Hello from CORD
Hope you have all enjoyed the long and very hot summer. As Fall approaches, there is an exciting element added to our neighborhood’s well being….the Gowanus Canal Community Advisory Group, known as a CAG, for short, has been formed.
CORD has been given a seat on the group and that means that we will be informing you through this blog and our newsletter, on a meeting by meeting basis and looking to you for your input when it comes to decision making time.
Please read through the linked document http://bit.ly/cNEoRH as well as the attached email, where Jeffrey Edelstein, our community’s chosen Facilitator, lays out the goals, function and nuts and bolts of the CAG as well as its makeup. Each organization, its representative and each “resident at large” member is listed by name.
We will need your help. We ask you to keep abreast of the CAG’s progress and the information it distributes by acquiring that information from all possible available sources.
As we proceed, and those informational sources become clearer, we will post their links here and on our newsletter. We want you to be as knowledgeable as possible so that you may share with us your input and concerns so that we may, in turn, accurately express them at CAG meetings.
If your contact information has changed or if you are new to our organization, please email us at CGCORD@GMAIL.COM, with your contact information and we will add you to our newsletter list. You must state in your email that you wish to receive any newsletters or announcements sent out by CORD.
We ask you to take as active a role as possible. Participate by emailing us with your ongoing concerns, your questions, your suggestions and your gut feelings as often as you would like.
It was your tremendous participation during the EPA’s public comment period when the Canal was first nominated to the National Priorities List as a possible Superfund site that resulted in its eventual listing. Your commitment, your passion and the level of knowledge and understanding you have always expressed has brought all of us to this point.
Let’s continue to move forward.
A clean Gowanus Canal, a safer, healthier environment for us, our children and grandchildren is no longer something we can only wistfully dream about ……it is something that IS going to happen and it is directly because of you!
It is an authentic and exciting endeavor. Please continue to play an active role as it moves closer to realization.
CORD
From: Jeff Edelstein
To: edelstein@psouth.net
Cc: Loney.Natalie@epamail.epa.gov; mcgowan.michael@epa.gov
Sent: Wed, September 8, 2010 9:29:27 AM
Subject: Gowanus Canal Community Advisory Group - proposed membership for public comment
Attached you will find a memorandum presenting the proposed list of members of the Gowanus Canal Community Advisory Group (CAG) for the Superfund clean-up. The memorandum also describes: 1) the assessment approach that was used to develop this list; 2) the issues of concern that were described to me by members of community during the assessment; 3) the observations, conclusions and criteria that I used to develop the membership list; 4) the elements and structure that are needed for the CAG to be successful; and 5) other background information.
The public is invited to submit comments to me about this memorandum.
Comments should be sent either via email (edelstein@psouth.net) or US mail ( PO Box 389, East Waterboro , ME 04030 ) by 5 p.m. (Eastern Time) on Friday, September 17. Following the review of comments, any changes to the proposed list, if warranted, will be announced along with the date, time, and location for the first CAG meeting, which is expected to be in October. The meeting will be open to the public. In order to provide all members of the community equal opportunity to comment on the proposed formation of the CAG, this memorandum has not been shared with any individuals, agencies, businesses, or organizations prior to its public release today.
Thank you to the 52 individuals representing the diverse sectors of the community who have expressed interest in serving the community through CAG participation and who have provided valuable and thoughtful input during this assessment phase.
Regards,
Jeff Edelstein
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Jeff Edelstein
Principal, Edelstein Associates
Senior Consultant, Consensus Building Institute
(207) 247-8024 (office)
(207) 632-8440 (cell)
Additional info at:
Here is the link http://bit.ly/cNEoRH
