31
Mar
For the latest news on the Mali Project, please go to the NomadHope website @ http://www.nomadhope.org.
31
Mar
For the latest info regarding the Tanzania Project, please click here:
31
Mar
IPALAMWA VILLAGE DEVELOPMENT PROJECT, IPALAMWA, TANZANIA
(Follow Project Updates Through our News Link)
- Village Children Collecting Water
Background
Ipalamwa is a small village of about 4000 people who rely mostly on small scale agriculture. This village is inTanzania and is accessible via a graded dirt road during the 7-month dry season (May –November).
EWB-LA will be partnering with a local NGO, Orphans and Social Development Organization. This project will begin with an assessment of the needs in the village of Ipalamwa.
The Need
The Ipalamwa community currently relies on a nearby river as its main source of water. Villagers (most often children) must hike down a steep ravine to collect drinking water from an underground stream. This becomes dangerous during the rainy season as many children slip and fall on the slippery, steep trail. In addition, the river water is not clean, especially during and after heavy rains.
In 2004, a single water source was built, but it is insufficient for the needs of the village. To date, none of the volunteer efforts in the village have resulted in a reliable water supply. There is currently limited solar powered electricity at selected buildings in Ipalamwa.
The EWB-USA Response
Phase 1: Assessment (June 2010)
This project will begin with an assessment of the needs in the village of Ipalamwa. The local NGO is particularly interested in improving the community’s access to clean water. Other areas of need are: electrical systems, improved educational and health resources, as well as improved transportation in and out of the village. It is expected that this project would begin by addressing the need for clean water and could then progress to other areas.
During the site assessment, water testing will be performed on all sources of drinking water for the village. In addition, EWB-LA will work with community leaders and other members of the village to determine how any new systems will be managed and maintained. In particular, the assessment team will be looking for opportunities to develop partnerships related to EWB’s activities with local businesses and regional government agencies.
Moving Forward
EWB-LA is currently planning an initial assessment trip for this June. The community is planning to support this trip by providing housing and translators. The team’s goal is to return to Ipalamwa for an implementation trip prior to the start of the next rainy season in December.
How to Get Involved
Contact project lead Debby Grunewald (debby.grunewald@gmail.com) if you’d like to get involved. We need volunteers with all types of specialities, including water quality, structures, power systems, health and fundraising. See the project wiki site at http://sites.google.com/site/ewblatanzania/ for all project related materials.
31
Mar
SSAKANE, MALI
(Follow Project Updates Through our News Link)
There are 6 community-run schools located in the far northern region of Mali, just southwest of Tombouctou (Timbuktu) that have had success in enrolling both boys and girls, staffing teachers, and building permanent school structures. The schools have grown in terms of attendance every year since they were established in 2005. However, these schools have no electricity and issues with their existing wells. The schools have asked for assistance in providing solar power and also to improve upon their current water/sanitation systems. Providing electricity will improve academic scores and provide opportunities for after chore and dinner studying and adult education for the community. By solving these water and power issues, communities can sustain schools and literacy programs for their children and allow schools to increase their student enrollment capacity.
The initial project scope of work will have EWB-LA addressing the needs of one of these six community schools, with the first school chosen based on an assessment of each schools’ respective needs. EWB-LA has teamed up with NomadHope, a U.S. based NGO, Rotary International, and professionals from EWB-Washington D.C. and EWB-New York to ensure project success in its partnership with the pilot school and surrounding community.
EWB-LA conducted a site assessment trip in November 2008 to visit each of the six schools and conduct an in-depth assessment on the needs. Volunteers are needed in many areas including local water treatment and distribution methods, sanitation, solar power system design, and education.
How to get involved: Contact project lead Keely McGeehan at Keely@NomadHope.org
How to donate to this project: Mali School Project
How to learn more: NomadHope
08
Mar
EWB-LA provides mentors to our local student chapters. Our current mentor for the LMU chapter will be leaving in April, and we need a replacement. This is a good opportunity for any interested members to hear about the LMU student project in Malawi.
Join us to learn about LMU’s efforts in providing water for the Malingunde School for the Blind.
Please RSVP to Katrina Regan at ewb.lmu@gmail.com
| Date: | Wednesday, March 10, 2010 |
| Time: | 7:30pm |
| Location: | Roski Dining Hall Los Angeles CA, 90045 |
| Cost: | Free |
| Deadline: | 3/10/10 |
| Additional Info: | EWB-LA Secretary Liz Jordan |
08
Mar
Nominations for 2010 Officers
EWB-LA will be holding elections for the 2010-2011 officers on March 30th. The location will be at Casey’s, downton LA. If there’s someone you think would be a good choice for any of the four positions (yourself included, so don’t be shy!), submit the name to secretary@ewb-la.org. We are also looking for members to chair and join the EWB-LA Committees.
Only paid members can hold elected office – so pay your dues if you are interested in running! Feel free to contact secretary@ewb-la.org with any questions.
