Tuesday – June 14, 2011

Open 9:30 AM

Registration – Holland Union Building

Tues. 9:30 AM

To

Noon

 

Clean Water Partnerships Moving into Action

 

Tuesday & Wednesday - Displays and Resource Materials Area Open

Holland Union Building Social Hall

 

Holland Union Building (HUB) Social Hall  - Welcome Refreshments

 

10:00 – 11:30 AM

PRE MEETING SESSION – Campus

PRE MEETING SESSION –

Location: HUB - Rooms 204 & 205

Concurrent

Sessions

Dickinson College Walking Tour

Meet at Holland Union Building – Registration Area

 

Tour features two of the college’s LEED certified structures, the Treehouse and Rector Science Center Complex.   WREN attendees will be joined by Claire Tighe, a student, who lived among a group of 13 others in Dickinson’s Sustainable Living student residence – the “Treehouse”…

Marcellus Monitoring

Julie Vastine, Director ALLARM, Dickinson College

Concerned residents and landowners living within the Marcellus shale play are asking how they can best determine if streams are being affected by drilling activities. Community groups involved in volunteer monitoring and regional and state-wide service providers have responded to this need by collaboratively developing protocols and database management strategies to achieve these goals. 

10:30  – 11:45 AM

NEW GRANTEE SPECIAL SESSION

Location: HUB Rooms

201 & 202

New Grantee Orientation Overview of WREN Project Requirements

for ALL New 2011 – 2012 Project Attendees

Julie Kollar, WREN

This mandatory session is geared towards NEW project leaders to learn about creating a successful project including :

ü        Reporting requirements

ü        Overview of “Guidelines for Conducting WREN Funded Projects”

ü        Meeting packet resources

11:30 AM - 12:30 PM


LUNCH in Dickinson Cafeteria

When done eating; please move to HUB Social Hall

12:30 – 1:00 PM

 

Location:

HUB

Social Hall

Welcome

League of Women Voters of PA Citizen Education Fund

Bonita Hoke, Executive Director, LWVPA

Introduction of 2010-2011 WREN Projects

Julie Kollar, Project Director, WREN

1:00 – 1:45 PM

SESSION 1A – Location: HUB - Rooms 201 & 202

SESSION 1B – Location: HUB - Rooms 204 & 205

Concurrent

Sessions

Communicating Action

Case Studies from the Grassroots

Jeanne Clark, Director of Communications PennFuture

 

Hear the lessons learned from 30+ years of creating change, and how using smart and specific communication strategies can increase your chances for success. Warning:  Anecdotes may be NSFW (Not Safe for Work) in places.

 

TDS, Bromides and Radionuclides in the Allegheny River:  A Possible Association with Marcellus Shale Mining

Dr. Stanley States, Director of Water Quality and Production,

 Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority

 

Tuesday– June 14, 2011 Continued

1:45 – 3:15 PM

SESSION 2 – Plenary Session (For All Attendees)

Location:

HUB

Social Hall

Water Words That Work – Part 1

Eric Eckl, Water Words that Work, LLC

Relearn the language that everyday citizens use and you’ll become more confident and successful as you set out to enlighten the uninformed and persuade the undecided to take a stand or take action on behalf of our rivers, lakes, and oceans. In Part I, we'll explore how everyday citizens react to materials prepared at a professional level.

3:15 – 3:45 PM

 

Break and opportunity to move-in to your room in Morgan Hall

Refreshments available in HUB Social Hall

 

3:45 – 5:15 PM

SESSION 3 – Plenary Session (For All Attendees)

Location:

HUB

Social Hall

Water Words That Work – Part 2

Eric Eckl, Water Words that Work, LLC

In Part 2, we'll cover steps 1 through 4 of the environmental message method, a step-by-step process for transforming professional and technical language into action language that will help make your next fundraising, issue advocacy, and behavior change campaign a success.

 

5:30 – 6:00 PM

6:00 – 6:45 PM

6:45 – 7:15 PM

 


Reception
(Appetizers and Beverages)

Rector Science Center Courtyard and Lobby  

Dinner follows

Introduction of 2011-2012 Projects

7:15 – 8:30 PM

Location:

Rector Science Complex

Stafford Auditorium

Special Evening Session

Evening  Keynote Speaker:

Update on Pennsylvania Water Policy

Andrew Zemba, Acting Executive Director, DEP Water Planning Office

 

 

Honoring Edie Stevens

 

Julie Kollar, Project Director, WREN

On June 30, 2011, after almost two decades of service, Edie will retire from WREN.  She will be greatly missed by the WREN Team and the many people who have learned to rely on the quality of the communications and education that she has provided.

In 1993, Edie helped to form the Water Resources Education Network, which became a project of the League of Women Voters of Pennsylvania. As the editor of “Water Policy News” and Communications Director for WREN, Edie has helped us share stories, exchange information and learn about activities and the tools of successful local partnerships all over Pennsylvania. 

Edie, we thank you and wish you the best!

 

 

Wednesday– June 15, 2011


7:00 – 7:50 AM

Breakfast in Dickinson Cafeteria

When done eating; please move to HUB Social Hall.

8:00 – 9:30 AM

SESSION 4A – Concurrent Session

Location:

HUB

Social Hall

Water Words That Work Part 3

Eric Eckl, Water Words that Work, LLC

In Part 3, we'll cover steps 5 and 6 of the environmental message method, exploring the power of examples, testimonials, and other endorsements from "people like me." We’ll discover how to use free tools built into Microsoft Word to determine the reading level of your piece.

