December 2024

LeRoy Update (Updated Dec 31 2024)

• LeRoy's recent Re"wire"ment

  • I was having some nausea and dizziness in late October.  I went in for a check up in early November.  A scan of my brain located a tumor.  A few days later I had it removed.  I received completed five days of radiation treatment and will likely receive a few weeks of immunotherapy.  I'm feeling much better but have some memory challenges.  Please remind me if you need or want something from me! 
    
    

  • After turning 65 in September I began exploring the possibility of partial retirement.  A lot of support and encouragement from many of you leaves me optimistic and interested in continuing to work with the Green Team and others.  My goal is to help continue the projects you are passionate about, orient new and existing staff and volunteers, spend more time on music,  and remain open to new possibilities.
    
    

  • My recent health challenge has been an incentive to take stock of where we're at as a "green community."   We're involved in a lot of projects and initiatives.   Putting together this "project directory" has been a fun challenge.     https://sites.google.com/view/staff-update/project-directory
    
    

• Current Green Activities in 2024

  • refine me my tasks, roles, etc. based on conversations with Directors and volunteer leaders

  • Green Grants

  • Climate Grants

  • CEM Grant Discussion (EV charging, Elec. Vehicle, Energy Efficiency)

  • EECBG Grant (North Fire Station Solar)

  • Recycling and Green Events

  • Green Team Planning:  https://sites.google.com/view/staff-update/december-2024
    
    

• Recent Energy Team Meeting
  Paul Nicklowitz, Consumers Energy Community EV Charging guy, joined me, Roger, and Heidi.  Paul talked about his role at CE and I got to ask him about Enel Juice Box, my charger, going bankrupt.  I mentioned that Terra Nova is planning to do a Solarize meeting in the Lansing area.  They are working with Marshall Clabeaux.  We discussed possible impacts of the Trump election.  Roger suggested we have an in-person meeting in Dec to brainstorm 2025 activities.  Heidi suggested coffee or lunch on Sat., Dec. 14. John S. suggested the Schuler cafe.
  
  

• Other

  • Special Meridian Township Board Meeting  (Township Goal Setting & Community Survey Results)

  • Upcoming Meeting:  EC, Green Team, Energy Team, Others?

  • Job Opportunity  ("Under the supervision of the Township Engineer, performs detailed design and project engineering for storm and sanitary sewer systems, water distribution systems, solar systems, energy efficiency, sidewalk, and pedestrian-bicycle pathway construction within the Township, with an emphasis on green infrastructure and sustainable design. Provides technical guidance and conducts inspections of projects.  This position may serve as the staff liaison to the Environmental Commission, and may also involve work on the Township's Local Road Program.")

Green Team Meeting 11/14/2024   (Chat-GPT summary)   Draft

Attending: Bruce Peffers, Tom Frazier, Ellen Dillman, Dave Batten  Ellen and Tom clarified LeRoy’s absence from the meeting.

Using the 2025 Calender and the Green Meridian monthly schedule of 2024 events a wide-ranging conversation led to a tentative calendar with some preliminary themes to pursue. Suggested dates are the third Saturday between February and September, excepting April on the fourth Saturday.

February 15, March 15, April 26, May 17, June 21, July 19, August 16, September 20.

The following would be ideas to pursue for the first five months and the last in September.

February would be within the Farmer’s Market in the Mall, or an extension if needed, to present information tables of the environmental initiatives of many groups within the Township or educational displays

March would be a return of the Green Fashion Day. Attendance and participation was high and attracting a wider spectrum of our community. Although the student leadership from last year may be gone, it was decided to contact Rachel Freeman, Okemos teacher providing student support last year as to whether there might be a nucleus still interested.

April takes us outside for the annual Spring Recycling Day. Meridian Mall could be a successful venue with changes learned from the last Electronics recycling. Haslett High School could be a possibility in April and worth an inquiry. No decisions were made about items being collected. A good agenda item for our next Green Team meeting.

May lends itself to plants and nature. Supporting the Native Plant Sale of Harris Nature Center. Local efforts to remove invasive species. Seed collecting of native plants. Efforts of the Meridian Conservation Corps.

September would be the annual Electronics Recycling Event. With some changes, Meridian Mall expressed continued interest in hosting the event.

In the past, the winter holiday season precluded a Green Team meeting. It was suggested with the need for information to be included in the Prime Meridian publication and other extenuating circumstances, December 12 would be a possible date for a meeting.

From Ellen - Ok, here’s my 2 cents.  Dave does a fine job synopsizing our conversation!!  All I can add is the following:

Re Fashion Day:  Dave was going to contact Sarah to see if she might be point person with Okemos High School.  We have a list from last year of the many individuals/businesses that were contacted with an invite to participate, but I’m uncertain how accurate it is.  I think that was the point where we all realized how little we can do without our fearless leader, LeRoy!  Any brilliant suggestions on how to proceed would be appreciated.

May, as Dave says, lends itself to greenery.  The plant sale, invasive species, wetland preservation, info on composting, worm bins….help from the Meridian Conservation Corp and their info on their efforts would be great!

Then what.  June or July could be a Green Fair, inviting any of the above participants, but including solar panels, solar bikes, solar cars (and how about that Okemos High Solar Club?), Green burial……other?  And last year, August had no Green Day at the market.  Doesn’t mean we can’t.  And of course Sep. would be our next Electronics event, likely.

But at least we have a start.  Maybe enough to put into the next Prime Meridian magazine?  At least with some dates (I confirmed that the winter market in the mall is held the 1st, 3rd, and 5th Saturdays, so our stuff would happen on the 3rd), and maybe a “potential topics” listing?  And as Dave mentioned, a meeting next month on the 12th is a possibility, either at Shuler’s or via zoom.