In March 2001, Linda Hunn and Jack Dymond in OSU's College of Oceanic and Atmospheric Sciences began holding monthly brown bag lunch meetings with featured speakers. About 30 OSU faculty, staff, and students attended the first meeting. Topics have included conservation, recycling, biodiesel, solar energy, organic gardening, alternative transportation, green building, etc.
The group currently numbers over 470 faculty, staff, students and community members from OSU, HP, Lane Community College, University of Oregon, Eugene, Salem, and beyond. There are numerous member groups including the OSU Organic Growers Club, OSU Riverwatch, ASOSU Environmental Affairs Task Force, Corvallis Environmental Center, First Alternative Co-op, and Linn-Benton Furniture Share.
Group membership consists of poets, engineers, scientists, administrators, chefs, bicyclists, economists, builders, activists, musicians, lawyers, mathematicians, and many others. But most of all, they are visionaries and free thinkers. Membership is open to anyone, with no fees or obligations. There are generally 10-30 people at each meeting or field trip.
The group seeks to share information and ideas, inspire and empower each other, and build coalitions on campus, in our community, and beyond. It serves as a platform for alternative thought and action, and also a network for members to support campus activities like Earth Week.
A list of past group meetings includes dates, speakers, and topics (PDF).
In the summer, the group often takes field trips to see sustainability projects (PDF).
If you have ideas for speakers or field trips, or if you'd like to review notes from past meetings, please contact Linda Hunn, below.
Linda Hunn, the group coordinator, also sends out bi-weekly email calendars of upcoming sustainability events. If you would like to get on the email list, or for more information, contact Linda at 541.737.8927 or lhunn@coas.oregonstate.edu
