EnviroIssues News

Happy Holidays from EnviroIssues!

Thu, 15 Dec 2011 08:00:00 GMT

As the holidays approach, we are reminded of all the great ways we can reach out to our community and make a difference. We are proud to support two local organizations, Treehouse and United Way. Treehouse is an organization dedicated to enrichment and education for foster children, supporting more than 5,000 kids last year alone, and United Way has been providing basic needs, battling homelessness, and giving kids an equal chance for many years. Each of these organizations work hard to support our community - and we are thankful to help support all that they do!

EnviroIssues is a proud sponsor of South Park’s 6th Annual Duwamish River Festival

Tue, 16 Aug 2011 07:00:00 GMT

EnviroIssues is a proud sponsor of South Park’s 6th Annual Duwamish River Festival coming up on Saturday, August 27th in Duwamish Waterway Park. Hosted by the Duwamish River Cleanup Coalition, the festival encourages cleanup and restoration of the Duwamish River. Bring your family and friends to enjoy activities, art, culture and entertainment while promoting a healthy community!

View the poster

Congratulations SR 520 Bridge Program

Mon, 13 Jun 2011 07:00:00 GMT

EnviroIssues congratulates WSDOT on the release of its SR 520 I-5 to Medina final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS), the last environmental document leading to the Record of Decision coming this summer.

We are proud of the communications and technical support we have provided WSDOT in achieving this major milestone. For over 14 years, we have been fortunate to support a full communications program as well as provide technical expertise on resource and regulatory issues. The list below highlights some of the ways we have supported WSDOT and the SR 520 program.

Attended or organized over 500 informational events, workshops, briefings, community events and tours.
Informed over 36,000 people through community outreach.
Provided multiple presentations to more than 60 neighborhood associations on both sides of Lake Washington, and over a dozen more in the Grays Harbor area.
Responded to over 5,000 inquiries about the project and maintained communications with 4,600 people through our email list, and with 11,000 people on our mailing list.
Developed and maintained the project website where of course you can find much more information. Since January 2011, over 37,000 unique visitors have viewed the website.
Convened a regulatory coordination group of local, state, federal and tribal representatives to improve environmental analysis and streamline the regulatory compliance process.
Provided mitigation and permitting assistance at the local, state, and federal levels.
Organized and facilitated technical groups and/or expert review panels on topics such as parks, stormwater, facility siting, fish passage, natural resources, noise mitigation, and environmental compliance.
Managed communications-related functions for special projects such as the Washington Park Arboretum mitigation plan, the Catastrophic Failure plan, and the High Capacity Transit Plan.

“The People Side of Technical Work” Workshop with AAUW

Thu, 31 Mar 2011 07:00:00 GMT

EnviroIssues’ Pat Serie and Kaila Yoshitomi facilitated a workshop for the 2011 American Association of University Women (AAUW) Expanding Your Horizons Conference at Bellevue College. Through a series of three workshops, Pat and Kaila talked to high school girls about a career in the public involvement sector. Kaila, who started as an intern at EnviroIssues when she had just completed her freshman year of high school, talked to the girls about the importance of internships and professional development in high school. Their presentation included a hands-on session, in which the girls were provided with information on a local project and were asked to come up with key messages and tools for communication to help get the community involved.

Oregon’s APWA Chapter talks about social media in the public sector

Fri, 25 Mar 2011 07:00:00 GMT

Facebook is everywhere but does that mean you should start using it? What are the risks and opportunities public agencies should consider before using social media? Mandy Putney and Elizabeth Faulkner presented this week in Portland about how to get started with social media. They offered tips on which tools could work best for engaging the public in projects and how to evaluate effectiveness. Complete with iPad surveys (shown here) and an interactive discussion on lessons learned, the group explored the social media landscape and walked away with ideas about supplementing traditional outreach programs with social media and online tools.

“Connecting to Your Community” with the APA Puget Sound Section

Thu, 03 Mar 2011 08:00:00 GMT

On March 2, 2011, EnviroIssues’ Linda Mullen and Kristine Edens, AICP, led a brown bag session called "Connecting to Your Community" for members of the American Planning Association's Puget Sound Section. The session, held at the Mercer Island City Council Chambers, highlighted key findings from a recently completed survey of Northwesterners regarding the practice of public involvement and provided examples of cost-effective outreach strategies useful for planners, communications staff and management in the private and public sectors. Read more about the survey and results.

EnviroIssues hosts ACEC's Leadership Development Group

Tue, 22 Feb 2011 08:00:00 GMT

American Council of Engineering Companies of Washington (ACEC Washington)’s Leadership Development Group held its February breakfast social at EnviroIssues’ Seattle office on Feb. 23, 2011. Thanks to John Rowland, ACEC Washington’s Engineer of the Year, who shared thoughts on his career and his own leadership development. The LDG is designed to foster young leaders in the engineering field and provide a networking forum that encourages sharing information and developing ACEC’s Core Competencies.

EnviroIssues presents at WTS’s “Social Media and Transportation”

Wed, 19 Jan 2011 08:00:00 GMT

This week, EnviroIssues’ Chief Technology Officer Chris Morse presented alongside WSDOT, King County and Sound Transit at WTS's session on using social media on transportation projects. The presentation covered social media tools, relevant case studies and common obstacles for public projects.

Happy Holidays!

Wed, 22 Dec 2010 08:00:00 GMT

Thank you for being a part of our 20th year celebration and making our 20th year in business another successful one! We look forward to working with you in the new year. Happy Holidays to you and yours from EnviroIssues!

EnviroIssues expands to new office in Boise

Tue, 14 Dec 2010 08:00:00 GMT

EnviroIssues’ Boise office recently moved into the Banner Bank building in downtown Boise, Idaho. We have had a local office in Boise since 2008 and are excited to expand to support our growing project work in the Intermountain West. The Boise office is led by Senior Associate Susan Hayman, with support from Project Coordinator Melissa Thom. Feel free to stop by and see our latest digs if you’re in the Boise area!

Mountains to Sound Greenway Trust keeps Washington Green

Thu, 09 Dec 2010 08:00:00 GMT

COMMITMENT TO COMMUNITY: EnviroIssues has supported the Mountains to Sound Greenway Trust’s heritage study this year by providing strategic advice for stakeholder engagement and identifying meeting and facilitation tools for implementation during stakeholder group meetings. The Mountains to Sound Greenway Trust, founded in 1991, is the nonprofit organization based in Seattle that helped to protect the Mountains to Sound Greenway and preserve the land for public benefit. The Greenway surrounds 100 miles of Interstate 90 in Washington State from the waterfront in Seattle to the edge of desert grasslands in Central Washington.

Studying plastics in Puget Sound

Tue, 30 Nov 2010 08:00:00 GMT

COMMITMENT TO COMMUNITY: The Port Townsend Marine Science Center's Plastics Project was started to discover how much plastic is in the Puget Sound in order to educate the public about its dangers. EnviroIssues contributed to the beach sediments sampling program this year by collecting samples at Richmond Beach Saltwater Park in Shoreline, Wash. After sorting three buckets of samples by plastic size and type, we found that we had collected more than 300 different types of micro plastic, including foam, fragments and cigarette parts. EnviroIssues’ samples will contribute to PTMSC’s continued research on the quantity and types of micro plastics accumulation in Puget Sound. Based on the results of sampling conducted from fall 2008 through spring 2010, PTMSC estimates there is a total of 9.4 metric tons of micro plastic on Puget Sound beaches!

