Green Saves Green Member Meeting Minutes

Tuesday, November 4, 2025

5:30 p.m., Pasquotank County Library


Present:  Sally Baugham, Mike Baugham, Karl Brandspigel, Nita Coleman, Sam Dahl, Woody Garthwaite,  Donna Gilbrand, Laura Granado, Marlene Greer, Rafeal Griffin Sr., Rafeal Griffin Jr., Linda Jones, Bill Kruse, Sue Miller, Anne Radke, Misti Rewis, Jared Tardiff, Jeanne Tardiff, Tim Tolson 

Chair report

  • Do Not Litter Poster Contest Awards Ceremony. Seventeen winners were selected, and 15 of the winners were in attendance with their families and friends. GSG gave out $725 in cash awards; $250 of which came from the E.C. Historic Neighborhood Association. AOA awarded a one-week summer art camp to two winners. Julie put together several beautifully packaged gifts of art supplies.  

  • Tourism Development Authority Grant Application. Phil and Marlene met with TDA, Visit E.C., E.C. Public Works, E.C. Parks & Rec, and E.C. Downtown Inc. to discuss concerns on where the Do Not Litter contest winning signs would be placed and who would be responsible for upkeep or removal if damaged. It was decided Elizabeth City will be responsible for upkeep, but not replacement. Marlene did a walkaround with James McCotter of E.C. Public Works and determined there are numerous existing U-channel poles we can use to put the poster signs on. GSG was asked to revise its application to address sign placement and responsibility and to include the purchase of 10 trash cans to be placed downtown in partnership with ECDI. The grant application went from $4,800 to $13,800. Marlene submitted the revised application last week.

  • NEAAAT Litter Cleanup. This was GSG’s largest student cleanup. We had 100 6th-graders, and they cleaned up 20 streets on the east side of Elizabeth Street and MACU Park. The students filled 42 bags of litter, plus they picked up some larger debris, totaling about 750 pounds of litter removed. E.C. Public Works picked up all the collected litter, and the E.C. Police Department sent a patrol car to ensure student safety.

  • GSG Accomplishments. So far this year, GSG has done 65 events and programs. We held our second Earth Day event; did our first Wheels & Reels Litter Cleanup covering Elizabeth City and Hertford; initiated a local waterways “Catch of the Day Challenge” with a goal of removing 100 pounds of litter; had the best Fall Litter Sweep yet with 37 volunteers; gave away 500 trees; and had a full season of Watershed Watchers out on our local rivers. GSG could not accomplish all of this without our dedicated group of volunteers. Thank you.

Northeastern NC Regional Paddle Trail Conference. Misti, Nita, Rodney, Bill, and Sue attended the first meeting of interested parties. Nineteen counties are involved in planning, mapping, organizing and marketing. More than 100 people attended the meeting, including officials from Pasquotank County. Committees are being formed to take the lead on this initiative. Bill has agreed to be on the committee covering Pasquotank County.

Membership Report & Discussion. GSG has 119 members, including 22 students and teachers.  Membership reflects 75 returning members plus 44 new members. Dues are $25 per year for all memberships, and free for teachers/students. The group discussed membership tiers. There was no consensus on amounts or duration, but it was agreed to keep membership fees affordable.

Scholarship Program Recommendations & Discussion. We have $800 dedicated to scholarships but have not developed a scholarship program. The Executive Committee determined an ongoing scholarship program would not be sustainable, and our funds would be better used for GSG programs and student environmental outreach. The Committee recommended disbursing the funds to benefit local college students in need. The Committee selected the ECSU Gap Fund and the COA Cares Fund as the beneficiaries.

Grant Program Recommendations & Discussion.  In the last 5 years, GSG has given out 7 grants and only two were completed successfully. The Executive Committee recommended we discontinue the initiative. The Committee felt our funds can be better used toward our own programs and events. We’ll continue to seek ways to involve youth and the community in our projects. 

Soft Plastics Recycling Initiative. We are sponsoring the NexTrex Recycling Challenge at local schools. River Road Middle is confirmed and others are interested. The goal is for the students to collect 1,000 pounds of soft plastics, then Trex will send them a free bench made out of recycled material. The Pasquotank Library is partnering with us on this year-long initiative. GSG members were asked to start saving their clean, soft plastics and drop them off in the NexTrex bin at the library.

Upcoming Events        

  • River Road Middle School Litter Cleanup – Thursday, Nov. 6, 8:45-9:45am. Volunteers: Marlene, Norma, Bill, and Sue

  • Albemarle Kayaking Pasquotank River Sweep – Friday, Nov. 7, 9:30am-1pm. Meet at Koen Cemetery. This is private property. Use allowed by specific permission. 

  • Albemarle Kayaking Meander Merchant Millpond Paddle – Friday, Nov. 14, 9am

 

Other Business.  DOT Survey on the DOT website, with a deadline of Nov. 7.

 

Next meeting will be Monday, January 12, 2026, 5:30 p.m. at the Pasquotank County Library

No meeting in December.