Location: Casey’s, 613 South Grand Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90017-3804
The duties of each officer are described below:
President:
(1) Coordinate between the Chapter, the West Coast Region, and EWB-USA
(2) Ensure that all orders and resolutions of the Chapter are carried into effect
(3) Have cosignatory power over the Chapter’s account with the Treasurer
(4) Initiate ad hoc committees as seen fit, with the approval of the Executive Committee
(5) Preside over Executive Committee meetings
Vice-President:
(1) In the absence or disability of the President, perform the duties and exercise the powers of the President
(2) Submit the Annual Report to West Coast Region of EWB-USA
(3) Perform duties assigned by the President
Secretary:
(1) Assist in administrative management of all meetings of the Chapter
(2) Record and distribute minutes of meetings
(3) Maintain and update official copies of the Constitution and Bylaws;
(4) Perform duties assigned by the President
Treasurer:
(1) Receive, record, and account for income and distribute, record, and account for all approved expenditures of the Chapter
(2) Prepare the financial section of the Annual Report of the Chapter for use by the Vice President
(3) Be responsible for the accounts of the Chapter and be subject to audit as prescribed in the Bylaws of the Chapter
(4) Have cosignatory power over the Chapter’s account with the President
(5) Be a Member of the Fundraising Committee
(6) Perform duties assigned by the President
18
Feb
February General Meeting and Guest Speaker
February 23, 2010 UCLA Campus Engr. IV Bldg, 38-138
Guest Speaker Lance Williams, Executive Director of USGBC-LA
Speaker Bio
Lance A. Williams is Executive Director of the U.S. Green Building Council-Los Angeles Chapter. He is a LEED® Accredited Professional. A primary area of Dr. Williams’ interest is the relationship between culture and sustainability. He is a frequent program moderator and speaker on LEED®, green building and sustainability. He was the keynote speaker at the 2008 Urban Marketplace, hosted by the Los Angeles chapter of the Urban Land Institute. He has also served as an advisor on green building policy development to Los Angeles County and various corporate organizations. He participated in the 2007 Annual Congress of the World Green Building Council held in Toronto, Canada. He is a also member of the Social Equity Task Force of USGBC national, charged with expanding parameters of the LEED® rating system. At the 2007 Greenbuild Annual International Conference and Expo, USGBC-LA received two national awards from USGBC: First Place Award of Excellence, Advocacy, and Honorable Mention, LEED®. USGBC-LA has also recently produced a 2008 Membership Directory, published by McGraw-Hill Construction. Dr. Williams was editor and principal photographer for the Directory. In recent years, Dr. Williams has traveled extensively throughout Brasil. He was recently a featured speaker at the Third Annual Brasilian Conference on Sustainability in Sao Paulo, speaking on the relationship between culture and sustainability and the potential of applying LEED® strategies in that country. He is also currently completing a documentary of his travels. Dr. Williams holds a Ph. D., in Anthropology, an M. A. in Folklore and Mythology, and a B. A. in History, all from UCLA in Los Angeles. He has amassed over thirty-five years of experience as a professional educator, having taught at fifteen universities and colleges. He has published over 300 articles and essays on American culture and is co-author of a textbook on the music industry. He has many production credits in radio, cable television and commissioned projects. He is also an accomplished photographer.
02
Oct
October is fast approaching so register now for the 2009 EWB-USA WCR workshop! The 2009 EWB-USA, West Coast Region Training Workshop will be held October 9th – 11th at the University of California, Davis in sunny Davis, California. You can register now through the WCR Website. We have a great training event planned, featuring Ned Breslin, CEO, Water for People, as the keynote speaker. The Training and Informational sessions available for you to attend include Solar Energy, Agricultural Development, Water Supply, Water Treatment and several different chapter and fundraising sessions. Check out the complete agenda on the WCR website!
Our event kicks off Friday evening with a reception. Over the noon hour on Saturday, the Workshop will host a career & informational fair for those students and professionals interested. Be sure to bring your resumes! In fact, you can have them included in our digital resume book that will be provided to all participating companies. See the website for more details (http://www.ewbwestcoast.org/; click the Regional Workshop tab). Then after an exhilarating day of trainings, wind down at the Saturday night gala event!(includes a no-host bar).
We have teamed with two hotels in the area to allow registrants to book rooms at a discounted rate and several shuttle options exist to get to UC Davis from the two major airports in the area, San Francisco & Sacramento! This and more information can be found on our website.
Register today! See you in Davis, CA October 9th!
~ EWB, West Coast Region Steering Committee
Some funding for registration may be available through the EWB-LA chapter. Contact Liz Jordan (secretary@ewb-la.org) if you plan to attend.
02
Oct
Join EWB-LA for a special presentation by guest speaker Jonah Reynolds, son of founder/principal of New Mexico-based Earthship Biotecture. For decades Earthship Biotecture has been working to bring some unconventional yet very practical and affordable construction practices into the mainstream, one “Earthship” at a time, with a goal to evolve the way humans live on this planet.
Earthship Biotecture has been designing and building Earthship homes all over the world and has received much attention for its mixed use of natural materials along with societal byproducts, such as tires, bottles, and cans. These unique structures have been designed to reduce humankind’s impact on the planet while at the same time strengthen our connection to it through features such as passive solar heating/cooling, PV power, rainwater catchment, grey/black water treatment, and more.
Jonah will be giving a general overview of what it means to build an “Earthship”, and share details of some Earthship Biotecture projects. Mark your calendar!!http://www.earthshipbiotecture.com/
| Date: | Tuesday, September 29, 2009 |
| Time: | 6pm (Note – one hour earlier than usual) |
| Location: | University of Southern California Taper Hall, Room 202 Los Angeles CA, 90089 |
| Cost: | Free |
| Deadline: | September 29, 2009 |
|
Additional Info: |
Liz Jordan EWB-LA Secretary |