EVENT: National and Vermont Bike Challenge – May 1 to September 30

Posted on May 6, 2013 by envs

National and Vermont Bike Challenge – May 1 to September 30, 2013

It’s time to gear up for year two of the Vermont Bike Challenge, a partner event of the National Bike Challenge.  Registration opens April 1 at WWW.NATIONALBIKECHALLENGE.ORG for this statewide event, where bike riders of all kinds log their miles, earn points, compete with friends, and enter to win great prizes!

Last year Vermont won the National Bike Challenge and University of Vermont was the top scoring employer in the state, with 83,002 points and 33,860 miles. Let’s get out there and do it again this year!

The Challenge is a great way to take your riding to the next level, get back in to bicycling, or bike for the first time!  Every kind of riding counts, from commuting to work a couple of times a week to doing a rail trail ride on the weekend with your kids to flying down a single track on your mountain bike.

There will be drawings every month for gift certificates from Earl’s Cyclery and Fitness, plus a grand prize of a free bicycling vacation from Sojourn Bicycling and Active Vacations!

The Vermont Bike Challenge is co-presented by Local Motion, the Vermont Bicycle and Pedestrian Coalition, and the Green Mountain Bicycle Club.

More info:

Local Motion, Jason Van Driesche, Jason@localmotion.org

CATMA@UVM.EDU,

802-656-RIDE (-7433),

Posted in Events, Vermont/New England | Leave a comment

JOB: Community Garden Coordinator position at University of Maryland

Posted on May 6, 2013 by envs

Here’s another exciting opportunity at the University of Maryland!  Please share with potential candidates, including soon-to-be graduates.

The Community Garden Coordinator, with a coalition of community partners, will facilitate the creation of an intergenerational training ground for small-scale, intensive, sustainable agriculture. Working with a dynamic team of project leaders, the VISTA will transform an abandoned parcel of land into a garden bursting with nutritious vegetables grown by refugee families, middle school students, and other neighborhood residents.

The Coordinator will:

1. Collaboratively develop a concept plan for the garden with input and approval from neighborhood residents and partner agencies.

2. Coordinate the building and development of the garden.

3. Fundraise $2,000 for garden materials and coordinate installation with volunteers.

4. Recruit 150 partner agency representatives and neighborhood residents to participate in workdays, educational workshops, and ongoing garden maintenance.

5. Develop a system for measuring impacts of the garden on participants.

For more information, see https://my.americorps.gov/mp/listing/viewListing.do?id=48981

—

Mark Stewart
Senior Project Manager

Office of Sustainability
University of Maryland
www.sustainability.umd.edu
301-405-4633 (office)

Posted in Beyond UVM, Eastern US, Jobs, Post-Grad | Leave a comment

BEYOND UVM: Essay Contest for Creative Nonfiction magazine’s Human Face of Sustainability issue – $10,000 cash prize

Posted on May 6, 2013 by envs

Just a reminder that, for a special “Human Face of Sustainability” issue, the quarterly magazine Creative Nonfiction, in association with Arizona State University’s Global Institute of Sustainability, are looking for essays that illuminate environmental, economic, ethical and/or social challenges related to the state of the planet and our future. A cash prize of $10,000 will be awarded for the best essay, and selected essays will be published in Creative Nonfiction #51 (early 2014), and an expanded book version will be published in Spring 2014.

All submissions received before May 31, 2013, will be considered for both the magazine and the book. The full call for submissions can be found on the Creative Nonfiction website: https://www.creativenonfiction.org/sustainability.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me.

Best regards,

CNF Creative Nonfiction
5501 Walnut Street, Suite 202
Pittsburgh, PA 15232
412.688.0304 –
www.creativenonfiction.org
facebook.com/creativenonfiction
twitter.com/cnfonline

Posted in Beyond UVM, Scholarships | Leave a comment

INTERNSHIP: Burlington City Hall Summer Internship

Posted on May 6, 2013 by envs

The City Hall Summer Internship Program is Now Taking Applicants!

