Renmark to the Border LAP Environmental Education Award 2012/13 Annual Report

Transcription

1 Renmark to the Border LAP Environmental Education Award 2012/13 Annual Report

2 Agenda EEA Committee 2011/12 Annual General Meeting 28th November 2012, 7.00pm at the Renmark Paringa Council Chambers, 61 Eighteenth Street, Renmark. 1. Opening and welcome 2. Apologies 3. Confirmation of Minutes from EEA AGM held 1st November 2011 (page 4) 4. Chairperson s Report 5. Financial Report 6. Election of auditors 7. Election of 2012/13 Committee 8. Candidate presentation 9. Question time Mark Stoeckel (Chair) Susie Sharley (Secretary) Ian Howard Mary Mattner Stu Martin (Retired December 2011) Nick Bakkum (Retired September 2012) Thanks to all who have contributed to the EEA Committee this year. Chairpersons Report This year we had a successful candidate for an Award Sophie Angove received one year s funding to complete her Environmental degree. Sophie has had good contact with EEA during the year through Susie Pendle. Stu Martin resigned as a Board member and Mary Mattner was appointed to his position. Nick Bakkum resigned later in the year and an appointment will be made at the next meeting of the EEA Committee. Considerable effort was given to raising funds for EEA capital account this year from Companies and Industry organizations. A letter and follow up contact to 11 groups has not resulted in offers of finance as yet but there was a valuable promotional opportunity taken and interest was shown in our performance and our goals. EEA capital account stands at $16, enough for five semesters of awards. Susie Pendle has continued to promote EEA to schools both directly to staff and students and indirectly with her considerable role in schools as part of her RBLAP responsibilities. The constitution of EEA relates to RBLAP Association while the RBLAP Assoc. continues to exist and with the dissolution of RBLAP Assoc. the EEA takes on some RBLAP Assoc. rules with the result that membership of and election to EEA board becomes that of the old RBLAP Assoc..Now, Board members are elected at an AGM rather than selected by RBLAP committee and membership rules become that of RBLAP. The EEA gratefully acknowledges support give it by the previous RBLAP Assoc. and for the continuation of those services by the new Council LAP and particularly to Susie Pendle who actually does all the work. Mark Stoeckel EEA Chairperson

3 History of the Environmental Education Award (EEA) The award was an idea developed by the Renmark to the Border Local Action Planning Association Steering Committee to encourage local high school students to complete further study within the environmental field at a tertiary institution (university, TAFE or other). It is hoped these students may decide to return to the Riverland and utilize their recently acquired skills within the natural resource management field. Eligibility To be eligible, students must ordinarily reside within the boundaries covered by the Renmark to the Bored LAP (these are also similar to the boundaries of the District Council of Renmark Paringa). This means that students who have completed their education in the area, or those who moved to other areas to complete their schooling and their parents still live in the area, are both eligible. What the Award offers The RBLAP Environmental Award offers cash payment of $1,500 per semester of study upon successful completion of each semester. The Award will be granted for a maximum of three years and will be subject to annual review (the RBLAP Environmental Award Association reserves the right to discontinue funding if it feels a student is not complying with the guidelines.) Recipient requirements For further information on the Environmental Award, and how to apply, please contact Renmark to the Border Local Action Planning Environmental Officer, Susie Pendle on: Office: 61 Eighteenth Street, PO Box 730, Renmark SA 5341 T: M: E: eo@renmarkparinga.sa.gov.au Applications generally close in February prior to the academic year. We require evidence of successful completion of each semester s subjects (e.g. copies of statement of results) and a short report (either oral or written) at the end of each year to the Environmental Education Award Committee on the subjects that have been undertaken. These requirements are reasonably flexible depending on the format of the course. A program detailing due dates for submission of results and reports is to be decided with the RBLAP by 30th June in the funding year. Current EEA Candidate Sophie Angove

