Jazz & Blues Florida was on the scene for Sunshine State’s April 28, Jazz Concert and Environmental Fair in Gainesville, Florida.  Congregation B’Nai Israel generously hosted the event which helped raise funds for us.  Here’s a great rewording of the song “Fever”.

Check out more pictures and video of the Jamie Ousley Trio performing in the Jazz & Blues review.

Sunday, April 28, 2013, 4 pm to 7 pm

Congregation B’Nai Israel, 3830 NW 16^th Blvd., Gainesville, FL

Free family fun at the second annual interfaith event, jazz concert and environmental fair: Come spend Sunday afternoon with award winning jazz musician Jamie Ousley and local environmental exhibitors in a celebration of Creation. The event is free to attend. Donations to Sunshine State Interfaith Power & Light would be greatly appreciated. Vegetarian food will be available for sale. B’Nai Israel and Sunshine State Interfaith Power & Light are co-sponsoring this event.

SCHEDULE

4:15 pm            Welcome:  Rabbi David Kaiman

Congregation B’Nai Israel

4:20 pm            Welcome and remarks: Sean McLendon

Sunshine State Interfaith Power & Light, Gainesville Chapter

4:30 pm            Alisa Woofter, Alternatives Global Marketplace

Fair Trade

4:45 pm            Greg Owen, Alachua County Environmental Protection Department

Water Conservation

5:00 pm            Abhaya Thiele, Citizens’ Climate Lobby

Climate Change

5:45 pm            Drum Circle and Bonfire, Marci Monchek, Congregation B’Nai Israel

In celebration of Lag B’Omer

6:15 pm            Jamie Ousley Trio

Jamie Ousley, SAMM and Ben Champion

EXHIBITORS

• Alachua County EPD – Greg Owen
• Alternatives Global Marketplace – Alisa Woofter
• Citizens’ Climate Lobby – Abhaya Thiele
• Current Problems – Dan Rountree
• Cymple Gardens/Sun State Organics – Brad Brooks
• Florida’s Water and Land Legacy – Jason Brady
• Gainesville Loves Mountains – Jason Fults
• IFAS/Ag Ext. Master Gardener Program – Harvey Goldstein
• LifeQuest – Tracie Hessley
• Repurpose Project – Mike Myers
• Sunshine State IPL – Sean McLendon

FOOD VENDORS

• CYM Coffee Co.
• Hoggtowne Lemonade Co
• Humble Pie Gainesville (wood fired pizza)

From GreenFaith: Does your house of worship want to reduce operating costs? Protect the environment? Attract new and younger members? Develop leaders? If yes – the GreenFaith Certification Program is for you.

Join Greenfaith for a webinar on February 25th from 8:00 – 9:00 p.m. ET to learn from participants and GreenFaith staff about how the program can energize your faith community.

Register for the webinar now. —Register even if you can’t attend, and we’ll send you the recording link. 

The GreenFaith Certification Program is a nationally-recognized two-year program which helps congregations ‘green’ their worship, education, facilities, and outreach. No other program provides as many resources, and as much support. We guarantee reduced facility operating costs, and help your congregation deepen its environmental work and attract new members.

The hour-long webinar will highlight the Program’s features and benefits, and show what it can do for your temple, mosque or church. You’ll have plenty of time for questions.

Please send resumes and a brief statement of your interest in being a part of the Sunshine State IPL mission to Rev. Andy Bell, Executive Director andy.bell@sunshinestateipl.org   727-488-0786

Internships Positions/Learning Opportunities : Administrative Assistant; Advocacy Organizer; Graphic Designer; Fundraising; etc.

Academic Credit: Many colleges offer course credit for our internships.  We are willing to work with your professors to make this time count toward your academic and professional development

Organization:  Sunshine State Interfaith Power & Light, Inc.

Number of Openings:  3

Start Date:  End of Spring Semester 2013    End Date:  Beginning of Fall Semester 2013

Work Schedule: Flexible hours and virtual internships available. 

Hours per Week:  (if flexible and not designated in schedule above)

Stipend:  Generally, Unpaid.  Reimbursements for travel to workshops can be arranged. 

Locations: Gainesville, Saint Petersburg/Tampa Bay area, Orlando area.

