[Eenc-board] NCLI for North Carolina--EENC role

[Pat Curley]

All this talk of the NCLI bill has got me chomping at the bit. I have
been working real hard this semester trying to narrow my dissertation
topic. I have been very interested in what training k-12 teachers need
to effectively use EE as a framework for integrating core curriculum and
what the impediments are to them doing it.

I see the NCLI bill as an opportunity to make a significant contribution
to the field of EE. If anyone has any insight or recommendations of the
direction of my research or resources that I might be able to tap into,
I would be highly appreciative.

-----Original Message-----
From: eenc-board-bounces at rtpnet.org
[mailto:eenc-board-bounces at rtpnet.org] On Behalf Of Diane Silver
Sent: Friday, September 05, 2008 8:24 AM
To: EENC Board
Subject: Re: [Eenc-board] NCLI for North Carolina--EENC role

Hi Lois --

WOW!   First, great work on your part.  2) I cant' believe Lisa is being

so unilateral on this.

Short version - YES, I want to be involved in any meetings or conference

calls.  Let's you and I talk by phone to discuss this more -- too much 
to type right now.  Can we talk next week?  (I'm out of town for the 
weekend, and I don't think I'll get very good cell reception where I'm 
going).

You've done so much on this issue, we definitely need to keep EENC in 
the forefront as acknowledged as the state leader on NCLI.

-- Diane

Lois Nixon wrote:
> Dear EENC Board members,
>  
> As usual on the first Thursday of the month, I participated in the 
> NAAEE Advocacy Committee call today concerning NCLI.  As you know, I 
> sent an Alert asking everyone to contact their legislators, as H.R. 
> 3036 will be voted on in the U.S. Congress next Tuesday.
>  
> One item mentioned on the call was that Maryland is trying to be the 
> first state to be "qualified" through the legislation to receive funds

> that might become available if this legislation continues to "sail" 
> through the process, (estimated at late 2009 at the earliest). 
>  
> What about NC?  As you may recall, we have had sessions on this 
> legislation at our last two conferences, including asking people to 
> sit down at a computer and contact their legislator.  I was also in 
> charge of a similar effort at last year's NAAEE conference.  And I 
> have submitted a session for this year's EENC conference, and am the 
> organizer of the NAAEE Conference session in Wichita on the subject.  
> In addition, I reported at a previous Board meeting that I had met 
> with Dr. June Atkinson, State Superintendent of Public Instruction, 
> (in my state Woman's Club role) and also mentioned this legislation to

> her, and gave her a handout of information.  In sum, we have a history

> of EENC involvement and interest and educating our members about NCLI.
>  
> So, following today's call, I decided that I should check in with Lisa

> Tolley at the OEE office, and invite them to meet with us and discuss 
> what NC needs to do to be as ready as Maryland.  You may recall that 
> NC is one of the 12 states that already has an EE Plan in place, 
> although we may need to work on the legislation's criteria to "state 
> how high school graduates would be environmentally literate."
>  
> To my surprise, Lisa told me that OEE had already had several meetings

> with NCDPI personnel to discuss updating our NC EE Plan to fit these 
> criteria, and has another meeting scheduled next week.  I asked if an 
> EENC rep. could attend that meeting, and was told "No" because it is a

> meeting between state agencies, but she "had been thinking about 
> organizing a conference call with EENC and others" to discuss this 
> legislation, and the NC response.  I reminded Lisa that the federal 
> legislation specifies that nonprofit partnerships and others will be 
> eligible for the funds, and that it specifically excludes state 
> agencies.  I also reiterated our EENC interest and investment in this 
> issue to date (as reviewed above.) 
>  
> Lisa also told me that OEE has formed an EE Advisory Council of 
> "stakeholders throughout the state".  I asked if EENC could have a 
> seat on that Advisory Council in the future, like she has a seat on 
> our Board.
>  
> So, this is all a bit frustrating to me.  But, Lisa agreed to set up 
> the conference call and will be suggesting some potential dates in the

> next couple of weeks (before Sara Yelton leaves for her 3 month 
> maternity leave.)  If you would like to be included on that call 
> representing EENC, please let me know, and I'll let you know the 
> potential dates, and call in information for the actual call.  I'm not

> sure whether we will be limited to a specific number of participants.

> We might also need to have an email "conversation" among our Board 
> members before the call to make sure we are all on the same page.  
> Comments?
>  
> Lois Nixon
>  
>  

-- 
****************************
Diane Silver
2008 President
Environmental Educators of North Carolina

828 298 7084
eenc-business at diane-silver.com

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