Coalition Notes 05-14-2012

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. 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/.
3. 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.
4. Bayou Land Conservancy Award. For the second year in a row, Bayou Land Conservancy has made the list of Top-Rated Green Nonprofits in the country. Write your own review and read others at http://greatnonprofits.org/.
5. Children’s Museum Gets Wild About Wildflowers. If you’ve ever had the opportunity to experience the magnificent wildflowers which cover the Texas landscape in the spring, you know what a sight that is to behold! Now here’s your chance to get a little taste of that Texas spring time beauty at the Children’s Museum of Houston. Stop by and indulge in some of nature’s most beautiful inventions in CMH’s EcoStation exhibit, open from May 10th – 16th. Let your creativity garden grow while you learn about Texas native flowers, plants and more! www.cmhouston.org.
6. Houston Area Urban Forestry Council Regional Workshop. Want to improve your water quality and stormwater management? Need help crafting an emergency management plan and tips for dealing with FEMA? Interested in the ecosystem benefits trees can provided to your community? Mark your calendars now for the Houston Area Urban Forestry Council Regional Workshop hosted by the Texas Emerging Communities program. The one-day workshop will be held in North Harris County on May 16 and in Pearland on May 17. Scholarships are available. http://www.haufc.org/ or mmerritt@tfs.tamu.edu.
7. 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/.
8. Documentary Screening: What’s On Your Plate. Urban Harvest Youth Gardening is hosting a screening of What’s on Your Plate on May 16th from 5:30-7:30pm at the Auditorium of Wilson Montessori. The documentary has started a community engagement campaign about kids and the politics that affect their food. There is a $2 students/$3 adults suggested donation. For more information, email irene@urbanharvest.org or call 713-880-5540. Learn more about the film at http://www.whatsonyourplateproject.org/.
9. Save the Date: Bay Day – June 9th, 11am-4pm.