Ecology Center

In the last month, the Center’s downtown Ann Arbor office grew busier with the addition of two new persons to our staff. We’re delighted to welcome Gregory Button as our new communications director, and Brad van Guilder as our southeast Michigan community organizer. We’re also happy to introduce Tawny Gapinski, who is replacing Rebecca Kanner in our GEE-WOW! environmental education program for the next six months.

Gregory comes to the Center with a diverse and accomplished background. In the 1960s, he was active in the peace and social justice movement in upstate New York. In the 1970s, he worked as a journalist for public radio, public television, and other outlets. He took up an academic career in the 1980s, conducting field research on environmental disasters including the Exxon-Valdez oil spill which was the focus of his Ph.D. dissertation. In the early 1990s, he served as a Congressional Fellow to Minnesota Senator Paul Wellstone, helping draft environmental justice legislation and other initiatives. Since 1993, he held a faculty position in the University of Michigan’s School of Public Health where he taught environmental health policy and wrote about the media coverage of environmental disasters.

He grew weary of academic life, though, and sought to return to direct activist work. "As the result of my research on environmental disasters," says Gregory, "I came to the conclusion that the best response we can take is to try and prevent such events from occurring in the first place."

Gregory will be in charge of the Ecology Center’s media relations and publications, including this newsletter. This is the first time the Center’s hired a position with full responsibility for the organization’s communications, and we’re expecting it will make all of our campaigns and programs more effective. We’re thrilled to welcome Gregory to our staff, and you can reach him at (734) 761-3186 ext. 113 or at gregoryb@ecocenter.org.

Brad van Guilder’s career also winds through academics and activism. Active in the human rights and anti-nuke movement throughout the 1980’s and 1990’s, he obtained his Ph.D. in physics from the University of Michigan in 1993. He began a teaching career at Richard Stockton College of New Jersey, but soon determined that social activism was his true calling. He worked three years as the state organizer for Peace Action of Michigan, building grassroots support in metro Detroit for Peace Action’s legislative agenda.

"I am looking forward to helping people organize for their fundamental rights to clean air, water and soil," says Brad. "To me it is the same demand for social justice as freedom from other forms of threats to bodily harm."

Brad will be working with community activists in Wayne County as part of an exciting new collaborative project. The Ecology Center and 12 other prominent organizations have banded together to address serious environmental problems and raise the profile of environmental issues in Michigan’s two largest metropolitan areas — greater Detroit and greater Grand Rapids.

We are very excited to welcome Brad to the Center too. He can be reached at (734) 761-3186 ext. 114 or at bradvg@ecocenter.org.

Tawny Gapinski is filling in six months for environmental educator Rebecca Kanner while Rebecca is on leave (see related story). Tawny is trained in environmental education, and taught at Ann Arbor’s Leslie Science Center for the past three years. She’s been doing a great job so far maintaining the GEE-WOW! program. You can reach her, or get information about GEE-WOW!, at (734) 995-5888 ext. 115, or at tawny@ecocenter.org.

Rebecca Kanner Jailed for Protest at Military Base

Rebecca Kanner , Director of Environmental Education at the Ecology Center, was recently sentenced to serve six months in a federal prison and a fine of $500. She, and twenty-five other members of the School of Americas Watch Group, were convicted of "bringing political messages to military facilities," after a demonstration conducted last November at Fort Benning, GA.

Kanner, along with other protesters, argues that the graduates of the training school (now called the Western Hemisphere Institute Security Cooperation) are responsible for the deaths of many activists and unionists in Central and Latin America. Rebecca’s response to, what some consider to be a severe sentence was, "This is a small price to pay for what I did, compared to lives of the victims." Rebecca is presently on leave from the Ecology Center and residing at the FCI Pekin Camp, P.O. Box 7000, Pekin, Ill, 61555-7000.

Herbert L. Munzel, 1928-2001

Herbert L. Munzel died unexpectedly on June 20, 2001 from multiple injuries sustained from a ladder fall at his home in Green Oak Township. Herb was a community leader and environmental activist best known for his efforts protecting air and water for future generations. He served on the Huron River Watershed Council for a decade and was recently awarded the Zebra Mussel Award for his dedication and service to the council.

