The Go Green Initiative Movement in Syracuse

List-serve edition 3

August 10, 2006

What's in this edition:

?         An updated list of the schools in Go Green Initiative Syracuse Team

?         OCRRA and Go Green Initiative join forces in A BIG way

?         The Board of Education has approved of the GGI!

?         Have you checked out your personalized GGI school website lately?

?         Trees to paper - an equation you can use!

?         Green Tip of the month - Paper savings tips for the next school year

?         Your opinions wanted for the next newsletter

?         NYSAR3 conference update

Welcome 5 new schools to the Go Green Initiative Team!

Our family is growing!

Bellevue Elementary School

Delaware Elementary School

Dr. Weeks Magnet School

Frazier School

Van Duyn Elementary School

            22 schools have now signed up for the Go Green Initiative in Syracuse alone! We are ever moving closer to becoming a city wide team - thank to all for your participation in the Go Green Initiative!!

For more information on Green Team Schools please visit www.naefrecycling.com

GO Green Initiative to move throughout Onondaga County

with the help of long term recycling education advocates, OCRRA.

            OCRRA has been pivotal in the spread of the GGI program since Edward Smith signed onto the program as the first GGI school in New York State. OCRRA's Recycling Specialists have provided educational outreach materials and special recycling containers to schools throughout Onondaga County, including to schools within Syracuse. According to GGI coordinator Jennifer Spoor, "introducing the Go Green Initiative to schools in Syracuse was made much easier - thanks to OCRRA. OCRRA really laid the groundwork for the GGI - if OCRRA hadn't done such an excellent job providing schools with blue bins and educational tools, there is no doubt that we wouldn't have been able to come this far in so short of time.”

The Board of Education approves of the Go Green Initiative

We’re movin’ on up!

            Go Green Initiative organizers Mark Naef and Jennifer Spoor presented the Go Green Initiative to the Board of Education’s curriculum committee, during the July committee meeting. Members expressed that the GGI program was achieving sustainable environmental education success with the schools like no other program, in the past, had been able to!! An official endorsement of the program is expected within the coming months. The Go Green Initiative has proven itself as a flexible workable program - throughout Syracuse, New York State and the USA. THIS IS GREAT NEWS for the progression of the GGI ~

Check out your schools GGI page on www.naefrecycling.com!

A great way to link your GREEN team to others, AND to get your ideas out there

            Currently Blodgett School, Ed Smith Elementary School, Fowler High School, HW Smith Elementary School, Levy Middle School, Lincoln Middle School, Nottingham High School, Roberts School, Salem Hyde School, Seymour Magnet School, Shea Middle School, Solace Elementary School and St. Daniel School all have links on the naefrecycling.com pages. These pages provide contact information, meeting minutes and pictures of the schools Green Teams. These sites are YOURS to add to! So check out your site - and add to it! If you do not currently have a page and would like one - please let us know!

Please send link requests/pictures/comments/ideas/and Green Team Goals to your local GGI coordinator, Jennifer Spoor (greenupny@yahoo.com)

Trees To paper

By recycling 1 ton of paper you save 17 trees!

Help your students put the value of recycling into perspective  by sharing this equation!

GREEN Living tip of the month

Save LOTS of Trees - Reuse, Reduce, Educate AND Recycle

Reuse

·         Provide Trays to Collect and Reuse One-Sided Paper. Encourage faculty and staff to save and reuse paper printed on only one side at their desks. Collect paper that has been printed on one side for reuse in copiers and fax machines.

·         Provide Trays to Collect and Reuse Envelopes and File Folders. Encourage reuse of large envelopes and file folders by providing centrally located trays for their collection.

Reduce

·         Send Information Electronically. Use e-mail for forms, document transmittals and faxes. Think carefully before printing electronic information. Organize and save it so it is easy to look up. This way you won't need to make hard copy files of important information. Do make backups on floppy disks regularly!

·         Reduce Unwanted Mail. Contact mail senders to take your company's name off their mailing list or mark unwanted first class mail "Refused, Return to Sender." .

Educate Campus community on the Benefits of Paper Reduction

·         Let everyone know that their paper reduction efforts not only save paper, but also postage costs, energy and TREES!

·          Promote a "Think Before You Copy" Attitude.  Remind and encourage everyone to make sure they really need the copies they are making and not to make excess copies.

·         Post Paper Reduction Reminders by Printers and Copiers. Remind people to copy double-sided by posting reminders near the copiers, using interesting posters or entertaining slogans ("2 sides are better than one," "make a 2 (copies) for 1 (page) offer," "get a second impression," etc.)

·         Consider Formalizing your Efforts in a Paper Reduction Campaign. Make the campaign complete with slogans and a kick-off event.

For more information visit:  http://www.ciwmb.ca.gov/BizWaste/OfficePaper/QuickTip.htm

Wanted: Your opinion

The Next GGI newsletter is set to go out as school is starting up. This newsletter will feature GGI school Green Teams - and their goals. Now is the time to share your plans with the Go Green Team and community!  Please send your Green Team goals to Jennifer Spoor at greenupny@yahoo.com!

NYSAR3 conference update

Jill Buck is coming to New York!

The 17^th annual NYSAR3 conference is scheduled for November 17^th and 18^th. Speakers will cover a wide variety of topics relating to reduction, reuse and recycling. Go Green Initiative founder Jill Buck will be coming all the way from California to meet and greet the Syracuse  Green Teams! Jill Buck is a very enthusiastic speaker - you are sure to leave charged with GREEN energy! Green teams are invited to attend Jill’s green team workshop/lecture, FREE OF CHARGE, on November 17^th, from 10-12pm. That’s a $30 savings. Join the excitement - network throughout the community - meet and greet Jill Buck!

Please RSPV ASAP with Jennifer Spoor, greenupny@yahoo.com.