The
advances that the US Green Building Council has made
nationwide during the last 4 years or so, is reflected by a
group of volunteers that have built up the local North Texas
Chapter to a hugely successful non-profit organization,
demonstrated by the tremendous turnout of over 250 members
and non-members at the annual membership meeting held at the
prestigious Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth on January 26.
This event also marks the end of the first year
service of the first 12 elected members of the North Texas
Chapter Board.
Personally
welcomed at the door by Board Members, the attendees enjoyed
cocktails while being entertained by the Universal Jazz
Quartet, an ensemble of UTA music students.
Twenty selected projects were on display from various
firms, companies and individuals showcasing a wide variety
of green /sustainable projects as well as projects
programmed for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design
(LEED) certification in
North Texas
. Exquisitely
crafted models displayed the innovative ideas of
enthusiastic Emerging Green Builders, all students of the
Architectural School of UT Arlington.
The evening also called for business during which time the
Chair, Janna Connor shared highlights of the year’s
achievements. “This evening is
the culmination of a great 2005 year for the North Texas
Chapter. We
elected our first (Founding) Board of Directors for the
chapter and have increased our membership to almost 300
members. We
began our newsletter that contains upcoming events,
announcements, articles, and links to our website (www.usgbcnorthtexas.org). Throughout the
year we have spoken to many groups, organizations, and
companies around the DFW area about USGBC, the
North Texas
Chapter, LEED, and green/sustainable practices.
We have done a lot this past year as a chapter and
through the Board. The
momentum is now taking us full speed into 2006.”
This
was followed by the introduction of 10 candidates for
election as new board members to replace the 4 members that
stepped down voluntarily in order to ensure revolving 3 year
term services of board members on a yearly basis.
The new board members included Robert van Buren,
Michael Kawecki and Gary Olp as well as Ken Sidebottom who
was re-elected. They join the previous Board of Directors
whose terms continue:
Jane Ahrens
, Dale Ball,
Francois de Kock
, Betsy del Monte,
Jackson Murphy
, Donna Palon and David Rodriguez.
Through
various incentives during the evening, new members were
signed up to join the Chapter.
A special call was made for members to become active
participants in the Chapter by joining the active
committees. Here is what the
Committee Chair's had to say in their own words:
Membership
Committee:
Michael Kawecki /
Denise Bates
- "You can typically find a
representative from the Membership committee at the sign-in
table or door at events, ready to answer questions for
anyone interested in becoming a member on both local and
national levels. We also coordinate the annual membership
drive, and help make current members aware of membership
benefits.
Our Chapter and Committee members are
professionals with full time jobs that have a passion for
the sustainable design and lifestyles. Our goal is to have
fun and to use our creativity and outgoing personalities to
help promote the growth and purpose of the Chapter.
"
Events
and Education Committee:
Robert van Buren – “We
seek to deliver relevant information on all aspects of green
building design and sustainable development to the broadest
extent possible to transform the construction industry in
our regional marketplace to help achieve a sustainable built
environment.
Committee
members work together to develop and produce informative
presentations from recognized experts covering a range of
sustainability issues. From
the philosophical to the practical, we strive to produce
programs from different perspectives that expand the
understanding and acceptance of green building practices
within our community.
We
have lots of fun; we enjoy the creative process and to
discover new insights that will result in meaningful
contributions to the community and promote the mission of
the Chapter. Fresh
ideas on program topics are always needed, as well as
innovative ways to get the message across.”
Graphics
Committee:
Melissa Wackerle
– “The Graphics Committee is a fun, creative group
seeking imaginative people to bring new ideas and insight on
how to bring sustainability into the mainstream.
We are responsible for event announcements, website,
brochures, photography and much more.
There’s a place for visual, technical, and social
personalities or any combination thereof. Graphics
can use people to work in Adobe suite, to work in
Dreamweaver, or to just work a crowd for a nice group shot.
Diversity is the key to innovation in this motivated
group. All it
takes is a little commitment and a lot of imagination!”
Finance
Committee:
Jackson Murphy
– “This is where the “rubber meets the road!”
The financing of the chapter is integral to the
growth and success of the chapter.
We solicit, gather, track and account for all the
funds flowing into and out of the chapter.
The fastest way to learn what is successful in
Green
Building
is achieved by joining the Financing Committee and
“Following the Money!”
The
evening ended with a private tour of the museum’s
galleries and musical compositions of David Brubeck,
Cantaloop, Manhattan Transfer, etc.
Motivated by local community support, the USGBC North
Texas Chapter is ready to advance its mission to promote a
sustainable, profitable, and healthy built environment in
the
North Texas
area through education, professional training and outreach.
Francois de Kock is a
registered landscape architect with Halff Associates, and
serving his second year term in the role of Secretary for
the North Texas Chapter. For more information on this
article, you may contact Francois at Fdekock@Halff.com