CEDO is now seeking motivated candidates for the City Hall Internship Summer Program. Internships will provide individuals with educational experience in local government that will help them develop skills and proficiencies through attendance at city meetings, coordinating communications, planning events and initiatives, researching and drafting reports, and more.

Deadline: Monday, May 6

The City Hall Internship Program will provide individuals with an opportunity for learning and growth that exposes them to government and municipal policy, as well as bestowing them with meaningful responsibilities. Prospective interns will be assigned specific areas within the City’s public engagement and community development efforts. Some examples of the types of tasks that could be performed include:

– Policy analysis
– Evaluation and research
– Project and program management
– Public affairs and communications
– Social media
– Event coordination
– External affairs and community outreach

The summer program welcomes applicants of all ages, including high school-age youth. Youth will be partnered with a college-age or adult intern, so applicants over the age of 18 should take note that they will be asked to engage in mentorship and support, and also submit to a background check. To apply, please fill out the application attached here and email it to Kesha Ram at kram@burlingtonvt.gov along with a cover letter, resume, and one-page writing sample by Monday, May 6.

Questions?  Please contact Kesha Ram at kram@burlingtonvt.gov.

Posted in Internships, Vermont/New England | Leave a comment

JOB: Position with VT DEC Solid Waste Program

Posted on April 22, 2013 by envs

Pardon cross postings.  The State of Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation has a job opening in the Solid Waste Program. Their offices are located in Montpelier VT.

contact:  Bryn Oakleaf  Environmental Analyst IV   Waste Management & Prevention Division  802.522.5783// bryn.oakleaf@state.vt.us

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

POSITION ANNOUNCEMENT:

You must apply on-line to be considered for any position.  Go to “Job seekers” on the Department of Human Resources website, http://humanresources.vermont.gov/career_center, to view the job posting and to apply online.

 

Job Description

Posting Date: 04/08/2013

Position Number: 660245

Job Title: Env Analyst IV AC: General

Agency: Environmental Conservation

Location: Montpelier

Reference: 31897

Job Code: 145208

Job Type: Classified

Full/Part Time: Full-Time

Shift: N/A

Hourly Rate: $20.61

Pay Grade: 23

Application Deadline: 05/03/2013

Who May Apply: This Environmental Analyst IV AC: General position, Ref #  31897 , is open to all State employee and external applicants.

 

If you would like more information about this position, please contact Cathy Jamieson via email:  Cathy.Jamieson@state.vt.us.  Resumes will not be accepted via e-mail.  You must apply online to be considered.

Tax Compliance Verification

In accordance with 32 V.S.A. Section 3113(i), when an applicant for State employment is determined to be a finalist for a position, s/he will be provided an Affidavit to sign attesting that s/he is in good standing with respect to all Vermont taxes due as of the date.  The applicant’s tax compliance will be verified with the Vermont Tax Department prior to any offer of employment.  Please see Personnel Policy 12.12 – Tax Compliance for further information: http://humanresources.vermont.gov/sites/dhr/files/pdf/policies_procedures/DHR-Policy_Manual.pdf#pagemode=bookmarks

Overview

This position will be working in the Solid Waste Program of the Waste Management and Prevention Division of VT DEC.   Primary responsibilities include developing and implementing a statewide solid waste management plan and the provisions of Act 148.   A focus of the work will be on waste reduction, recycling, and organics diversion.    Other duties include working with solid waste districts, municipalities, and others with respect to improving solid waste management in Vermont, developing and disseminating outreach materials, and other solid waste issues.

 

Preference will be given to those with:

Knowledge of solid waste management, solid waste programs, and solid waste planning.

Knowledge of organics diversion, including composting

Experience in developing environmental plans and policy and in the implementation of such plans.

Experience with developing and implementing education and outreach materials

Experience with data management and analysis.

Experience in writing, especially outreach to the public.

Excellent communication skills, especially with municipalities regarding compliance and planning issues.

