West Michigan Environmental Action Council - The WMEAC Blog

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The mission of the West Michigan Environmental Action Council is to protect and enhance West Michigan’s natural and human environment and to help people translate their concern into positive action. STAFF l-r, Tom Cary, Program Director Karla Kauffman, Community Organizer Patricia Pennell, Rain Gardens Coordinator Shawn Wessell, Water Programs Coordinator Theresa Hogerheide-Reusch, Program Assistant Lisa Locke, Administrative Coordinator Tom Leonard, Executive Director Ken Secord, Bookkeeper Missing from photo: Clinton Boyd, Program Assistant ANNUAL REPORT PRODUCTION Editor – Lisa Locke Layout/Design – Marilyn Matula Photos – WMEAC Staff WEST MICHIGAN ENVIRONMENTAL ACTION COUNCIL 1514 Wealthy, SE, Suite 280 Grand Rapids, MI 49506 616-451-3051 www.wmeac.org 2003 BOARD OF DIRECTORS President – Karel Rogers Vice President – Dean Salisbury Treasurer – Stanley Dole, Jr. Secretary – Tim Ball Guy Bazzani Carol McGeehan Willie Beattie Greg Murray Jon DenHerder Kelly Parker Karen Gipson George Schumann Robert Hamilton Ted Stojak Marjorie Kuipers Steve Utic
Karel Rogers, Ph.D. President of the Board During this year we have made great progress in working toward a sustainable future for the West Michigan region and for WMEAC. Our established programs are strong and growing, our new programs are developing nicely, our financial picture is reasonable given the difficult economic times, and our vision for the future is exciting. WMEAC has been strong and active in West Michigan for 36 years and, during that time, has advocated, educated and promoted responsible care for all facets of our environment including air, water, soil and ecosystem sustainability. As West Michigan has grown economically and in human population, the challenges have increased dramatically; but WMEAC has kept pace. From early work in advocating restriction of DDT use to modern work for social justice, sustainable business practices, wise land use and protection of common resources, WMEAC has been effective. Because of WMEAC’s long history of success, the organization is uniquely poised to help move the West Michigan region into a more sustainable future. Historical sprawling patterns of development in West Michigan have led to energy inefficiencies, segregation of people by race and socioeconomic group, decline of water quality and loss of farmland. All of these trends are not sustainable and all create many short-term crises that, addressed in isolation, continue an escalating trend of non-sustainability. Yet leaders at all levels in West Michigan are ready to make systemic changes that will ensure a more favorable outcome for our future. WMEAC is ready to collaborate with local partners and also ready to take a leadership role in helping to revolutionize negative trends into positive ones. PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE In particular, we envision sincerely "walking our talk" by moving our offices to a LEED certified, toxinfree building that absorbs storm water on site and uses it as a resource to recharge groundwater. This site is an inner city brown field that has been reclaimed and the building roof will become more green space through the use of a green roof. The building will be designed for use as an educational facility to teach energy efficiency, storm water reduction, reduction of heat-island effects, reclamation of surfaces for habitat, and community re-building. Redeveloping our city centers in this style will save public money, protect our ecosystems and improve our quality of life. Mass transit scenarios will become more feasible and our ecological footprint will shrink. This sounds like a big step, but WMEAC is ready for it and so is West Michigan. As you read this annual report, which we present to you with pride, we hope you will catch our excitement for the positive possibilities our future holds. We, together, can impact our future and the future of this region. We have no other choice. We owe it to our grandchildren. WMEAC ANNUAL REPORT 2003 3
Page 1: West Michigan Environmental Action
Page 5 and 6: During the past year, the West Mich
Page 7 and 8: CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS Year
Page 9 and 10: This past year has proven to be ver
Page 11 and 12: WATER QUALITY RAIN GARDENS OF WEST
Page 13 and 14: DEFENDERS City of Grand Rapids Dyer
Page 15 and 16: 2003 VOLUNTEERS Special thanks to e

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