Houston Environmental News Update December 18, 2012
- CEC seeks Executive Director
- Newsletter Holiday
- 82nd Legislature Regular Session–what are YOU following?
- “Now What” Community Meeting About Houston’s Bayou Greenways
- Armand Bayou Owl Prowl and Night Hike
- Houston Sustainability Indicators – Presentation Slides
- The Best and Worst Transportation Projects In the United States
- Flying WILD Workshop
- Save the date: The 13th Annual Urban Harvest Fruit Tree Sale
- Reading Towards Sustainability II
- Holiday Trees: Artistically Upcycled
- First Day Hikes in Texas State Parks
- Cedar Bayou Watershed Partnership Public Meeting
- Van Tour – Attwater Prairie Chicken National Wildlife Refuge
- Techs & Trainers
- Houston Re-Market
- Whooper Help
- 2013 Cohort of Kinship Conservation Fellows
- TV: Texas Parks & Wildlife
- Air Quality Forecast
- Real vs Artificial Christmas Trees: An Easier Choice Than You Think
(Elizabeth Trovall – StateImpact, 12/13/2012) - Rice Researchers Develop Plant-Based Battery (Laurie Johnson – KUHF
News, 12/03/2012) - Harnessing Huntsville’s potential: Community identifies areas for
improvement (Tori Brock – The Huntsville Item, 12/02/2012)
- CEC seeks Executive Director
- NEW! Armand Bayou Watershed Partnership seeks Watershed Coordinator
- NEW! Armand Bayou Nature Center seeks Restoration Technician
- NEW! The Mercer Society seeks Retail Staff
- Urban Harvest seeks Executive Director
- The Woods Project seeks Club Program Directors
- Hermann Park Conservancy seeks Marketing Manager
- The Mercer Society seeks Executive Director
- Galveston Bay Foundation (GBF) seeks Administrative Assistant
- Texas Coastal Watershed Program (TCWP) seeks Graduate Student Intern
- Texas Coastal Watershed Program seeks Wetland Program Assistant
- Mercer Arboretum and Botanic Gardens seeks Conservation Botany Intern
SUBSCRIBE/UNSUBSCRIBE INSTRUCTIONS
- CEC seeks Executive Director. The Citizens
Environmental Coalition is seeking an Executive Director with a passion
for environmental issues and strong community involvement and
fundraising talents. CEC works with organizations serving all facets of
the environmental community with the mission of fostering dialogue,
education, and collaboration on environmental issues in the Houston/Gulf
Coast region. We are seeking a person with strong independent work
habits and the ability to connect with the breadth of the environmental
community. For more information visit cechouston.org
or contact our interim ED, Shawn McFarland, at shawn@cechouston.org.
Please send a cover letter and resume to helen.oconnor@live.com,
Board President, by January 1, 2013. - Newsletter Holiday. The Houston Environmental News
Update will not be published on Tuesday, December 25, 2012, or on New
Year’s Day. We will continue to update the calendar and website, and we
will send an abbreviated newsletter towards the end of December. - 82nd Legislature Regular Session–what are YOU following? Session
begins at noon on Tuesday, January 8, 2012, and we’d like to share
information during the session about what bills our member groups and
readers are tracking. Let us know what legislation will be important to
you, and we will highlight it in our first newsletter of 2013, on
January 8. We’ll follow the status of the bills and provide information
in our newsletter. If you provide insight into progress of any of the
bills, we’ll share that, too.So far, 278 bills have been filed by the
House and 127 bills have been filed by the Senate. Bills filed so far
touch on issues including climate adaptation planning, eminent domain
for recreation, community gardens, solid waste management,
transportations, the sporting goods sales tax, emmissions inspections,
muncicpal land development, TCEQ rules, water efficiency and water
rates, and salvage yards, to name a few. Learn more at http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/Reports/General.aspx.
- “Now What” Community Meeting About Houston’s Bayou Greenways.