4 Environmental Education Award Minutes of the 2011 AGM held on November 1st at the RBLAP office Meeting Opened: 7:45pm Present: Mark Stoeckel, David Showell, Ian Howard, Mick Punturiero, Michael Roy, Jack Papageorgiou, Caren Martin, Susie Pendle (RBLAP minutes secretary) EEA Chair, Mark Stoeckel (MS) welcomed those attending Apologies were received Susie Sharley, Stuart Martin, Nick Bakkum, Bruce Hewett Confirmation of 2010 AGM minutes: MOTION: Minutes of 2010 AGM be confirmed MOVED: David Showell SECONDED: Caren Martin Chairpersons report MS gave chairpersons report (attached). Michael Roy (MR) questioned who the current secretary of the EEA was, MS explained that there was presently no secretary and that both the position of EEA secretary and chair were to be appointed at the next EEA meeting proposed for 23 rd November. MOTION: Acceptance of Chairpersons report MOVED: Mark Stoeckel SECONDED: Jack Papagergiou Financial Report MS outlined the current signatories on the EEA bank account; Susie Sharley, Stuart Martin and Mark Stoeckel. MS briefly went through financial report explaining that the EEA had the capacity to fund two new awards in the newyear. DS emphasised the need to look at future funding prospects in order to keep EEA ongoing. MS relayed that Stuart Martin was looking into funding options from industry sources. MS further explained the EEA construct could be changed to expand the award if a particular industry wanted to fund it, but that the award must retain its environmental focus. MR valued these statements and the progressive outlook the EEA must have in order to move forward. MR wanted the EEA to be aware of EEA constitution section 9.3 A Member of the Committee having a pecuniary interest in a contract with the Association must disclose that interest to the Committee as required by the Act and that this section must be considered when accruing outside investment. DS explained that any outside investment into the EEA would be through a willingness to contribute to an environmentally focused programme and that contributions are effectively donations to the EEA. Further discussion ensued. MOTION: To accept the 2010/2011 financial report (attached) MOVED: Caren Martin Election of Auditors SECONDED: Jack Papageorgiou MOTION: To elect WHK Thompson as Auditors for the EEA MOVED: Jack Papageorgiou EEA Committee 2011/2012 announcement SECONDED: David Showell MS explained the EEA constitutional protocol regarding EEA committee appointment. Section 7.2 The committee shall consist of five persons all of whom shall be appointed by the LAP Committee whilst LAP shall continue to exist Furthermore of these five members two retire one year and three retire the next.

5 At this the 2011 EEA AGM the two retiring members were Ian Howard and David Showell. Ian Howard was re-appointed by the RBLAP at the October 17 th RBLAP meeting. Congratulations were exchanged. MS further explained that RBLAP agreed that as nominations were called for, and the community was engaged, that the 5 th member of the EEA would be decided by a vote at the EEA AGM. This vote would be between four recieved nominations; Nick Bakkum, Caren Martin, Jack Papageorgiou and Michael Roy, and the retiring member David Showell. CM, JP and MR wished to stand. DS withdrew his nomination explaining that he had been involved with the EEA since its inception, had enjoyed his time with the EEA having awarded four students. MS thanked DS for contribution of time and knowledge to the EEA Committee during his tenure. Although the EEA AGM had RBLAP mandate to make the 5 th appointment to the committee, the meeting chose not to make that appointment and after considered discussion the following motion was put. MOTION: The appointment of the 5 th member of the EEA committee be made at the next RBLAP Committee meeting. This decision would be between the 4 remaining candidates; Nick Bakkum, Caren Martin, Micheal Roy and Jack Papageorgiou. MOVED: David Showell MOTION CARRIED Question time SECONDED: Ian Howard Questions had been taken during the meeting so a general discussion flowed. DS commented on future funding opportunities. Recommended the future EEA committee to attempt correspondence with local fruit growers and industry leaders and that this may lead to positive response. CM recommended that the EEA contact the tax office and declare tax deductible status. CM further enquired to the acceptance of EEA award candidates who study degrees associated with sustainable farming. DS emphasised the environmental focus of the award but that this could be looked at in the future. JP recommended that in future the EEA approach the top 10 companies in the Renmark Paringa District, give them a history and market the award much like a product with emphasis on the EEA s Youth focus. This initial step would be important in making the EEA a larger asset. JP emphasised the as there were no Awardees the previous year, the Committee needs to take the right steps to engage Renmark High School. MS outlined direction including visits to RHS, engaging teachers, classes and through environmental activities within the school. Emphasised that Phil Reddy had taken opportunities to incorporate the EEA into previous RHS visits. IH explained the nature of the engagement with RHS must encompass the staff, students and parents. IH further outlined past and future methods of engagement. MR suggested the EEA be available for post graduate students who want to continue studying with further emphasis on retaining persons in the region in addition to enticing people back to the region. MS explained the clause students contains no discrimination. MP explained that the Chair of the RBLAP had instructed RBLAP staff to provide ongoing services to EEA and asked that the EEA committee outline support that will be required for the next 12 months. MS advised that the next meeting of the EEA was to be decided after the 5 th member of the EEA committee was appointed by RBLAP. Meeting close: 8.30pm

6

7

8

9

10 PAST CANDIDATES OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION AWARD 2006 recipient Adam Sluggett studied a Master of Environmental Science at Flinders University completing in He now works for the Murray Darling Basin Authority in Canberra recipient Grant French studied a Bachelor of Sustainable Environments (Biodiversity and Park Management) at the University of South Australia. Grant is currently working with Conservation Volunteers Australia recipient Jessica Frahn completed her Bachelor of Applied Science (Biodiversity and Environmental Park Management) in 2008 and has worked in rural South Australia, Melbourne and is currently working in Gawler, South Australia recipient Susie Pendle graduated with Honours in Environmental Biology and is now working for the Renmark to the Border LAP recipient Sophie Angove is currently completing her Bachelor of Science majoring in Ecology and Botany. 61 Eighteenth Street, Renmark SA 5341 P. (08) F. (08) E. eo@renmarkparinga.sa.gov.au This publication is produced by the Renmark to the Border LAP for the Environmental Education Award and is supported by the South Australian Murray Darling Basin NRM Board and the Australian Governments Caring for our Country Program.