2007 Urban-Rural Interface Conference
Alabama Cooperative Extension System
How safe are we?
Threats to our environment
Holiday Inn Downtown, Huntsville, AL
Thursday, April 19, 2007
7:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
2007 Urban-Rural Interface Conference
Conference Program
April 19, 2007
Holiday Inn Downtown
Huntsville, Alabama
Presiding:
Dr. Jannie Carter
Extension Assistant Director
Alabama Cooperative Extension System
7:00 a.m.Exhibit Set-Up in Grand Ballroom
7:30 a.m.Registration (continental breakfast)
8:30 a.m...... Welcome and Greetings Dr. Robert R. Jennings
President, Alabama A&M University (AAMU)
Councilman Richard Showers, Sr.
Huntsville City Council, District 1
Dr. Robert Taylor
Dean, School of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences, AAMU
8:45 a.m.Introduction of Keynote Speaker...... Attorney Ken Hairston
General Counsel, AAMU
8:50 a.m...... Opening Keynote Address Dr. Kathleen Felker
Vice-Chairman
Alabama Environmental Management Commission
9:35 a.m.Introduction of Panel Facilitator...... Mrs. Rosalie Lane
Conference Coordinator & CRD Specialist
Alabama Cooperative Extension System (Extension)
Advocacy Panel Discussion...Dr. William McAllister, Facilitator
Retired Associate Professor
Department of Community Planning & Urban Studies, AAMU
Panelists
Ms. Lynne Berry, Associate Director of Community Relations, The Nature
Conservancy of Alabama, Huntsville, AL
Mr. John Ehinger, Editorial Page Editor, Huntsville Times, Huntsville, AL
Mr. Charles King, Founder, King Electronic Packaging Service, Huntsville, AL
Mr. Daniel Moberly, Indoor Air Quality Resident Practitioner, Association of School Business Officials International, Reston, VA
Mr. Andy Prewett, Land Manager, The Land Trust of Huntsville and North Alabama, Huntsville, AL
Certificate Presentation...... Dr. Chinella Henderson
Associate Director of Urban Affairs & New Nontraditional Programs, Extension
Dr. Elica Moss
Assistant Professor, Department of Plant & Soil Sciences, AAMU
11:00 a.m.OUT AND ABOUT TOURS/VIEW EXCERPTS from
“An Inconvenient Truth”/VIEW EXHIBITS....Dr. Jannie Carter
Assistant Director for Urban Affairs & New Nontraditional Programs, Extension
“Out & About” environmental stroll through Huntsville’s Big Spring Park and new fountain with Dr. Earl Gooding, Professor, AAMU.
(Dr. Gooding spearheaded the river walk design concept for the
City of Huntsville more than 25 years ago.)
Tour of Garden Produce Center, Inc.
[Limit 30; first 30 to sign up] Gather in Lobby, bus will load and depart by 11:15 a.m. Tour led by Dr. Cathy Sabota, AAMU Associate Professor, Extension Horticulture Specialist, and Dr. Julio Correa, AAMU Associate Professor, Extension Animal Scientist.