 

General Job Description

Planning, analytical and administrative work at an advanced professional level for the Department of Environmental Conservation. Duties involve complex tasks in the technical review and analysis of environmental policies, programs, activities and data in a variety of regulatory, non-regulatory, scientific, and engineering programs. Work involves considerable independence in completing work assignments and greater responsibility and accountability than lower level analyst work. May provide project or program oversight and/or supervise program staff or provide expertise in a specialized technology or program element which is not duplicated in the Department. Work is performed under the general direction of a higher-level technical or administrative superior.

Minimum Qualifications

KNOWLEDGE SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

Considerable knowledge of the laws, regulations, rules, policies and technologies of the programs and of the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation applicable to area of assignment.

Considerable knowledge of the technology and/or administrative procedures associated with the area of expertise assigned the position.

Considerable knowledge of the scientific method of observation and analysis.

Considerable knowledge of planning principles and procedures.

Considerable knowledge of data gathering techniques and various systems for organizing and interpreting such data.

Considerable knowledge of the basic principles of environmental management and protection.

Considerable knowledge of the basic principles of ecology.

Working knowledge of computer uses and potential in data management and program planning.

Working knowledge of statistical concepts and procedures.

Working knowledge of the basic principles of ecology.

Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing.

Ability to read and understand technical writing.

Ability to understand and interpret complex and technical information.

Ability to plan, organize, implement, and administer data gathering systems.

Ability to present research findings in clear, objective, written report form.

Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships.

Ability to speak effectively in public fora, including formal hearings and court proceedings.

Ability to train other employees in areas of assigned expertise.

Ability to lead groups in specific work tasks and assignments.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

Education: Bachelor’s degree in a biological-life or physical science, engineering, or an environmental or natural resources field.

Experience: Four years at a professional level in an environmental or natural resources field.

OR

Two years as an Environmental Analyst III.

NOTE: Graduate Degree in an environmental or natural resources field may be substituted for up to two years of experience on a semester for six months basis.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:

n/a

Working Conditions

Duties are largely performed in an office setting; however, some field travel may be necessary for which private means of transportation must be available.  Field work may involve exposure to chemicals, gases, hazardous liquid and solid waste, construction sites during all weather conditions and may involve traversing rough terrain and bodies of water.  Some work outside of regular working hours, including attendance at public meetings, may be required.  Strong differences of opinion may be encountered on a regular basis.

Equal Employment Opportunity

The State of Vermont is an Equal Opportunity Employer.  Applications from women, individuals with disabilities, veterans, and people from diverse cultural backgrounds are encouraged.

Posted in Beyond UVM, Jobs, Post-Grad, Vermont/New England | Leave a comment

JOB: Full-time with VT DEC Stormwater Program

Posted on April 22, 2013 by envs

I wanted to let you both know about a job that I just posted in the Stormwater Program. I think that it would be a perfect fit for a soon to be graduating senior who is interested in water quality, compliance, and law. I am looking for a computer savvy person who would be able to put together a simple database/tracking tool to track our environmental compliance efforts and the compliance reports that we require of permittees. This job will be a perfect opportunity for someone to learn about everything we do in the Stormwater Program, while beginning to manage the compliance efforts for our program. It’s also an amazing opportunity as I see the potential for growth and advancement within the Watershed Management Division. Please pass this along to anyone that you know who might be interested!

Thank you!!! – Christy Witters ENVS 1998

http://humanresources.vermont.gov/career_center

 

Job Description

Posting Date: 04/16/2013

Position Number: 660409

Job Title: Env Anal II AC: General

Agency: Environmental Conservation

Location: Montpelier

Reference: 31968

Job Code: 145002

Job Type: Classified

Full/Part Time: Full-Time

Shift: N/A

Hourly Rate: $17.45

Pay Grade: 20

Application Deadline: 05/06/2013

 

Who May Apply

This LIMITED  Environmental Analyst II AC: General  position, Ref #  31968 , is open to all State employee and external applicants.

If you would like more information about this position, please contact Christy Witters  via email:   Christy.Witters@state.vt.us.  Resumes will not be accepted via e-mail.  You must apply online to be considered.