EnviroIssues Portland gives back through Habitat for Humanity

Thu, 11 Nov 2010 08:00:00 GMT

The EnviroIssues Portland staff spent a Saturday in October with Habitat for Humanity-Portland Metro/East. Habitat for Humanity sells affordable housing to families in need and relies heavily on volunteers to keep their housing inexpensive. The team took on a number of jobs from painting interiors and installing porch railings, to mixing and pouring wet cement at the Jubilee Commons site in Gresham, Oregon, a 23-unit multi-family housing complex with a community center. It was a cold and damp day, but the team helped push the Gresham site closer to its dedication date scheduled in early December 2010.

EnviroIssues helps restore Commencement Bay

Fri, 05 Nov 2010 07:00:00 GMT

COMMITMENT TO COMMUNITY: On October 9, EnviroIssues joined Citizens for a Healthy Bay and EarthCorps to plant trees and shrubs at Yowkwala Beach along Commencement Bay in Tacoma. Citizens for a Healthy Bay is a Tacoma-based organization that helps to clean up, restore and protect Commencement Bay, its surrounding waters and natural habitat. They work side-by-side with local citizens, businesses and government to prevent water pollution and make the community more sustainable. At this event, EnviroIssues, CHB and EarthCorps braved the pouring rain to help install more than 300 native plants along the shoreline!

Introducing the IAP2 Class of 2010

Mon, 01 Nov 2010 07:00:00 GMT

After an intense week of training, 14 EnviroIssues staff received their certification in public participation from the International Association of Public Participation (IAP2). IAP2 seeks to promote and improve the practice of public participation in relation to individuals, governments, institutions and other entities that affect the public interest throughout the world. The training, led by our very own Penny Mabie, asks participants to brainstorm, role play and strategize as they work through case studies and learn new tools and techniques for engaging the public. These staff join 15 EnviroIssues staff certified in effective planning, communications and techniques in public participation. Congratulations to Angie Thomson, Adair Muth, Elizabeth Faulkner, Ryan Orth, Kristin Dean, Heidi Sowell, Dennis Sandstrom, Alissa VandenBerghe, Justin McCaffree, Katie DeLeuw, Cheryl Ellsworth, KaDeena Yerkan, Diann Strom and Amy Turner.

Plant rescuers help Seattle Children’s Hospital

Mon, 11 Oct 2010 07:00:00 GMT

COMMITMENT TO COMMUNITY: With a hospital campus expansion on the horizon, EnviroIssues staff helped the Seattle Children's Hospital grounds crew "rescue" plants before they start construction. The grounds crew is faced with the tall order of salvaging the rescued plants while maintaining the more than 2,000 existing species on 20 acres. A few hours of digging resulted in many burlap bags overflowing with plants, which will find a home in the hospital's award-winning landscaping; a critical part of the healing environment for patients and their families.

EnviroIssues helps Seattle & Portland transform parking into temporary parks

Fri, 01 Oct 2010 07:00:00 GMT

COMMITMENT TO COMMUNITY: On September 17, EnviroIssues staff in Portland and Seattle transformed metered parking spaces into temporary public parks as part of Park(ing) Day 2010. Each year more than 900 participants in more than 600 hundred cities around the globe participate in this event to promote the importance of urban open space. Staff enticed visitors with grassy, tree and shrub-adorned new parks to talk with them about the purpose for Park(ing) Day. People used the spaces to play croquet, eat lunch, hold meetings and just relax. After the event, the plants and trees were donated to local organizations for their gardens and other landscaping needs.

Back-to-School with Treehouse for Kids

Tue, 21 Sep 2010 07:00:00 GMT

COMMITMENT TO COMMUNITY: With the start of a new school year just around the corner, EnviroIssues staff organized a Back-to-School donation drive to benefit Treehouse for Kids in the month of August. Treehouse for Kids is a local organization that works to provide support for foster children and their families. They provide numerous services, including after-school tutoring, college and career planning and the Wearhouse, a free store where kids can “shop” throughout the year for new clothing, school supplies and toys. EnviroIssues staff pitched in with enthusiasm and donated several hundred dollars worth of new clothing and school supplies, and also contributed $1,000 in online donations! Thanks in part to the help of EnviroIssues, Treehouse for Kids has been able to send over 1,400 foster kids back to school with the things they need.

Hayman presents at Idaho mediation conference

Mon, 20 Sep 2010 07:00:00 GMT

“Mediation” conjures images of conflict between two people. But what about mediation with multiple stakeholders? Can facilitation play a role? The tools mediators routinely use in two-party mediations are substantially enriched when applied with a facilitative approach. Associate Susan Hayman presented a session entitled "Thinking Like a Facilitator" when Mediating Group Conflict at the 2010 Idaho Mediation Association Conference in Boise, Idaho, in September. Susan leads our Boise office and is an expert on providing useful information and fundamental tools for how to successfully frame and address group conflict resolution.

Growing for the Oregon Food Bank

Tue, 31 Aug 2010 07:00:00 GMT

COMMITMENT TO COMMUNITY: A team from EnviroIssues recently braved the hot summer sun to help provide fresh produce to those in need. The Oregon Food Bank distributes food to banks serving the entire state of Oregon and Clark County, Washington and also provides educational and advocacy programs to address the root causes of hunger. The bank operates two Learning Gardens which grow fresh produce and serve as a living classroom to teach area residents how to grow their own food. The EnviroIssues team harvested and packed 96 pounds of bush beans and delivered them to the Oregon Food Bank’s distribution warehouse. The team also made sure that the garden’s resident chickens got their daily dose of greens by harvesting lettuce for their mid-morning snack!

EnviroIssues works out with the Austin Foundation

Mon, 16 Aug 2010 07:00:00 GMT

COMMITMENT TO COMMUNITY: On Saturday, Aug. 8, EnviroIssues staff participated in the Austin Foundation’s fitness challenge event, held at the Be Well Washington Health Fair at Qwest Field. The Austin Foundation is dedicated to “transforming lives through fitness” and its many programs provide fitness and nutrition programs that empower youth to build a healthy way of life. At the festival, our crew helped run fitness stations, including the information / nutrition table, push-ups, sit-ups, resistance bands, stretching, balance, step-ups, and trampoline. Although it was raining, more than 5,000 people participated in the day of fitness and everyone got a good workout!

Read all about it: EnviroIssues hits the library!

Tue, 27 Jul 2010 07:00:00 GMT

COMMITMENT TO COMMUNITY: EnviroIssues staff recently assisted the Multnomah County Library in ongoing efforts to upgrade materials to a new Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag system, which will give patrons the ability to check out their own materials and allow staff to spend more time on the floor. EnviroIssues employees from the Portland office spent a morning at the county’s Sellwood-Moreland Library, adding RFID tags to children’s books and scanning them into the catalog system (and reading some, too!). Time spent volunteering helped the library system accomplish the task of upgrading more than two million books and other materials at its Central Library and 18 branch locations by the end of the year.

