Advisors:
Tom Dunton

&
Rich Boes

    Having assisted Mr. Cooley in the role of club advisor during the
1980’s, Mr. Tom Dunton inherited the advisorship of SEQ upon Mr.
Cooley’s retirement in June 1989. For the next four years, Mr. Dunton
continued to guide the club he had come to know very well, along with
assistance from co-advisor, Mr. Richard Boes.
    “What attracted me to the club was the environmental activism.
Mr. Cooley, the founder of SEQ, would always invite me to attend the
lobbying excursions to Albany for the Bottle Bill, and he would discuss
environmental issues dealing with land use, recycling and groundwater
pollution. The club was always filled with a mixture of bright and enthusiastic
students. Some people were more involved than others, but there
always was a place for someone regardless of their background. Kids felt
comfortable coming to the weekly meetings. At times, students would
make presentations before the school board or town council to promote
some environmental issue. All members would go and observe the workings
of these two levels of government. During my years the biggest issues
were the landfill and groundwater pollution.”
    As far as what SEQ could be focusing on now, Mr. Dunton stated,
“Today, SEQ could be looking into energy conservation and green
schools. Why doesn’t every school building have its own windmill or photovoltaic
field to generate electricity from the wind and sun? These
renewable resources might reduce the need to build the gas fired power
plant by Caithness in our neighborhood.”
    True to Dunton’s suggestions at to what SEQ could be working on
today, we are pleased to say that the club continues to reiterate the values
of “energy conservation” and a “green society”. Likewise, it continues its
hands-on approach to improving local land appearance, water quality,
recycling and the scientific collection of data to educate us and plan future
actions.


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