Transitions: Sustainability Topics in Marion County, FL

"Transitions: Sustainability Topics in Marion County, FL" is a quarterly newsletter that was started in Fall 2010. The first issue was online, but the subsequent issues have been in .pdf format. Winter 2010 and Spring 2011 issues have been released, and a Summer 2011 issue will come out shortly.

Since starting with UF/IFAS Marion County Extension in March 2010, I have developed an email list of 145 people. The newsletter is sent electronically to everyone on this list, which includes a wide variety of audiences, i.e., builders, real estate agents, city/county employees, energy service specialists, and interested citizens. I also include a link to the newsletter in my email signature.

I focus on energy and water related topics in my newsletter. For example, the Winter 2010 issue featured articles on local and state water issues, i.e., an interview with our local water resource coordinator and articles on the Florida Water Star program, EPAs numeric nutrient water quality standards, and restoration plans for Silver and Rainbow Springs. The Spring 2010 issue focused on green building topics and included an interview with a local licensed solar contractor, a list of green building web resources, and a highlight of a local family that has recently installed solar panels.

The resoures involved in developing an issue of this newsletter are minimal. I use Microsoft Publisher to format the newsletter, and am able to publish it to the web using Mail Chimp. I have not done a formal evaluation of my newsletter yet, but I have gotten positive feedback about the quality of the design and content.

Files

Transitions:Sustainability News in Marion County (Winter 2010)

This is the Winter 2010 version of my newsletter - "Transitions: Sustainability Topics in Marion County, FL"

Transitions: Sustainability News in Marion County, FL (Spring 2011)

This is the Spring 2011 issue of my newsletter - "Transitions: Sustainability News in Marion Cunty, FL"

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