Interfaith Environmental Network convenes a monthly, open meeting, which all members and interested guests are welcome to attend!
These Open Meetings are held on the first Tuesday of each calendar month.
Click on a link below to learn about this month's or past months' symposium topics!
March, 2011
Our Voices Matter: The Importance of Religious Witness in Environmental Justice Work
Featuring Texas Interfaith Power and Light’s Amanda Robinson
IEN was delighted to welcome Amanda Robinson to our March 1, 2011, Open Meeting!
Attendance was excellent and Amanda’s presentation was inspiring.
Amanda Robinson
Amanda Robinson joined the staff of Texas Impact in May 2008 and coordinates Texas Interfaith Power and Light (TXIPL), the environmental program of Texas Impact. TXIPL is one of 38 state Interfaith Power and Light programs. She recently authored a Texas Impact publication on the spiritual significance of food in our religious traditions, exploring issues of hunger, food production, sustainability, consumption and community.
Amanda received her Bachelor of Arts in English at the University of Texas at Arlington in 1999, where she graduated summa cum laude. She worked in publishing for a few years and then in 2004, was hired as the Director of Religious Education (DRE) at First Jefferson Unitarian Universalist Church in Fort Worth. She served there for three years, then for two years at Live Oak Unitarian Universalist Church in Cedar Park, TX. Amanda is a part time student at Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary, working on a Masters in Theological Studies.
Amanda worships at Congregation Agudas Achim in Austin. She and her husband Mark, the Associate Principal for Curriculum and Instruction at Lake Travis High School, live in Cedar Park with their two boys, Ezekiel (10) and Elijah (8); their one-eyed pug dog, Maxie; two bearded dragons, Cosmo and Bright Eyes; an assortment of fish and one really mean gecko.
Here are some photos from our March, 2011 meeting:
Amanda
Pastor Lou Snead
Attendees Listening to Amanda
"Food for Thought"
And here's a brief video clip of Amanda's presentation:
April, 2011
Please join IEN at our April Open Meeting!
Tuesday, April 5th, at 7:00 p.m.
Congregation Beth Israel
3901 Shoal Creek Blvd.,
Austin, TX 78756
Our April presenter will be Zack Waterman, the local Texas staff person for Greenpeace. Zach has worked for the Obama Administration as an environmental policy intern and in his current Greenpeace work he is working to call attention to the need to reduce carbon energy dependence in Texas and to mobilize public demonstrations against pollution and the unrestricted transportation of dangerous chemicals across the state.
Zack maintains a great blog on topics related to consumer culture, the environment and other topics of interest to IEN members. Check it out, and please join us on April 5th.
May, 2011
YOU ARE INVITED TO ATTEND OUR MAY, 2011, INTERFAITH ENVIRONMENTAL EVENT!
TUESDAY, MAY 3, 2011
LOCATION:
FRIENDS MEETING OF AUSTIN
3701 MARTIN LUTHER KIND BOULEVARD
7:00 P.M.
WITH SPEAKER
DR. BILL GREENWAY
ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF PHILOSOPHICAL THEOLOGY
AUSTIN PRESBYTERIAN THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY
SPEAKING ON “CREATION SPIRITUALITY: ROOTS OF AWAKENING AND PASSION.”
Dr. Greenway focuses upon contemporary conversations among theology and philosophy and church and society. He is especially interested in theology and ecology and spiritually. He speaks regularly at churches, academic conferences, and publishes in journals like The Christian Century, The Journal of Religion, and Theology Today. His course offerings which range from more traditional offerings like "Plato and the Western Intellectual Tradition" and "Theology and Science: Critical Issues in the Contemporary Debate," to more creative offerings like "Nature, Theology, and Ethics" and the experientially based course, "An Adventure in Wilderness and Spirituality."
We welcome those in faith communities in Central Texas who are interested in linking religious values and spirituality with environmental stewardship concerns to join us. We will also have a brief IEN membership meeting immediately following the presentation for the sharing of resources and plans for inspiring our faith communities to live out the common call to environmental stewardship and caring for the creation.
For more information about Dr. Greenway: click here.
Friends Meeting of Austin is located at 3701 East Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard.
June, 2011
YOU CAN NOW FIND A DETAILED REPORT ON OUR JUNE 7 EVENT IN OUR BLOG SECTION!
The Interfaith Environmental Network of Austin
Invites You to Attend our Monthly Symposium
7:00 pm Tuesday June 7th 2011
at
Friends Meeting of Austin
3701 E. Martin Luther King Blvd.
This month’s featured topic and presenters: Two specialists from The City of Austin Solid Waste Services Department will present a one hour lecture and Q&A,
Reducing Waste, Recycling More:
For Austin Congregations
Presenters Lauren Hammond (Information Specialist) and Woody Raine, P.E., (Senior Planner) will provide an overview of the City’s new “Universal Recycling Ordinance” and discuss departmental plans for achieving zero waste by 2040. Special focus for this session will be upcoming changes in the City’s commercial recycling program due to impact local congregations.