Inspiring courage and leadership in girls

Mon, 26 Jul 2010 07:00:00 GMT

COMMITMENT TO COMMUNITY: Last Saturday, seven inspired EnviroIssues staff helped Passages Northwest at the mid-point of their busy summer season by cleaning and organizing the gear room and food prep areas, helping with essential yard work and serving as assistant grocery shoppers to provision 100+ students heading out on one of Passages Northwest’s summer courses! In addition, our team got a small taste of what each participant on a Passages Northwest course experiences. We began our day with an opening circle led by the fantastic Passages Northwest staff and closed by creating a human sculpture describing the day. We enjoyed supporting Passages Northwest’s work to inspire courage and leadership in middle and high school girls in our community!

Environmentally-friendly van washing helps Childhaven kids get places

Thu, 01 Jul 2010 07:00:00 GMT

COMMITMENT TO COMMUNITY: On June 27, EnviroIssues staff washed the inside and outside of eight program vans for Childhaven, practicing environmental stewardship through methods to divert soap away from storm drains. The vans transport kids to and from programs, picking them up at their homes in the morning and dropping them off in the late afternoon. The vans are vital to Childhaven’s programs and were also in desperate need of a good scrub. The effort took four hours, but by the time we finished, the vans were sparkly clean! EnviroIssues is a longtime supporter of Childhaven, participating each year in their holiday giving program and the Shamrock Box Lunch Campaign.

EnviroIssues staff Carry 5

Wed, 16 Jun 2010 07:00:00 GMT

COMMITMENT TO COMMUNITY: Last weekend, seven EnviroIssues staff members participated in Water 1st International’s annual fundraiser Carry 5 Walk for Water. Each of our seven staff members filled a 5 gallon container with water from Lake Washington and carried it 5 kilometers, the average distance traveled by people in poor countries who lack access to safe, convenient water supplies. Our team experienced firsthand the true burden of gathering water, finishing the event wet and tired. Despite the hard work, participants had fun and helped the walk raise over $26,000 for Water 1st projects in India, Bangladesh, Honduras, and Ethiopia!

EnviroIssues volunteers get dirty for Seattle Works Day

Thu, 10 Jun 2010 07:00:00 GMT

COMMITMENT TO COMMUNITY: A dozen dedicated EnviroIssues employees and several of their partners and family members got out their work gloves, rolled up their sleeves and spent an afternoon digging in the dirt at Seattle Works Day! One of Seattle’s largest volunteer events, Seattle Works Day assembles 1,200 volunteers in neighborhoods all over Seattle. This year, Seattle Works volunteers collectively contributed over 4,000 volunteer hours! Team EnviroIssues spent the afternoon pulling weeds, spreading mulch and maintaining the food bank garden plot at Angel Morgan P-Patch in Columbia City. The Angel Morgan P-Patch is one of Seattle’s largest P-Patches; it sprung out of a long term neighborhood effort to renovate a previously unusable area. It has become a community gathering place, providing a space for people to connect with each other and learn more about gardening.

Connecting with our neighborhood

Thu, 10 Jun 2010 07:00:00 GMT

COMMITMENT TO COMMUNITY: EnviroIssues employees teamed up with the Pike Market Child Care & Preschool on May 23, 2010 to help clean up the preschool’s facilities. Along with PMCCP’s director, everyone had a great time dusting, sorting, moving, and getting their hands dirty to support the preschool. PMCCP’s overall goal is to make high quality preschool available to all children, providing families with support and encouragement. Families pay on a sliding fee scale based on family size and income and more than 75 percent of the families receive financial assistance. As a great social service right across the street from EnviroIssues, we look forward to continued work with the preschool!

EnviroIssues Portland presents at the Oregon ACWA Stormwater Summit

Mon, 07 Jun 2010 07:00:00 GMT

Mandy Putney and Ryan Orth, from EnviroIssues’ Portland office, recently presented at the Oregon Association of Clean Water Agencies Stormwater Summit in Eugene, OR. More than a hundred stormwater professionals from around the state attended the daylong event to learn about the latest and greatest in regional stormwater management issues. Ryan and Mandy discussed common communication challenges and offered expertise on building public support for stormwater programs. Utilities increasingly need to rely on an engaged public to address a range of stormwater quality and quantity issues – from changing behaviors that address surface water quality problems to understanding the infrastructure gap and ongoing improvement projects. View their presentation and contact Mandy or Ryan for more information.

Pat Serie named to ACEC Washington Board of Directors

Tue, 25 May 2010 07:00:00 GMT

Last weekend, at the American Council of Engineering Companies Washington spring conference, Principal and Founder Pat Serie was named to the ACEC Board of Directors. Pat’s more than 30 years experience in public engagement, facilitation, and technical integration will bring a new element of professional diversity to the organization’s board. Her past work for a number of well-known regional engineering firms and EnviroIssues’ reputation for supporting engineering firms on high-profile projects, make her a well-rounded addition for ACEC Washington. Pat has served on a number of leadership boards in the region and is a past chair of the ACEC-WSDOT executive liaison committee. EnviroIssues has been active in ACEC Washington for more than 10 years and is currently supporting the work of the ACEC Washington Small Firms Council.

Sarah Brandt kicks off Leadership Tomorrow’s environmental challenge day

Mon, 24 May 2010 07:00:00 GMT

On May 20, EnviroIssues Associate Sarah Brandt kicked off Leadership Tomorrow's environmental challenge day with a rousing warm-up she created called “Is it Green?”. Leadership Tomorrow engages 80 Seattle-area leaders from the public, private, and non-profit sectors in a year-long curriculum organized around the Seattle Foundation’s healthy community framework. This year’s event was held at REI in the South Lake Union neighborhood and focused on the innovative green building efforts and developmental tensions present in this dynamic area of the city. Keynote speaker Denis Hayes, the national coordinator of the first Earth Day in 1970 and current president of the Bullitt Foundation, inspired the group with a discussion of his personal leadership journey. Other elements of the day included a walking tour of the neighborhood, an energy efficiency case study lead by the Sightline Institute, and roundtable discussions with a variety of the region’s environmental leaders.

Taking communications to the classroom

Fri, 14 May 2010 07:00:00 GMT

EnviroIssues’ Linda Mullen is bringing her experience to the classroom, serving as an adjunct faculty member in the Strategic Communications program at Seattle University. The class, Public Affairs, focuses on issue management and advocacy for students in their junior or senior year. “There are so many things I like about this opportunity,” says Linda. “My students are bright and engaged. They keep me focused and fresh. The course content pulls from all aspects of my professional experience – strategic planning, messaging, media and community relations, and old fashioned problem-solving.” This is the first class Linda has taught at Seattle U, though she has been involved with the Strategic Communications department for about a year, as a guest lecturer in other classes and panel member in a session on new media at the school’s journalism conference last fall.

Tacoma's Green Scene a success

Thu, 22 Apr 2010 07:00:00 GMT

Citizens for a Healthy Bay of Tacoma teamed up with other local organizations to present Green Scene at the Greater Tacoma Convention and Trade Center on April 20, 2010. The event featured exhibits of businesses and organizations that provide environmentally responsible goods and services, and conservation programs, many of whom are participating in CHB’s Businesses for an Environmentally Sustainable Tacoma (BEST) Program. EnviroIssues’ Kristina Walker moderated an interactive panel session “A Conversation on the Case for Business Sustainability” with Kathleen Sayce, ShoreBank Pacific, Kevin Wilhelm, Sustainable Business Consulting, and Stuart Young, BCRA.

