KIC JUNIOR COMMISSIONER MEETING MINUTESWednesday, November 2, 2011 - 7:00 PM – Islip Town Hall Board

RoomWelcome to Keep Islip Clean! -Keep Islip Clean is an affiliate of Keep America Beautiful. Please read the distributed brochure for more information about the organization.-Our three major projects for this year include:

-Sneaker Recycling (through NIKE Reuse a Shoe Program)-Great American Cleanup-Earth Day Festival

*Attendance Policy* Please be sure to attend every meeting and arrive on time. If for any reason you are unable to attend, please let Nancy know by either telephone or email. Election of Officers-Congratulations to our newly elected KIC officers:

-President: Matt from Bay Shore-Vice President: Sara from Bay Shore -Secretary: Teresa from West Islip

-Assistants to Director:-Samantha Miller from Bayport-Ali Colbert from Bay Shore-Grisel Nieves from Brentwood-No JCs present from Central Islip-Scott Grimmell from Connetquot-Kaitlyn Malewicz from East Islip -Amanda Findley from Islip-Lucas Volle from Sayville-Gabriella Daidone from St. Anthony’s-Faith Yusko from West Islip

These commissioners are appointed by the director and are to serve as an advisory committee for their respective school districts. Sneaker Recycling Project-We are quickly delving into our first major project, a contribution to the NIKE Reuse a Shoe Program. In our respective towns JCs will collect used sneakers to be recycled to create basketball courts, tennis courts, running tracks, and playground surfacing in impoverished communities. This program benefits not only Islip by reducing the amount of trash in the waste stream, but also promotes physical activity and healthier lifestyles for kids nationwide. -To get started, meet with the principal of your high school in order to inform them of our program and ask for their support. Also contact the different elementary and middle schools in the district as well as other places, such as offices, libraries, or churches, which might like to get involved. It is recommended that each district assign one person to each school in that district.-Each district will be provided with its own WRAP bin for the high school as well as supplementary cartons for other locations.

-The bins should be put in the main lobby of each school where they will be the most visible. It is important to get word out quickly about the program through posters, flyers, and P.A. announcements at the different schools. If possible, try to give out take-home flyers in the elementary schools in order to inform parents about this program. -The program begins as soon as possible and continues until January 31st. -If you have any more questions about the program, e-mail Nancy or the President. You can also check our facebook page (search Keep Islip Clean and Keep Islip Clean Junior Commissioners). Congratulations to Faith Yusko who was named head of our Facebook group.-This program may take weeks to get started, but it will eventually be a success. Last year we collected nearly 3,500 sneakers. Let’s break that record!

Miscellaneous Projects

-This year we would like to get more involved in our community by implementing additional projects. It is up to the JCs to decide whether we would like to focus on one of these projects on an individual basis in each of our respective districts or to organize one together as a group through the K.I.C. program.-The four options include but are not limited to:

-Book Recycling by which gently used books are distributed to public places in low income areas in order to promote literacy and reduce waste

-Adopt-a-bike by which Town of Islip accepts donations of used bikes and distributes them to needy families in our area

-Father Nature Garden Center Plastic Pot Recycling by which plastic pots can be recycled with the added incentive of a five dollar coupon for every five pots recycled

-Terracycle by which unusual goods such as candy wrappers and cosmetics can be recycled

-Please see the distributed flyers for more information.

Report from JCs

-Bayport is holding a Jeans for Teens drive at their school in order to collect jeans for impoverished teens in their area.-West Islip has recently implemented a paper recycling program in its school, run entirely by volunteers who bring the paper to the recycling plant every few weeks. Last month, the A.P. Environmental classes also took part in a beach cleanup. Additionally, as part of an I.B. CAS project, West Islip High School is now reusing SAT, ACT, and A.P. review books for a voluntary $1 donation to support the library.-Victoria Genova, a JC from West Islip, is looking for donations of books for the Central Islip High School which is in desperate need of books. If you can help out in any way, please contact her through Nancy for more information.-Two weeks ago, Islip held a cleanup at Seatuck, a nature center in Islip, and is holding another cleanup this Sunday from 12 to 3. The event is open to anyone so please stop by if you can help. Contact Amanda Findley through Nancy for more information.-Connetquot has just completed its Clam Grant project in which students raise clams in safe, protected areas in order to rebuild the local clam population.-Bay Shore has reported that its Environmental Club is no longer being offered this year, but that the paper recycling program is continuing. They also held a cleanup at Overlook Beach a few weeks ago.-Sayville reported that it participated in the International Coastal Cleanup at Robert Moses one month ago.

-East Islip’s Science Honor Society is building an ecosystem in the courtyard with native species from the local area. Islip has a similar project so they can contact Islip JCs through Nancy if they’d like suggestions/information. Its National Honor Society is also holding a coat and food drive.

Project- BagsKeep Islip Clean has thousands of volunteers. In order to ease the giving out of supplies, junior commissioners organized garbage bags into bundles of ten.

Our next meeting is Wednesday December 7, at 7pm at Town Hall.

Minutes submitted by Junior Commissioner Secretary Teresa Oszkinis