Introduction to the Council on Sustainability

The first meeting of the Southeastern Massachusetts Council on Sustainability was held on Thursday, June 18, 2009 at the UMass Advanced Technology Manufacturing Center (ATMC) in Fall River. Founded by the University's Office of Campus and Community Sustainability and the Southeastern Regional Planning and Economic Development District (SRPEDD), the primary goal of the Council is to coordinate efforts among different entities in the region sharing concerns for sustainability.  The Council is an opportunity to stretch limited resources as these entities share knowledge, adopt best practices and form partnerships to address issues at larger geographic and functional levels. More than 80 people attended the kickoff meeting.  They represented education, business, agriculture, environmental groups, foundations and local governments. 

Each of the 5 working groups (food and agriculture, economic development, energy, natural resources, and transportation) had two conveners to organize the working group meetings for the Council's investigations into the region's sustainability status. The working group schedules and all the supporting information are archived on this Web site under "Resources: Reports."

Initial meetings and conveners included:

Economic Development: 7-Jul-09, 3:00 PM @ Taunton at SRPEDD
Conveners: Richard Shafer - This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it and Garry Clayton - This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Energy: 21-Jul-09, 3:00 PM @ ATMC   
Conveners: Peter Kortright - This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it and Robert Rak - This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Food & Agriculture: 8-Jul-09, 3:00 PM @ BCC Room D107   
Conveners: Derek Christianson - This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it and Nancy Lee Wood – This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Natural Resources: 16-Jul-09, 3:00 PM @ UMD Center for Policy Analysis   
Conveners: Jennifer Marshall - This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it and Chad McGuire - This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Transportation: 9-Jul-09, 3:30 PM @ UMD Physics Room 203 (Group II - Science and Engineering Building)
Conveners: Louise Hardiman - This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it and Marguerite Zarrillo - This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Anyone interested in more history about the Council may contact Susan Jennings, Co-Chair and Director of the Office of Campus and Community Sustainability at UMass Dartmouth, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

 

 

About the Council on Sustainability

The Southeastern Massachusetts Council on Sustainability was established by the University of Massachusetts at Dartmouth (UMD) and the Southeastern Regional Planning and Economic Development District (SRPEDD) to provide education, advice and assistance on the broad issue of sustainability in Southeastern Massachusetts.

The Council acts as a leadership forum and network to connect, facilitate, support and coordinate sustainability efforts and initiatives throughout Southeastern Massachusetts.

The Council acts as a regional coordination point for targeted efforts at achieving sustainability in food and agriculture, transportation, energy, natural resources and economic development. The Council will work to unite these elements into a regional plan for sustainability.

The Council will endeavor to secure and provide technical support by identifying expertise within UMD, SRPEDD and among regional resources for sustainability efforts and initiatives throughout the region.

Council membership is open to all who wish to participate.   Representatives from UMD and SRPEDD shall act as co-chairs. The Council may establish or support subcommittees for food and agriculture, transportation, energy, natural resources and economic development, or other areas as needed.