Faculty Work-Life Balance Series (5/5) Freebie Friday - Complete Small Activities on Recycle Bank for Free Points Towards High-Value Coupons and Free Products for Classes!

Readers,

I love saving money and I tend to spend A LOT of money on my classes (and our department's conferences), but I try to maximize my dollar by using coupons and contacting individual companies! 

Last year, when planning the "Environmental Communication Week", I was not familiar with this wonderful website, Recyclebank. This website enables users to complete quick quizzes, take green pledges, and read informative articles for Recycle Bank points. Here's the neat aspect, the points can be used for high-value coupons ($2.00 off Kashi Products, etc.) and even free products at McDonalds (i.e. - a free ice cream cone).

Professional Life

I am glad that I found this website last month, because I will be able to share the wonderful information with people who are interested in "Environmental Communication Week 2012". Another cool feature to add to the website! :)

Personal Life

This website is beneficial for our household because I am still planning to increase the amount of money that we save each month. September is always crunch month for our household (tuition, etc.) and this will be a great way to plan for future money emergencies. Faculty have to budget as well! :)

Sign up for Recyclebank today! :)

Enjoy!

Sincerely,

J. Edwards

Millennial Professor - Jennifer T. Edwards, Ed.D.

Become a fan of Millennial Professor on Facebook - http://goo.gl/gnN41

Green Printing for Students, Faculty, and Staff! - Some Great Tips from Environmental Communication Week @ Tarleton State University

Readers,


During Environmental Communication Week 2011, we were fortunate to have two wonderful presenters from our university's library (the Dick Smith library) and the Center for Instructional Technology and Distributed Education (CITDE) facilitate a session on Green Printing. Our university library (like many other university libraries) usually has a stack of papers that are left on the printers after the library closes each day. This presents a potential problem for our university (wasted paper) and the environment.


Here are some tips from their presentation...


- Be Patient (try not to print twice).
- Print Only What You Need (when listening to a presentation or lecture, ask which notes should be printed and which notes can remain electronic).
- Print Selectively (highlight the section of a document that you need to print and only print this section instead of the entire page)
- Print On Both Sides of Paper (duplex printing).
- Print Power Point Slides as Handouts Instead of the Actual Slides.
- Use Electronic Handouts (distribute a tinyurl link in class).
- Select the CENTURY GOTHIC font to save ink/toner. 


Here's their handout - LINK


This was a neat presentation and I adopted some of the suggestions from the presentation in my classes. I cannot wait to prepare "green" power point/Google Doc slides for the fall semester. 


Sincerely,


Millennial Professor - Jennifer T. Edwards, Ed.D.

Environmental Communication Week 2011 @ Tarleton State University (Recap)

Readers,

We received some wonderful press from Environmental Communication Week 2011!

Here you go!

Library Online Lounge - Tarleton Libraries (Blog Post)

http://tarletonlibrary.blogspot.com/2011/04/environmental-communication-week-2011.html

Environmental Communications Week Kicks Off (Newspaper Article)

http://media.www.thejtac.com/media/storage/paper1248/news/2011/04/28/CampusLife/Minute.To.Win.It.Week.To.Learn.It-3996220.shtml

Saving Paper With Green Printing (Newspaper Article)

http://media.www.thejtac.com/media/storage/paper1248/news/2011/04/28/CampusLife/Saving.Paper.With.Green.Printing-3996221.shtml

Politics and Environmentalism (Newspaper Article)

http://media.www.thejtac.com/media/storage/paper1248/news/2011/04/28/CampusLife/Politics.And.Environmentalism-3996219.shtml

Environmental Communication Week at Tarleton State University (Press Release)
http://www.tarleton.edu/scripts/press/display.asp?id=3453

BYOA (Bring Your Own Appliance) - 

Tarleton, Stephenville community to swap appliances at House Party in effort to recycle and reduce

http://media.www.thejtac.com/media/storage/paper1248/news/2011/04/21/News/Byoa-bring.Your.Own.Appliance-3994348.shtml

Sincerely,

Millennial Professor - Jennifer T. Edwards, Ed.D.

Environmental Communication Week 2011 @ Tarleton State University - Day Five

Readers,

Today's Freebie Friday is dedicated to our Green Works Houseparty! Two months ago, we applied to host a Green Works houseparty through Houseparty.com. This has been an amazing experience because House Party sent us a free gift pack for our party!

Here is the link to our House Party! - http://houseparty.com/party/484681

Our Party Pack contained:

• Green Works^® naturally derived Laundry Detergent samples
• Green Works^® naturally derived Compostable Cleaning Wipes samples
• Sierra Club notecards
• Reusable Nalgene^® water bottle from Brita^®
• Green It Yourself Guide with Coupons from Green Works^® and Lowe’s
• Brita^® water filtration system coupons
• NEW Burt’s Bees^® Naturally Nourishing Milk & Honey Body Lotion Sample and Coupon

Each guest brought a household appliance to swap with the other attendees. We took an interesting, interactive quiz on house hold allergens and upon their departure, each guest was given a House Party goody bag. We had a blast!

Here's the neat thing, as we tweeted about the company during ECW2011, the Green Works and House Party company actually responded to our students' tweets and became a FAN of our week! It was amazing! In addition to the extra curricular activities, we also talked about the Green Works company in our persuasion, interpersonal communication, and organizational communication courses.

Sincerely,

Millennial Professor - Jennifer T. Edwards, Ed.D.

