For a long time I was content to just set an example by being seen biking around with kids.  However, it's hard not to become an advocate for safer bicycling infrastructure when our streets aren't safe for all ages and abilities. I found myself embarrassed to bring friends along on our busy routes and I get very nervous when I think about children biking separately here. I still really like to spontaneously talk to people one-on-one at red lights and at parks, but I've also expanded my reach by:

- Initiating Bike to School Month at our elementary school,

- Cofounding Seattle Critical Lass

working with Seattle Neighborhood Greenways (join your neighborhood's group!),

- And I've recently become a Cascade Bicycle Club Ride Leader so I can bring more families along for the ride.

Because what it all comes back to is, biking is fun and I want more company out there!

-Madi Carlson

http://familyride.us/

Calling all CoolMoms!

The Whole Foods Market in Roosevelt loves CoolMom and supports our work!

They have a program where they donate 5% of the proceeds of the store for a day to a non-profit of their choice.  They have decided that Wednesday, April 10th, will be the day for CoolMom!!  It is short notice but this is a great way for us to reach a new neighborhood of families making good choices for the environment.

There are 2 easy ways for you to help:

1. Can you spare an hour or two to "table" at Whole Foods tomorrow? We have the materials needed (we'll even have a great t-shirt you can wear) at the store.  You can talk to folks about how you got involved and why you're excited about CoolMom.  You can contact Nash:nashmurray@coolmom.org if you can make it.

2. Shop and spread the word for everyone you know to shop tomorrow at the Roosevelt Whole Foods Market (1026 NE 64th St, Seattle, WA 98115).

Thank you!!  Happy shopping.

Learn more about what the neighborhood groups are doing, our Think Outside the Car program, Local Lunch Boxes, and what more we can do to reduce our footprint and impact our communities.

Our Think Outside the Car (TOC) team partnered with businesses, groups and individuals to spread awareness about car-idling and inspiring walking and biking to school.

Think Outside the Car gets Results

The project:

• Started three walking school buses and there is more to come!
• Paid for 6 bike racks at Lafayette and Gatewood Schools
• Created a No-Idle campaign at Gatewood school, posting signs and reducing idling behavior by over 90%
• Presented our project in 10 community events educating families about TOC, including a large community tabling event created by our TOC team partnering with five other environmentally conscientious organizations.
• Engaged over 35 motorists lined up for the Fauntleroy Ferry -educating, inspiring and confirming that car idling creates 20 times more pollution than a car traveling 32 miles per hour!!!

Because this project can make such a big impact on carbon savings and engaging communities on the importance of clean air, CoolMom will continue this work.

CoolMom plans to help create additional Walking School Buses and to establish No-Idle Zones at schools and within the community by educating motorists and posting no-idle signs at local businesses.

BIG THANKS!

A large thank you to the Department of Neighborhoods and especially Laurie Ames for helping us navigate through the grant process and supporting our efforts! We also owe a big thanks to our Walking School Bus Monitors, No-Idle champions and all the kids that participated in the project.

Special thanks to Terri, Laura, Barb, Fletcher, Peter, Gene and Christina -our TOC Steering Committee Team!

And thank you to Safeway for supporting our project through sponsorship and Organic Valley for donating items for our TOC Kick-Off event!

Volunteer to Expand Think Outside the Car!

CoolMom will continue working on the project Think Outside the Car. We need volunteers to help create new Walking School Buses and furthering our No-Idle campaign. Contact Sonja Nash, CoolMom Program Director, at sonjanash at cool mom dot org.

West Seattle CoolMom is hosting the event at C&P Coffee, 5612 California Ave. SW, in West Seattle. We will be celebrating our accomplishments at our three schools, Arbor Heights, Gatewood and Lafayette Elementary and giving our volunteers a token of our appreciation. We also will be showing our nifty video we had made as part of the project.

Bring the family and grab a bite while we honor our volunteers. Children are welcome. Wine, beer, coffee and tea may be purchased at our lovely venue.

Please carpool, bike or walk to our event please.

RSVP to:

Terri Glaberson, Program Manager

terri@coolmom.org, 206-280-2828

DETAILS:

When: January 15th, 6:30 to 8:00 pm
Where: C&P Coffee, 5612 California Ave. SW, Seattle WA 98136
What: Watch our Think Outside the Car Video, share hors d'oeuvres and beverages and help celebrate our volunteers.

Hope to see you there!

