Attend our Green Caucus Panel in Seatac on May 16

We're excited to invite you to our upcoming panel on blue green coalitions on Friday, May 16 in SeaTac!

Topic: Blue/Green Coalitions: Building a Foundation for Dialogue between Labor and Our Communities.

What: A panel discussion featuring labor and community activists working together on issues of common interest.

When: Friday, May 16 from 6 to 8:30 pm at the SeaTac DoubleTree.  Dinner is provided.

Who can come: Space is limited to the first 50 people! 

Register online by going to the calendar at wfse.org and clicking on "Policy Committees" on May 17 or follow this link: http://www.wfse.org/ai1ec_event/policy-committees-3-2-2-2/?instance_id=22164. 

Travel is provided by the Council 28 for all Green Caucus members who are not Policy Committee Delegates.

Details on Panelist Topics:

• Blue/Green Coalitions at the national level
• Experiences from Bellingham’s Waterfront Development project
• Experiences from Spokane Coalition Building
• Seattle’s Ballot Proposition #1 regarding transit concerns
• Building regional Blue/Green Coalitions in Thurston County?  Richland?  Vancouver?  Your county?

Green Caucus Meets this Thurs. April 10

Join us for our regular monthly Green Caucus meeting this Thursday, April 10 at 6 PM.  
Join our video/conference call from your own home, or come in person to WFSE Headquarters in Olympia, WA.  

Agenda

1. Planning for next 3 events (May 16, Oct. 3, and Jan. 2015)

2. Communicating with Green Caucus Members

3. Blue-Green Alliances

How to join from home:

1.) Visit the website https://global.gotomeeting.com/join/783430173 to start the videoconference.  ***If you don't want to connect by video, skip below to just dial in by phone.***

 

2.) Dial (312) 878-3078 from your phone.

3.) Enter the access code 783-430-173.

4.) If you've joined by video in step 1 above, enter the audio pin shown on your screen after joining the meeting. 

Kerry Graber & Lisa Randlette
Co-Chairs, WFSE/AFSCME Green Caucus

Green Caucus Meets Thurs. Mar. 13

Join us for our regular monthly Green Caucus meeting this Thursday, March 13 at 6 PM.   

Join our video/conference call from your own home, or come in person to WFSE Headquarters in Olympia, WA.  

Agenda

1. Planning for next 3 events (May 16, Oct. 3, and Jan. 2015)

2. Communicating with Green Caucus Members

3. How can we engage in the Governor's climate agenda?

4. Talking to members about the Green Caucus

5. Joining the Blue-Green Alliance

 

How to join from home:

1.) Visit the website https://global.gotomeeting.com/join/640798845 to start the videoconference.

      ***If you don't want to connect by video, skip below to just dial in by phone.***

2.) Dial (773) 945-1032 from your phone.

3.) Enter the access code 640-798-845.

4.) If you've joined by video in step 1 above, enter the audio pin shown on your screen after joining the meeting.

Earth Day and Arbor Day Events 2014

April hosts both Arbor Day and Earth Day and offers us a great chance to connect within our communities.   Wear your WFSE/AFCSCME green t-shirt and join in one of these events happening near you!  Together, we can raise awareness of how public workers are working within our communities to foster a healthy, green economy with family-wage jobs!

