Month: February 2014

Facebook event link: https://www.facebook.com/events/1411077732473829/

Event calender link: https://www.google.com/calendar/embed?src=g65q5208cq2fptjo0gh0v9blfg%40group.calendar.google.com&ctz=America%2FVancouver 

Join Common Energy UBC, CUS Sustainability, and Oxfam UBC for our annual Chew On This conference! Chew On This is a week long conference surrounding sustainable food options. This year we are focusing on “following your food” from its source all the way to your plate. 

100 Mile Eating Social Media Challenge

Contest Details:
-post a picture of your local meal on Instagram, Facebook or Twitter
-use #FollowYourFood, and @CommonEnergyUBC or @cus_sustain
-Prizes include gift certificates to some of the best local restaurants in Vancouver!

Details 

Jan 24
6:30-7:45pm, Global Lounge (next to Marine Drive)
Kick off Documentary Screening of “Food Fight”
Check out the synopsis here: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1193092/
RSVP here: https://www.facebook.com/events/248045825366295/

March 3
12:00 pm, Macmillan Greenhouse
Grow Your Own Herbs Workshop!
Learn how easy it can be to grow herbs in your tiny dorm room! Not only will you save money on expensive spices, you can be confident they aren’t covered in pesticides!
All ingredients/supplies will be provided for free, so just bring your awesome self!

Manage Your Own Insect Farm Workshop – 3:30 pm, Global Lounge
UBC student Dominique Goulet will be discussing how you can contribute to reducing GHGs! Samples will include cooked insects as well as cookies and protein bars made from insect products such as cricket flour.

March 4
When:2:00 pm
Where: Place Vanier Residence Lower Atrium
100 Mile Eating
Our very own Chef Steve from right here at UBC (Place Vanier) will be discussing the benefits of eating local and how easy it is to eat foods produced within a 100 Mile radius of UBC.

Farmed Fish Discussion, Q + A 

When: 4:00-5:30pm, 
Where: Jack Bell Bldg for Social Work in Rm 233

We have the pleasure of welcoming researcher Dr. Shannon Balfry from the Vancouver Aquarium, communications rep from bc’s largest farm salmon producers and a rep from the bc salmon farmers association to dive into the topic of Farmed Fish in BC. What is it? What are some of the benefits and trade-offs? Come find out at this great discussion!
https://www.facebook.com/events/1398871600374010/ 

March 5
Animal Welfare and Sustainability:

When: 4pm
Where: Henry Angus Rm 335

Small-scale, Local, Organic, Grass-fed, Sustainable– these all mean good animal welfare right? You might be surprised. In this session Gosia Zobel and Jesse Robbins, Graduate Students in UBC’s internationally-renowned Animal Welfare Program – will explore the complex and often overlooked role animal welfare plays in agricultural sustainability, so that you can make more informed decisions.

OxFam’s Hungry 4 Change Banquet
When: 6pm
Where: Thea Koerner Graduate Lounge 

This annual event is not one to be missed! Delicious food and discussions about global food security will have you thinking about how the rest of the world eats. Anyone who has attended this event in the past will tell you that you will not regret coming out for this incredible experience!

Hello Common Energizers,

We’ve got quite a few Common Energy events coming up over the next few weeks that we would love to have you come out to! Read on to find out more about:

 

1. Hiring for the 2014-15 Common Energy Steering Committee!

2. Celebrating Fair Trade Chocolate – Feb. 12-13

3. Chew on This: Follow Your Food – March 3-5

4. Big Team Meeting on Sunday March 2

1. Hiring for the 2014-15 Common Energy Steering Committee!

Applications for next year’s Steering Committee are now open! We are hiring for 6-10 positions, including Assistant Director Internal and Team Coordinators. You can find our application on our website: https://commonenergyubc.com/2014/02/03/2014-15-steering-committee-applications-now-open/. We encourage all interested applicants to apply!!

 

2. Celebrating Fair Trade Chocolate – Feb. 12-13

Come enjoy Fair Trade Certified Chocolates with Common Energy’s Tangible Solutions Team!

We have fun interactive activities for you to do, and lots of Fair Trade chocolates to give out!You can also enter a raffle for a $25 Fair Trade gift basket. Our booth will be held on Wednesday, February 12th and Thursday, February 13th from 11:00am-2:00pm in IKBLC 2nd Floor, by the stairs. Check out our Facebook event here: https://www.facebook.com/events/207945382738017/

We would also like to invite you to join us to learn how to make Chocolate gifts using Fair Trade Chocolates, and beautiful and edible strawberry roses! This event is FREE and is open to all UBC students, and is happening on Wednesday, February 12th from 5-6pm. Invite your friends and come join the fun! Check out our facebook event here: https://www.facebook.com/events/454663001323883/

 

3. Chew on This: Follow Your Food – March 3-5

Our 2014 edition of Chew on This, a series of perspectives on sustainable food,is happening from March 3-5. Topics include urban farming and animal welfare in the food industry! Stay tuned for more details here: https://www.facebook.com/events/1411077732473829/

 

4. Big Team Meeting on Sunday March 2

Our next Common Energy Big Team meeting is coming up on Sunday, March 2 from 5:30-7:30pm. This is our penultimate Big Team, so make sure you are able to join!