We welcome those in faith communities in Central Texas who are interested in linking religious values and spirituality with environmental stewardship concerns. Join us in sharing resources for inspiring our faith communities to live out the common call to environmental stewardship and caring for the creation.
Helpful Links:
New Universal Recycling Ordinance
July, 2011
The Interfaith Environmental Network of Austin
Invites You to Attend our Monthly Symposium
7:00 pm Tuesday July 5th 2011
at
Friends Meeting of Austin
3701 E. Martin Luther King Blvd.
This month’s featured topic and presenter -
Amanda Robinson, Texas Interfaith Power and Light, will present a lecture and Q&A:
New Tools from the Legislative Session: Things Your Congregation Can Do.
As a state-level interfaith leader, Amanda helped pass a number of bills this year that support congregations being better environmental stewards. Newly funded opportunities in energy, food, and social justice projects can help your congregation make a meaningful difference and have some hands-on fun. Join us to learn about “what went right” in the 2011 Texas Legislative Session and how to use these tools.
We welcome those in faith communities in Central Texas who are interested in linking religious values and spirituality with environmental stewardship concerns. Join us in sharing resources for inspiring our faith communities to live out the common call to environmental stewardship and caring for the creation.
Learn more about Amanda’s session here.
Learn more about Amanda & Texas IPL here.
August, 2011
Friends of IEN:
We are thrilled with the growth of IEN in recent months! Monthly Symposium attendance is at record highs and our Facebook Page is receiving dozens of “likes” and visits.
In order to take some time to plan for the fall of 2011 and beyond, your IEN Steering Committee will be holding a planing meeting in place of our August, 2011 Symposium. So, no August Symposium, but keep checking back here for news of our September Symposium.
Sincerely,
Your IEN Steering Committee
September, 2011
The Interfaith Environmental Network of Austin
Invites You to Attend our Monthly Symposium
7:00 pm Tuesday Sept. 6th 2011
at
Highland Park Baptist Church
5206 Balcones Drive
This month’s featured presenters, topic and Q&A–
Bill Bunch, executive director, Save Our Springs Alliance, and
George Cofer, executive director, Hill Country Conservancy.
“Austin’s Water Future.”
Synopsis
What are the critical strategies we need to implement now, as individuals and as members of organizations, to provide ample water for Austin’s future? Come join Austin’s two foremost environmentalists in a discussion about water stewardship and sustainability. Learn about the benefits of conservation, the Save Our Springs view on Water Treatment Plant 4, and the Hill Country Conservancy view on what’s needed to better balance water use in Central Texas.
About Our Speakers
Bill Bunch will address the current struggle in Austin between investing in water conservation and efficiency measures versus investing in expanding water treatment capacity. He will place the struggle in the larger context of past, present and likely future water use and availability in the Colorado River Basin and our Central Texas region. Mr. Bunch will also address "what you can do" to conserve water, both individually and as part of the Austin community.
Bill Bunch has served as Executive Director or General Counsel for the Save Our Springs Alliance for fifteen years. Mr. Bunch has a bachelor's degree in environmental biology from the University of Colorado and a law degree from the University of California at Berkeley. SOS Alliance is a nonprofit, charitable advocacy organization founded in 1992 and dedicated to protecting the land, water and wildlife of the central Texas, Edwards Aquifer region.
George Cofer will talk about the impacts of drought on the lands, waters and “critters” of Texas as well as societal impacts – now, and during the drought of record of 1950 - 57. He will explain what Hill Country Conservancy and other non-profit land trusts are doing to conserve our precious water, land and wildlife resources through executing conservation easement agreements with landowners.
George will have 50 copies of “The Time it Never Rained” by Elmer Kelton – acknowledged to be one of the ten greatest Americana books ever written, on hand to give away to attendees.
George Cofer is Executive Director of the Hill Country Conservancy, a nonprofit land trust that marshals public and private resources to preserve the natural areas and scenic vistas, aquifers and springs, rivers and streams, working farms and ranches, and the rural heritage of the Central Texas Hill Country for people to enjoy and cherish for generations to come. George was founding Chair of Earth Share of Texas in 1992 and has received numerous environmental awards over his 20+ year career.
We welcome those in faith communities in Central Texas who are interested in linking religious values and spirituality with environmental stewardship concerns. Join us in sharing resources for inspiring our faith communities to live out the common call to environmental stewardship and caring for the creation.
Learn more about Bill’s leadership at Save Our Springs Alliance here and here.
Learn more about George’s leadership at Hill Country Conservancy here.