Tax Compliance Verification

In accordance with 32 V.S.A. Section 3113(i), when an applicant for State employment is determined to be a finalist for a position, s/he will be provided an Affidavit to sign attesting that s/he is in good standing with respect to all Vermont taxes due as of the date.  The applicant’s tax compliance will be verified with the Vermont Tax Department prior to any offer of employment.  Please see Personnel Policy 12.12 – Tax Compliance for further information: http://humanresources.vermont.gov/sites/dhr/files/pdf/policies_procedures/DHR-Policy_Manual.pdf#pagemode=bookmarks

Overview

This position is located within the Stormwater Management Program of the Watershed Management Division.  The position is responsible for developing programs for assembling, evaluating, and maintaining stormwater compliance and monitoring data.  The position will also develop systems for providing feedback to regulated entities on reporting requirements, review technical reports and track compliance actions.  Additionally, the position work with other stormwater analysts to perform site inspections at regulated facilities.

 

General Job Description

Planning, analytical, and administrative work at a basic professional level for the Department of Environmental Conservation.   Duties involve the technical review and analysis of environmental policies, programs activities, and data in a variety of department regulatory, non-regulatory, scientific, and engineering programs.  Work at this level differs from higher level analysts in the scope of projects and level of independence and from lower level analysts in the level of expertise and breadth of knowledge required.  Work is performed under the supervision of a higher level technical or administrative superior.

 

Preferred Qualifications
Preference will be given to candidates:

1) who have experience with the assessment of environmental impacts resulting from stormwater runoff.

2)  who have experience with the design and implementation of data tracking systems, including database development and management.

3) who have experience with working with the regulated community.

4) who have experience with implementing federal, state or local laws / regulations.

 

Minimum Qualifications

KNOWLEDGE SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

Working knowledge of the scientific method of observation and analysis.

Working knowledge of planning principles and procedures.

Working knowledge of data gathering techniques and various systems for organizing and interpreting such data.

Working knowledge of computer uses and potential in data management and program planning.

Working knowledge of  word processing and spread sheet computer programs.

Working knowledge of statistical concepts and procedures.

Working knowledge of the laws, regulations, rules, policies, and programs of the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation applicable to area of assignment.

Working knowledge of state and federal environmental laws and regulations and Department programs.

Knowledge of the basic principles of environmental management and protection.

Knowledge of the basic principles of ecology.

Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing.

Ability to read and understand technical writing.

Ability to understand and interpret complex and technical information.

Ability to plan, organize, implement, and administer data gathering systems.

Ability to present research findings in clear, objective, written report form.

Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships.

 

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

Education: Bachelor’s degree in a biological-life or physical science, engineering, or an environmental or natural resources field.

Experience: One year at or above a technical level in an environmental or natural resources field.

OR

Education: Associate’s degree as defined above.

Experience: Three years at or above a technical level in an environmental or natural resources field.

OR

Experience:  Three years as an Environmental Technician III.

NOTE: Graduate level coursework in an environmental or natural resources related field may be substituted for the experience requirement on a semester for six months basis.

OR

Experience: One year as an Environmental Analyst I.

 

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:

n/a

 

Working Conditions

Duties are largely performed in an office setting; however, some field travel may be necessary for which private means of transportation must be available.  Field work may involve exposure to chemicals, gases, hazardous liquid and solid waste, construction sites during all weather conditions and may involve traversing rough terrain and bodies of water.  Some work outside of regular working hours may be required.  Strong and conflicting opinions may be encountered.

 

Equal Employment Opportunity

The State of Vermont is an Equal Opportunity Employer.  Applications from women, individuals with disabilities, veterans, and people from diverse cultural backgrounds are encouraged.

Posted in Beyond UVM, Jobs, Post-Grad | Leave a comment

BEYOND UVM PROGRAM: Summer Intensive – Grassroots Sustainable Community Development in Eugene, OR

Posted on April 22, 2013 by envs

3rd Annual

Community Transformations
Summer Intensive Program
Solutions from the Grassroots
June 24 to July 26
Eugene, Oregon

Are you ready to make positive, meaningful change in the world?