Background on Sunshine State Interfaith Power & Light, Inc.(SSIPL):  We are a state wide (charitable/not for profit) interfaith organization with the mission to mobilize faith communities to address the climate crisis and to practice Care of Creation in Florida.  SSIPL focuses on communication, education, action, and advocacy to facilitate faith communities living our their own traditions of caring for the Earth.

Position Description:  The Intern will report directly to an Officer, Executive Director or Project Coordinator Board

Qualifications Desired In Part or Whole: Theology, natural science and ecology majors, not for profit business administration; eeb site design/maintenance; data base management – Blackbaud Sphere; working knowledge of MS Excel, Word;  Publisher, Outlook; Apple programs; teaching curriculum to faith based groups;  community organizing; etc.

Liem Ngo, Sunshine State IP Intern Spring 2013

Please welcome Liem Ngo, Sunshine State’s newest intern.

Liem will help us on a variety of projects.  His focus will be on refining our presentation materials and helping us coordinate the North Florida/Gainesville division spring outreach events. 

Bio: Liem is a fourth year student at the University of Florida, majoring in Architecture and minoring in Sustainability. He is actively involved in design studio as a teaching assistant and sustainable initiatives on campus.

Contact Liem at:
Sunshine State Interfaith Power & Light
email: liem.ngo@sunshinestateipl.org

Green Living Expo, Feb 9

Saturday Feb 9, 2013
10 AM – 2 PM
Grace Lutheran Church
3714 W. Linebaugh Ave.
Tampa, FL 33618

If you are interested in being a vendor or exhibitor, please contact Mary Ann Hamilton at maryannhamilton11@gmail.com  Download the vendor application here.

The very next day we’ll also host:

Caring for God’s Earth: Faith Perspectives on Why and How, Feb 10
This Sunshine State IPL workshop will be on Feb 10, 1-4PM with an interfaith worship service following.  For more information please go to http://www.gracetampa.org
To register, call 813 961 8747 or go online here

Sponsored by:

It’s time for the 2013 National Preach-In on Global Warming, Interfaith Power & Light’s biggest event of the year. On the weekend before Valentine’s Day, thousands of clergy, lay leaders, and other people of faith will speak of their abiding love for God’s Creation. Sign up now to join us, and to receive your kit through the mail.

Please join congregations across Florida by signing up today!  http://www.preachin.org/

Also amazing is the desire to donate to our deepest held causes this time of year.  So, I am asking you to invest in the only state wide, nonprofit, organization that exists solely to bridge the gap between faith and Caring for Creation:  Sunshine State Interfaith Power & Light. 

Please Donate Now either online or by sending a check to make sure the work of helping people of all faith traditions heal the Earth continues.

Double your gift today!
Would you care to know how to double your gift to SSIPL?  This week we received notification of a $5,000 matching grant from national Interfaith Power & Light.   So, the first $5,000 in donations will be matched dollar for dollar by this grant and we cannot receive the grant without your help.   You can double your gift simply my doing what comes naturally, giving to a cause that actually makes a difference – not only today but for generations to come. 

Almost all faith based organizations and other nonprofits are struggling as local and national economies continue turn around.  Only through support from you and people like you are we able to continue our educational programs and advocacy.  SSIPL’s programs and events empower congregations and faith community members to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, curb toxins in the air, water, and soil, save money through reduced energy consumption, and myriad other Earth saving ways.  Help us to help you, your faith community, and thousands of other faith communities in Florida live out the common beliefs we hold that the Earth does not belong to us (never has and never will) and that are instructed to be benevolent caretakers of the only planet we have been entrusted with.

If you would prefer to send a check (and avoid the small online and credit card fees that reduce your giving amount) please mail it to our office address:

Sunshine State IPL
5995 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr St S.
Saint Petersburg, Florida 33705

If you would like more information please see our website www.Sunshinestateipl.org ; Write to us at info@sunshinestateipl.org or
Call us, (727) 488-0786.

Thank you for making SSIPL’s Creation Care work possible!

From the World Bank website:

Highlights:

• New World Bank-commissioned report warns the world is on track to a “4°C world” marked by extreme heat-waves and life-threatening sea level rise.
• Adverse effects of global warming are “tilted against many of the world’s poorest regions” and likely to undermine development efforts and goals.
• Bank eyes increased support for adaptation, mitigation, inclusive green growth and climate-smart development.