9:00 – 9:30 AM

SESSION 4B – Concurrent Session

Location: HUB Rooms

201 & 202

SRBC Early Warning System & Source Water Protection Initiatives

Andy Gavin, Manager Monitoring & Protecting, Susquehanna River Basin Commission

9:30 – 10:00 AM

Break

Time to check out of your room and return key if you have not already done so!

Refreshments available in HUB Social Hall

10:00 – 10:40 AM


SESSION 5 – Plenary Session (For All Attendees)

Location:

HUB

Social Hall

Partnering with Local Officials:  How to Make it Happen 

Panel Discussion

Moderator:  Julie Kollar, WREN, Project Director

David Hess – Director of Policy & Communications, Crisci Associates, former Secretary PA DEP

Ed J. Knittel – Director of Events and Information Services, Pennsylvania State Association of Boroughs Melinda Shultz – Communications Director/Magazine Editor, PA Municipal Authorities Association

James Wheeler – Director of Environmental Affairs and Manager, CDL Program, PSATS

 

10:40 – 11:15 AM


SESSION 6 – Plenary Session (For All Attendees)

Location:

HUB

Social Hall

Lessons Learned – Making Water Words Work

Beth Futrick, Agricultural Ombudsman, Blair County Conservation District

What I learned about making “water words” work.  A dialogue about engaging municipal officials and how to overcome the challenges of presenting a message of change.

11:25 AM - 12:35 PM

SESSION 7A – Concurrent Session

Location:

HUB

Social Hall

Putting Source Water Protection into Action

Mark Stephens, P.G.                                                      Thomas McCaffrey

North Central Regional Office, PADEP                                 South West Regional Office, PADEP

So your water system has a DEP-approved Source Water Protection Plan. Now what? Come to this lively roundtable discussion to learn how other systems are moving into action to address the same Risks (and other threats) as your system faces.  Please come with your system's High Priority Source Water Protection Risks, as well as the SWP Strategies implemented or proposed, fresh on your mind to share.

 

Wednesday– June 15, 2011 Continued

11:25 AM – 12:35 PM

SESSION 7B – Concurrent Session

Start 11:25 am –

Please be on time

Rotation Locations

 

A.  HUB 201 & 202

B.  HUB 204 & 205

 

C.  HUB 201 & 202

D.  HUB 204 & 205

 

E.  HUB 201 & 202

F.  HUB 204 & 205

WREN Lessons Learned  – Speed-Learning

Select three different WREN project success stories from the sessions listed below and dialogue with the 2010-2011 project leaders. This is a “No PowerPoint Zone” where the audience drives the session in a small group setting.    Start Time:   11:25 am, SHARP! – Due to the tight scheduling required to make the Speed Learning Sessions work, please arrive on time.

 

 Rotation 1 – 11:25 to 11:45 am   

Session A: BMP Tours and PSAs – Crawford County Conservation District

Session B: Pharmaceutical Collection Programs – Lawrence County Conservation District

 Rotation 2 – 11:50 am  to 12:10 pm    

Session C: Demonstration Rain Garden School Project  – Roaring Creek Valley CA, Columbia County

Session D:  Wellhead & Source Water Protection Project – Northampton County Conservation District

Rotation 3 – 12:15 to 12:35 pm

Session E: Art and Rain Barrel Workshop – Manayunk Canal, Philadelphia County

Session F: Residential BMPs – Abington EAC, Montgomery County

12:35 – 1:05 PM

LUNCH in Dickinson Cafeteria

When done eating; please move to HUB Social Hall

1:05 – 1:20 PM

SESSION 8 – Plenary Session (For All Attendees)

Location:

HUB

Social Hall

PENNVEST Nonpoint Source Funding

Paul Herzer, PENNVEST NPS Program Application Developer, PACD

1:25 – 1:45 PM

SESSION 9 – Plenary Session (For All Attendees)

Location:

HUB

Social Hall

The Watershed Game – Making the Connection to Land Use

Jackie Takacs, Watershed Restoration Specialist, Maryland Sea Grant

Learn about this dynamic watershed tool for working with Municipal Officials

1:50 – 2:20 PM

10A – Location: HUB Social Hall

10B – Location: HUB Rooms 201 & 202

Concurrent

Sessions

Play the Watershed Game!

Jackie Takacs, Watershed Restoration Specialist, Maryland Sea Grant

FRAC Tracker

Samantha Malone, Communications Specialist, U. of Pitt

 

…learn about FracTracker.org, an online tool that allows citizens to store, map, and share shale gas information

2:20 – 2:25 PM

Break

Refreshments available in HUB Social Hall

2:25 – 3:05 PM

SESSION 11A – Location: HUB Social Hall

11B – Location: HUB Rooms 204 & 205

Concurrent

Sessions

Play the Watershed Game!

Jackie Takacs, Watershed Restoration Specialist, Maryland Sea Grant

The Impact of Conflicting Codes and Regulations on Stormwater Management

Janie French, Director of Green Infrastructure Programs, SW PA Pennsylvania Environmental Council

 

Learn how building codes and construction ordinances may impede the implementation of green stormwater solutions.

3:05 – 3:20 PM

Closing Remarks

Location:

HUB

Social Hall

Julie Kollar, Project Director, Water Resources Education Network

2011 WREN Best Networker Award and Door Prizes – Must be present to win.

Our many thanks to our partners who have generously provided us with door prizes:

                  Acorn Naturalist    -   Anonymous  -   Island Press   -   Metrohm USA   -   Clean Creek Creations  USGS

“It is better to light a candle than curse the darkness.”Eleanor Roosevelt