Welcome to another session of "A Few Minutes with Margy". Today I am with Jennifer Newton, co-chair of the Alamo Rotary Environmental Committee (Team Eco), to discuss the goals, events and strategy for raising awareness regarding eradicating plastics and reducing waste on a community and global level.

Margy: Hi there! Welcome to A Few Minutes with Margy. Today, I have Jen Newton with me from A Good Lender. Jen and I are also co-chairs of the Alamo Rotary Team Eco—the Environmental Community within Rotary. Welcome, Jen!

Jen: Thank you, Margy! Great to be here.

Margy: So, tell me a little bit about Team Eco.

Jen: Sure! Team Eco is our environmental committee in Rotary, focused on local and global environmental issues. We aim to raise awareness among Alamo residents about global environmental concerns that we can address as a local community. We do this by launching activities that reduce waste and promote stewardship of our planet. It’s all about taking small steps here at home to make a difference globally.

Margy: Love it! And what got you interested in starting this up?

Jen: Well, we're both pretty passionate about reducing waste and tackling environmental issues that are often easy fixes. Sometimes it just takes a little nudge—people like us organizing and motivating others to help out, and that momentum really grows.

Margy: Exactly. So, tell me a bit more about yourself. Where are you from?

Jen: I’m originally from St. Louis, Missouri. Then I went to USC in Los Angeles, and after that, I made my way up here to Danville, where I’ve lived for about 15 years now.

Margy: Wow, so you’ve been here long enough to see some changes. What’s been good—and maybe not-so-good—around town?

Jen: Oh, absolutely. I love seeing the restoration of historic spots like the Danville Hotel. It’s made the area so much more walkable and community-focused, which I think is fantastic. Danville is drawing more people from the Bay Area who maybe hadn’t heard of it before. On the flip side, all that growth has brought more traffic—and unfortunately, more trash! But hey, it gives us something to clean up, right?

Margy: True! So, what are some of your goals for Team Eco this year?

Jen: We’ve got some great plans! Our big push is to reduce plastic waste in local restaurants. Places like Tahoe and Alameda have already taken steps to ditch single-use plastics in restaurants, and we’re working to bring similar initiatives here. We’re also continuing our quarterly community cleanups, where we pick up trash along roads and keep it out of our streams. We hope to grow those efforts with help from local schools, too.

Margy: That sounds awesome! Can anyone join these community cleanups?

Jen: Absolutely! We meet at Peet’s Coffee in Alamo at 8 a.m., get caffeinated, and then we’re off to tackle trash for an hour or two. We provide everything—bags, gloves, grabbers. Just bring yourself, and maybe a friend! It’s a simple way to make a big impact.

Margy: And those are quarterly, right?

Jen: Yes! We announce the dates on the Rotary website, plus on Facebook, Instagram, and Nextdoor.

Margy: Perfect! Now, be honest—what’s been one of the biggest challenges?

Jen: Well, Team Eco has only been around for about a year, so we’re still getting the word out. When we took over the committee, it was a bit of a learning curve since it’s a newer initiative within Rotary International. But we’re building momentum, and people are starting to recognize what we’re doing. It’s just that early-stage hurdle of getting people engaged and informed.

Margy: Those first stages are always a bit of a grind. So, other than Team Eco, what else does the Rotary do?

Jen: Oh, Rotary is busy! We organize the Alamo tree lighting, which we just wrapped up, and we have our annual Easter egg hunt in April. Those events help us raise funds for projects like Rotacare, which provides medical services to underserved communities. We partnered with John Muir Health to set up a clinic in Concord, which is one of our proudest achievements. And we also work with students at Monte Vista High School on community initiatives. There’s a lot going on!

Margy: It’s amazing to see all that impact! And how can people get involved if they’re interested in Rotary or Team Eco?

Jen: The best way is to follow the Alamo Rotary on Instagram or Facebook, where we post event details. Or just reach out to either of us with questions. And don’t forget about our quarterly cleanups—they’re a great way to meet others and make a difference.

Margy: They really are! Plus, we get to have a little fun while we’re at it. And then, of course, we meet online Wednesdays for a Rotary lunch or social, so you can pop in for a free lunch or happy hour bites. It’s a good way to get a feel for the group.

Jen: Exactly! And if anyone has a business or topic they’d like featured on A Few Minutes with Margy, they should definitely reach out.

Margy: Yes, please do! Thank you so much, Jen. This was fantastic. It’s inspiring to hear about all the work you’re doing, and I hope more people get involved. Thank you, everyone, for tuning in, and we’ll see you next time!