Indiana Recycling Coalition, Electronics Task Force Meeting
Wednesday, February 26, 2003, 4:00 p.m., Abbey Coffee Shop in Indianapolis

Those present:  Terry Duffy, Michele Cohen, Melinda Antell, Jim Parker, John Crooks, Eric Goldsmith, Kristen Briar, and co-chairs Amanda Hennessy and Julie L. Rhodes

1)  IRC's E-Scrap Action Plan Project

• Status of IDEM Grant for $40,000 - Has been approved and KB brought the contract to the meeting and TD and MC were prepared to sign it.  KB noted that state contracts can take up to 6 - 8 weeks to get through the state signature process. The task force expressed concern that the timing will be very close and if there was anything KB could do to help speed up the process, it would be greatly appreciated, as it could hurt the IRC's ability to do the necessary tasks in time to adequately prepare for the news conference and first stakeholder meeting (thinking especially about the stakeholder research and printing and mailing invitations).   

Match Funding Update - Michele Cohen will have taken the best leads from our research, worked to contact potential funders, set up meetings, etc. Timeline for MC on fundraising was:  By January 24, all calls were to be made.  By February 4, all appointments were to be met.  And, by February 25, proposals were to be sent to each of the targeted funders.  Status: Lilly - MC and JLR met with two representatives, one of who will likely participate in the stakeholder meeting and they also supplied another name that MC needs to contact; Marsh - has not been contacted, IPL - has not been contacted; Old National Bank - JP hand carried proposal to his contact who has indicated that group meets every other week to consider proposals, JP will push him to try to get an answer; Barker Welfare - has not been contacted;  Ball Brothers - has not been contacted, but MC is going to contact East Central SWMD and Muncie Sanitary District to get letters of support; Gannet - has not been contacted.  The task force shared several other ideas for funders to approach, including:  Thompson Consumer Electronics - MC received a contact from Lilly but has not been able to reach; ISRI or other scrap metal association - may be able to get good contact from Mark Imel; Escient - no one had contact, but MC will investigate Scott Jones (wealthy individual who owns the local software company); HH Gregg - sells computers, should have interest ; Verizon - MA will investigate; SBC - has accelerated grants for technology; Best Buy - distribution center in Johnson Co, so MA will investigate; Pentranic - JLR will try to contact; Delco, Arvin and Chrysler - JLR has requested contacts from Martin Seaman, our speaker from Michigan; Staples - JC has contact from the Staples computer collection; Chesapeake Recycling in Winimac - MC will contact. MC suggested that she'd come up with sponsorship categories similar to the sustaining member categories that would not be competing with the existing sustaining member program.  New fundraising goals for MC: The goal is to have proposals to entire initial list and to have made contact with each of these new organizations by next task force meeting.  Fundraising continues to be the most critical issue facing the project at this time.  The task force stressed that if there is not half of the money secured (with commitments made, even if money is not in hand) by the planned kickoff, we cannot move forward.  In addition, there has to be reasonable belief that 100% of the money can be secured by the planned kickoff, or we cannot move forward.
2)  IRC Conference

• Electronics Track Sessions - Three sessions set, moderators committed (Terry Duffy, Steven Boggs, and Julie L. Rhodes), working to finalize speakers.  Have confirmed Jason Swift with EPA, a person to speak on liability from Barnes & Thornburg, John Crooks with Virtual Scavengers, Kate Krebs from NRC, Martin Seaman from Michigan and keynote speaker, Tom Watson with King County.  Have invited and are awaiting word back from Scott Cassel of Product Stewardship Initiative. If Scott Cassel is not available, JLR was instructed to contact Sego Jackson of Snohomish Co., Washington.  
• Press Conference/E-Scrap Action Plan Kickoff -
  • The task force discussed the plan for the press conference.  The goal is to have several key partners, such as IDEM's Lori Kaplan, business partners such as Lilly or Thompson Consumer Electronics, and partners in the electronics management arena such as Goldsmith Group or United.  Basically, we want people to participate or be present who feel that this project will provide leadership in helping the state come up with a plan for proper management of electronics and help build the infrastructure for that management, in a consensus-based program.  Committee agreed that it would be better to hold press conference in an electronics related backdrop than at the hotel.  The task force decided to hold their next meeting at Virtual Scavengers and if it seems well suited, we will hold the press conference there.  It is large, close to the hotel, a non-profit helping kids, established, and could provide a good tour location.  The site could also be a good location for the stakeholder meeting, and will be investigated further during the next meeting. KB asked what the group was looking for from Lori Kaplan.  It was suggested that IDEM could present a "big check".  Also that Lori's remarks should be visionary, such as stressing the enormity of the electronics management challenge, and how IDEM sees the IRC process as the best possible approach to a solution by bringing together all sectors to begin discussing a consensus-based direction that involves all the affected parties towards creating a statewide management infrastructure. Since the electronics issue touches everyone's lives, from businesses to residents to government agencies, and could also provide some real answers to the digital divide and providing technology to the "have nots".  The task force asked KB if IDEM would help with getting the media there, and if the IRC and IDEM could do a joint press release where several parties were quoted?  KB said that she would look into it at IDEM, but noted that the agency is excited about this project. Press conference would run from 1 - 1:30 p.m.
  • The task force also discussed the kickoff meeting.  The plan is to have Martin Seaman and Scott Cassel (or Sego Jackson) as formal speakers to help set a vision for the project and process.  The committee discussed how the rest of the meeting will progress, establish the formal agenda, etc.  Committee decided to extend the time of the meeting until 4:30 p.m., and if held at Virtual Scavenger, to offer a brief tour.  IRC will introduce the concept, then speakers will present, then we will go around the room and allow each participant to provide insight into their greatest challenge (need to develop rules of engagement for this as we will need to move quickly through the group, but want to hear from everyone).  We need to leave this meeting with identified questions and how the next meeting agenda will be developed to help answer those questions (by bringing in more speakers for future meetings to address issues).  Need to make sure that date and time of next meeting are set and provided to participants at the first meeting. AH will lead the effort to begin to collect potential stakeholder names, but everyone on the task force needs to provide ideas for people, organizations, businesses, etc.  Invitations for the stakeholders meeting need to go out April 1. We will use "plug in" world logo and try to do nice, color, but low cost invitations. MC will approach EPA will idea of providing postage, and that could be used for grant match.

3)  Other Issues

• Newsletter - Julie L. Rhodes and Amanda Hennessy provided information about the committee and other timely electronics issues to Rudy Osenbaugh, Newsletter Editor for the last edition.  Need to provide info to next newsletter and need committee member to take that on.
• Website and Listserve - Status on new website and listserve from Melinda Antell and setting up timeline for getting electronics information on website and possibility and timeline for listserv or bulletin board. MA noted that could put an E-Scrap Action button on the website home page.  Task Force wants to post project profile, request for partners.  Also want to provide bulletin board of current electronics news, events, etc.  MA and JC will work on template for the website to present next meeting.

 

Next meeting of the subcommittee will be held at Virtual Scavengers, 754 North Sherman Drive, Suite 216, Indianapolis, on Thursday, March 13, 2003, at 4 p.m. (directions will come with reminder).  

summary provided by:  Julie L. Rhodes, 317/631-2220