EnviroIssues Participates at Duwamish Alive! in Celebration of Earth Day

Wed, 21 Apr 2010 07:00:00 GMT

COMMITMENT TO COMMUNITY: EnviroIssues joined People for Puget Sound, King County, NOAA, ECOSS, and over 200 other volunteers at North Wind’s Weir restoration site in Tukwila this past Saturday to celebrate the 40th Anniversary of Earth Day. The North Wind’s Weir estuary habitat restoration project was designed to create 2.5 acres of high quality habitat for juvenile salmon on the Duwamish River. Volunteers that participated in the Duwamish Alive! event planted trees, shrubs, and wetland plants, and spread 75 cubic yards of mulch that will improve habitat for not only the juvenile salmon, but also other aquatic creatures, birds, and wildlife in the area. Thanks to all who helped out at this great event!

Angie Thomson joins Citizens for a Healthy Bay board

Tue, 06 Apr 2010 07:00:00 GMT

EnviroIssues’ Angie Thomson was recently elected to the board of directors for Citizens for a Healthy Bay in Tacoma. Founded in 1990, CHB works to clean up and protect Tacoma’s Commencement Bay and surrounding waters and habitat. CHB has also become a recognized voice in the community and represents, involves, and educates the public and local businesses. Angie’s more than 10 years of experience in water-related issues and public involvement will be a great asset to this important community organization. Congratulations, Angie!

Congratulations on 20 years, Futurewise!

Wed, 31 Mar 2010 07:00:00 GMT

Futurewise is celebrating 20 years and EnviroIssues is proud to support their work in the Puget Sound. Our staff joined more than 250 community members to celebrate with Futurewise at the 20 Year Reunion event on March 20, 2010 that included honorary awards for Governor Booth Gardner, Senator Maria Cantwell, and Speaker of the House Joe King for their leadership on the Growth Management Act. Futurewise was started in response to passage of the GMA passage in 1990 and promotes healthy communities and cities while protecting farmland, forests, and shorelines. We look forward to continuing our support of Futurewise as we both celebrate 20 years in 2010!

Diane Adams presents at NEBC Energy Forum

Tue, 23 Mar 2010 07:00:00 GMT

Principal Diane Adams presented at the March NEBC Energy Forum on engaging communities in energy facility siting. Her presentation drew upon relevant and recent experience in assisting major utilities and federal agencies site high-voltage transmission lines across the West. Diane facilitated a group discussion about lessons learned and tools to effectively engage the public during the federal environmental planning process and beyond. Thank you to NEBC for sponsoring this great event!

Penny Mabie presents at APWA Conference: Outreach Toolkit, or How to Choose the Right Public Involvement Tools in Hard Economic Times

Mon, 22 Mar 2010 07:00:00 GMT

Where do you start when you need to get your bridge or wastewater project completed as quickly and effectively as possible? We know that public involvement can make or break a project but how do you choose the right tools to be cost-effective and manage the public’s expectations? Drawing on her IAP2 expertise and training, Penny presented at the 2010 APWA Conference on public involvement today, and goals and objectives for a public participation plan. She also brought specific examples for a discussion on the factors to consider when selecting the right tool (or combination of tools) to meet the public involvement objectives. The interactive session showed attendees how to add to their public involvement plan without adding to their bottom line.

Electric Utility Consultants, Inc (EUCI) Webinar a success!

Mon, 15 Mar 2010 07:00:00 GMT

The Web site for a proposed energy project is arguably the most visible component of your public outreach strategy. In most cases, it will spend far more time in front of the public than your entire team combined. In a webinar for the EUCI, EnviroIssues’ technical team, Ray Outlaw and Chris Morse, shared their insight in designing and maintaining Web sites for energy projects, and making sure your Web site is an integrated part of your public involvement process. Ray and Chris addressed key issues for designing and launching a project Web site and other online media, opportunities to gather and document comments and responses, the tools used to evaluate Web site success, and suggestions for responding to those results. For questions about the webinar or online tools, please contact Ray.

EnviroIssues joins South Sound PRSA for "Diversity: Accent on accessible communications"

Thu, 11 Mar 2010 08:00:00 GMT

Associate Kristine Edens presented as part of a distinguished panel of presenters at the monthly meeting of the South Sound PRSA on March 11, 2010. The group discussed the value of communicating with diverse audiences, including languages other than English, the hearing and visually impaired, and culturally diverse groups in a valuable session designed to help communicators reach more people. Kristine was joined by Lauri Jordana, Conexión Marketing, Kevin Nathan, Washington State Department of Services for the Blind, and Idalie Muñoz Muñoz, MuñozMedia. Details about the presentation are posted on the PRSA Web site.

EnviroIssues recognized for construction outreach in Kenmore

Fri, 12 Feb 2010 08:00:00 GMT

The Puget Sound Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) awarded EnviroIssues with a Certificate of Excellence for our work on the City of Kenmore’s SR 522 Improvement Project last night at their annual Totem Awards. City of Kenmore staff and construction management firm HDR, attended the event to accept the award with EnviroIssues’ Amy Turner. The award recognized our construction outreach methods and strategic communications support during major highway construction on SR 522, which improved safety for drivers, pedestrians, cyclists and transit. Visit the Kenmore project Web site for more information. Congratulations to the SR 522 Project Team!

EnviroIssues presents at the National Public Participation in Transmission Siting Conference

Mon, 08 Feb 2010 08:00:00 GMT

EUCI’s 4th annual Public Participation in Transmission Siting Conference brought together energy professionals from around the country. EnviroIssues’ Associate Ray Outlaw joined panelists from Wisconsin and Florida to discuss the use of online tools as an increasingly useful part of the public involvement process. Topics and questions focused on improving design through analytics, maximizing user experience, incorporating social media (e.g. Twitter, Facebook, YouTube), and mapping. Case studies from across the United States highlighted shared opportunities for effective public involvement on transmission projects, both large and small. Learn more about EnviroIssues’ energy projects.

EnviroIssues basketball team off to a winning start

Mon, 01 Feb 2010 08:00:00 GMT

EnviroIssues co-ed basketball squad continues its path to glory in the Puget Sound Basketball League. The team is comprised of employees, as well as former employees and friends of the company. Already off to a winning start to their season, The Issues will take their ball game around the Seattle area in search of another league title. For information on where to root for The Issues basketball team, contact us or follow us on Twitter.

Portland Office recognized for sustainability practices

Wed, 27 Jan 2010 08:00:00 GMT

The City of Portland’s Bureau of Planning and Sustainability recently recognized EnviroIssues’ Portland Office for improving its recycling practices and reducing the amount of waste it produces by implementing all of the City of Portland’s five recycling steps. Our Portland office is now Recycle at Work Certified. For more information about the program, visit Portland’s Recycle at Work Web site. Good work, Portland!

