To honor the legacy of the late Dr. William Hughes, a second free public forum organized by Bridges for Intercultural Understanding entitled "What Every Citizen Needs to Know: "Being Green" will be presented on Sunday, Feb. 24, at 1 p.m. in Classroom Building 204 at the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology. Event schedule:
1-2 p.m. Concurrent events in Room 204 and adjoining rooms
- History Channel film on Oil Crisis and Energy Alternatives, introduced by retired petroleum engineer Dwayne Coleman
- Report and conversation with Sen. Tom Katus and Rep. Ed MacLaughlin: an overview of energy-related discussion and actions in the 2008 legislature
- Displays from Rapid City Solid Waste on compost, Democracy in Action environmental committee on recycling, and the Sierra Club on energy saving light bulbs, plus energy conservation information from utilities
- Networking
2:30-4:30 p.m. Forum moderated by Dr. John Usera, Chiesman Foundation
- Energy suppliers: Mike Chase, manager of marketing and member services, Black Hills Electric Co-op, and Mutch Usera, director, community connections and retail marketing, Black Hills Corporation, will be presenting "What is your utility doing about alternative energy and what can we consumers do beyond new light bulbs and Energy Start appliances?"
- Green building: Fred Thurston and Heather Krafka of FourFront Design on building "green."
- Recycling: Jerry Wright, Rapid City Solid Waste division manager, on philosophy and economics of solid waste management and how that fits with energy conservation, plus a presentation by Democracy in Action's environmental group on local recycling facts
- Dr. Usera will moderate a question and answer session.
Bridges for Intercultural Understanding proposed a three-part series to honor Bill Hughes, who was a founding member of BIU. The School of Mines, BHC Governmental and Public Affairs Department and The Journey Museum cosponsor Sunday's forum in cooperation with the Rapid City Weekly News.
A third forum in this series, "What Citizens Believe: Do Spiritual and Cultural Values Shape Energy Policy," is scheduled for March 30, 2008.
Bridges for Intercultural Understanding, a Black Hills area group, has organized issues forums over the past four years. The group's mission is to facilitate public dialogue on intercultural issues, both global and local. For more information, contact planning team convener Donna Fisher at (605) 355-9532.
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