LEECH LAKE GREEN TEAM

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LEECH LAKE GREEN TEAM

• Brandy Toft
• Air Quality Specialist
• Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe
• National Tribal Forum June 2009

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Green Team

• Concept based on a group of individuals
• to work together to
• Become more sustainable
• Save energy
• Save resources
• Save
• Composed of Leech Lake employees
• Combine resources and ideas
• Educate
• Combined/cohesive approach

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Green Team Meetings

• Meet at minimum once a month
• Meet to
• Brainstorm for ideas/projects
• Compose draft policies
• Set forth goals
• However need one or more individuals to
  coordinatecan be challenging to keep all engaged

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In Front of Tribal Council

• Presented Team idea to Tribal Council
• Initial meeting was one of convincing, education
  and information
• Second meeting
• presented potential policies
• Third meeting
• presented resolutions
• Fourth meeting (with Executive Director)
• approved energywise challenge

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Key Players of the Team

• Purchasing
• Economic Division and Planning
• Health Division
• MIS (Computers/Tech)
• Property
• Tribal School K-12
• Child Welfare
• Solid Waste
• Air Program
• Facilities Management
• Tribal Council

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Purpose

• Mission Statement draft
• Practicing conservation, recycling and
  ecologically respectful business to sustain Leech
  Lakes land and resources for generations to
  come.
• Statement of Purpose draft
• Strive to reduce usage and conserve both
  resources and energy for the betterment of today
  and our future generations. This effort will
  have resource and economic benefits.

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Authority

• Set up as an Advisory Committee to
• Tribal Council
• Provide updates to the Tribal Council
• Ask for approval on actions, asking for teeth
• Told we have the ear of the Council

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Accomplishments

• Education
• Earth Day
• Health Fair
• Planning/ideas for the future
• Organization of Team and awareness
• Resolutions
• Styrofoam free by 2010
• Electronic notification of Delegation

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•  LEECH LAKE RESERVATION TRIBAL COUNCIL
• STYROFOAM FREE POLICY
•  
• WHEREAS, the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe have made
• a commitment to green and sustainable
•  
• WHEREAS, one of the most persistent problems for
  recycling and disposal is the pervasive use of
  Styrofoam based materials such as cups, plates,
  food trays, etc.
•  
• WHEREAS, it is the goal of the Reservation Tribal
  Council that the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe shall
  be Styrofoam-free by October 1, 2010
•  
• WHEREAS, it is important to the culture and
  well-being of tribal members that we manage our
  resources and limit the use of single use
  products to decrease our tonnage fees and the
  environmental costs beyond the landfill.
•  
• NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that it is the
  direction of the Reservation Tribal Council that
  all Divisions, Departments and Programs of the
  Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe will undertake all
  possible efforts to reduce and/or eliminate the
  use of Styrofoam based materials within the work
  place or program areas/activities and replace
  them with items made for permanent use or can be
  recycled when disposed of.

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• LEECH LAKE RESERVATION TRIBAL COUNCIL
• NOTIFICATION OF DELEGATION MEMO POLICY
• WHEREAS, the Leech Lake Reservation Tribal
  Council,
• through its advisory council the Green Team, is
  responsible for
• sustainability, reduction of wasteful
  activities, and green alternatives to current
  operations within the Leech Lake government and
•  
• WHEREAS, it has been past policy that when a
  staff person is designating their signature
  authority to another staff person that
  notification of this action will be sent
  throughout the entire Band government division
  structure and
•  
• WHEREAS, it is important to the culture and
  well-being of Leech Lake Tribal Members that we
  manage our resources and reduce waste and
•  
• WHEREAS, the Reservation Tribal Council
  recognizes that this practice is inefficient and
  extremely wasteful since hundreds of sheets of
  paper are required for this practice
•  
• NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that it is the
  direction of the Reservation Tribal Council that
  notification of transfer of signing authority
  need only be e-mailed to the following staff
  Executive Director, Deputy Director, Accounting,
  Purchasing and an appropriate person within the
  staffs office who can refer inquiries of the
  appropriate contact person.

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Energy Wise Challenge

• Challenge of two government buildings
• Based off of June 2008
• Use Green Team as coaches/educators
• Building with the largest percentage saved wins
  FOOD!
• Turn OFF!
• Computers and all accessories, turn down AC,
  close windows with AC on, xerox, turn off lights
• Could save thousands of

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Reminder Magnet/Flyer
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What needs to be done?

• Hire a Coordinator
• Hire of a part-time green grant writer
• Act as a central coordinator with the Green Team
  as the steering committee
• Find funding to implement projects
• Research other opportunities and partnerships

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What needs to be done?

• EDUCATION!!!
• Expand energy savings project
• Further implement recycling program
• Much, Much more

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What can you do?

• Start your own Green Team
• Gather many different characters
• Start small, tackle little things first
• Come up with a overall mission statement/purpose
  statement
• Brainstorm, share ideas
• As difficult as it is, follow through with
  commitments!

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• Brandy Toft
• Air Quality Specialist
• Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe
• 218-335-7429
• air_at_lldrm.org

www.lldrm.org