New hires hail from University of Washington

Mon, 25 Jan 2010 08:00:00 GMT

New employees Brian Feldman and Blair Scott joined us this December from the University of Washington. Brian graduated with a BS in Environmental Science and Resource Management, and a BA in Environmental Studies, and Blair completed the Community, Environment and Planning program with a BS in Environmental Science and Resource Management, making them both excellent additions to our team. Both bring energy and fun (as shown in their photo!) to the Seattle office and will be assets to our work in the Puget Sound region as well as the east side of the state. Welcome, Blair and Brian!

Grotefendt and Mullen attend Transportation Research Board Annual Meeting

Tue, 19 Jan 2010 08:00:00 GMT

HOT lanes, tolling and multi-modal transportation projects have long been part of EnviroIssues resume, so it came as no surprise to Principal Amy Grotefendt and Senior Associate Linda Mullen that the rest of the country is having similar discussions about these topics. Both attended the three-day Transportation Research Board Annual Meeting in Washington DC last week to keep up on current transportation trends and learn valuable lessons from other transportation experts. Highlights included topics relevant to the USDOT’s new goals of safety, congestion pricing, traffic trends, safety, livable communities, repair, economic competitiveness, environmental stewardship, environmental justice issues and public involvement.

EnviroIssues to host ACEC Small Firms Council Discussion Series

Mon, 04 Jan 2010 08:00:00 GMT

Diane Adams, principal, chairs the ACEC Small Firms Council and EnviroIssues will be facilitating the 2010 ACEC Discussion Series and hosting sessions along with ACEC Washington. The series presents an opportunity for ACEC firms to share information and insights on a number of topics in an informal and open environment. The topics reflect the prioritized interests of the Small Firms Council and range from social media to cost structuring and contract negotiation. Non-ACEC members are welcome to participate in the discussions. Visit the ACEC Web site for more information.

Happy Holidays from EnviroIssues

Thu, 24 Dec 2009 08:00:00 GMT

EnviroIssues would like to thank you for making 2009 another successful year! Next year we will be celebrating our 20th Anniversary and hope you’ll be a part of the festivities. Check back here for regular updates or join us on Twitter. Happy Holidays!

EnviroIssues buys gifts for Childhaven families

Wed, 23 Dec 2009 08:00:00 GMT

For the fifth year in a row, EnviroIssues’ staff participated in the Childhaven Adopt-a-Family program, brightening the holiday season of two families in need of support. Childhaven is a therapeutic day care program committed to stopping the cycle of abuse and neglect of children in King County and EnviroIssues has a long tradition of supporting their holiday giving program. Our staff purchased new winter jackets, new shoes, dress up clothes, board games, gift cards, and many other gifts for the Childhaven children and their families. We look forward to continuing our involvement with Childhaven for years to come!

EnviroIssues supports another successful United Way Workplace Giving Campaign

Wed, 16 Dec 2009 08:00:00 GMT

EnviroIssues’ Seattle office recently pledged to donate a record amount of money in their fifth annual United Way Workplace Giving Campaign. Since 2005, EnviroIssues’ employees have continually increased their voluntary giving, and, despite a difficult economy, this year was no exception. To raise additional funds, Alissa VandenBerghe organized the first ever EnviroIssues Book Drive, bringing in extra money for the campaign and providing staff with extra holiday reading! Several employees will also be donating their time this year by volunteering with the United Way’s free tax preparation campaign for low income families.

EnviroIssues’ staff reach out to their community

Mon, 14 Dec 2009 08:00:00 GMT

EnviroIssues’ Portland/Vancouver team helped package more than 44,000 meals at the Oregon Food Bank in November. Sporting fashionable sanitary outfits, EnviroIssues’ team enjoyed working together and meeting new people while repackaging bulk sacks of oats into smaller two-pound packages which were distributed to families across the state to provide a hot and hearty breakfast. The Oregon Food Bank serves the Portland metropolitan area and an entire network of 935 hunger relief agencies throughout the state of Oregon.

EnviroIssues FC still playing strong

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 08:00:00 GMT

The Issues soccer team is lean, mean, and green…wears green jerseys, that is. In its fifth consecutive season, the Issues is playing well and working to improve on their current 4-2 record. Once a week, you can spot the Issues’ by their bright green jerseys as they take on the competition in Seattle’s Co-Rec Soccer Association. While some players resurrect skills from grade school and others bring college-level experience, all do a fine job representing EnviroIssues on the pitch.

EnviroIssues’ staff take on the Winter Pineapple Classic

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 08:00:00 GMT

Twenty EnviroIssues staff and significant others ran the Winter Pineapple Classic on Nov. 14, 2009 in support of finding a cure for Leukemia and Lymphoma. The 5k obstacle course is a challenge for teams of four who must complete the course together while carrying a pineapple! Staff members have been participating in the event in support of a friend living with Leukemia for two years. All 20 participants showed their competitiveness and boasted strong finishes and are pictured here at the finish line. The event raised more than $350,000 for the Lymphoma and Leukemia Society.

EnviroIssues is a friend of the Friends of Cedar River Watershed

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 08:00:00 GMT

Several EnviroIssues staff joined the Friends of Cedar River Watershed last Saturday to remove invasive knotweed from the riverbank and replace it with native trees and shrubs. The Friends of Cedar River Watershed’s multi-year project to remove knotweed is sponsored in partnership with the Cascade Land Conservancy, Seattle Public Utilities, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, and King County Conservation District. Thank you to those who joined us in improving habitat for fish and wildlife and reducing the chance of stream bank erosion while giving back to our community!

Bancroft, Funis, and Graves hired in Seattle office

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 08:00:00 GMT

EnviroIssues recently welcomed three new staff to the Seattle office to support growing project needs. Project Coordinators Ethan Bancroft, Chelsey Funis, and Natalie Graves bring diverse educational backgrounds and new energy to EnviroIssues and will be supporting our work on various projects in the Puget Sound region and throughout the Northwest. Welcome Ethan, Chelsey, and Natalie!

EnviroIssues supports local women’s shelter

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 08:00:00 GMT

Once a quarter, EnviroIssues staff volunteer to serve dinner at a local low-income homeless women’s shelter. EnviroIssues employees and family members purchase the food, prepare, serve, clean up after the dinner, and support the shelter with a food drive (this time donating more than 15 bags of food!). While the dinners and food drives are always fun, we enjoy being able to connect with, and support, disadvantaged members of our local community. Supporting our community is one of EnviroIssues’ core values and we are grateful for the opportunity to help make a difference in these women’s lives.

Thank you for joining the IAP2 Puget Sound Chapter and EnviroIssues for a brown bag “lunch ‘n share” session

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 08:00:00 GMT

IAP2 Trainer Penny Mabie led an interactive discussion about online tools and public participation yesterday at EnviroIssues’ Seattle office. Several participants joined us in person but most joined via the online webinar. The IAP2-based dialogue covered using online tools and social media, the challenges in using them, and how these tools help us meet our public participation goals and objectives. Thanks for joining us!

Interested in joining the Puget Sound IAP2 Chapter list for future events? E-mail Penny.