ParksByYou and the Houston Parks Board will host a short, one-hour
community meeting entitled: “Now What” at the United Way at 50 Waugh
Drive Houston, TX 77007 on December 20, 2012, from 11am until noon. A
short PowerPoint presentation will show where construction will begin on
Houston’s Bayou Greenways during the first few months of 2013.
ParksByYou still needs your help in fundraising and friendraising, so
bring a friend and hear about the next steps in the most transformative
project in Houston, and one of the largest trail projects in the nation.
RSVP here: jen@houstonparksboard.org and check out www.houstonbayougreenways.org
for more information on the trails and parks. - Armand Bayou Owl Prowl and Night Hike. Visit Armand
Bayou Nature Center on December 22nd, 5-7pm, for a beautiful walk
through the woods, looking for owls and listening to the fascinating
sounds of the night. Don’t forget your walking shoes / boots and
flashlight! Advance reservations are required: Call 281 474-2551, ext
10. This event takes place every 4th Saturday of the month. More at http://www.abnc.org/thecalendar.html. - Houston Sustainability Indicators – Presentation Slides.
The presentation slides for the Houston Sustainability Indicators
Project Report (November 28th) have been posted. Visit https://shellcenter.rice.edu/
to view them. The final report will be posted to the site on December
21st. - The Best and Worst Transportation Projects In the United
States. The Sierra Club has put together a Green
Transportation Report, naming the 50 best and worst transportation
projects in the United States. This report shows that Americans can and
should expect the dollars we spend on transportation to contribute to
solving environmental and economic problems. Smart transportation
investments are already providing Americans with transportation options
that reduce our dependence on oil, improve air and water quality and
public health, and keep more money in local economies. However that
doesn’t always happen. Two projects in the Houston area made the list.
The Houston Light Rail, one of the most-traveled light rail systems in
the United States per route mile, was named one of the best projects.
However, the Grand Parkway, the third beltway around Houston, was named
one of the worst as it encourages additional sprawl. Read the full
report at http://content.sierraclub.org/. - Flying WILD Workshop. Saturday, January 5, 2012. This
companion to Project WILD highlights bird education and conservation
though hands-on lessons, activities, and stewardship projects. The
workshop is designed for formal and non-formal educators and meets TEEAC
& CEU requirements. The cost is $15 for materials. Reservations are
required: 281-446-8588 or jjp@hcp4.net.
Visit http://www.hcp4.net/jones/pdf/calendars/042713WinterSpringJJP.pdf
for more info. - Save the date: The 13th Annual Urban Harvest Fruit Tree Sale.
Mark your calendar for this once a year fruit-tree-fest. The 13th Annual
Urban Harvest Fruit Tree Sale will be held on Saturday, January 19,
2013, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. or until sold out, at Houston Community
College, 5601 West Loop South, just south of Hwy 59. This sale brings
together far more types and varieties of fruit trees than can be found
anywhere else in the greater Houston area. Best fruit trees are
available only during the winter at this sale. For more information,
visit http://www.urbanharvest.org/events/fruittreesales.html.
- Reading Towards Sustainability II. An educational
seminar, Reading Towards Sustainability II, will take place at the Green
Building Resource Center (1002 Washington Ave) on December 20, 2012,
from 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm. GBRC Program Director Steve Stelzer will
present an update of converging ideas and contrasts from a cross section
of books addressing sustainability. The purpose is to give the audience
an idea of the community effect of authors concerned about the state of
the human race. Each attendee will receive a free, updated list of
books. Please RSVP to Steve Stelzer at steve.stelzer@houstontx.gov or
832.394.9050. http://www.greenhoustontx.gov/gbrceducation.pdf - Holiday Trees: Artistically Upcycled. Holiday trees
decorated by local artists using recycled items will be on display
during business hours until December 28, 2012, at the City of Houston’s
offices at 611. Free and open to the public. More at http://usgbctexasgulfcoast.org/. - First Day Hikes in Texas State Parks. Start a
tradition on New Year’s Day 2013 by starting the year off on the right
foot, the left foot, any foot — take a First Day Hike in a state park
near you! Most all hikes are guided by state park staff and volunteers
and feature an interpretive message about native plants, animals or park
history. The walks average one to two miles in length, but many also
offer shorter or longer trek options as well. There’s something for
everyone! In the Houston area, there will be hikes at Brazos Bend State
Park (meet at the park’s Nature Center at 10:00 am) and Sheldon Lake
State Park (meet at the Sheldon Lake State Park & Environmental
Learning Center at 11:00 am). Find a hike here: http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/calendar/hiking. - Cedar Bayou Watershed Partnership Public Meeting.