View excerpts fromVice President Gore’s Oscar winning documentary “An Inconvenient Truth” (on Global Warming) in the Von Braum Room. Facilitators Ms. Wendi Williams and
Ms. Jean Dwyer, Extension
Presenting the environmental efficiency of the Ford Escape Hybrid, compliments of Woody Anderson Ford. Facilitated by
Mr. James Morris, Sales Department, Huntsville, AL
Presiding:
Dr. Virginia Caples
1890 Administrator, Distinguished Professor
Alabama A&M University
12:15 p.m.Luncheon
Invocation...... Dr. McArthur Floyd
Associate Dean & Director of Agricultural & Research Programs
AAMU
~ Luncheon Served ~
Certificate Presentation...... Dr. Chinella Henderson
Dr. Elica Moss
Introduction of Keynote Speaker...... Dr. Edward Williams
Associate Professor, Department of Agribusiness, AAMU
Keynote Address...... Dr. Sharunda Buchanan
Director
Division of Emergency & Environmental Health Services
National Center for Environmental Health
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Atlanta, GA
1:50 p.m.“Status of Agricultural & Environmental
Sciences Research at AAMU”...... Dr. Wubishet Tadesse
Assistant Professor
Center for Forest Ecosystems Assessment, AAMU
2:00 p.m.Government & Public Agency
Panel Discussion...... Dr. William McAllister, Facilitator
Panelists
Ms. Dixie Bray, Environmental Awareness Officer, Solid Waste Disposal Authority, City of Huntsville, AL
Mr. Terry Hazle, Chief, Environmental Management Division, United States Army Garrison, Redstone Arsenal, AL
Ms. Debra Hopson, Staff Biologist, Natural Resources and Environmental Management Division, City of Huntsville
Ms. Gloria Mims, Deputy Director, Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Management, City of Huntsville, AL
Dr. Roy Spencer, Meteorologist/Principal Research Scientist, University of Alabama in Huntsville, Huntsville, AL
Mr. James Walker, Jr., Director, Alabama Department of Homeland Security, Montgomery, AL
Certificate Presentation...... Dr. Chinella Henderson
Dr. Elica Moss
3:45 p.m...... Recognitions Ms. Diane Kirnes
Director of Grants
Madison County Commissioner’s Office, District 6
3:55 p.m.Evaluation...... Dr. Cathy Sabota
Extension Horticulture Specialist, AAMU Professor
Keynote Speakers
Guest Speakers
“The Relevancy of Nature Conservancy”
Ms. Lynne Berry, is the associate director of Community Relations at The Nature Conservancy. She has worked for United States Congressman Bud Cramer and Senator Jeff Sessions, NASA, and public school systems. Ms. Berry is also a graduate of Vanderbilt University.
“The Little Red Hen, Revisited, Circa 2007”
Ms. Dixie Bray has 25 years of experience in solid waste management and currently serves as the environmental awareness officer for the City of Huntsville. She is a member of and/or serves as, a volunteer for the Solid Waste Association of North America, the National Solid Waste Management Association, the North American Hazardous Materials Management, and other organizations.
“Environmental Issues Facing Alabama”
Mr. John Ehinger,awinner of numerous awards for editorial and column writing,has been the editorial page editor of The Huntsville Times for 22 years. Ehinger holds a bachelor's degree in English from the University of Alabama in Huntsville and a master's degree in English from the University of Connecticut. He is married to Margaret Darlene Ehinger; they have three children and five grandchildren.
“Redstone Arsenal Environmental Goals”
Mr. Terry Hazle is chief of the Environmental Management Division, United States Army Garrison, Redstone Arsenal. He held environmental management or engineering positions at Army installations in Lexington and Richmond Kentucky and the Kentucky Environmental Protection Cabinet. Mr. Hazle earned degrees in Agriculture and Engineering from the University of Kentucky, and is the recipient of the Army’s Commander’s and the Army’s Superior Civilian Service Award.
Ms. Debra Hopson received a B.S. degree in Biology from the University of Alabama in Huntsville. She is the staff biologist at the City of Huntsville's Natural Resources and Environmental Management Division. In 1993,
Ms. Hopson was the first person certified to perform pollen counts in the state of Alabama by the Harvard School of Public Health. She currently operates the only certified and reporting pollen counting station in Alabama.
“Electronic Equipment Stewardship: An Overview of E-Waste Treatment”
Mr. Charles King is the founder of King Electronic Packaging, a consultancy and advisory service to small and medium-sized suppliers. He also serves as a senior consultant for SBGi, the authors of the HSPM technical specification or QC080000. He is focused on Alabama-based and potential exporters and how to assist in their compliance activity. He and his wife Mildred High are the parents of six children.