Join EnviroIssues at the ECOSS Annual Benefit

Thu, 22 Oct 2009 07:00:00 GMT

EnviroIssues is pleased to, once again, support the ECOSS annual benefit on Oct. 29, 2009 at Herban Feast in Seattle. EnviroIssues has supported ECOSS (Environmental Coalition of South Seattle) for more than 10 years and Project Manager KaDeena Lenz currently represents EnviroIssues as board secretary. “I have enjoyed working with ECOSS throughout the past year and cannot imagine the Seattle community without their leadership in environmental education and urban redevelopment,” said KaDeena, “The auction is a fun evening to raise money to support all the great work we do.” Join us!

Linda Mullen presents at Northwest Journalism Conference

Mon, 19 Oct 2009 07:00:00 GMT

EnviroIssues’ Linda Mullen presented on the panel, “Can Public Interest PR fill the Gap Created by Declining Investment in Journalism?” at the Northwest Journalism Conference on Saturday, Oct. 10, 2009. She was joined by Janelle Guthrie, Communications Director for the Washington State Attorney General, and Doug Honig of the American Civil Liberties Union. The session was moderated by Kenan Block of Block Communications.

Linda shared strategies from her experience advising clients in achieving their strategic goals and working with media. Her presentation highlighted a case study about distributing video to readers entirely through social media services. All the panelists contributed engaging insights about the relevance of traditional media and the variety of new tools to help organizations get their message out. Regardless of the medium, some issues remain the same: credibility of the source, the importance of the watchdog role of the press and the difficulties reaching people that are traditionally missed.

Pat Serie facilitates Brownfields Policy Panel

Thu, 15 Oct 2009 07:00:00 GMT

NEBC’s 2009 Brownfields Conference, “Building Sustainable Communities”, was held in Tacoma on Oct. 14. As a sponsor and participant, EnviroIssues’ principal and owner, Pat Serie, facilitated a dynamic panel of experts on policy issues related to brownfields redevelopment. The panel, including Bill Chapman, K&L Gates; Jim Darling, Maul Foster Alongi; and Martha Hankins and Jim Pendowski, Washington State Dept. of Ecology, brought in perspectives from public and private sectors. The lively discussion about the regulatory framework for brownfields cleanups in Washington included statewide policy issues, the regulatory update process, and industry and legal perspectives on making the cleanup process for brownfields work under MTCA.

Sustainability Team implements composting in EnviroIssues’ Office

Thu, 01 Oct 2009 07:00:00 GMT

EnviroIssues Sustainability Committee recently implemented a composting program in the Seattle office. In partnership with CleanScapes and City of Seattle’s Clear Alleys Program, and through the staff’s commitment to composting lunch scraps, coffee grounds, and other compostables, EnviroIssues will help to reduce our carbon footprint for 2009. This effort is in addition to our current sustainability efforts including encouraging the use of alternative transportation by subsidizing employee ORCA passes, programming computers to automatically shut down overnight to save energy and eliminating bottled water from our office by installing an in-sink water filtration system.

EnviroIssues featured in Daily Journal of Commerce

Mon, 14 Sep 2009 07:00:00 GMT

EnviroIssues was featured in the Sept. 14 DJC article, "Environmental firms look at how recession has changed their field." See what Amy Grotefendt, a principal at EnviroIssues, said about the economy’s effect on how EnviroIssues does business and how we are using new tools to maximize our value to clients.

EnviroIssues Presents at 2009 EPA Community Involvement Training Conference

Wed, 19 Aug 2009 07:00:00 GMT

Engaging the broadest range of people in complex project decisions is getting easier, thanks to new interactive online tools. EnviroIssues shared tricks of the trade for implementing online media tools for public engagement with a national audience of fellow community involvement specialists at the U.S. EPA’s eleventh Community Involvement Training Conference in Seattle this August. Erin Taylor and Chris Morse led a 90-minute session called “Overcoming Boundaries: Using Online Media Tools to Effectively Engage the Public”, an interactive and educational session designed to help public involvement practitioners overcome real world boundaries by integrating online media tools with traditional public involvement activities. The session highlighted proven online media tools using examples from projects across Puget Sound and beyond. Take a look at the presentation here.

Pat Serie is named to the Greater Seattle Chamber of Commerce board of trustees

Wed, 05 Aug 2009 07:00:00 GMT

EnviroIssues’ senior principal and founder, Pat Serie, was recently named to the board of the Greater Seattle Chamber of Commerce. The appointment recognizes Pat’s more than 20 years of involvement in the Seattle community. Having built EnviroIssues from a one-woman shop to a company of 75 people, her passion and enthusiasm for working together with other organizations is evident in her commitment to community engagement and volunteerism. “The second thing I did in 1990, after getting a business license, was to join the Seattle Chamber. It has been a terrific resource for our company as we’ve grown,” Pat recalls. Pat has had a great influence in the field of public involvement in the Northwest and it is truly an honor to have EnviroIssues represented among the leadership of the Seattle Chamber.

The City of Kenmore celebrates completion of SR 522 Phase II construction

Thu, 30 Jul 2009 07:00:00 GMT

On July 30, the City of Kenmore held a ribbon-cutting event to celebrate completion of Phase II improvements on SR 522, part of a three-phase rebuilding of SR 522 in Kenmore. EnviroIssues helped organize the event and more than 75 attendees joined City of Kenmore Mayor David Baker in celebration. Guests and keynote speakers included Representative Ruth Kagi, Representative Maralyn Chase, Washington State Transportation Improvement Board Executive Director Steve Gorcester, and Sound Transit Boardmember and City of Issaquah Deputy Council President Fred Butler.

For the past two years our team has provided construction outreach support for this important project, which improved safety for drivers, pedestrians, cyclists and transit, and beautified Kenmore’s gateway. EnviroIssues loves celebrating milestones with clients and planning the ribbon cutting provided our team with a perfect reason to put on our party hats, grab our ribbon cutting scissors and invite the neighborhood to help mark this important project success.

Sarah Brandt helps the next generation of NEPA practitioners get creative about public and agency involvement

Tue, 21 Jul 2009 07:00:00 GMT

On July 21, EnviroIssues’ associate, Sarah Brandt, co-lectured with HDR’s Rob Berman, at the University of Washington Tacoma about the challenges and opportunities of public and agency involvement. After introducing the requirements and real-world application of public and agency engagement specified in the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), Sarah helped lead the class through a State Route 520 Program case study. The class was asked to identify creative ways to engage stakeholders in project decisions related to Foster Island at the Washington Park Arboretum, where environmental, recreational, tribal, and neighborhood interests intersect. The class was up to the task, with suggestions ranging from information booths at the University of Washington’s Red Square to hiring local rock stars as project advocates.

EnviroIssues Presents at 2009 IAP2 Conference

Fri, 12 Jun 2009 07:00:00 GMT

EnviroIssues was honored to have two of our staff, Penny Mabie and Erin Taylor, represent us by presenting at the International Association of Public Participation (IAP2) Cascade Chapter Conference in Bend, Oregon this June. Erin, with co-presenter Janet Matkin of WSDOT, presented a session called “Let’s Talk Tolls,” a case study of outreach, policy implementation and lessons learned through the 520 Tolling Implementation Committee public involvement effort in 2008. Penny and co-presenter Martha Tuttle of King County Wastewater Treatment Division presented “What are you bringing to the party?”, an interactive learning session on communications styles and how our personal styles affect our work as public participation practitioners.