Cedar Bayou Watershed Partnership will be holding a public meeting on
January 3, 2013, 5:30-7:30pm, at the Eddie V. Gray Wetlands Center (1724
Market Street). The Cedar Bayou Watershed Partnership is a group of
local stakeholders from the communities surrounding Cedar Bayou whose
purpose is to seek voluntary ways to restore and protect our local
waterway. The meeting will cover the project status and preliminary data
from the water quality monitoring effort underway. Come to have your
ideas and concerns heard! More at http://www.cedarbayouwatershed.com/. - Van Tour – Attwater Prairie Chicken National Wildlife Refuge.
Attwater Prairie Chicken National Wildlife Refuge is one of the largest
remnants of coastal prairie habitat remaining in southeast Texas. It is
home to one of the last populations of the critically endangered
Attwater’s prairie-chicken, a ground-dwelling grouse of the coastal
prairie ecosystem. The first Saturday of each month, a guided van tour
of the refuge will take visitors on a two-hour trip through the prairie.
Join refuge volunteers and staff to learn about native coastal prairie,
the history of the refuge, the biology of the Attwater’s
prairie-chicken, and what’s being done to save it from extinction. The
next tour is on January 5, 2013, 8-10am. Space is limited and
reservations are required. Contact the refuge staff to reserve your spot
on this interesting tour at (979) 234-3012, ext. 221 or 223. Learn more
http://cechouston.org/. - Techs & Trainers. Recycle your computer AND help
to provide meaningful employment for people with mental illness or
disabilities. Using computers donated by individuals and local
businesses, the Techs & Trainers recycling program makes good use of
computer parts that were destined for the landfill, preventing e-waste
before it starts. They repair, recycle, and refurbish computers and
provide technological skills and computers to the unemployed and people
with disabilities. Techs & Trainers is located at 5933 Bellaire
Blvd., #111. Visit http://www.techsandtrainers.org/
to learn more. - Houston Re-Market. The Houston Re-Market is an
innovative market whose goal is to foster responsible consumerism. The
market features approximately 10+ vendors who use recycled and reused
materials and other sustainable practices in their craft. In addition
there are garage sales, a free swap (bring gently used, unwanted items
and taking something new home), recycling drop off (plastics 1-5 &
7, aluminum, tin, glass, paper, and cardboard), live music and
entertainment, and food. Shop, swap, recycle, and chill every 4th
Saturday! The next Re-Market is on December 22nd at 4302 Harrisburg.
More at http://www.houstonremarket.com/home.html. - Whooper Help. Citizens can help the whoopers by
reporting sightings and by preventing disturbance of cranes when they
remain overnight at roosting and feeding locations. Sightings can be
reported to whoopingcranes@tpwd.state.tx.us or 512-389-TXWW (8999).
Observers are asked to note whether the cranes have colored leg bands.
