We're ready to make it a terrific one and hope you'll join us!

Our resolution for 2012... to establish Annapolis Green as a leading nonprofit for sustainability in our community!  

Our first focus is the upcoming General Assembly that will be in session from January 11 to April 9. Now is the time to do a little studying and understand what the issues are and how our legislators will act upon them. One good way is to have a look at the Office of Legislative Services' Issue Papers document for the 2012 session. This document, over 200 pages long, contains analyses of a myriad of issues. Those of interest to environmentalists include:  

• Offshore Wind
• Chesapeake Bay Restoration: Achieving Pollution Reduction Goals
• Wastewater Disposal: Addressing the Bay Restoration Fund Deficit and Sustainable Growth
• Plan for Development in Maryland
• Energy and the Environment

The document is online at  http://dls.state.md.us/data/tabs/wha/Issue-Papers---2012-Legislative-Session-for-web.pdf  

Green Drinks: to Continue the Conversation 

And of course if you want to know more about the General Assembly session and its environmental initiatives, attend the 18th Annual Maryland Environmental Legislative Summit (right before Green Drinks) on January 24th, from 5-6:30 p.m. in the Miller Senate Building. The summit is an amazing experience. You'll hear from top legislative leaders and environmental advocates about legislative priorities for the 2012 General Assembly Session  which opens on January 11.   

Then walk over to the Loews Annapolis Hotel to "continue the conversation" at Green Drinks, generously sponsored by the Chesapeake Legal Alliance.  

We have always advocated becoming informed and then taking action on behalf of our environment. We believe that letting our elected officials know that we demand action to protect the environment is as important as working with our conservation groups, shovels in the ground. We hope the Summit and the conversations that follow will move you to watch the Legislative Session more closely and to communicate with your representatives now through April.

Good Reading 

Doing some long-delayed reading over the holidays we've come across some interesting articles and sites to share with you about many facets of environmental living. We're posting all sorts of info on our Facebook page. Meantime, The Bay Journal's November issue is chock full of information of interest. It is available online at www.bayjournal.com  or a paper copy will be delivered right to your mailbox free if you request it.

And finally, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation issued a report yesterday that examined "claims that environmental regulations hurt the economy and finds them to be false." Misinformed people who are against environmental initiatives usually say they are opposed because these initiatives are too expensive. Finally, here's a report that shows that Earth friendly regulations actually create jobs. What a concept. Read the report here: cbf.org/jobsreport.  

On the Horizon 

We'll have a full-fledged issue of The Line for you next week. This is just a Happy New Year message to you, our fans and supporters. We hope you'll be a part Annapolis Green in 2012 as we become a non-profit that will do a lot of good in our community. Our official launch will take place in February or March and we invite you to become one of the Founding One Hundred! Click on the button to learn more.  

Cheers,

Elvia & Lynne