October, 2011
The Interfaith Environmental Network of Austin
Invites You to Attend our Monthly Symposium
7:00 pm Tuesday Oct. 4th 2011
at
Highland Park Baptist Church
5206 Balcones Drive (map)
This month’s featured presenter, topic and Q&A–
Greg Meszaros, Director, Austin Water Utility
“Austin’s Water Future, Part 2”
As director of Austin’s Water Utility, Greg Meszaros is perhaps the best qualified person to help attendees understand critical strategies Austinites must implement now to provide ample water for Austin’s future.
Join Mr. Meszaros in an open lecture format to learn about the City’s vision, policies, plans, and opportunities for sustainable water stewardship. This presentation is companion to our outstanding September session, led by local environmentalists Bill Bunch and George Cofer.
Learn more about Greg here.
Visit Austin Water Utility here.
We welcome those in faith communities in Central Texas who are interested in linking religious values and spirituality with environmental stewardship. Join us in sharing resources for inspiring our faith communities to live out the common call of caring for the creation.
November, 2011
IEN Invites You To Our November, 2011 Symposium
7:00 pm on Tuesday, Nov. 1st, 2011
at
Highland Park Baptist Church
5206 Balcones Drive
This month’s featured presenter, topic, and Q&A-
Bob Murray (former CEO, Seattle Power & Light)
Joep Meijer (CEO, The Right Environment, Ltd.)
“The Energy Challenge:
A Moral Imperative for Climate Change”
If you knew you had the chance to work on the biggest environmental problem humankind has ever faced and that there are ways to contribute to the solution – wouldn’t you want to do it?
Bob Murray and Joep Meijer are international environmental consultants committed to helping Austin’s faith-based communities address climate change in substantive ways. This presentation will clearly define ecological concerns related to climate change and begin to chart the course for ongoing, faith-based partnerships that curtail greenhouse gas emissions and implement solutions to the energy challenge.
Presentation will include scientific citations, philosophical writings, and an open question and answer session. After this session’s open Q&A, climate buddies Murray and Meijer will offer those present an opportunity for getting involved in a faith-driven focus group that implements to the global energy challenges by making meaningful contributions on a local level.
The Interfaith Environmental Network welcomes those in faith communities in Central Texas who are interested in linking religious values and spirituality with environmental stewardship concerns. Attendance is free.
Murray and Meijer’s organization: http://climatebuddies.org
January, 2012
The Interfaith Environmental Network of Austin
Invites You to Attend our Monthly Symposium
7:00 to 8:30 pm Tuesday, Jan 3rd, 2012
at
St. David’s Episcopal Church
301 E. 8th St. (downtown Austin)
This month’s featured topic and presenter-
Mark Dreyfus, Director, Austin Energy will present a lecture and Q&A,
“Understanding Austin Energy’s Proposed Rate Increases”
Mark Dreyfus, Director of Regulatory and Governmental Affairs at Austin Energy and staff lead for Austin Energy’s rate review process, will present details and answer questions on the proposed electricity rate increase and re-design submitted to City Council December 14, 2011. Mark will focus his presentation on the rate increase’s impact on worship facilities and Austin’s efficiency and sustainability programs.
Learn the latest on Austin Energy’s rate changes here.
Join us! Come participate in the only public presentation and Q&A dedicated to understanding how Austin Energy’s rate increases will impact local congregations and environmental stewardship.
The Interfaith Environmental Network is a partner of Texas Impact and Interfaith Power and Light. We welcome adults and young adults in Central Texas’s faith communities who are interested in linking religious values and spirituality with caring for creation. Our network shares resources, actions and education for living out the common call of environmental stewardship.
February, 2012
The Interfaith Environmental Network of Austin
Invites You to Attend our Monthly Symposium
7:00 pm Tuesday, Feb 7, 2012
301 E 8th St. (downtown Austin)
This month’s featured presenter, topic, and Q&A-
Dick Pierce, co-founder, Citizen Gardener Program
“Understanding Local Food, Local Gardening,
and Faith-Based Community Gardens"
Join us for our first ever symposium on Local Food, Gardening and Gardens with Dick Pierce, Austin's lead permaculture teacher, a certified master gardener, and a long-term advocate for community-building through gardening. Austin's unique planting season is mid-January thru mid-March so now's the time to get started! Learn what faith-based groups in Austin and around the U.S. are doing to add feeding and outreach programs, youth education, senior activities and more to their ministries. Dick is a masterful teacher. Expect lots of information, education, and fun. Check our blog for more about Dick's presentation, next week. See a video of Dick being interviewed by Tom Spencer (exec. dir., Interfaith Action of Central Texas / host, Central Texas Gardener).
The Interfaith Environmental Network welcomes those in faith communities in Central Texas who are interested in linking religious values and spirituality with environmental stewardship. Attendance and parking at this event are free.
When: Tue, 2/7, 7pm to 8:30pm
Where: 301 E 8th St. (downtown Austin)
Free parking on site.
We hope to see you!
View a map to the event.