Eco-Madness meeting prepares 'Eco-Captains' to lead upcoming green competition

In preparation for Monday's Eco-Madness kickoff, an informational meeting was held Tuesday night for the volunteer Eco-Captains. Though fewer than 10 students attended the meeting, Catherine Pomposi, an intern at the Office of Environmental Policy (OEP) and the vice president of EcoHusky, who is running the competition, thinks that there will be a rise in this year's participation. "As every class comes in, they're more aware of environmental issues," said Pomposi. Targeting freshman dorms in this competition is a way to help them become responsible when it comes to conserving water and energy, she said. Becoming an Eco-Captain is a "good way to get involved in your building," Pomposi said. According to the Eco-Madness 2009 Toolkit, a handout distributed at the meeting, "Eco-Captains are volunteers who are especially interested in the competition and want to promote it within their buildings." "Anyone can volunteer to be an Eco-Captain," Pomposi said. Though "word-of-mouth is the best" way to promote the competition, according to Pomposi, there are plenty of other ways to get the message across to students. "[We'll] go door to door and make posters with simple tips on how to cut down energy and water usage," said Kristen Smith, a 1st-semester exploratory pre-education major who is volunteering as an Eco-Captain in West. Michelle Burke, also a 1st-semester exploratory pre-education major, said she'll "keep talking it up and reminding [students] about the ice cream party." "Everyone loves ice cream," Burke said. Other ways of promoting the competition listed on the handout include putting anti-bacterial gels in the bathrooms, placing candy dishes in stairwells to reward those that choose not to ride the elevator and hanging signs on residents' doors, in bathrooms and common areas and near light switches and elevators. Pomposi said that in order for Eco-Madness to be competitive, people need to help out. "This is why we need Eco-Captains," she said. "It's up to you guys to get into this competition," Pomposi told the volunteers. "It's simple things like going door-to-door and telling people to turn their computer off at night." At the end of the competition, Eco-Captains will be asked to write up a testimony describing how they promoted the competition, Pomposi said. There will be prizes awarded to the Eco-Captains who put in the most effort. Eco-Madness will also be hosting outreach activities to stimulate student interest. One event, "Eco-Trivia Night," will involve giving quizzes to students at participating dining halls, educating them about the competition and rewarding them with prizes. For more information about Eco-Madness, contact Catherine Pomposi at Catherine.Pomposi@Uconn.edu or through the OEP office at 486-5773.