Meeting Minutes for September 27th 2005

For the inaugural meeting, the following groups were in attendance:
Imprint, SciSoc, ERSSA, PSA, UWSP, UWGreens.

Purpose and structure of meetings:
- to provide a forum for green groups on campus
- to serve as a tool to foster community
- meetings each month
- each group will take turns charing and taking minutes

Past work of represented groups:
ERSSA - support environmental projects, fund students for educational trips, maintain ES composter
SciSoc - mainly a social group for science, instituted "lights off" policy in SciSoc office, eliminated use of styrofoam in Science C&D
Greens - speakers coming to campus to speak on environmental topics, and spread the word about environmental education
PSA - represents different views of planners, events held mostly social events for planning students and professional events
UWSP - several working groups focusing on different aspects of greening the campus, for example solar panels on top of Fed Hall, naturalized islands throughout campus

Establishment of a NAME:
- inspired by Ontario Environment Network (OEN)
- concensus was UWEnvironment Network
- potential in the future to join the OEN

Function of UWENet:
- question of whether faculty societies should all have representatives, as well as student clubs
- UWENet as only a means to connect, so that all groups who attend meetings can keep their individual activities
- lots of potential to collaborate on projects, especially with Enterprise Opportunities and Innovation Fund, Special Projects Fund, and Student Life Endowment Fund
- email list set up, with gmail account - uwenet (at) gmail.com
- blog to function as a message board, where each group involved can post important information, will serve as a communication tool between meetings
- representatives to pass on information to sub-groups and affiliated groups

News:
- Waste management position not being replaced
- there is a need for the school to hire a Sustainability coordinator, to take initiatives to implementing projects that improve the sustainability of our campus
- first project for UWEN is to generate a letter requesting the President of UW to establish a Sustainability Coordinator
- Darcy of UWGreens to draft letter, will be reviewed at next UWEN meeting

Possible collaborations:
- pushing for more bike racks around buildings on campus
- SciSoc open for suggestions, has a wide volunteer and member base
- news items can be forwarded to Imprint
* make full use of the network by collaborating on initiatives and projects

Outreach:
- question of whether or not UWEN should present itself to FEDs
- possibility of attending clubs meeting, to present UWEN invitation
- student societies to be invited and extended to sub groups
- pass around UWEN email address to interested groups
- meetings not open to individuals yet

Action items:
- representatives to spread the word about UWEN
- representatives to generate discussion on the need for a Sustainability Coordinator
- emailing list to be set up
- blog to be set up