Volunteers interested in attending training sessions to become “Whooper
Watchers†and helping to collect more detailed data should contact TPWD
at whoopingcranes@tpwd.state.tx.us or 512-389-TXWW (8999). More info at
www.tpwd.state.tx.us/whoopingcranes. - 2013 Cohort of Kinship Conservation Fellows. The
Kinship Foundation has opened applications for its 2013 cohort of
Kinship Conservation Fellows. The goal of the annual program is to
develop a community of leaders dedicated to collaborative approaches to
environmental issues, with an emphasis on market-based principles. The
month-long program supports mid-career practitioners seeking to
effectively implement market-based mechanisms for conservation by honing
their skills in leadership, communication, economics, and business and
finance. The deadline for proposals is January 26th. More at http://foundationcenter.org/. - TV: Texas Parks & Wildlife. Broadcast on KUHT
Channel 8 at 3:00 PM each Saturday and on cable channels in Baytown,
Deer Park, Seabrook, and on HCC. More info on the TPWD
website (* indicates a segment about the Houston area). This
week’s broadcast will include:- Lion Country
- Atlanta State Park
- Hooked on the Coast
- Air Quality Forecast. http://www.tceq.texas.gov/airquality/monops/forecast_today.html.
Houston Clean Air Network and Realtime Ozone Mapping: http://houstoncleanairnetwork.com.- December 18: Green–Good.
Moderate afternoon winds and low incoming background levels should
help to keep air quality in the “Good” range statewide. - December 19: Green–Good.
Moderate to strong winds low incoming background levels should help
to keep air quality in the “Good” range. - December 20: Green–Good.
Moderate winds, cold temperatures, and low incoming background
levels should help to keep air quality in the “Good” range
statewide.
- December 18: Green–Good.
ECONOTES Featured News
Articles–For dozens of additional headlines, visit the CEC
website. (You can let us know about articles, too. E-mail news@cechouston.org).
- Galveston Coastline To Go Virtual Thanks To New Partnership
(Jack Williams and Laurie Johnson – KUHF News, 12/5/2012) Because
Galveston Island is actually a barrier reef, it shifts over time. That
shifting leads to both erosion and beach growth. That creates a big
challenge when it comes to knowing how beaches will react to man-made
changes along the coastline. The Galveston Park Board of Trustees is now
partnering with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to create a virtual
model of the coastline and a strategy that will help predict how the
beaches will move in the future. http://app1.kuhf.org/ - Water, jobs, infrastructure will be issues for legislators in
coming session (Rusty Graham – Your Memorial News,
11/30/2012) State Representatives, Bill Callegari (R-132) and Jim Murphy
(R-133), talked about what area residents might expect from the 83rd
Legislature, from water and government waste to manufacturing and tax
reform. Water will likely be the state’s critical issue for years to
come, as more reservoirs but federal regulations and requirements make
them hard to build. Other ways of increasing a usable water supply
include increasing the reuse of wastewater, and desalination of both
seawater and brackish water. http://www.yourhoustonnews.com/ - Funding Awarded Towards Houston’s First Public Hydrogen
Fueling Station (Guidry News, 12/5/2012) Vision Industries
Corporation (OTCBB: VIIC), Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), Air
Products and project partners were recently awarded $500,000 from the
Texas Emission Reduction Program (TERP) to partially fund the building
of the first public hydrogen fueling station in the state. The station,
which is proposed to be fed from an existing hydrogen pipeline, will
fuel port trucks and be publicly available for personal vehicles at the
Port of Houston. http://www.guidrynews.com/
GREEN JOBS Tell them you
heard about it from us! Job listings can be found at CEC’s
Green Jobs page.
- CEC seeks Executive Director. The Citizens
Environmental Coalition is seeking an Executive Director with a passion
for environmental issues and strong community involvement and
fundraising talents. CEC works with organizations serving all facets of
the environmental community with the mission of fostering dialogue,
education, and collaboration on environmental issues in the Houston/Gulf
Coast region. We are seeking a person with strong independent work
habits and the ability to connect with the breadth of the environmental
community. For more information visit cechouston.org
or contact our interim ED, Shawn McFarland, at shawn@cechouston.org.
