Lehigh Valley EAC Conference
LOCATION:
Northampton County Community College
Fowler Center
511 E. Third St., Bethlehem.
Room 605
9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
TOPICS and sessions include (click here for full agenda):
- Enhancing your relationship with municipal officials
- Speed dating for EACs (meet with experts on stormwater, zoning, ordinances, trails, agriculture, and others)
- Measuring success
- Regional recreation
- Fundraising for EACs
- Member project updates
COST: $15 for PEC Members, $18 for Non-members (please contact Cyndee Stofko at 717-230-8044 if you are unsure whether you're a member). Combine your registration fee with a discounted PEC membership for the price of $35.
REGISTER IS NOW CLOSED. You can still attend the event by registering on-site.
Environmental Advisory Councils are comprised of community members who advise their local officials on environmental issues like open space preservation, recycling and climate change. The Pennsylvania Environmental Council's EAC Network promotes and supports EACs throughout the state. Anyone interested in EACs is invited to attend the Lehigh Valley EAC Conference.
| 9:00-9:30 Registration |
| 9:30-9:45 Welcome |
| 9:45-10:30 Session I: Enhancing your relationship with municipal officials |
| We all can stand to work on our relationships with municipal officials. This session will address some ways to do just that. EAC members will fill out anonymous cards before the session and the facilitator will read a few to get the discussion moving. |
| Facilitator: Jonathan Meade, Director EAC Network, PEC |
| #1: Mark Zakutansky, PA Outreach Coordinator, Highlands Coalition |
| #2: Sandy Yerger, Township Supervisor, Lower Saucon Township |
| #3: Jason Smith |
| 10:30-11:00 Session II: Speed Dating for EACs |
| Get acquainted with various roles, issues, solutions, and people that can help. We’ll have lots of people stationed around the room talking about various projects. |
| Facilitator: Alliance for Sustainable Lehigh Valley (Representatives from groups working on stormwater, zoning and ordinances, forestry, CSAs/agriculture, Appalachian Trail, energy, trails, etc.) |
| 11:00-12:00 Session III: Measures of Success for EACs and Municipalities |
| Using good examples from around the region, we’ll discuss what makes a good EAC. |
| Facilitator: |
| #1: John Rogers, Principal, Keystone Conservation Trust |
| #2: Scott Cope, Chief Program Officer, Wildlands Conservancy |
| 12:00–1:00 Lunch |
| 1:00–1:45 Session IV: Fundraising for EACs |
| Even in good budget times, EACs typically don’t have much funding through the municipal budget, instead relying on grants to accomplish most of their programs. These speakers will talk about how to approach grant writing and set priorities. |
| #1: Susan Curry, Ambler EAC |
| #2: John Mauser |
| 1:45-2:30 Session V: Member project updates |
| This open forum will allow individual EACs to update each other on projects, ask questions, and solicit assistance. |
| Jonathan Meade, Director EAC Network, PEC |
| 2:30-3:00 Closing remarks |
| Rebecca Kennedy, Lehigh County Conservation District |