Earth Day Fair 2021 - After Action ReportEnvironmental Forum On Saturday, May 22nd, PACG's Environmental Forum, along with sponsors, the Freight House Farmers Market and WVIK Quad Cities 90.3 FM, held the third annual Earth Day Fair. We had such a successful day! The weather was excellent, despite a few sprinkles early in the morning. We had 20 vendors, including conservation, environmental, and outdoor activity organizations. The Metrolink electric bus returned after missing last year due to COVID. The Iowa State University Conservation Station was a hit, with its child-centered activities. We had five different musical groups, as well! Based on the number of people circulating through the tables and decking, everyone enjoyed the event! See you all again next year! See more photographs on our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/PACGEF/permalink/4041850522573444/ Lori McCollum Earth Day Fair 2021 Was a Huge Success!A Message from the President
PACG's Environmental Forum organized and presented the Earth Day Fair at the Freight House Farmer's Market on Saturday, May 22nd. It was evident that a lot of work went into making this event a success. Read the After Action Report from the Forum in this WEU, with more details about the incredible day. The linked Facebook post has almost 50 pictures of all of the activity. Thank you to the Freight House for providing the space for this delightful gathering! In the meantime, I want to highlight one of the most impressive vendors at the fair - Nicolina's Turtle Company! It was started by Nicolina when she was 8 years old! She was alarmed when she learned about the harmful environmental effects of plastic, and knew that she wanted to do something to make a difference. One day she noticed her big sister - who was using a stainless steel straw in an effort to cut down on her own plastic footprint - put her straw directly into her backpack. It occurred to Nicolina that it would be a lot more sanitary if the straw could be put in some sort of a bag or container to keep it cleaner. She took sewing lessons and then asked her to mother help her design lined pouches. Nicolina's Straw Pouches were born! Pouches can be purchased for $10. This includes one stainless steel straw. An extra $3 buys a small brush that can be used to thoroughly clean inside the straws. Each pouch is large enough to carry several stainless steel straws and the brush securely. The fabrics are bright and fun, and the pouches are closed with colorful snaps. Nicolina and her mother have enlisted community volunteers to help make pouches. But, with the pouches, Nicolina was just getting started on her environmental journey! Merely creating Nicolina's Turtle Company, the pouches, a website and donating to local environmental groups, were not enough projects for her! She decided to approach schools and restaurants to ask them to stop using plastic straws. Restaurants now only offer straws when customers ask for them, and her school has stopped using plastic straws completely! Nicolina is also working with the QC Straw Free Initiative, sponsored by the Quad City Earth Coalition, to spread this concept across the Quad Cities. Read more about this amazing young person at her website: https://nicolinasturtleco.com. By the way, these items are available from Nicolina's website. I bought a bunch of them! They will make stocking stuffers or other gifts for my own (adult) children. If you wish to purchase larger quantities of stainless steel straws so that you can reduce your plastic footprint, they are available locally at many stores. If you sew and have scraps of material lying around, consider helping in these efforts. You may also want to make a donation to help her save the environment from plastic and fund local environmental education. I was touched to see the impact that these children are having on our Quad Cities community. What can you do to help the Earth? Allison Ambrose 2021 Earth Month Event – Watch and Discuss Kiss the Ground |
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Earth Day 2020 - After Action Report
Freight House Farmers Market - Davenport
Environmental Forum
On Saturday, July 18th we celebrated Earth Day 2020 at the Freight House Farmers Market with the support of sponsors Quad City Earth Coalition, Living Lands and Waters, Sierra Club - Eagle View Chapter, the Freight House Farmers Market, and the Mark Schwiebert Grant for Environmental Studies. There were a small, but stellar group of exhibitors, musicians, and volunteers in attendance. Fun was had by all on this hot, but breezy summer day.
Safety was emphasized with masks and hand sanitizer, and tables were spaced for proper physical distancing. Several hundred people wandered through the exhibitor tables, learning about our wonderful planet, and the children enjoyed a number of family friendly activities.
We emphasized the importance of celebrating the 50th Anniversary of Earth Day by VOTING for candidates who endorse policies for a healthy planet.
Lori McCollum
Environmental Forum
On Saturday, July 18th we celebrated Earth Day 2020 at the Freight House Farmers Market with the support of sponsors Quad City Earth Coalition, Living Lands and Waters, Sierra Club - Eagle View Chapter, the Freight House Farmers Market, and the Mark Schwiebert Grant for Environmental Studies. There were a small, but stellar group of exhibitors, musicians, and volunteers in attendance. Fun was had by all on this hot, but breezy summer day.