You can help us educate those motorists waiting to board the Fauntleroy Ferry by handing out our No-Idling book mark while drivers wait for the ferry. You can sign up for a hour and a half shift here. Also, on Friday, November 16th from 3:30 to 4:30 pm volunteers will be canvassing the Fauntleroy Neighborhood with flyers about the event happening on Saturday. Contact, Terri or sign up here to help out.

EVENT DETAILS:

• 11:30 a.m. to noon, learn the facts and what to say to drivers (Pizza to be served to volunteers)
  • Volunteers will be given information to pass along to motorists and a simple script
  • Volunteers will administer a quick 3 to 5 question survey to motorists
  • Volunteers will be assigned a certain section of the sidewalk
  • Kids ages 6 and up are welcome
  • *Kids ages 6 to 10, must be accompanied by an adult/parent volunteer
  • There may be groups (2-5) of kids assigned to a volunteer

• noon to 4:30 pm, educate drivers along Fauntleroy Way SW with your children**

Meet up in the parking lot at Lincoln Park, closest to the Fauntleroy Ferry Doc. A white canopy with the CoolMom sign will be visible near the park -parking lot.

*Parents will be responsible for their own children, unless specifically arranged through contacting Terri Glaberson, Program Manager for Think Outside the Car, terri@coolmom.org.

**Some children will be the prime communicator to the drivers, but will have an adult present at all times.

Please sign up for a shift.

Please consider walking to the event, biking, taking the bus or carpooling. There is a bus stop right at Fauntleroy Way SW and SW Cloverdale Street, across from Lincoln Park.

Questions? Please contact Terri at terri@coolmom.org

Thank you!

Part of the Think Outside the Car (TOC) project was designed to help schools start Walking School Buses.

This fall the project has been busy!

Gatewood

Gatewood Elementary started their first Walking School Bus in September by the tireless efforts of Ben and Maude. They have been walking to school every day- rain or shine! They have anywhere between 7 and 15 students walking to school along their route. Three cheers for Gatewood!

Their Walking School Bus route is monitored by several parent volunteers and they begin their route on Holden street and cross California at the crosswalk following along some low-to-no traffic routes to 44th Street. To 'get on' their Walking School Bus contact Ben at bmoreland at bacgen dot com and meet up with them along their route. For their specific route go here.

Lafayette

Lafayette Elementary school had their Walk to School Day event this past October. They had anywhere between 20 to 30 students and parents participate. Participating students were given some yummy treats for their walking efforts and token of appreciation by CoolMom. One of the students who walked to school said, "I love walking to school!". She went on to say that she liked walking because it was fun to be outside and to walk with her friends. High fives to Annie, Jennie, Patti, and Ken for making this all happen!

Lafayette school has two Walking School Bus routes in action, please contact Jenni bigbrowndog1 at comcast dot net for the North Walking School Bus information and Patti at patti dot a dot smith at gmail dot com for the South information.

You can spot the Walking School Bus Monitors, a.k.a. parents, along the Walking School Bus routes in their nifty safety vests. Each school has their school name on the back of the vest. And, for keeping your kiddos safe walking to school, check out our safety guidelines for walking kids to school.

“Part of the Community Power Works mission is to encourage people to engage in home stewardship through energy efficiency and conservation,” said Joshua Curtis, Community Power Works program manager. “Lucia’s project enables us to communicate with a wide group of people about how Community Power Works can help them to do that.”

"As I was creating There’s No Place Like Home I was thinking about the values of stewardship, nurturance, and care for our homes and planet,” said Neare. Lucia Neare’s Theatrical Wonders is known for creating site-based, participatory outdoor performances that involve hundreds of performers, huge mobile sets, larger-than-life costumes, and live orchestra and dance.

The “Housewarming Party” on Oct. 21 will be followed by a number of tours through Seattle neighborhoods and other performances including Nov. 24 for Seattle Center’s Winterfest and Dec. 8 for the Greenlake Festival of Lights. Specific dates, times and locations can be found at www.bluehouseseattle.org. Seattleites are also encouraged to follow the Blue House’s adventures via Facebook at facebook.com/BlueHouseSeattle and on Twitter @BlueHouseSEA.

There’s No Place Like Home is inspired by Community Power Works, a program helping homeowners and businesses save energy, often with specialized rebates, incentives and financing. Funded by a grant from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Better Buildings Neighborhood Program, the program complements the energy efficiency and conservation work of Seattle City Light. Community Power Works runs until June 2013 and businesses and homeowners must sign up in the next few months to take advantage of the program. The Blue House is taking its message to the streets now to encourage enrollment.