Kristina Walker is selected as one of the Business Examiner’s 2009 “40 Under Forty”

Fri, 05 Jun 2009 07:00:00 GMT

Congratulations to Kristina Walker for being recognized by The Business Examiner’s 2009 40 under Forty Program. All candidates for this selective program are under 40 years of age and have made significant contributions to businesses, industries and communities in the South Sound. More than 100 individuals are nominated each year and the qualifications of each candidate is carefully reviewed by a panel of alumni prior to the Business Examiner’s selection of the top 40 individuals. Kristina’s recognition as one of the 2009 40 under Forty honorees is extremely well-deserved and we applaud the work she has done for EnviroIssues and the greater Tacoma community. Congratulations, Kristina!

EnviroIssues’ staff volunteer at the Hammond House Shelter

Thu, 04 Jun 2009 07:00:00 GMT

EnviroIssues has a long tradition of supporting the Hammond House, a shelter located next to our downtown Seattle Office. Recently EnviroIssues’ volunteers spent a great evening together preparing and serving a delicious enchilada dinner for 40 women. EnviroIssues’ staff are already looking forward to the next Hammond House dinner this fall.

Amy Grotefendt appointed to the board of Transportation Choices Coalition

Mon, 01 Jun 2009 07:00:00 GMT

Congratulations to Amy Grotefendt for being appointed to the board of Transportation Choices Coalition! TCC is a coalition of citizen groups, businesses, public agencies and concerned individuals committed to bringing Washingtonians increased and improved transportation choices. Having worked on a number of important transportation projects in our region, Amy provides strategic communications and will bring a business perspective to the TCC board. Amy looks forward to working with TCC to help the region move critical transportation and development projects forward in Washington state.

EnviroIssues’ staff participate in the 2009 Bike to Work Month

Sat, 30 May 2009 07:00:00 GMT

EnviroIssues had a team of 10 during the 2009 Group Health Bike to Work Month Challenge in May 2009. Rain or shine, our team was out enjoying the ride, getting our exercise and reducing our carbon footprint. We had several new commuters hit the road this year with two of the newest leading our team to a strong finish. Our team logged over 645 miles during the month long challenge. Our legs are tired, but we can't wait for next year!

EnviroIssues’ staff present at WTS International Annual Conference

Thu, 21 May 2009 07:00:00 GMT

Ara Swanson, along with staff from the Washington State Department of Transportation’s SR 520 Bridge Replacement and HOV Program, co-presented at the Women’s Transportation Seminar (WTS) International Annual Conference on May 21. The presentation, titled Cross-Agency Coordination: Advance Planning for a Catastrophic Failure, was one of just 12 topics selected out of 150 abstracts submitted. Ara’s presentation focused on the communications plan portion of the overall SR 520 Catastrophic Failure Plan, which also included transportation management strategies as they related to multi-agency, jurisdiction and organization coordination. Check out the team’s presentation here.

Eighteen EnviroIssues' Staff are IAP2 Certified

Tue, 19 May 2009 07:00:00 GMT

At EnviroIssues we deliver creative, reliable, and meaningful community involvement and communications for challenging projects every day, across the Northwest. What's new? We are continuing to invest in our skills, which translates to greater value for you on your projects -- efficient, targeted, and focused activities that give you the information and answers you need before you make decisions. Meet our staff recently certified by the International Association of Public Participation (IAP2). IAP2 is an association that seeks to promote and improve the practice of public participation in relation to individuals, governments, institutions, and other entities that affect the public interest throughout the world.

To date, 18 of our project staff have received IAP2 certification for effective planning, communications and techniques in public participation. Our IAP2 certified staff provide our clients with access to proven methodology in public participation planning that applies rigor, is objectives-based, values-driven and decision-oriented.

These staff are:

Michelle Allison, Paige Cureton, Kristine Edens, Katie Fredlund, Susan Hayman, Hillary Johnson, Penny Mabie, Emily Neff, Ray Outlaw, Peter Ovington, Erin Tam, Andrew Richardson, Libby Smith, Lauren Stensland, Holly Stewart, Erin Taylor, Kristy Van Ness, and Kristina Walker

Congratulations to Penny!

Tue, 19 May 2009 07:00:00 GMT

EnviroIssues is pleased to announce that Penny Mabie, Senior Associate, has recently been recognized by the IAP2 Board as a licensed trainer for the IAP2 certificate program. Penny holds a public participation certificate from IAP2, and attended the IAP2 trainers’ academy in Edinburgh, Scotland and delivered a training practicum here in Seattle to earn her training license. We are pleased to offer Penny and the IAP2 public participation certification program as a new service to our clients and teaming partners.

The Issues basketball team wins the 2009 ‘Best of the Best’ Tournament

Mon, 20 Apr 2009 07:00:00 GMT

The Issues, EnviroIssues basketball team, has had an impressive performance on the court this past year. The team has an overall record of 15-6 in the Puget Sound Basketball League and finished the spring season with 8 wins and 2 losses. And most exciting is their championship victory in the “Best of the Best” tournament this spring. Led by EnviroIssues employees, John Chaney and Sarah Brandt, The Issues has and will remain a force to be reckoned with on the court.

EnviroIssues Continues to Grow!

Wed, 04 Jun 2008 07:00:00 GMT

EnviroIssues celebrates 18 years of business with the addition of new staff. Susan Hayman joins us as a project manager in Boise, Idaho and will be facilitating the 31-member Hanford Advisory Board. Chris Morse joins our team as our first Chief Technology Officer after working with us on projects for over four years.

We are also pleased to welcome Associates Heidi Sowell, and Vivian Shin; Project Coordinators Laura Dye, Diann Strom, Kristin Dean, Erin Pittenger, John Chaney, Lisa Timmerman, and Maurice Hines; and our summer interns Ethan Bancroft, Alissa VandenBerghe, Jamie Stroble, and Catherine Kilbane.

EnviroIssues' Staff Support Historic Event

Mon, 12 May 2008 07:00:00 GMT

Cheryl Ellsworth, a Senior Project Manager at EnviroIssues, recently served as the outreach committee co-chair for Seeds of Compassion. This five-day event welcomed His Holiness the 14th Dali Lama to Seattle to participate in a dialogue with the public, leading educators, researchers and policy makers surrounding the issues of teaching compassion in early learning.

Targeting her outreach to schools, community organizations, early learning institutions and faith based organizations, Cheryl was able to distribute over 28,000 group tickets for the main event held in Qwest Field. As she reflects on her experience Cheryl is struck by the promise for continued action in the community. "One community leader told us that Seeds of Compassion brought together neighbors who don’t always sit together. Over the last several months trusting relationships have been built among these communities. Our dream is to continue to work together to create a more compassionate world for our children."

In addition to Cheryl’s role as outreach committee co-chair, five EnviroIssues employees, Diane Adams, Penny Mabie, Rebecca Sadinsky, Pat Serie and Sarah Brandt, volunteered to facilitate small group dialogue sessions using an innovative tool to quickly consolidate and summarize participant value statements. EnviroIssues was honored to donate some of our time and services to this historic event. We look forward to finding new ways to help keep the conversation going.

