by Jeffrey Insko | Nov 9, 2012 |
Oh boy, have we got things to write about! We were already backed up with need-to-get-to material (court hearings, telephone conversations, permitting processes, advertisements, Indiana matters– and more). But we learned and experienced so much at our first Pipeline Safety Trust conference that now we’re really in the woods. It’s going to take us a while to sort through our notes and say all that we’ve got to say. Which means, of course: a new series!
In lieu of a first entry in that series (coming up, we hope, right quick), here’s a quick rundown of some (not all) of the highlights of our conference experience (in random order):
- Mark Rosekind of the NTSB reminding everyone of how Enbridge ignored their own 10-minute rule
- Ben Gotschall (brilliant) on milk
- Kim Savage (cutting and wise) on minding your manners
- Beth Wallace (with aplomb) brooking no nonsense from TransCanada execs
- Anthony Swift on rhetoric versus reality
- Legal confabulations (way out of my depth) with Sara Gosman and Rebecca Craven
- Sharing fried alligator with Mike Watza
- Hearing Glenn Archambault’s horrifying story over a stiff drink (the only way to endure that particular tale)
- Learning about whales’ olfactory sense from an actual whale hunter, Rosemary Ahtuangaruak
- Gabe Scott reminding us that differences matter
- Deb Miller and Sue Connolly nearly exploding when Enbridge’s Denise Hamsher got defensive about Marshall
- Breakfast with fellow Hoosier native Nate Pavlovic
- Terrible Bourbon Street daiquiris with Mike O’Leary (and others)
- Carl Weimer with a face full of beignets
- Kim Savage’s (extraordinarily well-behaved) 9-year old son asking me, “Mr. Jeff, did you ever study chemistry?”
by Jeffrey Insko | Nov 9, 2012 |
It’s day two at the Pipeline Safety Trust Conference. Our head is still spinning a little from yesterday– both because we’ve learned so much, met so many interesting people, spent some time with the truly fabulous (smart, interesting, good-hearted, dedicated, welcoming) Michigan contingent and because it appears that our presentation was quite well received. More details on that will be coming soon. If you missed our presentation (and the excellent presentations of our fellow panelists), the video should be posted at the conference website soon, probably later today.
We’ll be posting a lot about our experience in the coming week– hopefully starting later today. There’s also lots from Michigan to discuss as well– not least the news from the POLAR hearing in federal court on Wednesday.
But first, we need to digest our belly full of beignets from last night. On that topic, we learned that nobody is as beignet-crazy as PS Trust Executive Director, Carl Weimer (himself a native Michigander). I mean, just look at the guy:
by Jeffrey Insko | Nov 8, 2012 |
We’re at the Pipeline Safety Trust conference in New Orleans. Much of the conference–including our panel at 4 pm Central time– will be webcast live. You can watch by following this link.
Here is a terrible picture of PS Trust Executive Director Carl Weimer welcoming us to the conference. You can’t tell, but it’s a packed house.
by Jeffrey Insko | Nov 7, 2012 |
There are two important events taking place this week:
Today at 2 pm, a second hearing will take place on the POLAR lawsuit in federal court. At issue is the question of “standing”— a question that we hope will be easily resolved now that Brandon Township has intervened in the suit. There is no question that they have standing to enforce their own ordinances– and, we would also think, the state Constitution.
The other event is the Pipeline Safety Trust conference. A large Michigan contingent will be attending as well as some good folks from Indiana. We’re looking forward to seeing some of our new friends in the flesh for the first time. We’re also hoping to have some productive conversations with Enbridge reps and lots of other people. We will, of course, post updates as time allows.
We’re told that most of the conference will be webcast live. Check the PS Trust link above for details. The landowners panel we’ll take part in is at 4 pm (central time) tomorrow (that’s Thursday).
Lastly, at present we have precisely ZERO entries for the photo contest. Come on, people! We know you’ve got cellphones and you’ve also got bulldozers and sections of pipe in your yards. Your fellow landowners want to see.