Herb was a source of inspiraton to many in the environmental movement. He will be sadly missed by many.

Contributions may be made to the Herbert L. Munzel Memorial Foundation, which will support environmental causes. Please send contributions to TCF Bank, 205 W. Grand River Avenue, Brighton, MI 48116

Calling for Nominations

The Ecology Center is looking for a few good people to serve on our Board of Directors. Many people find that serving on the Board is interesting and rewarding, and a great way to get more actively involved in the movement for environmental justice. This year, we are particularly interested in people with a legal, financial, or urban planning background, but we would be eager to speak with anyone with a strong environmental commitment and a great interest in the Ecology Center.

The Board is responsible for the governance of the organization in all its aspects, including its management policies, financial performance, environmental policies and programs, strategic plan, and annual budgets. The board also appoints the outside directors of Recycle Ann Arbor’s board, and approves RAA’s budgets, major contracts, and other major decisions. The Ecology Center Board of Directors meets every other month, and members serve on at least one committee. Directors are expected to raise funds for the Center.

If you would like to explore the possibility of serving on the Ecology Center’s board of directors, please contact Mike Garfield at (734) 761-3186 or michaelg@ecocenter.org.

Aveda Earth Month Campaign Raises $89,000 for Ecology Center

The Ecology Center was the recipient of just under $89,000 raised by Aveda Corporation’s hair & body care salons and distributors throughout Michigan, Ohio, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky and Wisconsin during their 2001 Earth Month Campaign. We were honored to have been chosen to participate in this program and very fortunate to have benefited from the remarkable success of the campaign. The donations will help to fund ongoing programs, as well as allow us to undertake some new projects we have not had the resources to attempt.

The array of interesting and clever fundraisers from fashion shows to spa days and local clean-up projects organized by the salons and their customers was impressive! Our sincerest thanks to Aveda Corporation and to all the participating salons and customers for your enthusiasm and generosity. We ask our Ecology Center members and friends to help extend our thanks the next time you visit an Aveda salon.

Thanks for Helping Make Another Great Ride!

EcoRide 30 Raises Over $40,000 for the Ecology Center

This year’s EcoRide brought in just under $41,000 - a bit shy of our $43,000 goal, but still the second highest in EcoRide history and a 10% increase over last year! (The #1 bike-a-thon took place in 1990, when the Center made $45,000.) A few pledges continue to trickle in, so if you still have a pledge to collect, it’s not too late — send them in.

Despite the cool and threatening weather on June 3, 400 riders and eighty volunteers turned out to make EcoRide30 a truly successful event. The rain never fell, and the sun was out by early afternoon. The riders enjoyed their selected routes (2 — 60 miles) and the festivities, courtesy of our many local business sponsors, following the ride.

Louis Rosenfeld for the second year running brought in the most pledges ($2,290) and is the grand prize winner of a Specialized bike from Two Wheel Tango bike shop. Other top fundraisers are: Ann Hunt ($1915); Margaret Weber ($1075); Rebecca Kanner ($1005) and Thadeus Weakly ($928).

The winning team — for the third year ‘riding’ is the Da Dee Team which raised $1,962. From the 15 competing teams in various categories, the runner-up winners are: Ultimatoes ($1214); The Ezekiel Family Team ($760) and the Blossom Home Organization ($710). Former Board Members, et. al. raised a respectable $660 — and have already issued a challenge for next year to other former board members (and staff and all other ‘former’ riders, too) to "form a team and show your EcoRide Team Spirit!"

This year, 150 riders collected pledges and 53 raised $100 or more to qualify for tee shirts and donated gift certificates and other prizes (You could be among the winners next year! ). We’re especially grateful to the PledgeRiders and their sponsors.

All of the money raised goes to support Ecology Center education and advocacy programs. We truly are the real winners and extend a gracious thank you to everyone - riders, volunteers and sponsors who made it happen!

Reserve Sunday, June 2, 2002 for the 31st annual EcoRide!
If you’re interested in being part of the group that plans and organizes EcoRide, please give Denise Flynn a call. (761-3186 x110) We start planning next years ride this Fall.
Check out the website to see EcoRide30 photos.

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