Community Transformations is a one-of-a-kind opportunity to live a wholesome lifestyle, build community, enact genuine sustainability, develop a powerful social vision, vitalize body, mind and spirit, and have fun making the world a better place.

Come to Eugene, Oregon, this summer for a five-week intensive experience participating with engaged people who are transforming their own neighborhood into a more sustainable, resilient, livable place from the ground up, one seed at a time.

Community Transformations will challenge you to integrate body, mind, heart, and spirit in service to all living beings, and empower you with knowledge, skills, vision, and strategies for generating authentic, solution-oriented change from the grassroots.


View the Community Transformations slideshow and see what is happening: http://portal.sliderocket.com/DGCZY/Community-Transformations

Details and Application @ www.communitytransformations.org

Because we are the ones we have been waiting for, and the time is now

I learned more in two weeks than I learned in four years of college.
– 2012 participant


To see a vital community in action was not only inspiring but a lesson in information exchange. With every week of participation, I was introduced to new community members, each with vital and intriguing knowledge to share. The information and skills shared through this network in this way, face-to-face, feet-to-earth, hands-to-tool, was exceptionally deep and enriching.
– 2011 participant

During the program, you will have the opportunity to work with leading practitioners, teachers, and mentors (many of whom live right in the neighborhood) in the following areas:

-Permaculture and organic gardening
-Whole foods preparation and preservation
-Eco-building and green architecture (strawbale, cob, passive solar and more)
-Grassroots neighborhood markets and barter exchange
-Yoga, qigong, and meditation
-Communication strategies and group processes
-Community service and outreach
-Liberation philosophy and social movements
-Systems thinking and resilient sustainability
-Spiritual philosophy and dharma
-Progressive Utilization Theory (PROUT)
and more!

More information: www.communitytransformations.org

Inquiries and contact: comtrans@proutinstitute.org, subject line: Community Transformations Inquiry

Community Transformations is a program of PROUT Institute, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. PROUT Institute’s mission is to provide people and communities with empowering resources to envision and enact sustainable and equitable solutions to social, economic, and ecological challenges.

Posted in Beyond UVM, Courses and Programs, Western US | Leave a comment

Clean Energy Fund Committee seeks student committee members fo 2013-2014

Posted on April 22, 2013 by envs

Hello GreenUVM list members,

UVM’s Clean Energy Fund Committee is seeking  6 new student committee members for the 2013-2014 academic year.  We need 4 undergraduate students and two graduate student to fill these committee posts starting in September.

The mission of the Clean Energy Fund (CEF) is to finance new clean energy projects on the UVM campus and beyond. The source of the fund is a student fee dedicated to clean energy projects; this dedicated fee ($10 per student per semester) is part of a comprehensive fee that UVM collects each semester from full-time undergraduate and graduate students. More info about the CEF can be found at: http://www.uvm.edu/sustain/clean-energy-fund/about

A major goal of the Clean Energy Fund is to foster student, staff, and faculty cooperation and involvement. The Office of Sustainability helps review committee member applications, and looks for students who are in favorable academic standing, and exemplary members of the UVM community. Applications are further reviewed by the Student Government Association (SGA) or the Graduate Student Senate (GSS) and they make final appointments of committee members. Committee members meet once a month over the academic year and serve 2-year staggered terms to allow year-to-year continuity within the committee.

To apply as a 2013-2014 student committee member, please fill out the CEF Committee membership application, which can be found at: http://www.uvm.edu/sustain/clean-energy-fund/get-involved and send it to cef@uvm.edu

If you have any questions about the CEF, please email us at cef@uvm.edu. Please spread the word to other listservs.

Thank you,
Mieko Ozeki, CEF Administrator

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

VOLUNTEER and an EVENT: UVM Bike Users Group and Local Motion’s Cycle the City Ride (Sunday, 4/28)

Posted on April 22, 2013 by envs

Howdy UVM Bike Enthusiasts,

We know you haven’t heard from us at the Bike Users Group in a while. We’ve been busy planning and scheming new projects and are now starting to shake off the wintertime rust. In keeping with tradition, we will be hosting our biannual Dr Your Bike & Discount Helmet Sale next week on Tuesday, April 23rd from 11:30 – 3:30. See the attached flyer (also below) for more details and we hope to see you there. Directly following our event will be a book talk by Luis Vivanco, our esteemed faculty adviser, who will be discussing his recently published Reconsidering the Bicycle: An Anthropological Perspective on a New (Old) Thing. His talk and a celebration of the book’s release will take place at 4:00 in the John Dewey Lounge in Old Mill. We highly encourage you to attend.

