Green Saves Green Member Meeting Minutes

Monday, February 9, 2026

5:30 p.m., Pasquotank County Library


Present: Martha Ann, Michael Baugham, Sharon Burtner, Sam Dahl, Jane Elfring, Julian Eure, Julie Foster, Marlene Greer, Bobbie Hunsberger, Kurt Hunsberger, Bill Kruse, Sue Kruse, Sue Miller, Anne Radke, Misti Rewis, Allison Rooney, Jared Tardiff, Tim Tolson, Steve VanGiesen, Abigail Villalba, Gail Ward, Holly White, Terry S.

Presentation of 2025 Annual Report 

Highlights include our growing student environmental education program and our two new initiatives: The soft plastic recycling challenge with student groups and the community litter awareness initiative. We ended the year with $36,921, a very healthy fund balance to continue our mission and programs well into the future. Holly suggested we do a presentation to Pasquotank County and include upcoming projects for this year. The full report can be found on our website.

Presentation of 2026 Budget

Treasurer Woody Garthwaite is out of town on vacation. Marlene presented the budget on his behalf. Income significantly less for 2026 because of the poster sign grant and paddle trail donations we received in 2025. Our expenses are way down because of the Paddle Trail donations paid out to Elizabeth City. Most everything else is close to what it was in 2025. Deficit of $2,240. Meaning we spend more than we take in. Still in great financial shape.

Albemarle Watershed Watch

Rodney Johnson sent the following report: Albemarle Resource Conservation and Development Council received a $142,652 grant from the Albemarle Pamlico National Estuary Partnership for GSG and other regional partners to continue water sampling for UNC Morehead and NC State research programs. The grant is for 2 years. Sampling is expected to begin in May.

Do Not Litter Poster Signs

Julie and Marlene met with Graham Davis of Davis Signs & Graphics. Together, they selected eleven of the winning posters to be turned into street signs. We anticipate getting about 60 signs. Graham advised it will take about six months for all the signs to be printed. Sharon, Gail and Marlene did an initial drive around Elizabeth City to locate and mark suitable existing posts for signs. After getting several questions answered, they will do another drive around.

GSG Student Environmental Education

  • Group Tree Planting. About 14 River Road Middle School 8th-graders will beautify their campus with a tree planting on Feb. 10. Adam White visited the school last month to discuss the tree seedling varieties available through our Plant A Valentine, then took the students outside to measure and determine where to plant the trees.

  • NexTrex Soft Plastics Recycling Challenge. River Road Middle School students reached 250 pounds. Elizabeth City Middle School started in January and is up to 60 pounds. NexTrex changed its program. For 2026, instead of collecting 1,000 pounds and getting a free bench, groups that collect 250 pounds in any calendar quarter, will be entered to win one of four prizes valued at $500: a bench, a life-size Jenga, life-size Connect 4, or Pop-up Theater. GSG members agreed to purchase a bench for RRMS students in the event they reach 1,000 pounds and do not win a prize.

  • Earth Day Event. This will be our third year offering a day of outdoor learning for students. JC Sawyer Elementary will participate this year. We’ll have 40 5th graders. The event will be at Charles Creek Park, and will include a litter cleanup and water quality testing with GSG, and a study of macroinvertebrates with Ranger Stephanie Luedi from Merchants Millpond State Park.

Pasquotank Paddle Trails

Weston & Sampson has been contracted to do the Blueways Feasibility Study. They are also doing the design renovation of Causeway Park and the living shoreline project at College Park. We worked with the team last year on the rain garden project at Knobbs Creek, so already have a relationship. Weston & Sampson will come to our March, April or May meeting and present the Blueways Study timeline and how we will be participating and working together, along with the living shoreline plan at College Park. Weston & Sampson is about to submit its build plan for Causeway Park. We’ve been invited to share our comments on the type of kayak launch to be put in. Virtual Meeting 5-6pm Thursday, Feb. 19. 

Plant A Valentine Tree Giveaway

Due to the freezing temperatures for the last two weeks, the nursery has been unable to get trees out of the ground. As a result, we are getting 300 trees rather than the 500 we ordered, and the varieties changes. Jared picked up 100 white oak, 100 willow oak, and 100 wax myrtle. We MAY get more trees later. Giveaway still going ahead as planned.

Upcoming Events

  • River Road Middle School Group Tree Planting – Tuesday, Feb. 10, 12:30-1:30pm 

  • Plant a Valentine. Feb. 12, 1-3pm – Ag Extension Building, wrap trees; Feb. 13, 9-11am – ECPC Senior Center;

    Feb. 13, 9-11am – Perquimans Center for Active Living; Feb. 13, 2-4pm – Camden Library; Feb. 14, 9-11am – Pasquotank Library

  • GSG Litter Team Meeting – Monday, Feb. 23, 5-6pm ECPC Senior Center

  • Bag & Tag Soft Plastic Recycling & Pizza Party – 9:30am-noon, Saturday, March 7, Pasquotank Library

  • USCG Base Weeksville Road Litter Cleanup – 1-2:30pm, Thursday, March 12

  • Pre-Marathon Litter Cleanup – 9-11:30am, Saturday, April 4. Meet at Waterfront Park

  • Earth Day Student Program - 9am-1:30pm, Wednesday, April 22, Charles Creek Park

  • Camden HS Litter Cleanup – May 4, 1-3pm. National Science Honor Society students

  • Pre-Bassmasters Elite Litter Cleanup – June 6. Downtown E.C. + Parks and Charles Creek river sweep


Other Business

Marlene brought bags of soft plastic and asked members who are interested to take home a bag and sort to help students reach their recycling goals.

Terry mentioned a WWII historical talk from the perspective of a Japanese survivor. He will send the information to Marlene and she will share with those interested.

Next meeting will be Monday, March 9, 5:30 p.m. at the Pasquotank County Library