Newletter #1

Tahoe Center for a Sustainable Future

Second Quarter 1995 Activity


Programs/Participation:
The Tahoe Truckee Forum sponsored by TTREC and TCSF for 150 members of our community was viewed by most participants as the best program of the past three years, leading to community workshops to build on the direction facilitated by Rick Smyre of Communities of the Future. At the President's Council on Sustainable Development meeting in San Francisco on April 26, TCSF was acknowledged by council member Ted Strong as an organization working to achieve sustainability. A presentation about TCSF was also made at the UN50 Conference in San Francisco.

ISD/WRI Program.
A program with the Ecosystems Indicators Working Group is now being developed. The Group developing this program for potential use by UNEP has 13 members, including: Institute for Sustainable Development, World Resources Institute, the Dutch Ministry of Health and Environment, UC Berkeley, Don Kennedy (former President of Stanford), Luna Leopold, and TCSF. The innovative technology which is a part of the program uses a digital camera to capture images and a software program which creates pattern recognition at the pixel level on the video display. It produces cost effective mapping, and a simple user interface allows non computer professionals to understand trends and consequences of land use planning, development and regulation. The Tahoe Region offers a set of already established thresholds and efforts to achieve them, relative proximity to ISD's Menlo Park facility, a defined watershed, personal contacts and trust. The program offers the Tahoe Region the opportunity to work with world class organizations on key issues for sustainability, an integrated approach and better and cheaper information. An initial meeting will be held at Tahoe to assess common goals and objectives to use the Tahoe Region as a pilot program.

Teacher Program in Sustainability:
It is indisputable that our youth are the future. We create their options. The teacher program being co-sponsored with Sierra Nevada College (SNC), UC Davis and TTREC scheduled for September 15 at SNC will bring together 20 teachers from our region and 20 members from business, government, and other leaders to consider those options. The program will help expand environmental education to include concepts of creating a sustainable future, the economy and human well being. The program will include the game "Fish Banks," which demonstrates the interaction and structure of systems and the alternatives and consequences for resource management. Modeled after the fishery at the Georges Banks off the coast of New England, it has received acclaim by people worldwide who have participated. The game will be facilitated by a trained moderator. One deliverable of the day will be a discussion of what lessons are learned and how they can be applied to the classrooms here in Tahoe. There will be an annual program, with school year projects and interaction during the year with leaders from the region. The design of the program has already attracted foundation funding from outside the region, which views it as a potential model.

TCSF 2000: Five Year Goals and 1995/96 Action Plan:
The Board is now reviewing for final action at its September 8 meeting TCSF 2000, which builds on the Strategic Plan drafted in March, 1995. Goals have been composed which further each of the elements of the mission statement (e.g. the CERES program, regional information, education, program collaboration with TTREC, etc.)

Organizational Matters:
The 501(c)(3) application was filed. Criteria were adopted for Board membership and Advisors to the corporation. Robert Scott, with a history of success in both business and the non-profit realm, joined the Board. Other commitments have caused Steve Teshara to resign. Charles Goldman's offer to be an advisor to the corporation was gratefully accepted. A permanent site is being sought to locate TCSF.

Program Management:
A Work Plan for Sue Rae Irelan was agreed for the next four months to fulfill the teacher program and the beginning of the TRPA/community network program.

Affiliations/Collaborations:
David Hess, President and CEO of the Lake Tahoe Community Trust, expressed an interest in working with TCSF on a long-term basis as part of a presentation to TCSF.

Funding:
The Fred Gellert Foundation provided support for TCSF. A DOI grant under the TIIAP program was received for the CERES program as part of the application submitted by Lynn Purvis of SEDD. TRPA Partnership Funds have been approved to develop systems for posting on the network.