Please send a cover letter and resume to helen.oconnor@live.com,
Board President, by January 1, 2013. - NEW! Armand Bayou Watershed Partnership seeks Watershed
Coordinator. The mission of the Armand Bayou Watershed
Partnership is to “improve the quality of life in our communities by
protecting, enhancing, and restoring the ecological integrity and
natural benefits of the Armand Bayou watershed.†The Watershed
Coordinator is responsible for the overall administration and management
of the Armand Bayou Watershed Partnership, including
fundraising/grantwriting and business operations. Areas of
responsibility include planning and evaluation, policy and program
development and administration, personnel and fiscal management, and
public relations. This is a full-time position, hired by and directly
accountable to the Armand Bayou Watershed Council, communicating
regularly with its elected Council chair. The Watershed Coordinator
implements policies approved by the Council, manages the organization’s
programs and operations (including implementation of its Strategic
Plan), and represents the organization in the community. Â Cover
letter, resume, and written answers to the questions below should be
submitted via e-mail to: linda.shead@sheadconservation.com. The
questions are: 1. Based on the “Ability to create and foster teams to
solve watershed problems,†how have you used this skill in the past, and
what would you do differently in the future? 2. Tell about past
experience with outside consultants and contractors. - NEW! Armand Bayou Nature Center seeks Restoration Technician.
Armand Bayou Nature Center is seeking a Restoration Technician to assist
the Stewardship Department with implementation of the ABNC Natural
Resource Management Plan. Duties include: habitat restoration including
exotic vegetation control through herbicide application, prescribed
fire, tractor mowing, native plant propagation, and planting (this
includes maintenance of equipment); wetland restoration including tidal
marsh planting and management of native plant nursery ponds; assist
volunteer work groups in support of the above activities: Prairie Friday
and Stewardship Saturday. The focus of this position is ecological
restoration as described in the ABNC Natural Resource Management Plan.
Technicians will gain experience in plant identification plant
propagation, and wetland restoration. Technicians will also assist with
supervision of volunteer work crews. Please visit our website at www.abnc.org
for more information about the preserve and Management Plan.
Applications are being accepted until January 4, 2013. Please send
resume and letter of interest to: george@abnc.org. No phone calls
please. Click here for a full
job description. - NEW! The Mercer Society seeks Retail Staff. The
Mercer Society has an opening for a Retail Staff position in The Gift
Shoppe on weekends. Candidates will have responsibility for handling all
sales, greeting visitors, working with volunteers, opening and closing
as well as general care duties and watering of the plants. The Gift
Shoppe is a small, cheerful retail store managed by The Mercer Society.
The sales help support Mercer Arboretum & Botanic Gardens. The shop
sells garden art, tools, books, and a variety of gifts as well as
plants. The work schedule is primarily every other weekend although all
staff work special events. The Gift Shoppe weekend hours are 10 to 3
Saturdays and 11 to 4 Sundays. Retail experience is desirable but not
mandatory. If you are interested in, applying for this part-time paid
position please send a resume with the subject “Gift Shoppe†to
msociety@hcp4.net or mail to The Mercer Society, 22306 Aldine Westfield
Rd, Humble, TX 77338. - Urban Harvest seeks Executive Director. Urban
Harvest is searching for an outstanding individual with strong
leadership, management, and fundraising skills to become its next
Executive Director. The Executive Director of Urban Harvest will work
with the Board, staff, administration, and partners to promote the
organization’s mission and accomplishments, position the organization to
grow and thrive, and set priorities for achieving optimal community
impact. He or she will provide strong leadership for the organization,
including management of programs, staff, operating budget, strategic
plan, donor and community relations, marketing, and development efforts.
