Five members have submitted ballot statements to serve on the 2021 NCRA Board of Directors. There are five two-year positions to fill. Voting opens Tuesday, November 23, 2020, and ends Monday, December 6, 2020, at 11:59 pm.
Custom voting links will be emailed to members on November 23. If you do not receive our email but believe you should (i.e. your membership is current as of November 23, 2020), please contact the office and we will email the link again.
NCRA BOARD OF DIRECTOR CANDIDATES, 2020:
Julia Au, Member since 2018
I would be honored to serve on the NCRA Board to help our shared goals of reducing waste and making an impact in our region and beyond.
I’ve been a NCRA member since 2018, but have been involved in the waste world for over ten years from working at Californians Against Waste, to coordinating HHW programs and outreach at SF Environment and San Mateo County, where I also helped pass and enforce the County’s Bag Ban. I’m currently the Outreach and Communications Manager at RethinkWaste and a member of the NCRA DEI Committee.
If elected to the Board, I want to grow NCRA to make it more inclusive beyond the East Bay core, while also ensuring it’s a welcoming place to the diversity that the waste world in Northern California brings. This includes backgrounds, experiences, and opinions. I plan to help lead NCRA in creating additional and welcoming avenues for members to be engaged, active, and involved, while continuing to be innovative in how we do it.
We have plenty of issues to tackle for years to come, ranging from SB 1383 to social justice and climate change. I’d welcome getting to celebrate our differences while tackling the environmental issues that affect us all. I humbly ask for your vote.
Alina Bekkerman, Incumbent, Member since 2017
It has been an exceptional opportunity and an honor to serve on the NCRA board of directors for the last two years. During this time, I have taken the opportunity to collaborate on critical issues, help organize and manage events, and create programming that is both engaging and educational to our zero waste community.
During my term, I continued to serve as the liaison to the Zero Waste Youth USA, while also serving on the Members Engagement and Activities Committee and co-chairing the Diversity Equity and Inclusion Committee. I loved collaborating and spearheading numerous events, including the production for Virtual RU and am currently supporting the NRC in the production of the Zero Waste Conference, and a NCRA + ZWY Career Connection Forum.
I humbly request your support in my candidacy for another term on the board of directors of this incredible organization. Hope to continue to provide direction for the DEI committee, as we establish new priorities for our board and member organizations to focus on diversity and inclusion in the industry. I also hope to bring new and interesting opportunities for networking and connections, through more events and activities, be it virtual, or in-person once it is safe.
Douglas Brooms, Incumbent, Member since 2013
I’ve served on the Board for 7 years, and I would appreciate the privilege to serve again. I look forward to Board meeting deliberations and helping with and participating in events. In pre-COVID years, I represented NCRA at each “Oakland Green Expo” and other similar events.
I’ve served as Co-chair and Chair of the Zero Waste Advocacy Committee and would like to continue doing so. I’ll continue evaluating legislative Bills, drafting support and opposition letters and collaborating with the Clean Seas Lobbing Coalition and other environmental organizations.
I will strive to further engage with these groups on the unfinished business of the 2019-2020 Legislature. Many Bills were preemptively furloughed due to COVID-19 priorities. Certain other high profile Bills appeared to have succumbed more so due to nefarious lobbying. Next year, it is my hope to persuade and engage with other organizations, to use strategies to effectuate greater accountability among legislators.
I will continue with updates to the ZWAC Webpage, and work to increase its appeal and usefulness. I’ll continue promoting awareness about the annual America Recycles Day, and other means to encourage greater recycling participation. I’m still the volunteer recycling coordinator at my apartment building.
I have sustaining commitments to climate protection and social and other environmental justice. However, Zero Waste, recycling, plastics mitigation, composting and food recovery advocacy are my stronger passions, still making NCRA my favorite place. I would appreciate your vote.
David Hott, Member since 2019
As a newly certified Practitioner in Zero Waste Principles and Practices, I offer an energetic viewpoint that can enhance collaboration efforts towards Zero Waste. I began my journey into reducing GHG by being part of the beginnings of the A La Carte Program of Loaves & Fishes, which was created by my close friend Doctor Nancy Fishman the founder of Forgotten Harvest. Since the inception of the A LA Carte program, we have achieved the following results:
In FY2020, A La Carte provided 336,147 meals and reduced greenhouse gas emissions by 420 metric tons. With our partners’ continued support and the Hot Meals provided by our cooking staff since March 2020, A La Carte has distributed 301,827 meals and reduced greenhouse gas emissions by 374 metric tons to date.
My entry into the efforts towards Zero Waste began with a new chapter in my professional development. After many experiences and exciting opportunities within the private sector, I decided to go back to school and pursue an education focused on Human Services. It is there where I recognized my real passion; to be of service to others.
The responsibility I have in becoming a larger part of the solutions for climate change influences my decision to become an active member of NCRA. I would be humbled and extremely honored to become a member of the Board of Directors of this wonderful organization.
Jessica Jane Robinson, Incumbent, Member since 2013
I have served as Vice President for two years and Treasurer for four years. As Vice President, I have exposed NCRA to other demographics and markets. I spoke at the United Nations and represented NCRA as Vice President, along with my other titles. NCRA was a sponsor for Earth Day SF 2019 when my superhero alias, Resilience, was the event’s face and emcee. NCRA’s logo was on my superhero Earth Day SF poster that was on Muni buses, and recycle guides distributed throughout SFUSD and to the public for the promotion of the event. ABC Channel 7 interviewed me as NCRA Vice President about recycling and waste diversion in the Bay Area. As Treasurer, I helped organize NCRA’s finances and got caught up with past filing taxes. I have helped NCRA’s exposure to other demographics through various forms of media. I advised NCRA to become the first sponsor of Girls Inc of the Island City’s Ethical Fashion Show, an annual event produced by youth.
I am on a brand new NCRA committee for CA schools. I look forward to contributing to NCRA and the school committee in new ways as my career expands with new opportunities unfolding. I hope to be selected to serve another term for the NCRA board.
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