:task groups (leader)

Monthly Presentations ( Reuben Hameed) - Each monthly COTEdc meeting highlights a different aspect of green design and construction. Last year featured topics as clean energy, LEED certified building tours, and green roofs. Currently scheduled for this year are presentations on solar energy, the DC green building act and affordable housing, specifying green for commercial interiors, and carbon credits. Should you like to present at one of our monthly meetings, please contact Reuben Hameed at rhameed@wba-arch.com

Website (Christian Gillette) - 2008 marked the launch of the NEW COTEdc website. This year we hope to continue expanding the content by updating our activities, including the monthly meeting minutes, and adding the feature of a calendar of events. Should you have a comment about our website, an idea toward making it more user friendly, or a calendar entry you would like to feature, please contact Christian Gillette at Christian.gillette@kimball.com

House of Cards Game (Beth Ridout) -Every fall, COTEdc participates in the Festival of the Building Arts hosted by the National Building Museum. Over the last two years, we have developed a game to teach kids and their parents about a variety of green building materials and ways to integrate environmental concepts into home construction. This year we would like to produce a version of the game that can be distributed through Washington Architecture Foundation's Architecture in the Schools
program. The game will hopefully be launched as an element of a schools curriculum. Be in touch with Beth Ridout if you are interested in collaborating and captivating students attention toward sustainable practices. beth@sustaindesign.net

Public Relations (Hal Bolton) -Taking advantage of our location in the nation's capital, COTEdc seeks to connect with local and national leaders in order to increase green building awareness beyond the construction and design community. In addition, COTEdc will work with other environmental groups to help lend support to environmentally friendly legislation. A large first step in this process will be inviting leaders throughout the DC community to our key yearly events (Summer Solstice, Green Tie, etc). Please contact Hal Bolton at hbolton@terraplanestudio.com, to help his effort toward better exposure and promotion of our mission throughout the year.

Summer Solstice Party (Reuben Hameed & Christian Gillette) - COTEdc sponsors an annual summer party at the US Botanic Gardens on the evening of the summer solstice. This is our largest event of the year for COTEdc and guests come from many backgrounds- architects, engineers, designers, contractors, associations, and so much more. Last year was the first for an educational element of the event held during the afternoon, which
COTEdc brought together legislators to learn about the broad spectrum to environmental awareness and design. The party continued through the evening in the lush gardens with the music of our favorite steel drum band, and networking of our guests. To volunteer for the event please contact any member of the COTEdc board as there is much to prepare for and your help is greatly needed.

Festival of the Building Arts (Doug Horgan)- More commonly known as FOBA, this is an event held every October at the National Buildings Museum for children of all ages. The event highlights architecture and building construction with activities of all types to engage the kids in hands on learning. COTEdc is proud to be a part of FOBA to which we take time to teach children how to build a sustainable house out of environmentally friendly material through our House of Cards game. Our booth at the festival is made out of large bamboo poles, and is a blast
constructing every year. To volunteer for FOBA contact Doug Horgan at doug@bowa.com

Green Festival (Jaime Van Mourik)- Held every Fall at the DC Convention Center, this is a huge expo of everything green, natural, and earth friendly. From all natural fair trade clothing and organic food, to chemical free household products and green building material, this is an event to learn about green products. COTEdc has a booth every year to announce our mission, talk with the public about our events, and invite all to join our meetings. Please take a few hours out of your weekend and volunteer to man the booth. Contact Jaime Van Mourik for more information, jaimevanmourik@greenshape.com

Green Tie Affair (Jay Wilson)- Celebrate the holiday season with the entire green community of Washington, DC. The Green Tie is another great opportunity to network and celebrate sustainable design. As a joint event sponsored by COTEdc, IIDA, USGBC, and IEEE, there's a lot to prepare for our 300+ guests. Last year's Green Tie Affair was held at the Gallery LaFayette with a theme of "A Carbon Neutral Soiree". Proceeds from the event go toward a local non-profit organization, with Casey Trees as the beneficiary for 2007. Join in on the fun by contacting Jay Wilson to volunteer, jwilson@wiencek-associates.com