The ideal candidate will have at least 10 years of business experience,
preferably in the nonprofit field with time as an executive director or
in senior management; management experience leading an organization,
with measurable results in hiring, mentoring, developing, and retaining
staff; proven experience with financial management, fund accounting, and
budgeting; demonstrated track record of generating revenue through major
donors, corporations, and foundations for an organization, as a
volunteer, consultant, or professional; proven success engaging,
building, and supporting a nonprofit governing board at the national,
regional, or local level; and a college degree (required). Applications
and nominations will be accepted until Friday, January 18, 2013. Please
email applications to Pat Lawson at plawson@sterlingandassociates.com. - The Woods Project seeks Club Program Directors. The
Woods Project is seeking part-time (approximately 6 hrs/wk) Club Program
Instructors to teach one or more of our weekly afterschool club programs
for the 2013 spring semester. The right candidate will be an
outdoorsperson with experience working with high school youth,
preferably some experience with at-risk youth. Some additional
requirements are flexible weekly schedule, access to personal
transportation, must be comfortable with camping/backpacking gear, enjoy
being in a mentor/leadership role. Duties will include travelling to
schools to teach an hour club, working with existing curriculum as well
as developing new research-based lessons. Instructors must commit to the
remainder of the 2012-2013 school year, attend one spring semester
camping trip, and are highly encouraged to participate in the 2013
summer trip to places in Northern California or Montana. Ability to work
independently and with confidence is a requirement of the job, as is the
ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing. For
more information about The Woods Project and the Club Program Instructor
position, please visit www.thewoodsproject.org.
Interested candidates should contact Brittany White, Director of
Programs, at brittany@thewoodsproject.org. - Hermann Park Conservancy seeks Marketing Manager.
Hermann Park Conservancy is currently seeking a full-time marketing
manager. The marketing manager will have primary responsibility for all
external communications, marketing initiatives, the membership program,
PR, and media and donor relations. The marketing manager will work
closely with the executive director and staff, particularly in the
development department. Hermann Park will reach its 100th birthday in
2014. In preparation for this milestone, the marketing manager will
oversee a multifaceted marketing program, to include media and
sponsorship initiatives, expansion of the membership program, the use of
new web technologies, and promotion of happenings among various
constituencies, including community partners, corporate sponsors,
donors, members, and public officials. To apply, please email a cover
letter and resume to info@hermannpark.org. Click here
for more information. - The Mercer Society seeks Executive Director. The
Executive Director (ED) of The Mercer Society (TMS), a 501(c)(3)
nonprofit organization, is responsible for the operation and
administration of the organization. The main mission of TMS is to raise
funds for Mercer Arboretum and Botanic Gardens. The ED’s main duties
include ensuring that TMS is run in an efficient manner that meets the
fiscal goals and overall objectives of the Board of Directors;
processing all payments through fundraisers, events, and daily
operations including the gift shop; updating TMS website and creating
e-newsletters; facilitating fund-raising both independently and with
others; managing the TMS staff in accordance with the TMS Employee
Handbook; insuring compliance with all state and federal reporting
obligations; being responsible for insuring TMS Bylaws, the Contract
with Harris County and all policies and procedures are adhered to;
serving as a spokesperson for TMS; and serving as liaison to the staff
of Mercer Arboretum & Botanic Gardens (MABG). To apply, send cover
letter, resume and salary requirements to: The Mercer Society/Alan
Raymond/msociety@hcp4.net. - Galveston Bay Foundation (GBF) seeks Administrative Assistant.
The Galveston Bay Foundation (GBF), located in Webster, Texas, seeks a
full-time Administrative and Database Assistant. The primary duties of
this position include providing administrative assistance to GBF’s
President; providing assistance to the development team, as needed, in
the areas of membership, marketing, and general development; entering
data into GBF’s database; and providing general administrative duties
including greeting visitors to the GBF office, answering phone calls and
transferring accordingly, ordering office supplies, and operating basic
office equipment. Candidates should possess an associate’s degree or
bachelor’s degree or be currently enrolled in a college or university
undergraduate or graduate program; have previous experience with data
entry and/or database management; be proficient in use of Microsoft
Office software including Word, Excel, and Outlook and have proficient
typing skills; and possess excellent communication skills, both verbal
and written. This is a full-time position with benefits. For a full job
description, please see http://galvbay.org/aboutus_jobs.html.
To apply, email resume to csmith@galvbay.org by Friday, January 11,
2013. - Texas Coastal Watershed Program (TCWP) seeks Graduate Student
Intern. This fall the Texas Coastal Watershed Program (TCWP)
will be hiring a graduate student intern. TCWP is a program of Texas
A&M University that works on projects concerning wetland restoration
and wetland education. The program is located in Houston, TX. Graduate
students in wetland ecology, wetland restoration and wetland education
are encouraged to apply. Interns will assist with several ongoing
projects, focusing on the development of an Operations and Maintenance
plan for restored wetland habitat at Sheldon Lake State Park. This task
is to be completed in cooperation with Texas Park and Wildlife staff.
