Bill
Coughlin - Sunoco, Inc. (Chair of Sub-Committee)
April
Birnbaum - Air Management Services
Kirt
Flowers - Amtrak Automotive
Lionel
Gillston - Alliance/DET
Jack
LeBeau - Rentar Environmental Solutions
POINTS
OF DISCUSSION:
Old
Business
On January
23, 2004, April Birnbaum participated in a conference call with the Region
VI Office of the United States Environmental Protection Agency, in an effort
to learn more about the dynamics of the Texas Adopt-A-SchoolBus Program.
The Texas Adopt-A-SchoolBus Program operates on behalf of the Texas Chapter
of the American Lung Association (a 501 c 3 organization) and is largely
funded through government grants and enforcement settlement monies. Program
staff at the EPA has been successful in obtaining corporate sponsorship
donations by engaging the assistance of connections procured through high-level
environmental and political officials (i.e. the EPA Region VI Administrator).
Further, they have obtained financial donations through affiliations made
at charity auctions, galas, and other fundraising events.
Contact
has been procured with the Philadelphia Asthma Task Force, the Philadelphia
Allies Against Asthma, and the Asthma Bus of Thomas Jefferson University
Hospital. It is expected that all of these organizations will endorse the
Diesel Difference Working Group Charter.
The
Clean Air Council completed an introductory outreach brochure on the Philadelphia
Diesel Difference Coalition. The brochure will be distributed to the Working
Group for review and comment. A final version of the document will be used
as part of the Corporate Sponsorship Program.
April
Birnbaum continues to work with SEPTA's Tom Nuxoll of Government Affairs
and Relations, in an attempt to elevate the goals of the Philadelphia Diesel
Difference within SEPTA's internal affairs.
New
Business
The
Corporate Sponsorship Program wishes to receive endorsements from national
agencies and organizations, to further the constituency that will endorse
its goals and objectives. Environmental organizations to be contacted include
the Natural Resources Defense Council, Earthjustice, Environmental Defense,
Greenpeace, and the Sierra Club. Contact also continues to be made with
the regional chapters of the American Heart and American Lung Associations,
in order to obtain endorsement at the national level.
A question
was posed as to whether or not the Diesel Difference ought to consider the
selection of a grouping of founding members, in addition to the category
of members who have endorsed the charter. Founding members would adhere
to a heightened level of responsibility and standards within the Working
Group.
On
February 9, 2004, April Birnbaum met with Latonia Peters, Project Coordinator
for the AsthmaBUSters of Thomas Jefferson University Hospital. Ms. Peters
is interested in incorporating the goals of the AsthmaBUSters with those
of the Diesel Difference and installing clean diesel technologies into the
double-decker British diesel bus that houses the AsthmaBUSters program.
April
Birnbaum and Aaron Firestone participated in a New Membership Orientation
at the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce on February 10, 2004. This
meeting served as a briefing for the Philadelphia Diesel Difference on the
benefits and upcoming events offered to members of the Chamber of Commerce
and a networking opportunity with other members of the Chamber.
April
Birnbaum and Aaron Firestone will be participating in "From the Ground
Up," a Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce Forum and Trade Show
held on February 24, 2004, focused upon regional construction and development.
The Diesel Difference aims to educate local construction companies employing
off-road diesel engines on the benefits of installing clean diesel technologies
onto their fleets, including the public relations opportunities offered
by our non-monetary recognition program.
A draft
copy of a Corporate Sponsorship Power Point Presentation circulated within
the Corporate Sponsorship Sub-Committee. A meeting to review the presentation
with Corporate Sponsorship Sub-Committee members occurred on February 18,
2004. Areas that remain under construction include a cost/benefit analysis
for diesel particulate matter and a targeted, interim financial goal for
the corporate sponsorship program.
Bill
Coughlin will continue to investigate the potential advertising capabilities
housed by Sunoco's Welcome America campaign.
