Fabulous News: We Have Two Community Partners!

I'm very happy to report that we've established *two* community partners for the project. Cheryl Schade, Director of the Adult Services at the Logan Center, confirmed their support with the project. This means that folks at the Logan Center will participate in our contests. And we will host a workshop at the Logan Center to teach participants how to make crafts (i.e., draft dodgers, coasters) from re-used plastic bags.

In addition, we've formed a partnership with the Riverbend Community Math Center. Amanda Serenevy, President of Riverbend Community Math Center, will work closely with me to organize festival events. Amanda is committed to teaching children (and adults!) how mathematics relates to real-life events. I'm so impressed by her creative ideas; Amanda knows how make the study of mathematics FUN!

Folks, I'm thrilled about this latest development, and I hope you are, too!

Establishing a Network

Despite the fact it's only been a month since I began this project, several people have shown their support. I've managed to keep a list of folks I've contacted, but the list keeps growing! Lucky for me, my friend, Dawn Wiest, is a bonafide expert on network analysis. So, on Sunday night, we created my very first Conserve Plastic Bags network! I'm going to keep track of any changes in the network as this project develops. And hopefully, those changes will be positive!

As of today, this is what the network looks like:

Please don't hurt your eyes by looking at this network! If you want to see an improved version of the network, click here.

Here's a breakdown of the network by color:

Red--IUSB faculty and students

Green--IUSB administration

Blue--Friends and family

Light blue--UGA colleagues

Light green--South Bend businesses

Black--South Bend Recycling Center

Grey--The Logan Center

Yellow--reusablebags.com

Based on this information, there are two major hubs: me and Gwynn Mettetal. Gwynn is the Department Chair of Psychology at IUSB, so it's no real surprise that she's very well connected. She's a valuable resource, indeed!

Anyway, please feel free to contact me if you wish to become part of the Conserve Plastic Bags network!