One more way for teachers to help give back to the community: going green in checking accounts

Starting on Earth Day, STCU members who switch to paper-saving electronic account statements will be helping plant trees. At the same time, they’ll help local students learn about conservation and sustainability.

For every member who makes the switch from paper statements to e-statements between April 22 and June 30, STCU will donate the money to plant one tree along Deep Creek, Coulee Creek and Hangman Creek (also called Latah Creek). Work will be done in North Idaho, as well, although exact locations have not been selected.

The work is being organized by the Lands Council, which hopes to plant 5,000 trees through its Project SUSTAIN. STCU hopes enough members make the switch to e-statements by June 30 to provide at least 1,000 of those trees.

Up to 400 Inland Northwest high school students will help plant the trees, said Amanda Swan, Lands Council director of development and communications. Students from Mead Alternative School, The Community School, On Track Academy, Lewis and Clark High School, Coeur d’Alene High School and Post Falls High School and St. Maries High School will participate.

“The benefits are in reducing erosion in the watershed,” Swan said. “Tree planting helps stabilize stream banks, reducing sediments and toxics from entering our watersheds and eventually the Spokane River. There’s a public health benefit that goes beyond doing something great for the environment and planting trees.”

Switching to e-statements has other benefits, as well:

• Reduces paper waste.
• Speeds delivery.
• Keeps your confidential financial records secure.
• Eliminates the risk of lost or stolen mail.
• Eliminates postage and printing costs for STCU, a member-owned financial cooperative.

Spokane Teachers Credit Union

Founded by educators in 1934, STCU is a member-owned, not-for-profit cooperative with 113,000 members, more than $1.7 billion in total assets and 16 branch locations in Eastern Washington and North Idaho. Our South Valley Branch features the Valley’s first electric car charging station that’s open to free public use.

For more information, please contact
Dan Hansen, Sr. Communications Officer

STCU

509/344-2208 (desk)

509/590-8666 (cell)

danh@stcu.org

or

Amanda Swan, Director of Development & Communications

The Lands Council

509/209-2851

aswan@landscouncil.org

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Reforest Spokane Day …
a Finalist in Tom’s of Maine’s 50 States for Good challenge!
The difference between 1st Place and 2nd Place
is $30,000! PLEASE VOTE AGAIN TODAY.
Remember to vote every day through Sept. 13

What does this mean?
This means that should we win – which we plan on doing – Tom’s of Maine
will grant us the funds allowing us to plant:

10,000 native Ponderosa Pines
with the help of 500 Volunteers
in ONE SINGLE DAY
Right HERE is Spokane!!

Imagine our community with an additional 10,000 Ponderosa Pines! The mighty
Ponderosa Pine is not only a native species to the Inland Northwest, but also:

Provides much-needed shade
Reduces Traffic Noise
Beautifies our City

“Reforest Spokane Day” also offers something very special – the opportunity to instill unity within our community as we band together to support this project! This is our chance to come together and do something wonderful for our city, so please – after you’ve voted, forward this message to your friends, family, co-workers…everyone!

Click Here! –> PLEASE VOTE TODAY! <-- Click Here!
And EVERY DAY until September 13th!

For information about how you can help promote “Reforest Spokane Day,” please contact:
Amanda Swan at (509) 209-2851 or aswan@landscouncil.org

Thank you for your support!

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The Lands Council, an organization to “preserve and revitalize Inland Northwest forests, water, and wildlife through advocacy, education, effective action, and community engagement,” is in search of new members. If you join by Dec. 9th, you get reduced membership rates of $25 per individual or family, and you’ll be entered to win:

– Two 1-day snowboard and ski rentals from Wintersport,
– a $50 gift certificate to Taste Cafe,
– a free weekend rental of a classic Volkswagen Vanagon Camper (from dragonflyvans.com),
– Two tickets to Interplayers’ holiday show, Underneath the Lintel
– and more.

Prizes will be given away at their holiday party on December 9th from 5 -7 pm at the Community Building. Find out more about the membership drive at landscouncil.org or call 838-4912.

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Find out what local experts think about the state of, and future of, Eastern Washington’s environmental laws.

In a forum presented by the Spokane County Democrats, the Center for Justice and Gonzaga Law School, presenters will share their ideas on how to improve current policies. The event is from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. on August 24th at the Barbieri Courtroom on the Gonzaga Campus. (Click here for a campus map.) Doors open at 3:30 p.m.

The panel is moderated by dean of Gonzaga Law School, Earl Martin and includes the following presenters:

Kitty Klitzche, Eastern Washington Coordinator of Futurewise, discussing the import of Washington’s Growth Management and presenting Growth Management 101.

Mike Chappell, Director of the GU Environmental Law Clinic, speaking on Clean Water Act 101 and the Spokane River.

Joel Merkel, Sen. Maria Cantwell‘s DC Legislative Aid on Environmental Issues, to discuss a Federal legislative update, funding as part of stimulus and how the Sentator’s work on the Energy Committee is resulting in local successes.

Bruce Howard, Director of Environmental Affairs for Avista, speaking on Local Business and Environmental Partnerships

Mike Petersen, Lands Council, presenting a national NEPA success story discussing National Forest collaboration and NEPA.

Sam Mace, Inland NW Director for Save Our Wild Salmon, speaking on Finding Common Ground on Salmon Recovery.

Breean Beggs, Chief Catalyst for the Center for Justice, speaking on local environmental issues and initiatives.

Send your RSVP to vote@spokanedemocrats.org.

The post Environmental Law Forum appeared first on Out There Venture.

Learn more about who else is in the running and vote here.

The post The Lands Council Wants Your Vote appeared first on Out There Venture.