For more information about Seeds of Compassion and to watch web casts of the event click on the link provided.

EnviroIssues Joins Seattle Climate Partnership

Thu, 01 May 2008 07:00:00 GMT

EnviroIssues is proud to be a part of Seattle’s Climate Partnership. The Partnership was created in 2005 in response to the Kyoto Protocol and Mayor Nickel’s Green Ribbon Commission on Climate Protection. In joining the Seattle Climate Partnership, EnviroIssues is committed to taking actions that will reduce our greenhouse gas emissions. As the 79th firm to join the Partnership, EnviroIssues seeks to encourage other area businesses to help reduce our collective footprint and uncover new ways to protect Puget Sound’s natural resources.

Learn how you can make a difference and view a complete list of area businesses that have signed the Seattle Climate Partnership agreement.

EnviroIssues Adds Creative Presentation Tool to Community Engagement Services

Thu, 01 May 2008 07:00:00 GMT

EnviroIssues is always looking for new ways to present complex information to the public. We recently rolled out a new tool to help clients share their message in an engaging and clear way during open houses. Instead of making a presentation only once during a public event, our team developed a narrated presentation to help bring the topic to life throughout a meeting. This tool has been used for clients with diverse messages ranging from a new central maintenance facility in Pierce County to the SR 99 Aurora Bridge suicide prevention fence. Take a look at this exciting new tool!

EnviroIssues Helps Sound Transit Launch System Expansion Web Site

Wed, 30 Apr 2008 07:00:00 GMT

EnviroIssues worked closely with Sound Transit to develop a new web site to communicate the transit agency’s plans for regional transit expansion. Our team quickly developed user friendly navigation, informative content and interactive materials to help engage the public and gather feedback. Take a look at the new site: http://future.soundtransit.org/

Evening Magazine Honors the Governor at EnviroIssues’ Office

Wed, 10 Oct 2007 07:00:00 GMT

EnviroIssues helped Evening Magazine surprise the Governor in order to present her with two viewer’s choice awards. While visiting her daughter Michelle, an EnviroIssues intern, Evening Magazine presented Governor Gregoire with Woman of the Year and Outstanding Public Service awards.
Watch the Governor receive her awards

EnviroIssues Hosts American Planning Association Happy Hour

Thu, 04 Oct 2007 07:00:00 GMT

EnviroIssues welcomed the American Planning Association conference attendees to a company sponsored happy hour to share lessons learned and tips gathered from this year’s conference. Guests gathered at EnviroIssues Tacoma office and enjoyed meeting other attendees, continuing conference conversation, and of course our scenic views of Tacoma.

EnviroIssues Presents at American Planning Association Conference in Tacoma, WA

Thu, 04 Oct 2007 07:00:00 GMT

EnviroIssues employee Carolyn Sharp, co-lead a session entitled, “Ready, Set, Go: Assessing the Readiness of Communities to Plan” at this year American Planning Conference. This informative session addressed the important elements needed in order to create a successful community plan including the importance of the public officials’ role in community engagement.

US 2 Route Development Plan Wins American Planning Association Transportation Award!

Tue, 18 Sep 2007 07:00:00 GMT

The Washington Chapter of the American Planning Association chooses the US 2 Route Development Plan as a recipient for the transportation planning award. The route development plan will be used by the Washington State Department of Transportation and local jurisdictions to identify transportation problems and to develop effective solutions to address these problems along the state highway. EnviroIssues works closely with the US 2 team conducting a design charette, coordinating open houses and stakeholder meetings, and organizing the US 2 Corridor Working Group sessions. Congratulations US 2 team!

EnviroIssues' Work Recognized by FHWA for Environmental Excellence on Alaskan Way Viaduct Project.

Wed, 27 Jun 2007 07:00:00 GMT

View the Daily Journal of Commerce news item

EnviroIssues’ Staff Participate in the KCTS Television Annual Pledge Drive

Thu, 07 Jun 2007 07:00:00 GMT

EnviroIssues staff spent an evening with members of Seattle Unity Church during the June 2007 Annual KCTS Fundraising Pledge Drive. KCTS television, a non-profit organization, holds the event each year in order to raise funds and keep the station on the air. EI staff spent approximately five hours answering over 300 phone calls, and helped raised a total of $65,459. The 18-day pledge drive features unique on-air programs each night and gives viewers the opportunity to call in and purchase special items such as concert tickets, DVD’s and CD’s.

EnviroIssues’ Staff Restore Habitat in the Cedar River Watershed to Celebrate Earth Day

Mon, 23 Apr 2007 07:00:00 GMT

In the company’s long tradition of supporting environmental stewardship, EnviroIssues staff, along with friends and family, spent Earth Day 2007 planting nearly 800 trees and shrubs to restore forest and stream habitat in the Cedar River Watershed. This large restoration effort, coordinated by the Friends of the Cedar River Watershed and Seattle Public Utilities, enabled participants to access the normally protected watershed and see the main source of Seattle's drinking water. Seattle is unique as one of only half a dozen large cities in North America to use a protected wilderness to supply clean and affordable water. By restoring the watershed’s forest and stream habitats, volunteers improved wildlife habitat and helped ensure the continued quality of Seattle’s drinking water.

Participants enjoyed a beautiful spring day, with no rain, patches of sun, views of snow-capped peaks, and even glimpses of a herd of elk! The planting was tough, given the rocky soil, but the EnviroIssues team rose to the challenge and helped make the event a huge success. Restoration leaders were left wondering whether they could hire the EnviroIssues crew full-time! By day’s end, the initially bare, rocky slopes had been transformed into the beginnings of a healthy forest. Despite sore muscles, everyone had fun and enjoyed the opportunity to work to benefit the environment. EnviroIssues looks forward to its next restoration project!

EnviroIssues’ Staff Present at the State of Environmental Justice in America Conference in Washington D.C.

Tue, 03 Apr 2007 07:00:00 GMT

Kristine Edens and Kathlyn Kocher presented at the State of Environmental Justice in America Conference held at Howard University Law School in Washington D.C. this past March. Kathlyn and Kristine both presented papers on how we involve local minority and/or low-income communities in integral transportation decisions. The three-day conference addressed public health and social justice issues affecting traditionally underrepresented communities. The individual conference sessions focused on exposure to various pollutants, land use and planning issues, and meaningful collaboration between communities and government agencies. Kristine and Kathlyn returned from the conference with a deeper understanding of environmental justice issues and new ideas to better involve minority and/or low-income communities.

EnviroIssues Supports The Recycling Foundation’s Third Annual Poster Competition

Sun, 25 Mar 2007 07:00:00 GMT

EnviroIssues was instrumental in helping The Recycling Foundation organize and host its Third Annual Poster Competition Exhibition. University and college students from around the country were asked to design educational posters about increasing electronics recycling in Washington State. After the winners were selected, three poster competition exhibitions were held in Seattle, Tacoma and Spokane to showcase the winners and highlight the Foundation’s achievements. EnviroIssues not only hosted the Tacoma event at their Tacoma office, they were involved in marketing the competition to university and college students, facilitating the poster judging process, creating attractive exhibition invitations and programs, organizing the event logistics and setting up the Seattle and Tacoma events.