Applications for the 2014-15 Steering Committee are now open, and we encourage all interested applicants to apply! This year, we are hiring for 6-10 positions, including Assistant Director Internal and Team Coordinators.

See below for application details, or download the PDF version here: 2014-15 Steering Committee Application.

Please contact us at commonenergyubc@gmail.com if you have any further questions.

Steering Committee Application for 2014/15

To apply, please submit your resume and answers to the Supplementary Application Form (found below). Applications are due by 11:59pm on Monday February 24th, 2014. Please submit by email to commonenergyubc@gmail.com.

Mission Statement: Common Energy is the largest and most active student sustainability organization at UBC. We are working to incorporate sustainability into all aspects of the UBC community. We aim to affect real change by building strong networks and working proactively with the University. We strive to foster leadership and engage our peers through innovative programming.

Our programming includes: events related to energy conservation (Sweater Day, Earth Hour), waste reduction (Tap That Campaign, SUB Waste Audit), sustainable food access (Chew on This), sustainable living (UBC’s Got Skillz, Green Living at Home), and student engagement in residence.

If you are not familiar with Common Energy, we invite you to check out our online community: www.commonenergyubc.com, “Common Energy UBC” on Facebook, and CommonEnergyUBC on Twitter.

If you have any questions please e-mail commonenergyubc@gmail.com.

Our organizational format: The success behind Common Energy is through our distinctive team-based work. Each team of 5-12 student volunteers is led by one (or two) Team Coordinator(s). The Team Coordinators all join the Assistant Directors (Internal and External) and Director to form the Steering Committee. This year, we are hiring for 6-10 positions, including the Assistant Director Internal and Team Coordinators. Two of our Team Coordinators will also be Work Learn positions with Campus & Community Planning, focusing on zero-waste events and sustainability in residence.

Job Description – Assistant Director Internal:

The role of the Assistant Director Internal is integral to Common Energy. The Assistant Director Internal oversees professional development training for both the Steering Committee and the entire team; organizes monthly Big Team meetings; organizes Steering Committee meetings; and plans the annual Steering Committee retreat. This job formally begins in September 2014, but approximately 30 hours of meetings, phone calls, and planning is expected before August 31, 2014. Applicants must submit a resume and their answers to the Supplemental Application Form.

The Assistant Director Internal must demonstrate the following skills:

• Dedication
• Interest in personal and professional development
• Professionalism
• Communication
• Leadership
• Independent & team player
• Self-motivated
• Well-organized

The Assistant Director Internal must commit to:

• One hour Directors Meeting biweekly
• Two hour Steering Committee meetings biweekly
• Two hour Big Team meeting monthly
• One weekend-long retreat in either early September or January
• Approximately four-six additional weekly hours fulfilling other commitments (may include: planning workshops, meeting with Team Coordinators, meeting with prospective members, sitting on various committees as a Common Energy representative)

The Assistant Director Internal can expect these benefits:

• Develop team-building skills
• Long-term planning and overseeing an important student organization
• Many opportunities for networking (conferences and many other events)
• Work independently and as a part of an action-oriented team
• Join a community of other engaged and passionate UBC sustainability student activists

Job Description – Team Coordinator:

Team Coordinators are a key component to Common Energy. Team Coordinators lead their individual team in planning events and initiatives, and contribute to the Steering Committee. This job formally begins in September 2014, but approximately 20 hours of meetings, phone calls, and planning is expected before August 31, 2014. Applicants must submit a resume and their answers to the Supplemental Application Form.

Team Coordinators must demonstrate the following skills:

• Professionalism
• Engagement
• Communication
• Leadership
• Team player
• Well-organized

Team Coordinators must commit to:

• One hour team meetings weekly
• Two hour Steering Committee meetings biweekly
• Two hour Big Team meeting monthly
• One weekend-long retreat in either early September or January
• Approximately four additional weekly hours fulfilling other commitments (may include: running events, attending other meetings, completing specific tasks, attending other teams’ events)

Team Coordinators can expect these benefits:

• Build strong communication and time management skills
• Many opportunities for networking (conferences and many other events)
• Work independently and as a part of an action-oriented team
• Join a community of other engaged and passionate UBC sustainability student activists

Please note that the Work Learn Team Coordinators will have additional benefits and paid commitments, beginning in July or August, and must be in Vancouver for the time. More information on these positions will be available during the interview process.

Supplemental Application Form

Please answer all questions in 200 words or less.

1. Which role(s) are you interested in fulfilling?
2. Why do you want to be on the Steering Committee in Common Energy?
3. Describe an experience you have had that has prepared you for a role in the Common Energy Steering Committee. Were you working alone or in a team? What was the beginning goal and the end result?
4. What do you feel has been Common Energy’s most important contribution to the UBC community?
5. Is there anything else you would like to share?