There's still time to join Laurel Creech (City of Nashville) and Tobin Freid (Durham City and County) for a discussion of social marking campaigns on Thursday, 10/17 at 11 am EST.
Click here to learn more.
RSVP by replying to this email to reserve your spot.
Get Involved with SSDN Committees
Much of the work of the SE Sustainability Director's Network happens through our committees. We currently have four committees - all of whom are looking for new members!
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Mayor's Challenge Working Group, interested in how to replicate Nashville's Mayor's Challenge. Email Glen Hadwen at ghadwen@miamigov.com for more information.
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Case Study Working Group, responsible for collecting case studies for both internal and external uses. Email Andrew Orr at andrew.orr@franklintn.gov for more information.
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SSDN Communications Working Group, who will focus on recruiting new member cities and counties to SSDN. Email Peter Nierengarten at pnierengarten@ci.fayetteville.ar.us for more information.
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Conference Design Committee, responsible for planning next year's conference. Email Jon Ippel at jonathan.ippel@cityoforlando.net for more information.
This month, we interview Andrew Saunders, Environmental Coordinator for the Unified Government of Athens-Clarke County, GA.
What are you working on right now that you are most excited about?
I am knee deep in our greenspace program right now. For almost 20 years, Athens-Clarke County has had a program to acquire and conserve greenspace in our county, but responsibility floated from department to department. I am working to consolidate it and create management plans. Currently, I'm working with a foundation to open 310 acres for passive natural resources recreation - things like hiking and canoe launch sites to create blue trails. I am also reviewing a potential acquisition of 10 key acres in the middle of town. The land is part of a larger complex that has been owned for 125 years by a family that helped build Montreat in NC. We own 75 acres and this acquisition has the potential to improve public access. The property has beautiful stonework and pristine hardwoods. We are excited about the possibilities associated with it.
What do you want to know from others in SSDN? What provocative questions do you have for your colleagues around the Southeast?
Where have you been most successful in implementing your sustainability and climate action plans?
Answer here.
Where did you find partners that you didn't anticipate?
Answer here.
What led you to this work?
I completely stumbled into it. I started out as a wildlife biologist and forester. I began working with our local government as a community forester. I was able to observe the work of several Environmental Coordinators as they moved through the position, and was always attracted by the idea of getting closer to sustainability. The opportunity opened up and it was the right job at the right time.
