Thirty-nine students are now signed up for the Civitas' "Green Deal" conference this weekend,  Feb. 20-21.  The timing could not be better; Congress has signed a stimulus bill, President Obama will sign it today, and the question remains, "How green are the jobs that are being created by the bill?"  We will address this question and far more in the conference.  There will be several "surprise crises."  Several slots still remain; anyone interested in participating can sign up by clicking here. 

 “The Civitas GREEN DEAL Conference”

Friday, 5:00 pm -- Saturday, 3:00 pm, February 20-21, 2009

Comfort Inn/Spazio’s – 12031 Lackland Rd., Maryland Heights MO  63146 (map)

Green is hot. Everyone talks about America “going green:” developing government policies that help the environment, or reverse environmental damage; and enacting and enforcing laws and regulations to save the planet.

It sounds great. But can it really be done?

What political, economic and social obstacles will have to be overcome to truly turn America green? What will we—as a society and as individuals—have to give up to get there? Who will help, and who will stand in the way?  What compromises will have to be made to work around the obstacles and objections?

These issues will be your focus at Civitas’ 2009 “GREEN DEAL” Conference. Here’s how it works:

• You’ll play the role of someone in government, industry, business, a social/environmental group, a foreign government, etc., who has a point of view on going “green.” [Role choices are on the application form.]
• You’ll be assigned to a committee of 15-20 others, who will discuss and try to reach recommendations on how to make “going green” possible.
• Committees will meet in separate rooms on Friday evening, Saturday morning and Saturday afternoon and, at the end of the conference, share their recommendations with the other committees.
• Your committee may be asked to confront a surprise, emerging environmental crisis. Be ready to shift gears! 

The GREEN DEAL conference is one in a series of similar conferences that Civitas has organized since 2001. It’s a chance to think analytically and creatively, and to interact with new people who share your interest in world issues. 

Cost of the conference, including all meals and materials: $60. We offer generous scholarships, so that anyone can attend.  Space is limited. Deadline for application: Friday, February 13, 2009.

For more information, call Arthur Lieber, 314-367-6480 or e-mail info@civitas-stl.com.

You can sign-up on-line by clicking here.

Here is a list of Student Participants and the Roles that they will be assuming:

 

Role	Student	School
Ameren U.E. Nuclear Plant Director	Steve Sigman	S.L.U.H., 2009
E.P.A. Administrator	Erin Fagan	St. Joseph, 2011
E.P.A. Administrator	Megan Niedringhaus	St. Joseph, 2009
Exxon Mobil CEO	Emma Short	Webster Groves, 2009
Global Warming Non-believer	Princess Pullen	St. Joseph, 2010
High School Environmental Club	Clair Gavin	Webter Groves, 2010
High School Science Teacher	Elizabeth Sullivan	St. Joseph, 2011
Hurricane Katrina Survivor	Haley Kubasch	Lindbergh, 2010
Louisiana Senator	Jeromy Gully	University City, 2010
Louisiana Senator	Kayla Tinnin	Ritenour, 2010
Marine Biologist	Elizabeth Dulle	St. Joseph, 2011
Marine Biologist	Sonya McCanna	Nerinx Hall, 2011
New York Stock Exchange Chairman	Logan Hayward	S.L.U.H., 2011
New York Stock Exchange Chairman	Josh  Priddy	Collinsville, 2009
Organic Farmer	Joyce LaFontaine	Rosati-Kain, 2009
Parent of 3 year old child	Caitlin Drummond	Rosati-Kain, 2011
Parent of 3 year old child	Mandi Roper	Rosati-Kain, 2010
Peabody Coal CEO	Amara Kearney	Webster Groves, 2009
Pediatrician	Kelly McCann	Nerinx Hall, 2011
Real Estate Developer	Colleen Gallagher	Ritenour, 2010
Sierra Club Director	Colleen Madden	St. Joseph, 2010
Solar Panel Manufacturer	Michelle Kramer	St. Joseph, 2011
Tom Seeger (Seeger Toyota)	Meg Rogers	Rosati-Kain, 2009
U.N. Environmental Programme	Abigail Henderson	Fox (Arnold), 2010
U.S. Army Corp. of Engineers	Jeremy Ayres	Maplewood-RH, 2011
U.S. Army Corp. of Engineers	Sean Drummond	S.L.U.H., 2010
U.S. Senator from California	Victoria Cacchione	Nerinx Hall, 2011
United Auto Workers Leader	Kimberly Dulle	Ritenour, 2010
United Auto Workers Leader	Katharine Joiner	Lindbergh, 2010
Wal-Mart CEO	Luke Babich	University City, 2012
Wal-Mart CEO	Henry Sengmany	Maplewood-RH, 2009
Windmill Manufacturer	Martha Orlet	Nerinx Hall, 2011
Windmill Manufacturer	Tony Sanchez	Maplewood-RH, 2009
World Wildlife Fund. Exec.	Maria DiPaola	Lindbergh, 2010
World Wildlife Fund. Exec.	Melissa Kern	Ritenour, 2011
	Christian Greer	Ritenour, 2010

 We still have openings for nine more participants.  Remaining roles include:

1. Chinese ambassador to U.S.
2. Congressman from Florida
3. Doctor specializing in cancer
4. "Factory farmer" [pigs]
5. Logging industry executive
6. Maine senator
7. Meteorologist
8. Smurfit-Stone Recycling Co. CEO
9. U.S. Internal Revenue Service director
10. U.S. Nuclear Regulator Agency chairperson
11. U.S. Public Health Agency director
12. U.S. Secretary of the Treasury

Reminder, you can sign-up on-line by clicking here. 

Click here for link to permission form.

Civitas Students to Participate in Black History
program sponsored with History Museum and
St. Louis Rams 

The St. Louis Rams, Missouri History Museum, and Civitas are sponsoring a special program for Black History month.  It will most likely be on Thursday, February 26, at the History Museum from 3:00 PM - 6:00 PM.

Students from the following schools will be participating: Cardinal Ritter, Collinsville, Crossroads, Metro, Miller Career Academy, Ritenour, Rosati-Kain, S.L.U.H., University City, and Webster Groves.

What will make the program unique is how interactive it will be.  Following a film featuring clips of President Barack Obama's remarks in Grant Park on Election night and a tour of the museum's "St. Louis in Black and White" exhibit, there will be a panel discussion with 'Q&As' followed by small group discussions (approx. eight students per group), and then reports from each group to the entire group.

Panelists & Breakout Session Facilitators will include:

• Chris Draft, Linebacker, St. Louis Rams -- confirmed [Panelist]
• Reena Hajat, Director, Diversity Awareness Partnership [Facilitator]
• Priscilla Hill-Ardoin, community activist -- confirmed [Panelist]
• Alvin Reid, City Editor, St. Louis American [Panelist]
• Jamala Rogers, Director, Organization for Black Struggle -- confirmed [Panelist]
• Dr. Jonathan Smith, Professor, St. Louis U. -- confirmed [Panelist] 
• Bob Wallace, Executive VP, St. Louis Rams -- confirmed [Panelist]

Thanks so much to a remarkable coordinating committee that includes:

St. Louis Rams: Evan Ardoin, Cassidy Cleveland, Michael Yarbrough
Missouri History Museum: Melanie Adams, Alex Detrick

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