayou Nature Center’s Harvest Festival. Each fall since 1981 the Martyn Farm at Armand Bayou Nature Center, 8500 Bay Area Boulevard, has given visitors the opportunity to turn back the clock to circa 1900. On November 10 and 11 from 10 am – 4 pm the 32nd annual Martyn Farm Harvest Festival re-creates this time in our history with a popular event the local community looks forward to every year. The festival showcases crafts, products and activities that played an important role in the life of a Gulf Coast farm family at that time. ABNC member’s admission to the festival is $7 for adults and $3 for children ages 4-12 and seniors (60+). For non-members the price is $10 for adults and $5 for children ages 4-12 and seniors. Children 3 and under are free. For more information, please phone 281-474-2551. http://www.abnc.org/
9. Birding Classes at Houston Audubon. Learn about birds! The Houston Audubon is offering multiple classes over the winter months, including Wintering Birds (Nov 6-17), Sparrow Identification (Dec 4-15), and Wintering Waterfowl (Jan 29-Feb 9). Classes are held from 7-8:45pm at the Edith L. Moore Nature Sanctuary in the administration building. Each course is $150 for Houston Audubon members ($175 for non-members). Learn more and register online at http://www.houstonaudubon.org/.
10. Biking and Public Transportation.H-GAC and METRO want to know what would make it easier for you to integrate bicycling and public transportation. We are looking for volunteers who:
    1. Already integrate bicycling and public transportation
    2. Bike but do not regularly take public transit, or
    3. Take public transit but do not bike in conjunction with transit use.
       Focus groups will be conducted in November 2012 and will last 60-90 minutes. Please contact Patricia Lawhorn at bikeandride@h-gac.com for more information or visit www.METROBikeandRide.com.
11. Artist Boat – Kayak Raffle. Would you like to own your own kayak but it’s too expensive? Here’s your chance! Artist Boat is raffling a $1700 kayak which could be yours for only $10 per raffle ticket! This year you can even buy raffle tickets right online! Entrance tickets for Float the Boat festival are also available online. Purchase tickets at: http://www.artistboat.org/float-the-boat.html. The Float the Boat Fundraiser on November 9th at Galveston Artist Residency (2521 Ships Mechanic Row).
12. Kayaking Courses. Artist Boat is offering advanced kayak courses this fall and spring break. The first course is ACA Quickstart for paddlers wanting more knowledge on paddling and safety skills. This 4-hour course will be held on November 17th and December 1st. The second course is for people wanting to become certified kayak instructors. All classes are limited in size. To learn more, contact Kelly Cloughly at 409-770-0722 or download the flyers at http://www.guidrynews.com/.
13. Presentation of the Houston Sustainability Indicators Project Report. A free public presentation of the Houston Sustainability Indicators (HSI) Project Report will take place November 28th from 2-4pm at Kelly International Conference Facility, Baker Hall, Rice University. The HSI Project was designed to generate facts and measure how well Houston is doing in terms of development, and to agree on the things that matter most as Houston pursues sustainable development. It is a comprehensive overview of sustainable development in Houston and we are inviting everyone to participate in this project. Participants will gain access to resources on sustainability and will directly contribute to the development of the project through interpretation and feedback on the indicators. Learn more at https://shellcenter.rice.edu/.