Safety was emphasized with masks and hand sanitizer, and tables were spaced for proper physical distancing. Several hundred people wandered through the exhibitor tables, learning about our wonderful planet, and the children enjoyed a number of family friendly activities.
We emphasized the importance of celebrating the 50th Anniversary of Earth Day by VOTING for candidates who endorse policies for a healthy planet.
Lori McCollum
City of Davenport Honors PACG With Earth Month Proclamation - After Action Report
From the City of Davenport Government Facebook page on Sunday, July 12th:
Earth Day is usually in April, but not in Davenport this year.
The Davenport City Council proclaimed July as Earth Month at its meeting Wednesday, July 8. The proclamation notes that the global community must step forward and take action to create positive environmental change.
The City is recognizing Earth Day during the whole month of July because of the nationwide closures that occurred in April. Alderwoman Judith Lee presented the proclamation to PJ Slobojan and members of Progressive Action for the Common Good (PACG).
View the proclamation.
Julie Meyerson-Ross
Earth Day is usually in April, but not in Davenport this year.
The Davenport City Council proclaimed July as Earth Month at its meeting Wednesday, July 8. The proclamation notes that the global community must step forward and take action to create positive environmental change.
The City is recognizing Earth Day during the whole month of July because of the nationwide closures that occurred in April. Alderwoman Judith Lee presented the proclamation to PJ Slobojan and members of Progressive Action for the Common Good (PACG).
View the proclamation.
Julie Meyerson-Ross
50th Anniversary Earth Day Celebration -
Saturday, July 18th at 9:00 am
Freight House Farmers Market
421 W River Drive, Davenport, IA (map)
Environmental Forum
Come celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Earth Day with us. Experience what our community is doing to help save Planet Earth. There will be exhibitions, children's activities and live music.
For everyone's safety, please wear face coverings and practice at least 6 feet of social distancing.
Susan Leuthauser
421 W River Drive, Davenport, IA (map)
Environmental Forum
Come celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Earth Day with us. Experience what our community is doing to help save Planet Earth. There will be exhibitions, children's activities and live music.
For everyone's safety, please wear face coverings and practice at least 6 feet of social distancing.
Susan Leuthauser
The Story of Plastics Zoom Happy Hour - After Action Report
Environmental Forum
In lieu of our postponement of Earth Day events, we placed an ad in local papers for the 50th Anniversary of Earth Day, and wish to thank the PACG Board for providing funding for that announcement. We also co-sponsored a virtual showing of the film, the Story of Plastics, along with the Rock Island Soil and Conservation District, the Niabi Zoo, and the UU Congregation of the QC. The film was on the Discovery Channel, or available virtually through a link. We then offered a followup Happy Hour on Zoom to discuss the film and listen to local leaders who are working with methods of reducing plastic pollution: Joel Vanderbush from the Zoo, Kurt Liske from the Scott County Waste Commission, Karen Neder from Terracycle, and Dawn Temple of RISCD. We had nearly 20 people online for the happy hour! We all agreed to continue our work on plastics in the QC through the Plastic Free QC initiative started through the BICAN.
We plan on having our originally scheduled Earth Day activities in July, with "the Vision for the Future" event at the Botanical Center on Thursday, July 16th, and the Earth Day Fair at the Farmers Market on Saturday, July 18th. We hope to see you all there.
Remember to make every day Earth Day!
Lori McCollum
In lieu of our postponement of Earth Day events, we placed an ad in local papers for the 50th Anniversary of Earth Day, and wish to thank the PACG Board for providing funding for that announcement. We also co-sponsored a virtual showing of the film, the Story of Plastics, along with the Rock Island Soil and Conservation District, the Niabi Zoo, and the UU Congregation of the QC. The film was on the Discovery Channel, or available virtually through a link. We then offered a followup Happy Hour on Zoom to discuss the film and listen to local leaders who are working with methods of reducing plastic pollution: Joel Vanderbush from the Zoo, Kurt Liske from the Scott County Waste Commission, Karen Neder from Terracycle, and Dawn Temple of RISCD. We had nearly 20 people online for the happy hour! We all agreed to continue our work on plastics in the QC through the Plastic Free QC initiative started through the BICAN.
We plan on having our originally scheduled Earth Day activities in July, with "the Vision for the Future" event at the Botanical Center on Thursday, July 16th, and the Earth Day Fair at the Farmers Market on Saturday, July 18th. We hope to see you all there.
Remember to make every day Earth Day!
Lori McCollum