TIP's Mission

• In Rhode Island, no organization has been focused specifically and exclusively on toxics in everyday products, their health effects and alternatives to their use. TIP aims to fill that role.
• TIP will stimulate people to think about and to question the chemicals that they are putting into their bodies everyday through absorption, inhalation and ingestion.
• TIP will bring much needed clarity to understanding vague and confusing commercially used label terms such as “fragrance” & “inerts” which mask highly toxic ingredients.
• TIP will teach how to eliminate or reduce exposure to as many of these toxins as possible. Using the most up-to date information from recent research and creative interaction with the public in a variety of ways & venues, TIP will seek and disseminate knowledge on how to avoid the worst toxics and to embrace safer ways to live our everyday lives.
• TIP will promote the sale of effective & less toxic alternative products.
• TIP will facilitate people’s sharing of their personal experiences with reactions to chemicals. TIP will provide ways to exchange information about less toxic products that have proven effective in actual use.
• TIP will also provoke people to think about environmental effects from the residue in streams and soil and air from both manufacture of these products and their disposal after use by consumers.

WHO WE ARE

TIP Director Liberty Goodwin: Liberty has worked for numerous non-profit organizations over the years, including FUSE (Fund for Secure Energy) in Connecticut, Future WAVE (Working for Alternatives to Violence in Entertainment) in New Mexico, the Environment Council of RI (ECRI) and the Apeiron Institute for Environmental Living in Coventry, RI. She served through 2001-02 on the Rhode Island Special State Commission on Pesticide Use in Schools (legislation successfully enacted in June, 2002). Liberty founded the Toxics Information Project (TIP) in November, 2002.

TIP BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Christine Pontus , M.S., COHN-S, CCM, Health Educator with the Massachusetts Nurses Association. Creator of an online CE course for nurses on fragrance safety.

Kate Lacouture , Landscape Architect, Mother

Wendy Fachon , Environmental Educator, Certified in RIPQA Afterschool Teaching. Website: www.netwalkri.com

Patrice Pop , Medical Secretary, Animal Photographer. Former Non-Profit Administrator & Research Interviewer

Paul Klinkman , Computer Consultant, Tax Preparer, Webmaster, Inventor.

Liberty Goodwin , See description above.

TIP is fortunate to have been supported at its inception by the following 18-member advisory committee:

NOTE: Our wonderful Advisory Committee members were folks who agreed to be available to help us with information in their areas of expertise. They tried to answer questions for us, give good advice and suggestions. However, they are not responsible for any decisions made by Toxics Information Project (TIP) Director Liberty Goodwin or by its Board of Directors.

Steve Alm , PhD, Professor, URI Dept. of Plant Sciences, Pesticide Training Coordinator

Morris M. Bochner , Supervisor of Plant Operations, Johnston Public Schools

Bruce Buteau, Senior Research Chemist

Shawn Crawford, Windwalker Humane Coalition

Heather Gaydos, Education Coordinator, Groundwork Providence

Brad Hyson, Director, Apeiron Institute for Environmental Living, Coventry, RI

Paul Klinkman, Computer Consultant & TIP Treasurer

Kate Lacouture, Landscape Architect; Parent

Elizabeth Lopes-Duguay , Supervisor, Pesticide Section, RI Dept. of Envir. Management

Peggy Munson, Award-winning author & essayist, editor of the book “Stricken”, about people with Chronic Fatigue Immune Disorder.

Charles Obert , Former Chair, RI Pesticide Relief Advisory Board, Certified Pest Control Operator & Sanitarian

Rhoda Perry , RI State Senator, Chair, Senate HEW Comm., former Health Care Administrator

Christine Pontus , M.S., COHN-S, CCM. (See above for description)

Betina Ragless , Lung Health Program Director, American Lung Association of RI (ALARI)

RI State PTA , Representative to be announced.

Lynn Tondat Ruggeri, PhD, Physiological Psychology, Professor Emerita, Psychology Dept., UMass Dartmouth, Safer Works.

