Delco Concerned Citizens for Environmental Change's
OCTOBER 2006 NEWSLETTER

The 2^nd Annual Delaware County Environmental Summit will be held in February 2007.

Past Events –

1^st Annual Delaware County Environmental Summit

The first county environmental summit took place on Saturday, February 18, 2006 at the Cusano Environmental Education Center from 8:30 – 1:30 PM.  The summit, led by Delaware County’s Concerned Citizens for Environmental Change (DCCEC) and Darby Creek Valley Association (DCVA), was a great success.  Attendees exceeded room capacity of over 100 people, and various non-profit organizations, citizens groups and non-governmental agencies were also present.

The purpose of the summit was threefold:  1) to educate residents on a number of environmental issues facing the county; 2) to bring together these citizens with a number of organizations that are doing work in the communities; and 3) to motivate residents to take charge of their communities via participation in the organizations present at the summit or to create environmental advisory councils or environmental commissions in their home towns.

The environmental issues plaguing Delaware County are numerous from poor air quality and water quality to lack of resources for recycling and organic food.  The topics at the first summit included air quality, water quality, land-use and how to create environmental advisory councils/environmental commissions.  The presenters by topic included:

• Land Use:  Alison Hastings, Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission, Lynn McConville, PA Resources Council

• Water Quality:  Robin Mann, Darby Creek Valley Association and Tiffany Ledesma, Phila. Water Department

• Air Quality:  Reggi Harris, Environmental Protection Agency and Mike Ewall, Action PA

• Creating EAC’s:  Jeanne Barrett – Ortiz, Pennsylvania Environmental Council and Gary

Snyder, Nether Providence EAC

As a result of the summit, the members of DCCEC have increased from just under 10 participants to nearly 30.  We always welcome new members to participate in our monthly meetings, which include a topic for discussion that affects the county as well as time to bring up individual concerns that you may have in your home town.

These monthly meetings can help to foster a larger community of individuals willing to invigorate change in the county – a change that is better for the environment which in turn is better for the health and well-being for us and our families.

If you are interested in joining our monthly meetings, please visit our website at http://delcoenvironmental.tripod.com or contact Jaclyn Rhoads at jdispensa@ecoisp.com, 267-784-9443.  Otherwise, remember to save the date for next February 2007 for the 2^nd Annual Delaware County Environmental Summit.

DVD copies of the environmental summit are available for a small fee.  If you would like a copy, please contact Jaclyn Rhoads at jdispensa@ecoisp.com or 267-784-9443.