Tomorrow! Tomorrow! I love ya, Tomorrow!

Hi All,

Just thought I would say my last word before we take off. I wanted to address a few last questions I’ve been given.

-Linens are available at the hostel but you will need to bring a bath towel if you plan to shower Sunday morning.

-Boots are pretty necessary. I don’t know what we would have done without them last year especially given the rainy weather. Maybe you could borrow a pair from a last year participant. I hear Walmart is selling them for less than $20.

-I’ll be doing all of the driving for the trip but if anyone wants to stay up to keep me company or to navigate, I would really love that! LOL

-I have run out of time this week to be able to fit in the movie with you guys this evening. Too many chores are calling my name before I leave Geneva for a week so I think I better take care of my personal business and get a good night’s rest. Anyone that is still planning on going to the movie can still meet at 6:35 pm in front of the FLI to gather and walk together.

-The van will leave AT 7:00 am so please be on time! If we are on schedule, we can fit in a stop for breakfast at Dunkin Donuts. Whatever you are up for! We will make a few bathroom stops and a lunch stop so if you want to bring snacks feel free to!

-There isn’t really a need to bring your laptops (we have very little room in the van) so please go without them if you can. I will bring a laptop for use by the team while at the hotel. Plus, I think the hotel has a business center for online access.

See you tomorrow morning at 7 am in Medbery Parking Lot….van #42.

-Sarah

 

Departure TIME!

HI All!

So we are mere days away until our departure. I thought I would post our meeting time for this Saturday! I thought we should leave at 7 am so to get to Malabar Farm for the Maple Festival by 1 pm. The festival only runs from noon to 4 pm so I wanted to give us enough time to grab lunch, participate in the festivities, and maybe later go for a hike or visit the aviary. You can visit the Malabar Maple Festival information here to learn more. So let’s plan to meet at the big white HWS van in the Medbery Parking Lot at 7 am on Saturday, March 14^th.  

            As for Friday’s (3/13) movie night to see Ben Button, let’s all meet at the Finger Lakes Institute at 6:35 pm to walk together to the Smith Opera House. The movie begins at 7:00 pm and is fairly long. Could you please let me know if we should expect you? If there are no takers, we won’t go. Maybe everyone will be wanting to pack that night?

            Stacey, our HWS Campus Greens President, has worked very hard to make arrangements with the Coe College Sustainability Council to meet with us while we are in Cedar Rapids, possibly on Thursday (3/19) night. I think it is a great idea for all of us to participate in so let’s save the date! We’ll be able to share our greening stories and learn from their students as to what has worked for them.

            OK! Remember to pack light and in a duffle!!!! And remember your rain gear and rubber boots!

Did anyone become van driver certified as requested in your applications?

-Sarah

 

Coe College Communications

Hey Guys!
So I've made e-mail contact with Kali Rietcheck, who is the president of Coe
College's Environmental Club. Would people be interested in meeting up with
her and possibly professors from their Environmental Studies department so
that we could compare sustainability efforts?

I was thinking that if they had a club meeting during the week we were there
that we could sit in on that and possibly get dinner before/after with some
of the officers of the club/important people who are working on their
sustainability efforts. Or if they don't have a meeting scheduled, we could
always arrange to meet somewhere else with these people.

Stacey

Count Down - IOWA here we come!

Hi Team!

It was great sharing some laughs last night! Since we are a small group I think our trip experience will be like no other! I’m glad it is coming together so nicely! So we are at a countdown with 10 days remaining until we leave for Iowa! Samantha thought of a great idea to get together to see The Curious Case of Benjamin Button at the Smith Opera House on Friday, March 13 at 7 pm. Tickets for students are $3. If you are interested in going, let me know and I will send out a reminder email of where to meet that night. Maybe everyone will be too busy last-minute packing!

Stacy, our HWS Campus Greens President, brought up Coe College last night because they are located in Cedar Rapids, IA and have a great ‘going green’ program on their campus just as HWS does! Their website mentions how their president has also signed the Climate Commitment and that the Coe campus is participating in RecycleMania too! Time to meet our competitors! We may have a lot in common and could possibly try to connect with a few of Coe’s students to exchange new ideas for campus sustainability! Stacey is going to work on this and hopefully make arrangements for a meeting on one of our free evenings! This website gives an overview of Coe’s sustainability efforts! Pretty impressive! If any other team members have ideas of how to spend our evenings –please post them here!! We should do some homework on Cedar Rapids!

So I thought I would give you a heads up as to what ‘must haves’ you should pack for this trip--- (please use a duffle bag since suitcases are to boxy for the van)

• Rain gear (let’s hope we don’t have to use it
• Knee-high rubber boots – they sell them at Tractor Supply/ LL Bean/ Bass Pro Shop and range from $17-$50+
• Clothes that WILL get dirty (there is a laundry facility so keep it minimal)
• Small backpack –to carry belonging each day to site
• Warm layers –there is no fashion statement needing to be made! LOL
• Spending cash for meals (~$90) and fun money
• Baseball cap and Sunglasses –good for the boat and bad hair days
• Snacks for the road to share
• Hat and gloves –wind and rain can take a toll after a day outside working

(Post anything else you can think of, Martyna and Deirdre –my returnees)

OKAY! We are hoping for great weather, right!!? See Cedar Rapids, IA the 7-day forecast! I see 57 degrees!!! Let’s keep it that way!!!

I found this website that describes the experiences of flood victims and the river that we will work hard to recover. Check out these images and videos to get a feel for the difference you are going to make by volunteering your time over Spring Break! Something to really be proud of! Thanks, team!

OK! I am putting the finishing touches (confirmations) on our trip plans! Thanks for all of your timeliness with payments and meetings! I really appreciate it! See you again on the morning of Saturday, March 14^th! (I’ll post a time and place to load the vans) ---Sarah :)

Game Night March 2

Hi All,

I thought it would be fun to meet up as a group before we depart for our trip. I hope you have saved the date for game night! Since your second payment is due that same day (this coming Monday), you can hand it in to me that evening or drop it by my office that day.

ASB Game Night

March 2, 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm (however long you want to play)

1^st Floor Student Activities Center (by the pool table and loveseat)

***Bring board games, Xbox, Wii, cards, etc.

Please let me know if you will attend…

Sincerely,

Sarah A. Meyer