John Trevor , Recycling Program Manager, RI Resource Recovery Corp. (RIRRC)

Pamela S. Webster , PhD, Former director, URI Sustainable Communities Initiative; Parent

VOLUNTEERS & GUEST SPEAKERS

Our core group of regular volunteers who especially provide the gardening knowledge needed by NYC-born Liberty G includes Dori Blacker, Cate Wojowitz, Aimee Reismann, Jeanne Chapman, & Pat Barnes. Some speakers/forum participants in recent years and those scheduled for 2006 include: Vincent Seccareccia, veterinarian, Barbara Bourgette, organic gardener, Alexandra Knott, owner, East of Eden (Urban Gardening expert), Board Members Kate Lacouture and Chris Pontus, Lynn Ruggeri, Pam Webster & Charles Obert (of our Advisory Committee), Carol Westinghouse (Cleaning for Health Senior Consultant, Inform, Inc.), Paula and Glenn Dewell, (art and science teachers, respectively), Kim Paul, founder and president of CATCH, parent of a child affected by chemicals at school, Susan Addiss, Health Director, EHHI, CT, David Jones, Bio-Tech Pest Control, Ben Daniels, Ultimate Organics, & Chip Osborne, Living Lawn Project.

GREEN CLEANING WORKSHOP PARTICIPANTS

Molly Clark, American Lung Assn of RI; Dori Blacker, TWEET (Those Who are Effected by Environmental Toxins); Evie Bain, Massachusetts Nursing Association (MNA);Jim Boisvert, Vanasse Hangen Brustlin, Inc.; Robin Kroll , SBM Site Services , Amgen, & Michelle Anforth, Amgen; Ed Coppola, Gary Lulli and Joe Gemma, University of RI Providence Campus; Jim Celenza, RICOSH (with a staff member); Jim Oldham, Environmental Justice Coordinator, Regional Environmental Council, Worcester, MA; Joseph McGovern , Foster /Glocester Schools (with a staff member); Lynn Ruggeri, Safer Works; Dorothy McCulloch, Chairman, International House; Bailey Rook (2 people); Jim Woulfe, Simplex, Inc.; Cheryl Grove, Constituents Addressing Gaps; David Rosemill , Custom Office Cleaning Inc.; Kathryn DiPalma,, PC Biology/Toxicology Student).

NOTE: Monica Anderson, Community Affairs Coordinator for Miriam Hospital was registered, but unable to attend - however, she did loan us a power point projector for the presentation.

ORGANIC TURF MANAGEMENT WORKSHOP ATTENDERS

Mike Wilcox & Tom Willett, City of Pawtucket, RI; Josh Greeley, Landscape Contracting, Upper Cape Technical School, Bourne, MA; HAVENWOOD, LLC, Alan R. Ahlstrom, RLA, CH (Owner/Principal) Landscape Architect & Wife Elaine M. Grant, (Owner/Business Manager); Andrea Bixby, University of RI; Kate Lacouture, Landscape Architect (TIP Board member); Miles Connors, Jim Sullivan & Craig Knowles, Newport Restoration Foundation, Newport, RI; Mike Lueders, Lueders Environmental, Inc.,. Medfield, MA; Tom Cicatiello (& 2 staff members), The Gordon School , East Providence; Amy Vickers & Associates, Inc., Water Planning, Policy & Management, Amherst, MA; Chris Crawley, City of Pawtucket, Parks & Recreation; Mike Nolin, W. Greenwich, RI; Matthew J. Bolles, Town of Jamestown, RI; James Beardwood, Town of Lincoln, RI – Parks Maintenance Foreman; Jonathan Say, Natural Landscapes of Cape Cod, Barnstable, MA; Ed Collins, Middletown Public Schools, RI, Director of Facilities; Thomas D'Amore, City of Providence Parks Dept., RI; David Young North Kingstown School Dept, RI; David Jones, Bio Tech Pest Controls, Westerly RI; John Cuccinello, NOFA –MA; John S. Whitney, Redwood Nursery & Landscape Service, Swansea, MA.

NOTE: One of the registrants contacted us later for further assistance in moving toward organic care of their school grounds. Another became a TIP member is leading a workshop under TIP sponsorship at the RI Sustainable Living Festival in June. We’ve also had several inquiries from folks who were unable to attend.

PARTICIPANTS - 2004 LESS TOXIC LANDSCAPING CONTEST

Wendy Bradshaw, Sarah Sloane, Troy West, Barbara Melone, Jean Williams, Aimee Reisman, Mary Greene, Sue Lussier, Barbara Ann Bourgette, Jodi Malone, Alta Carroll, Thomas Masotto, Emily Rochon, Jennifer M. Goldman.

NOTE: Several of these contestants have become strong TIP supporters/members.