Foundation for Water and Energy Education
Program Committee MeetingSea Tac, Washington
October 25, 2000
Meeting attendees included: Alison Squier- Dunau Associates, Jon Vognild — Douglas Co. P.U.D.; Pat McCarty and Randy Stearnes - Tacoma Power; Jack Brantner, Jack Horne and Clyde Carpenter — North Central ESD, Rob Swedo— BPA; Rae Olsen — PPL Montana; Jim Burruss — PacifiCorp
Jon Vognild opened the meeting by reading e-mail messages to FWEE sent over the past month from writers in the United States as well as other countries. Also, members reviewed summary reports about the FWEE Web site. There were 32,387 hits during August and 34,460 hits in September, which is a new FWEE record. Alison Squier explained how hits are registered and distributed summaries of Web site activities by project and locale. She also had a comparison chart of FWEE Web site hits over 1999 and 2000.
Alison reported no change in the relocation status for the FWEE home address. She reminded the group that the FWEE charter would need to be modified to reflect the new home address.
Alison told the group that "Following Nature’s Current" is being updated and 5,000 new copies will be printed the deadline for submitting any changes is November 15. Also, there is interest in the handcrank generator display. Three members have expressed interest in purchasing a unit. She explained that new handcranks would be sold with two generator units. The handcrank price will be increased to reflect this change.
PPL Montana is now on board as a FWEE member. Rae Olson reported on happenings in Montana, including discussions in the state legislature on a rollback of deregulation.
Rob Swedo reported on updates with BPA and wrapping up subscriptions in the next six weeks.
Randy Stearnes distributed educational materials from Tacoma Power including Earth Preservers environmental newspaper for kids. He encouraged members to share stories about school projects that could be printed in the newspaper for national exposure. Tacoma Power Generation Manager Pat McCarty reported on the Cowlitz River Project settlement agreement.
Jon reported news from Douglas County P.U.D. including problems with GTE regarding telecommunications.
Jack Brantner reported on developments at Chelan County P.U.D. and Alison distributed a Wenatchee World editorial regarding lowering the lake to satisfy recreation and fish demands.
Jack, Clyde Carpenter and Jack Horne reported on educational news from the North Central ESD. They also proposed some supplements to the Nature of Water Power curriculum.
Jim Burruss explained a transition plan for Environmental Services at PacifiCorp was taking place within four business units. He will be staying in Salt Lake City but will no longer have duties tied to FWEE. Diane Robb has been suggested as a replacement. As this was Jim’s final FWEE meeting, Jon Vognild presented Jim with a FWEE shirt and the group signed a card with best wishes.
A Nature of Water Power kit parts price list was distributed. Clyde suggested that this list be put on the Web site.
Randy reported on the Utility Educator’s conference in Everett. It was noted that Mark Van Oss at Seattle City Light would host the next conference. Jon mentioned that he had spoken to Mark about working with FWEE.
The group discussed a publication from the World Commission on Dams. It was decided to not pursue an association with the group.
Randy reported on the public awareness workshop in Seattle where he and Christine Stallard gave a FWEE presentation. The workshop was sponsored by the Implementing Agreement on Hydropower Technologies and Progams.
Alison gave details on upcoming conferences…NHA in April-2001; Environmental Education Association of Washington and Oregon conference in March or April; and WaterPower in July 2001.
Alison spoke about outreach materials, mostly a calendar being put together by Christine, an updated FWEE packet, plus "leave-behind" items such as paper weights.
Alison gave an update on the FWEE Splash media campaign. She distributed a chart of business journals and prices for advertising and various options. Rae mentioned that Great Falls and Missoula should be considered in Montana, perhaps in the business section of the local newspaper. As for Billings, it is far from the dams. Pat McCarty mentioned that the Wall Street Journal would be a good fit for the campaign targeted audience. It was decided that Wayne Wright and the rest of the FWEE Splash committee should have a teleconference call to discuss the group's ideas and to come up with suggestions for message, timing and duration of the campaign. Alison distributed a mock-up of a potential FWEE ad.
A graphic for the web site's new relicensing page was distributed. Suggestions were made to add an image representing recreation to the other images. Alison will send a revised copy of the graphic to members for review. Alison also noted that once the graphic is finalized a skeleton relicensing page should be in place on FWEE's web site by the December meeting.
Alison distributed Kids Quiz pages and explained how the page would be accessed on the Web site. As it was proposed, students could log on and have opportunity to win a prize.
Clyde and Rae reminded the group that kids should not have questions unanswered. Alison explained that the questions will also include explanations of the answers and will guide interested kids to more information on the web site. Rae suggested that there should be a question relating to homes and megawatts. Jack Brantner suggested having wrong answers responded to in a lighthearted way to hold kids’ interest. Jon suggested a point system and the group debated about a "megawatt" point system at the end. The group was charged with reviewing the quiz questions on their own time and getting comments/suggestion to Alison by mid-December.
After a break for lunch, the group discussed a FWEE PowerPoint presentation and Alison distributed an "encyclopedia" version of the PowerPoint for the group to review. She explained that there would be at four different versions of the PowerPoint presentation including the overall encyclopedia version, a service club version, legislator version and utility version. The group talked a little about having a member's only log on area where FWEE members could download graphics and photographs to customize their PowerPoint presentations.
Jack Brantner, Jack Horne and Clyde Carpenter demonstrated curriculum updates for the Nature of Water Power. They were not suggesting changing the present units but, rather, adding an introduction project to get kids attention and set the stage for the hands-on curriculum. The focus is how to ask good questions. Clyde also proposed that a literacy unit be added to all versions of the curriculum. Clyde did the demonstration and had the group follow the classroom materials. Clyde spoke about aligning the curriculum to state standards. He had a list of how the curriculum aligns with the Montana standards. Jack, Clyde and Jack walked Rae through how the Montana schools could set up the program.
Next meeting: In December at a Portland location. Alison will send a notice out to members with meeting date options.