Saturday, March 29, 2014 8:30 PM	Earth Hour	Lacey	The City of Lacey is joining with communities around the world in support of the Earth Hour participation event. Residents and businesses in cities and towns world-wide are switching their lights off for one hour to show concern for the environment.  Earth Hour 2014 is on Saturday, March 29 at 8:30 p.m. At that time, community members can show their support in switching their lights off for one hour.
April 12 - April 13 10:00 am - 3:00 pm	Earth Day at the Zoo	Tacoma	Celebrate your home planet with the animals that share it! Learn how to shrink your carbon pawprint as Zoo animals receive special enrichment treats and toys.  Earth Day is the perfect time to discover what actions you can take at the Zoo, at home, and in your neighborhood to show love to your planet. Join us in creating a healthy, sustainable Tacoma by participating in projects on grounds and throughout Point Defiance Park.  FREE with paid admission or membership. http://www.pdza.org/calendar?cid=381
Friday, April 18, 1:00-2:00pm	Earth Day Celebration	Everett	Everett Parks & Recreation and View Ridge Elementary School students will plant a tree and clean up the park.  Johnston-Kelly Park, 49th St. SW & Forrest Dr.
Saturday, April 19, 2014	Earth Day	Tumwater	Celebrate with us by volunteering for a local service project. Choose a Parks & Recreation or Stream Team event, or create your own stewardship project. Contact the Parks and Recreation Department for more information regarding this year’s planned events.
April 19th, 2014 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM	Earth Day	Newcastle	You'll enjoy the various booths hosted by green businesses and non-profits, kid's activities, electric vehicles, and music by the Boeing Employees’ Concert Band and Hazen Jazz Band. Meet celebs like Bert the Salmon and Ranger Rick. Honor our Earth Heroes from the schools and volunteer groups. Learn about environmental chivalry and stewardship from the Knights of Veritas. Find everything from organic body care products to solar and wind energy solutions, and flower, veggie and native garden plants. Take home a wonderful item from the silent auction, or register your yard as a Wildlife Habitat. Join us as we celebrate the 2014 Earth Day event theme, "Living in Harmony with Nature.” Lake Boren Park, 13058 SE 84th Way Newcastle 98056. For more information visit: www.newcastleweedwarriors.org
April 19, 2014 10:00am- 3:00pm	Earth Day	Seattle	Celebrate spring in Seattle with a day of hands-on environmental activities, tours of the park, art making inspired by the natural world, and performances by local musicians. Bring your family, friends, colleagues, and students—there's something for everyone! Olympic Sculpture Park, 2901 Western Avenue, Seattle, WA 98121.
April 19, 2014 10:00 am-12:00pm	Earth Day Market Ride	Olympia	Meet neighbors, enjoy a Saturday bike ride into town to Heritage Park Fountain and get a head start on your Bicycle Commuter Contest miles while you’re at it! The miles you ride this day can count as your first commute trip on your BCC mileage log. For more information visit: www.bccblog.com
April 19, 12:00pm – 4:00pm	Earth Day Extravaganza	Tacoma	Earth Day Extravaganza is an event designed for families. The Tacoma Nature Center is a great place to take the kids to learn about local flora and fauna anytime, but especially on Earth Day. The Center is also next to the Snake Lake trail so you can enjoy a moderate hike! If you can’t make it to this free event, Tacoma Nature Center hosts Family Nature Walks led by park naturalists twice a month. 1919 S Tyler St, Tacoma, WA 98405
April 20, 2014 12:00pm	Celebrating Our Earth	Seattle	Collaborative celebration of Earth Day, music & science-based activities. Fisher Pavilion 305 Harrison Street, Seattle, WA 98109.  For more information call (206) 684-7200 or visit www.seattlecenter.com
Tuesday, April 22,  8:00am	Earth Day Free Day	Statewide	Visit Washington state parks for free. The Discover Pass is not required to visit a state park on designated free days. Please note: A Discover Pass is still required to access lands managed by the Washington State Department of Natural Resources and the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife during State Parks free days. For more information, please visit: www.discoverpass.wa.gov.
April 26 11:00am – 2:00pm	Annual Spring Compost Fair and Arbor Day Celebration	Spokane	Fun and informative activities provided by community resources on home composting, tree care, and sustainability. Sponsored by Finch Arboretum and Spokane’s Master Composters/Recyclers.  John A. Finch Arboretum, 3404 W Woodland Blvd, Spokane, WA 99224.

Are You Joining Us Thurs?

What's going on with current legislation affecting us?  How can we support our AFSCME union brother and sister maintenance workers who need a green certification?   What green events are going on in your community that we should help spread the word about?  

Get answers by joining us for our regular monthly Green Caucus meeting this Thursday, February 13 at 6 PM.   

 Join our video/conference call from your own home, or come in person to WFSE Headquarters in Olympia, WA.    

How to join from home: 

 1.) Visit the website https://global.gotomeeting.com/join/986967061 to start the videoconference.
***If you don't want to connect by video, skip below to just dial in by phone.*** 

 2.) Dial (267) 507-0012 from your phone. 

 3.) Enter the access code 986-967-061.  

 4.) If you've joined by video in step 1 above, enter the audio pin shown on your screen after joining the meeting.  

 We look forward to talking with you Thursday!   

Kerry Graber and Lisa Randlette
Co-Chairs, WFSE/AFSCME Green Caucus

Green Caucus 2014 Legislative Priorities

What is the Green Caucus of the WFSE / AFSCME Council 28 concerned about during the 2014 session?

1.    WA’s Toxics Account – NO on SB 5990

• SB 5990 would undermine our toxics work by removing public participation grants and program funding
• Let’s fund state cleanup and pollution prevention

2.    Supporting Our State Parks

• Sustainable funding for services – Support Gov's Supplemental Budget amount of $2.9M
• Support SB 6034 / HB 2226 State Parks Partnerships – Section 4 was negotiated with WFSE to create some safeguards when entering into agreements
• Future of the Parks Commission

3.    Taxpayer Protection Act – YES on HB 2743

• Public interest in environmental work is not met when you contract out green work (clean up, research, etc.) to a company trying to make a profit
• We need value for our $

Got a question about how a bill may affect our work to help keep WA green?  Our members are here to help!  Contact WFSE/AFSCME Lobbyist Alia Griffing at 360.352.7603 or WFSE/AFSCME Green Caucus Co-Chair Kerry Graber at 360.481.3230. 

Save the Date! Green Caucus Lobby Day 2/6/2014

Join us for our second annual Green Caucus Lobby Day!  We are gathering together to share our priorities and concerns with legislators in Olympia on Thursday, February 6.

Register online at http://www.wfse.org/get-involved/come-to-olympia/ or contact our LPA department at 800-562-6002. 


Airfare or mileage are covered by LPA.  Lunch and snacks are provided. 

We now offer convenient travel planning online https://adobeformscentral.com/?f=Rch9nMxSy7Zcu8dNjFb0Aw#!