Naropa to cut budget

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New Naropa University President Stuart Lord announced this week that the school will be cutting its budget by more than $1 million.

The goals of the strategic plan mandate that we move to a more fiscally sustainable model, Lord says in a news release. We must provide a more stable economic environment for the foreseeable future in which to cultivate our bold and ambitious direction for contemplative education.

Lord says his guiding principle will be to preserve the quality of the education delivered to students. He announced the launch of a Naropa University Budget Initiative, to implement some substantial budget reductions during the next budget cycle, with a target of reducing the universitys annual spending by at least $1.2 million, down from a $22 million operational budget, for the 2010-11 fiscal year that begins on July 1.

The budget reduction may mean a reduction in the number of positions at the university and consolidation of academic programs and administrative services.

Updates and more information about the budget will be posted at naropa.edu/ budget.

Vigil for climate conference

A candlelight vigil will be held in Longmont on Dec. 11 to show support for strong action at the United Nations Climate Change Conference being held in Copenhagen, Denmark.

Longmont citizens concerned about the threat of climate change will hold the vigil from 5 to 6 p.m. at the southwest corner of Sixth and Main streets.

Longmonts event is being held as part of a worldwide network of similar vigils.

RSVP at www.350.org. Bring candles and wear warm clothing. For more information, contact Judy at 303-772-1954 or Shari at 303-588-4452.

Xcel wants lunch lights off

At least 16 Boulder restaurants have agreed to join Xcel Energys Lights Out Lunch movement on Dec. 11.

From noon to 1 p.m. on that day, nearly 200 businesses, schools and other groups across Colorado, as well as a few thousand residential customers whove signed up, will turn off lights to promote energy conservation. The event is a statewide partnership among Xcel Energy, the Governors Energy Office and the City and County of Denver. Residents and businesses that sign up receive special dining offers from participating restaurants and are registered to win lunch with Paul Stastny of the Colorado Avalanche or Chauncey Billups of the Denver Nuggets. More information is available at

www.lightsoutlunch.com.

Wanted: Volunteer naturalists

The City of Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks Department and Boulder County Parks and Open Space are recruiting volunteer naturalists to lead interpretive nature hikes.

The city department is looking for people who have experience working with children. The department provides more than 50 hours of core training, plus several required advanced trainings focused on interpretive techniques, local ecosystems, flora and fauna, geology, history and safety issues. In return, volunteer naturalists make a minimum commitment to develop and lead seven hikes within the first year. The one-and-a-halfto two-hour hikes take place during the week, during regular working hours.

Volunteer naturalist training takes place every Tuesday from Feb. 16 through April 13 (except March 23), from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. An application is available online at www.bouldercolorado. gov/osmpvolunteers, or call 720-564- 2058 for more information.

The county program is looking for people with a passion for nature, some knowledge of local natural history, and a strong desire to learn more and share their knowledge with others. County volunteer naturalists lead interpretive nature hikes in county parks, present public natural history slide programs and provide hands-on environmental field experiences for Boulder County schools.

A 10-week training program is required. Training classes take place on Saturdays, Jan. 16 through March 20, from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Longmont. Participants must be at least 18 years old and attend all training sessions. Because many of the programs are scheduled during the work week, applicants must have some ongoing weekday availability.

Contact Larry Colbenson at 303-678- 6214 or lcolbenson@bouldercounty.org for more information.

Book store donates books to schools

Boulder Book Store is donating $200,000 in books to Boulder schools and libraries on Dec. 1112. The book store has partnered with the Boulder Valley School District in an effort to ensure that every school in the district receives new books for their classrooms and libraries on those days.

From 2:30 to 6 p.m. on Dec. 11 and 8 a.m. to noon on Dec. 12, all Boulder educators and librarians are invited to the Boulder Valley School District Shipping & Receiving Warehouse at 6500 Arapahoe Ave. for the massive book giveaway. Hundreds of titles, mostly at the elementary level, will be available, and educators are invited to bring bags and boxes and stock up.