This primary task will involve technical writing, research, numerical
analysis, and some field work, and will require solid organization and
writing skills. Internship will begin in early January and will conclude
by the end of summer term 2013. Compensation is hourly, and the position
is 20 hours per week. Employment will be at our office in Houston.
Applicants should submit a resume, a 1-page cover letter, and a 2-page
(max) writing sample. Applicants must be enrolled in a graduate studies
program at the time of hire. Application packets or questions about the
positions can be sent to m-sipocz@tamu.edu, subject line: tcwp
internship. Visit agrilife.urbannature.org; wetlandteam.ning.com - Texas Coastal Watershed Program seeks Wetland Program
Assistant. The Texas Coastal Watershed Program (Texas
AgriLife Extension Service, Texas A&M University) is seeking
applications for a Wetland Program Assistant to work directly on
existing restoration projects at Sheldon Lake State Park.
Responsibilities include working collaboratively with the Wetland
Restoration Team during Team workdays, completing other potential
wetland restoration sites, and conducting wetland restoration monitoring
(e.g. weekly water level monitoring and quarterly vegetation and
photopoint collection). The Wetland Program Assistant must be a
self-starter with a positive attitude and be able to work comfortably
with volunteers and other staff. The ability to speak in public is a
must, as well as, good writing and editing skills. A Bachelors of
Science in Ecology or natural resource science is preferred, as well as
knowledge and experience working in wetland education or restoration.
Extensive experience may substitute for a degree. For more information
contact Marissa Sipocz at: m-sipocz@tamu.edu. Send letter of interest
and resume by e-mail only. - Mercer Arboretum and Botanic Gardens seeks Conservation Botany
Intern. Mercer Arboretum and Botanic Gardens is advertising a
full time (possible part time) paid internship through the Student
Conservation Association (SCA). This internship will focus on plant
conservation efforts at Mercer Arboretum & Botanic Gardens and
restoring wild populations of endangered native plants in the Houston
metro area. The intern will assist with formulating a restoration and
management plan for a rare native plant preserve in the Houston metro
area. The intern will assess the viability of Mercer’s frozen seed bank
for three of the major rare prairie plant species in Houston metro area
as well as assist collections of other rare species for the Center for
Plant Conservation National Collection of Endangered Plants. Interested
persons should contact the SCA directly at http://mysca.force.com/
and search for the position: 00192580. More about the SCA at http://www.thesca.org/.
UPCOMING EVENTS If you
attend one of these events, please let them know you heard about it here!
Visit the new calendar at cechouston.org.