The Office of Arts & Cultural Affairs, in partnership with Seattle City Light and Community Power Works, commissioned Neare to create the artwork as part of an effort to bring awareness to the city’s energy conservation programs. The project is funded by Seattle City Light 1% for Art funds and is administered by the Office of Arts & Cultural Affairs. The Blue House is built on a bio-fuel truck from the Sustainable Fuel Coop.

About the Organizing Agencies

The Office of Arts & Cultural Affairs supports the health and vitality of our city by providing access to arts and culture, advancing the role of the arts in our community, and advocating for issues that affect the entire cultural community.

Community Power Works delivers energy efficiency solutions to Seattle’s residential and business communities while working to create economic growth. The program helps Seattleites save energy while making their homes and businesses healthier, safer and more comfortable.

Seattle City Light is the 10th largest public electric utility in the United States.  It has some of the lowest cost customer rates of any urban utility, providing reliable, renewable and environmentally responsible power to nearly 1 million Seattle area residents.  City Light has been greenhouse gas neutral since 2005, the first electric utility in the nation to achieve that distinction.

Phonebanking:

Phone our supporters to let them know about the upcoming Scoping Hearing in Seattle and the events surrounding the big day.

Monday and Wednesday Nights 6—8 pm @ Sierra Club Office, 180 Nickerson St #202 Seattle

Free beer and pizza!

Event Planning/Helpers:

Help us sign people in, pass out materials, set up and tear down, and be general on hands helpers.

___Sunday, Nov 11^th—Dana Lyons Concert, 12—4 pm, location TBD

___Tuesday, December 13^th—Hearing and Press Conference, Washington State Convention Center, 4 to 7 PM, in Ballroom 6F

Office Helpers:

Not up for public outreach, but still want to help?  There is plenty for you to do right out of the Sierra Club office!  Make canvass packets, data entry, mailing parties, etc.

Media and Writing:

We are going to need a lot of Letters to the Editor over the next 6-8 weeks.  Join our rapid response team and you will get notification of hot articles we need a response to.  We also need help drafting sample LTEs and talking points.

To help, please contact Robin Everett, Sierra Club, Organizing Representative

206-378-0114 x308

robin.everett@sierraclub.org

CoolMom received a grant from the Seattle Department of Neighborhoods to create these programs in several West Seattle schools. Although our project is being carried out at Gatewood, Lafayette, and Arbor Heights Elementary Schools, this project could be done in your community too!

As part of the grant project, our team of volunteers and the expertise of Riverbed Design and Hand Crank Films created this amazing video to help promote the project and spread the word about starting Walking School Buses, Bike programs and No-Idle Campaigns in neighborhoods.

CoolMom is asking that you spread the word about our project by sharing this video with family, friends, neighbors and at your school and in your community.

To find out more about our project go here on our website.

Thank you for passing along our video!

The Think Outside the Car Team

I feel very blessed to have had worked with and for such a wonderful and unique organization. It has been an amazing experience to help lead CoolMom as the Director. In helping lead the organization through its 501(c) (3) approval and creating projects such as the Toy Swap ‘n’ Sale and Think Outside the Car, I have gained such wonderful connections and have been in awe of what a small community of strong devoted Moms can do. Thank you for the inspiration, dedication and generosity you have given me over the past three years. -Terri Glaberson

We, the CoolMom Board of Directors, has considered a few options and decided to seek a new volunteer Program Director to manage the organization’s ongoing programs, such as Think Outside the Car, and keep CoolMom’s inspirational stories, tips and resources online.  We need your help in keeping the organization moving forward and would appreciate your consideration in spreading the word about this position.

Thank you,

The CoolMom Board of Directors

__________________________________

Program Director Position

Please share this Program Director Position Announcement:

CoolMom is a nonprofit organization based in Seattle, WA whose mission is to unite moms and families to make informed lifestyle choices, protect our climate and advocate for a healthy planet. Established in 2007, CoolMom's vision is a healthy planet for kids and families. CoolMom works with the environmental community to help moms and families reduce their carbon footprint through our programs. Climate change is shaping our children's future. It is the most important issue of our time. If we do not take important steps in all levels of government and in our communities and homes we will leave behind little resources and challenging times for our children. CoolMom is directed by a volunteer board and operates with the help of neighborhood chapter leads.

• To encourage Moms in the Seattle area to implement our successful programs such as Think Outside the Car / Walking School Bus; Local Low Waste Lunchbox; Toy Swap, etc.