“An Overview of Ambient Air Quality in Huntsville”
Ms. Gloria Mims received a bachelor of science degree in Biology from Eureka College in Illinois. She is employed by the City of Huntsville in the Division of Natural Resources where she is currently serving as deputy director.
“The Bar Has Been Raised: Are You Prepared?”
Mr. Daniel Moberly served as assistant superintendent for Business Services at the Kent School District in Washington State for nine years prior to joining the Association of School Business Officials International in July 2004. He has been the chief business official in two states, serving 800 to 26,000 students. In his current role as resident practitioner for indoor air quality, Mr. Moberly is a valuable resource at no cost for school districts and professional associations across the United States and Canada.
“How to Form Community Partnerships to Handle Environmental Issues”
Mr. Andy Prewett is the land manager ofThe Land Trust of Huntsville and North Alabama where he oversees 4500 acres of preserved green space. He currently works with the United States Department of Agriculture’s Flint River Watershed Advisory Committee. In addition, Mr. Prewett serves as a board member of The Alabama Invasive Plant Council where he promotes the preservation of underdeveloped lands to protect our environment.
“Threats to Our Environment”
Dr. Roy Spencer is ameteorologist and a principal research scientist for the University of Alabama in Huntsville. He served as a senior scientist at the Global Hydrology & Climate Center, National Space Science & Technology Center. Dr. Spencer received NASA's Medal for Exceptional Scientific Achievement and other awards. He continues to be known throughout research circles for his work in monitoring satellite-based temperatures.
“Air Quality and Global Warming”
Mr. James Walker, Jr. was appointed the first director of the Alabama Department of Homeland Security in January 2003. He holds a master’s degree in Public Administration from the University of Oklahoma, and, in conjunction with an American Political Science Association Fellowship, studied Congress and Foreign Affairs at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies in Washington D.C. During his military career, Mr. Walker served with former Secretary of State General Colin Powell and worked as an aide to the late President Ronald Reagan.
VENDORS/EXHIBITORS
City of Huntsville
Division of Natural Resources
Division of Solid Waste Management
Division of Solid Waste Management/E-Waste
The Nature Conservancy
Alabama Cooperative Extension System
Urban Affairs & New Nontraditional Programs
Radon
Small Ruminant Programs
Urban-Rural Interface Conference
Steering & Planning Committee Members
Rosalie Lane, Chair
Lynn BerryDr. Celedonio GapasinCynthia Parker
Dr. Maria BrowningSusan GloverWalter Parker, Esq.
Dr. Virginia CaplesDr. Lee GrandfordCarolyn Parham
Dr. Jannie CarterDr. Chinella HendersonCynthia Peurifoy
Phil CarterPatricia Henderson Carolyn Reedus
James ChildressErica JamesWalter Rodgers
Marcia CobunDr. Jacqueline Johnson Dr. Wilma Ruffin
Edna ColemanMarilyn Simpson-Johnson Dr. Cathy Sabota
Dr. Paulette ColemanPamela JudeElizabeth Smith
Jackie CollierSharon KingMia Smith
Dr. Donnie CookDiane KirnesRon Smith
Dr. Julio CorreaDr. Neil LambDavon Walker
Kevin Crenshaw, Esq.Nancy McCraryDr. David West
Oliver DillardGloria MimsDr. Edward Williams
Jean Hall DwyerJames MooreWendi Williams
John EhingerDr. Elica MossDr. Bernice Wilson
Dr. Ben FerrillDr. Connie Wilson
A big “thank you” to the members of the Urban-Rural Interface Committees and all those who worked long hours to make this conference possible. Special thanks to Erica Barnes as her contributions to this conference were invaluable, and to the Public Relations Committee
(Dr. Jannie Carter, Jean Dwyer, Nancy McCrary, Carol Parham, and Wendi Williams).
Students are a valuable resource and we would be remiss if we did not thank all of our student assistants. Let us not forget, a great big “thank you” to all the community volunteers that helped to make this program run smoothly.