-
Tuesday, December 18, 2012
- 8:00 am Prairie Restoration @ Sheldon Lake Sate Park &
Environmental Learning Center - 1:00 pm Roundtable on Equitable Transportation and MAP-21 @
Houston-Galveston Area Council, second floor - 3:30 pm Rice University Farmers Market @ Rice University South
Stadium Lot - 6:00 pm Baytown Fit Kids @ Baytown Community Center
- 6:00 pm Chimney Swift Counts @ Pershing Middle School
- 7:00 pm Piney Woods Wildlife Society Monthly Meeting @ Spring
Creek Greenway Nature Center
- 8:00 am Prairie Restoration @ Sheldon Lake Sate Park &
-
Wednesday, December 19, 2012
- 8:30 am Jones Park Tai Chi
- 8:30 am Weekly Bird Walk @ Kleb Woods Nature Center
- 9:00 am Wetland Restoration @ Sheldon Lake State Park
- 10:00 am Gator Tales @ Eddie V. Gray Wetlands Education and
Recreation Center - 10:30 am Aquarium Fish Feeding @ Sea Center Texas
- 11:00 am Urban Harvest Farmers Market @ City Hall
- 4:00 pm Nature Story Time @ Nature Discovery Center
- 7:00 pm Houston Audubon Nature Photography Association @ Edith
L. Moore Nature Sanctuary
-
Thursday, December 20, 2012
- 8:00 am Houston Audubon Bird Survey @ Baytown Nature Center
- 9:00 am Bolivar Horseshoe Marsh Work Day
- 11:00 am“Now What†Community Meeting About Houston’s Bayou
Greenways. @ United Way - 11:20 am TAEP Luncheon @ Brady’s Landing Restaurant
- 2:00 pm Kingwood Farmers Market @ Town Center Park
- 6:00 pm Baytown Fit Kids @ Baytown Community Center
- 6:00 pm Reading Towards Sustainability II @ Green Building
Resource Center (GBRC), City of Houston Public Works and
Engineering, Houston Permitting Center - 7:00 pm Native Plant Society Monthly Meeting @ Nidda Thai
-
Friday, December 21, 2012
-
Saturday, December 22, 2012
- 7:30 am Sierra Walkers @ Nassau Bay Post Office
- 8:00 am Birding Walk
- 8:00 am Guided Canoe Tour of Armand Bayou @ Armand Bayou Nature
Center - 8:00 am Guided Nature Tour and Free Family Fishing @ Sheldon
Lake State Park and Environmental Learning Center - 8:00 am Lake Jackson Bird Banding @ Gulf Coast Bird Observatory
- 8:00 am Pearland Farmers Market @ Zychlinski Park
- 8:00 am Pontoon Boat Cruises @ Armand Bayou Nature Center
- 8:00 am Urban Harvest Farmers Market @ Eastside
- 8:30 am ELMNS Work Days @ Edith L. Moore Nature Sanctuary
- 9:00 am Interpreting Nature workshop series @ Spring Creek
Greenway Nature Center - 9:00 am Katy Farmers Market @ La Centerra
- 9:00 am Sugar Land Farmers Market @ Imperial Sugar Land
- 10:00 am Guided Trail Hike @ Armand Bayou Nature Center
- 11:00 am Houston Re-Market @ Greater East End
- 3:00 pm Texas Parks and Wildlife on PBS
- 5:00 pm Armand Bayou Owl Prowl and Night Hike @ Armand Bayou
Nature Center
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Sunday, December 23, 2012
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Tuesday, December 25, 2012
- 8:00 am Prairie Restoration @ Sheldon Lake Sate Park &
Environmental Learning Center (please call park to confirm) - 3:30 pm Rice University Farmers Market @ Rice University South
Stadium Lot  (please contact market to confirm) - 6:00 pm Chimney Swift Counts @ Pershing Middle School (please
contact swift counters to confirm)
- 8:00 am Prairie Restoration @ Sheldon Lake Sate Park &
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Wednesday, December 26, 2012
ABOUT THIS PUBLICATION This weekly update is brought to you by the Citizens’ Environmental Coalition, established as a 501(c)3 in 1971. CEC is a coaltion of over 100 environmental organizations dedicated to fostering dialogue, education, and collaboration on environmental issues in the Houston / Gulf Coast region. Visit the CEC on line at cechouston.org.
Do you know of something great going on? News? Events? Accomplishments?
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If possible, send information by Friday for inclusion the following Tuesday.
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to more information, but we will work with whatever you send us. Calendar
items can be submitted up to two years in advance. We are always looking for
volunteers to help keep our calendar up to date.
CEC and other leading environmental organizations participate in payroll
contribution plans at many Texas workplaces through Earth Share of Texas.
Find out how you can support CEC at 800-GREENTX or www.earthshare-texas.org.
CEC agencies receive donations when you choose Green Bank. Visit www.greenbank.com
for more information about the program.
Shawn McFarland, Interim Executive Director
Rachel Powers, Volunteer Editor-in-Chief
Page Slocum, Newsletter Editor
Rachel Tardiff, Calendar Editor
(713) 524-4232
news@cechouston.org