If you’re interested in hearing more about what we’ve been up to and what we’ve got in store (oh, just a few little things like the Bike Education Center we will be opening as a student-run workshop this coming Fall, no big deal), then keep reading below the poster.

So let’s talk about the bikeshare. Y’all may have noticed its absence on campus this semester. That’s because we are preparing a much-needed overhaul of our entire system, one that will make our admittedly unwieldy and cantankerous system into one that is much more user-friendly for us, you, and the front desk staff who help it run. Come this fall, the bikeshare will be run on a new system that will greatly streamline the process of signing a bike out and will allow you to check bike availability online.

Are you a resident of Redstone or Trinity? If so, be sure to check out the brand new Dero fixit stations that just appeared outside a dorm near you. Thanks to the generous support of UVM Transportation & Parking Services, these stands and their complement of tools are now there for your personal use in maintaining and repairing your own rides on your home turf.

Alright, here’s the big one — we have a new space: The BUG Bike Education Center. Thanks again to our ongoing collaboration with Transportation & Parking Services director Jim Barr, we now have an established spot in the Hills building where students will be able to work on bikes and become versed in the arts of their repair and maintenance. Our grand opening will be this Fall. If you have previous experience with bike repair, we need you! Email us at bug@uvm.edu if you are interested in volunteering with us in our new space. Besides the golden opportunity to share your expertise with your fellow students, we can offer you access to a fully equipped workshop and provide you with additional mechanic training. If you don’t have previous mechanic experience, but still want to help us make this project into a thriving campus bike hub, email us anyway! We would love to know how! you want to be involved and what you can contribute.

Last, but not least, we cordially invite you to join us for Local Motion’s Cycle the City Ride on Sunday, April 28th. The ride will be a pleasurable 10-mile jaunt on the retooled Cycle the City bike route, complete with an on-the-ride historical tour of our beloved Queen City. The ride starts at Maglianero Cafe — meet at 9 AM, ride at 10. The attached flyer has more deets.

That about wraps it up folks. Keep an ear to the ground — you’ll hear from us again this Fall. If you have questions, suggestions, or anything else, don’t hesitate to contact us. Though this is the last time you’ll be hearing from me, we have a solid crew chomping at the bit to keep things rolling. It’s been a pleasure.

pedal on,
Jens, Lucy, & the UVM Bike Users Group (BUG) — Jordan, Dana, Lex, Doug, Darya, Brian, Madeleine, Lida, & Rachel

Posted in Events, Vermont/New England, Volunteering | Leave a comment

EVENT: Energy Forum, Saturday 4/27, 1:30 pm, Billings Auditorium

Posted on April 22, 2013 by envs

Vermont’s Energy Choices: Old Dirty Problems and Clean Energy Solutions
Saturday, April 27th, 1:30 PM at the Billings Auditorium at UVM in Burlington

Do you want to stop dirty energy?  How can we find common ground in promoting wind, solar and other renewables?  Come find out more and learn how to make a difference!

If we really want to leave a legacy of clean energy for future generations, we have to make some tough choices right now. VPIRG and other environmental groups are bringing in several national and international experts on the problem of dirty energy and the real-world successes of renewable power. Get the truth about tar sands and the facts about fracking.  And finally, come find out what’s really happening with community-based renewable power in Europe.  (Hint: it works!)

This is no time to throw up our hands.  Let’s take responsibility for our energy choices and get to work.  This forum will help show us the way. Check out more information and RSVP at:

http://salsa.wiredforchange.com/o/5980/p/salsa/event/common/public/?event_KEY=313819

Posted in Events, Vermont/New England | Leave a comment