News = from=20 EEAW

3D"Environmental

December=20 29, 2006

Dear = EEAW=20 Members and Friends: =

The = staff and=20 board of EEAW would like to thank you for your support and wish = you a=20 Happy New Year!

This = electronic=20 update represents the first in a series of regular newsletter, = listserve, and web site communications for = our=20 membership and the broader EE community in 2007. Please be sure to = send=20 your ideas for articles, news, quotes and announcements to = info@eeaw.org, = attention=20 Meghann Wheeler, EEAW=92s newsletter = editor. We=20 will forward these to Washington environmental = educators and=20 stakeholders as we build EE connections, strategies, and momentum = in the=20 months and years ahead.=20

With = excitement=20 and anticipation for the difference we will make together in=20 2007!=20

Abby = Ruskey,=20 Executive Director and Heath Packard, President=20

Updates

EEAW = 2007=20 Conference
The = conference=20 will be held in the Seattle area in early November=20 2007.
See=20 Details below. =20

e3 = Washington
The e3=20 Washington statewide launch = took place on=20 September 22nd in Tacoma.
See Details below. =

EEAW = Strategic=20 Plan Approved
The = EEAW board=20 of directors approved the 2007-2012 EEAW strategic plan on December 11, 2006.
See Details below. =

Details

EEAW = 2007=20 Conference
... The EEAW board decided to hold the conference in = fall=20 this year in order to have it coincide with the E3 Washington summit.=20 We anticipate the largest ever turnout at this year's conference = and hope=20 to see you there as a presenter and/or participant! We will = update=20 you in the next couple of weeks on specifics and announce EEAW=92s=20 new conference coordinator.=20

... = The EEAW=20 board decided to hold the conference in fall this year in order to = have it=20 coincide with the E3 Washington summit. We anticipate the largest = ever=20 turnout at this year's conference and hope to see you there as a = presenter=20 and/or participant! We will update you in the next couple of = weeks=20 on specifics and announce EEAW=92s=20 new = conference=20 coordinator.

e3 = Washington
... = The e3=20 Washington statewide launch = took place on=20 September 22ndin Tacoma.

This day-long = gathering=20 began with a statewide Advisory Council meeting followed by a = media event=20 emceed by REI CEO Sally Jewell and featuring E3 Washington = co-chairs=20 Governor Chris Gregoire, William = Ruckelshaus,=20 and Billy Frank Jr., as well as student groups from throughout = Washington. Other=20 speakers included State Superintendent of Public Instruction, Dr. = Terry=20 Bergeson, Commissioner of Public = Lands, Doug=20 Sutherland, and Belinda Chin, City of Seattle (also a past president = of EEAW).=20 The Advisory Council meeting and the event focused on the = importance,=20 relevancy and promise of EE for our schools, businesses and = communities.=20 To find out more, please visit the E3 Washington website at http://whatcounts.com/t?r=3D1345&c=3D882581&l=3D3= 4937&ctl=3D1636D81:A87671E9AF6D613659465C17831FC4433E38FD0425540F0B.=20 The E3 Washington launch was filmed by TVW and can be viewed in = its=20 entirety along with related media coverage.

The = statewide=20 launch followed on the heels of the pilot E3 regional summit held = in=20 Pierce=20 County on = March=20 31st. A second regional summit was held in the Skagit-Whatcom-San=20 Juan County region on November = 15th and=20 others are planned to take place throughout the state in = 2007. =20 Information about regional summits can also be found at http://w= hatcounts.com/t?r=3D1345&c=3D882581&l=3D34937&ctl=3D1636D81:A= 87671E9AF6D613659465C17831FC4433E38FD0425540F0B. =20 Once on the home page, click on the regional map. =20

EEAW = Strategic=20 Plan Approved
...=20 EEAW=92s = 5-year=20 mission, vision, and goals follow.

Mission
EEAW = promotes=20 excellence in environmental education to achieve environmental = literacy,=20 better quality of life and a more sustainable economy and = environment.=20

Vision
The = link=20 between education, environment, economy, and equity will be widely = understood and applied leading to the increased health and = vitality of=20 Washington=20 State, its=20 communities, and businesses with the following specific outcomes:=20

The quality of = education=20 will increase as environmental and sustainability education are=20 integrated fully and employed as the norm in Washington=20 State.=20
Representation of = diverse=20 cultural and professional backgrounds is the norm within = environmental=20 education and other professions serving the goal of a = sustainable=20 society.
Natural places = will be=20 valued and natural resources will be thoughtfully utilized for = future=20 generations.
Research will = track and=20 report the impact of environmental education resources, = training, and=20 programs on the decisions, behaviors and livelihoods of learners = and=20 leaders.

Goals
Goal=20 1: Coordinate and play a key role in implementating e3 Washington
Goal=20 2: Grow the capacity of EEAW
Goal 3: Formalize = and=20 activate the network
Goal 4: Increase=20 membership
Goal 5: Increase diversity
Goal=20 6: Foster increased professional standards, training, and = quality of=20 environmental education

The = complete=20 plan soon will be posted on the EEAW site at http://w= hatcounts.com/t?r=3D1345&c=3D882581&l=3D34937&ctl=3D1636D84:A= 87671E9AF6D613659465C17831FC4433E38FD0425540F0B once=20 the appendices and introduction are added. Members will be=20 notified.

If = you would=20 like to no longer receive this newsletter, you can unsubscribe by = clicking=20 here=20

P.O. Box=20 6277, Olympia, = WA 98507
(360) = 943-6643: info@eeaw.org
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