Take nothing but pictures. Leave nothing but footprints. Kill nothing but time.

Today is National Shrimp Scampi Day, but more importantly it is also International Pay It Forward Day!

On International Pay It Forward Day, the idea is for individuals to enact random acts of kindness and instead of expecting a pay back, ask the recipient to pay it forward by sharing an act of kindness with someone else, and so on and so on, creating a ripple effect of feel good deeds; whatever you can do to help someone, small or big. It’s a simple, but profound idea. The Pay It Forward Foundation was established in September 2000 by author Catherine Ryan Hyde and others to educate and inspire students to realize that they can change the world, and provide them with opportunities to do so.

Group Activity!!!  

Join us for another round of

'Tech Services Games at Noon'  - in the TS Library!

We may play 'Apples to Apples' again - or possibly 'Bananagrams'

Final Guessing Game!!!

Here is a random collection of cubicle shot that didn't get picked for the first round.  I had fun capturing them, so thought I would share them all...can you guess who they belong to??

Scott

Devone

Hoang

Jason

Pam

Jodie

Anne

Angela

Tom

Devone

Janet

Terry

Conn

Angela

Thomas

Conn

Anne

Terry

Pam

Jill

Monika

Scott

Conn

Jason

Laughter is the sun that drives winter from the human face. -Victor Hugo

'Tech Services Games at Noon'
- in the Alder Room!

On the AGENDA - lot of fun as we enjoy a few rounds of 'Apples to Apples.'

Earth Day, Every Day

Earth Day 2010 – 40th Anniversary


RECYCLE

Recycling materials refers to using items again after they are reprocessed. Items that can be recycled include glass food and beverage containers, aluminum and steel cans, newspaper, corrugated cardboard, magazines, plastics #1 & #2, white paper for businesses, grass clippings, leaves, nickel cadmium and lead-acid batteries and used motor oil. Recyclables are collected, sorted and processed. After baling the materials, they are sent to facilities that process them into new products. Buying products made from recycling materials will help to “close the loop” of recycling!

Recycling has many benefits. The more we recycle the less garbage ends up in the landfills and resource recovery or trash to energy plants. Less energy is used to process the materials, valuable resources are saved and therefore, costs are decreased. Recycling also prevents emissions of many greenhouse gases and water pollutants.

Another form of recycling is composting. A compost pile is comprised of leaves, grass clippings and other organic matter such as fruits and vegetables. Eventually, this pile decomposes into humus or compost. This may be used to provide nutrients to the soil, reduce the need for fertilizers, protect the soil from erosion and keep organic wastes from having to be landfilled or incinerated.

Check here for 5 surprising things you can throw in the recycling bin:

http://green.yahoo.com/blog/the_conscious_consumer/123/five-surprising-things-you-can-throw-in-the-recycling-bin.html

Eat, Sleep, Recycle

Today is Administrative Professionals Day

Take a break and help Michael do some cleaning up in the local park in ‘Michael, Michael Go Recycle’ Game:

http://funschool.kaboose.com/globe-rider/earth-day/games/game_michael_recycle.html

Today's eco friendly tips:

REUSE

An old New England saying is apropos to managing our solid waste today:

• Use it up
• Wear it out
• Make it do
• Or do without

We’re not going to suggest we do without our favorite items. But we do encourage everyone to use a product more than once, since it extends the life of the product and helps reduce waste (and saves you money). Reusing items by repairing them, donating them to charitable organizations and other community groups, or even selling articles is preferable to single use products. Otherwise, it can end up in the trash and add to the volume! Some of the ways you can reuse items rather than throw them away are as follows:

• Use coffee mugs and real glass instead of plastic or styrofoam
• Refill bottles, especially water and sports bottles
• Donate clothing, equipment, furniture and other items to charitable organizations
• Use empty plastic containers for leftovers
• Use “found” items for arts and crafts projects

Today's wastage is tomorrow's shortage

Volunteer Recognition Day – be sure to thank those you know who volunteer


REDUCE

Every person generates approximately 4.2 pounds of trash a day! That translates to about three quarters of a ton each year, per person.
Waste prevention or source reduction refers to the practice of decreasing the amount of garbage generated. Consuming and throwing away less garbage is one way we can manage solid waste. Source reduction is a way to actually prevent the making of trash in the first place!

There are different ways a consumer can make less trash.

One way is to purchase durable, long lasting goods and products. Seeking products that have little packaging decreases the amount of trash made. Buying fewer items, avoiding single-use items or avoiding buying things we don’t need are all ways to reduce our trash.

Using less hazardous items for cleaning, lawn care and other purposes is another component of source reduction.

To sit in the shade, you have to save paper first

Today is National Eggs Benedict Day
(We really should have the day off for this one!)

We hope that everyone has a fine weekend!

And now for today's eco-friendly tip:

Tip #10: Make your own cleaning supplies.

o The big secret: you can make very effective, non-toxic cleaning products whenever you need them. All you need are a few simple ingredients like water, baking soda, vinegar, lemon juice, borax, and soap.  Find environmental friendly ideas for glass cleaner, clogged drains, carpet deodorizer, and oven cleaner at this link: http://www.worldwatch.org/node/1484

o Making your own cleaning products saves money, time, and packaging-not to mention your indoor air quality.

http://www.worldwatch.org/resources/go_green_save_green

Save the earth, plant a tree!

Today is Part II of 'Brown Bag Lunch and Movie Day' as we watch the continuing story of  Wall-E at noon in the Alder Room. Bring your lunch!

Identify That Workspace - Part III
'Personality is everything in art and poetry.'
-Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Can you discover the "personality" involved in these final excerpts from Technology Services work areas? Points awarded for participation and accuracy!

And now for today's eco-friendly tip:

Tip # 9: Keep electronics out of the trash.

o Keep your cell phones, computers, and other electronics as long as possible.
o Donate or recycle them responsibly when the time comes. E-waste contains mercury and other toxics and is a growing environmental problem.

o Recycle your cell phone.

o Ask your local government to set up an electronics recycling and hazardous waste collection event.

http://www.worldwatch.org/resources/go_green_save_green