• Expand programs, such as Think Outside the Car or Local Low Waste Lunchbox, that receive grant funding

• Gather and write inspirational stories for the website including the Tip of the Month

• Send out a monthly email newsletter

• Keep Board of Directors informed of funding opportunities and public inquiries beyond the scope of the job

• Conduct duties such as responding to inquiry emails, maintaining contacts, and attending monthly board meetings

• Enthusiasm, energy and a passion for our mission!

• Ability to engage and work with the community, members and environmental non-profits in the area

• Excellent communication skills, written and oral.

• Knowledge of the climate change crisis preferred, Prior nonprofit experience preferred

• We anticipate 10-15 hours a week working from home

• This position starts as a volunteer position. A stipend may be offered. As program funding is secured by the Board, the program director position will turn into a paid position.

Click here for the map and list of participating businesses and homes.

For additional information go here.

Saturday, September 15th, 6-9pm, Seattle

Presented by The Northwest EcoBuilding Guild &
the UW Enviromental Stewardship and Sustainability Department

5pm - Registration / Appetizers / Networking 
7pm - Slam Presentations 
9pm - Dessert, coffee 'n tea / Raffle Adventures

Be sure to secure tickets early for the best value.

Free parking on campus!

Celebrate the Northwest's most innovative usage of Green Sustainable Building building concepts. Come watch 10 of your favorite architects and builders showcase their deep green construction projects, as they quickly show you behind the scene accounts of their successes, lessons, or surprises with each 10-minute, 10-slide presentation.

This being the 10th year of the 10x10x10 Green Building Slam, we are excited to be at the cutting edge of Green Building and Sustainability. Come help us share a moment of the past, present and how the future is going to grow and change.

We are delighted to announce our partnership with the University of Washington - Environmental Stewardship and Sustainability Department for the event. So mark your calendars to be at UW Kane Hall for registration, networking, and viewing student works on campus. 

Chef Kevin Davis, chef/owner of Blueacre Seafood and Steelhead Restaurants Seattle, will be presenting his award winning sustainable menu.

Adventure Getaways Raffle: We know you have been waiting to see just what this year will bring. Get ready to mark your calendar and pack your bags for a visit any one of these great luxurious destinations: Waldorf Astoria-Maui, Puerta Vallarta - Mexico, Ultimate Seattle Getaway, Glorious Relaxing Peninsula, Fantastic Escape North.

www.GreenBuildingSlam.org

DATE & TIME: 
Saturday, September 15th, 6-9pm 

LOCATION: 
University of Washington, Kane Hall, 2nd Floor 
1410 NE Campus Parkway 
Seattle, WA 98195 

COST & REGISTRATION: 
For Cost and Registration go to Brown Paper Tickets
http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/253021

MORE INFO: 
Website: http://www.greenbuildingslam.org
Email: president@cps.ecobuilding.org
Phone: (206) 575-2222 

About Northwest EcoBuilding Guild: 
The Northwest EcoBuilding Guild is a 501(c)(3) community of builders, designers, suppliers, homeowners, and partners concerned with ecological building in the Pacific Northwest.

www.AmericanCheeseRevolution.com

Participating Locations Include:

Seattle Tilth Harvest Fair

September 8, 10-4 pm

Whole Foods Bellevue

September 9, 11-1:30 pm

PCC Issaquah

September 9, 4-7 pm

Matthew’s Thriftway

September 10, 11-1:30 pm

PCC Edmonds

September 10, 4-7 pm

Central Market-Shoreline

September 11, 11-1:30 pm

Whole Foods Lynnwood

September 11, 4-6:30 pm

But the goodness of composting doesn’t stop there! Keeping compostables out of the landfill also helps prevent the greenhouse gas methane from being produced. It works like this: In a landfill green waste gets buried under layers and layers of other garbage. That garbage prevents air from circulating, creating an anaerobic (oxygen-free) environment. Without sufficient oxygen, the green waste rots, producing methane. In an aerobic (oxygen-rich) environment, the decomposition process releases carbon dioxide instead of methane. Aerobic compost piles are created through proper aeration, like turning a compost pile, or by using worms.

So, why is it preferable to produce carbon dioxide rather than methane? Methane is actually a substantially more harmful greenhouse gas, 25 times more powerful than carbon dioxide. It is estimated that as much as 40% of food in the U.S., or some 31 million tons each year, are thrown into landfills. And that’s just food, not yard waste. Since methane is more potent than carbon dioxide, disposing of green waste properly can have a big impact on climate change. In fact, done properly, it would be the equivalent of eliminating one in four cars.

For a great infographic on why you should attempt to compost, look here. For NPR’s take on the problem, read this!