Environmental Communication Week 2011 @ Tarleton State University - Day Four

Readers,


Today was the LAST day of Environmental Communication Week 2011 (since tomorrow is good Friday)! 

2PM - 3PM

Recycling Contest – 100 Uses for a _________ Contest

Where: Dick Smith Library Multipurpose Room

Calendar: Environmental Communication Week 2011 @ Tarleton State University

Description: Think of common items around your residence hall room or your home that can be reused! Bring those CREATIVE ideas to our RECYCLING CONTEST! Participants will form teams to complete against one another to create the LONGEST list of alternative uses for everyday products!

We also had attendance punch cards available during each event and each attendee will receive an e-mail (at the end of May) with an itemized listing of each event he/she attended during Environmental Communication Week!

Millennial Professor - Jennifer T. Edwards, Ed.D.

Environmental Communication Week 2011 @ Tarleton State University - Day Three

Readers,


Thanks for Prof. Cristi Horton and the other people in the Communication Studies Department (and our wonderful students), this has been one of the most amazing days of my life! Today, during the Air, Wind, and Solar session, the president of our university, Dr. Dottavio and the vice presidents of our university presented me with the Barry B. Thompson Service Award. My department head, dean, and wonderful colleagues were successful in keeping the award a surprise!


Here is a picture from the presentation (more to follow)...

Here is a list of today's events...

View the pictures of today's events here - http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.213922415304101.66236.140559722640371&l=bffbe6f661

ALL DAY

Fiction/Non-Fiction Book Swap (Bring a Book, Take a Book)

Where: Library Foyer (By the Circulation Desk)

Description: Do you need new books to read over the summer? Do you have some books to give away? Participate in the Fiction/Non-Fiction Book Swap! Thanks to you, many used books (new to you) will be available daily!

9AM - 1PM

Where Do I Recycle? What Can I Recycle? - Recycling Info. Booth

Presented By: The Tarleton Environmental Advisory Council

Where: Dick Smith Library

Description: Ask questions about recycling at Tarleton and enter for a chance to win a free t-shirt (and other prizes).

10AM - 11AM

Wind and Solar 101

Presented By: Mr. Eric Graff, Owner of the Air, Wind, and Solar Energy Store

Where: Dick Smith Library Multipurpose Room

Description: Discover the basics of wind and solar energy! Door prizes will be available!

11AM - 1PM

Where Do I Recycle? What Can I Recycle? - Recycling Info. Booth

Presented By: The Tarleton Environmental Advisory Council

Where: Thompson Student Center Foyer

Description: Ask questions about recycling at Tarleton and enter for a chance to win a free t-shirt (and other prizes).

12pm - 1pm

Green Works – New To You House Party (Door Prizes). Please RSVP by clicking this link - Tarleton New to You Recycling Party

Where: MATH 135

Description: Bring your own appliance (BYOA) or other household item to this green exchange! Through this interactive session, you will have an opportunity to switch your old coffee maker/blender, etc. with another participant (recycling and reducing)! Then, the Green Works company provided free cleaning products for you to clean your "new to you" appliance during the house party! Fifteen door prizes will be provided to participants!

1PM - 2PM

Panel Discussion – Ordinary People Who Are Doing Extraordinary Things to Go Green

Panelists:

Mr. Paul Risse, Owner of Bearfoot Market

Mr. Eric Graff, Owner of Air, Wind, and Solar Energy Store

Mrs. Pam Huckabee, Assistant Director of the Tarleton School Leadership Alliance (Solar Energy: From a Consumer's Perspective & the Advantages of Purchasing Food from a Natural Food Co-op)

Dr. Jennifer T. Edwards, Communication Studies (Frugal Gardening - Using Recycled Materials in Your Garden)

Dr. Robert Anderson, Communication Studies (Invited) (Driving a Hybrid Vehicle)

Where: Dick Smith Library Multipurpose Room

Description: Meet everyday Tarleton Texans who are doing extraordinary things to do green! Ask questions and hear great responses at this interactive panel. Door prizes will be provided to participants.

2PM - 3PM

The Southwest Regional Dairy Center and Environmental Sustainability of Animal Agriculture - Presented By: Dr. Barry Lambert, Dr. Donald McGahan, Dr. Don Cawthon, and Dr. Patti Locke

Where: Dick Smith Library Multipurpose Room

Description: Discover how the new Southwest Regional Dairy Center is contributing to environmental sustainability!

3PM - 4PM

Water Gardening 101

Presented By: Dr. Forrest Mitchell

Where: Dick Smith Library Multipurpose Room

Description: Discover how water gardening can be an enjoyable activity for everyone!

4PM - 5PM

How to Conserve Water and Harvest Your Own Rainwater

Presented By: The Stephenville Water Conservation Board (Featuring Dr. Hennen Cummings and Dr. Carol Thompson)

Where: Dick Smith Library Multipurpose Room

Description: Discover how you can take an active role in water conversation by adopting a few simple habits! In addition, find out how to harvest your OWN rainwater through a simple rainwater collection system!

This has been a successful week-long event and we have one additional event tomorrow! However, I have to travel to San Antonio for the Popular Culture Association/American Culture Association Conference AND the Texas Distance Learning Association Conference. I am attending TWO conferences in TWO days! :) Saving on those travel funds! :)


Sincerely,


Millennial Professor - Jennifer T. Edwards, Ed.D.