M.S.E.L. Students Blog

When I came to VLS last year, my goal was to finish the MSEL degree in one year and pursue a career in land conservation.  Well, I’ve accomplished the first goal and almost given up on the second goal.  I received rejection letters from both the Land Conservancy of West Michigan and the Conservation Resource Alliance.  The rejection from the Conservancy seems par for the course.  But, I was really surprized that I didn’t even get a second interview from CRA. The job at CRA was three parts program management and one part landowner outreach, which I have lots of experience with, especially in Northern Michigan.  So, I was shocked not to get a call back.  I must say that the whole job search experience has been a disappointment.  I strongly believe that one cannot break into the land conservation field, even with the MSEL degree, unless they have 3-5 years of experience.  In fact, I think that land conservation may be one of the few fields where an advanced degree, like the MSEL, makes little difference. There are just too many people with experience in conservation easements and stewardship activities looking for jobs.  I cannot distinguish myself from the crowd, even with the MSEL degree. So, I’m very frustrated and I wonder if applying for more land conservation jobs is a waste of my time.  Obviously, I’m down on myself right now.  When I left the Senate, it never occured to me that I might not be able to find a job right away.  I’ve always been sucessful at finding rewarding work quickly. But, not this time. 

Since I can’t get interviews in land conservation, I’ve focused all my attention on carbon sequestration.  I’ve registered for the global cap-and-trade conference in D.C.  Hopefully, I’ll be an employee of the Delta Institute when I arrive.   But if not, I couldn’t think of a better place to network with individuals.  So, I’m excited about the conference. 

I still don’t have all my grades from summer term.  I’m waiting on my grade for National Energy Policy from Prof. Dworkin.  I’m amazed that this grade is still out, considering that the class was in term 3 and ended in July! 

Otherwise, I’ve been working around the house.  I decided to replace some rotted boards on my front porch. Of course, (like most home improvement projects in 80 year old homes), this project has become more complicated than I first imagined.  In addition to replacing boards, I also have to replace several rotted joists.  Thankfully, the job doesn’t appear to be too difficult.  It’s just time consuming and means that my porch will not be ready for my parents arrival this weekend.  Oh well.  Just another day in an old house. 

Have a safe and enjoyable labor day weekend…

tp

Well, very little is happening in my life.  Still no word from Delta nor the Conservation Resource Alliance in Traverse City.  I was optimistic that CRA would grant me an in-person interview after my great 2 hr phone interview.  But, it doesn’t appear that I’m a final candidate for this position.  oh well.  I’m currently debating if I should spend $700 plus airfare and hotel to attend a two day, cap-and-trade conference in Washington DC next month.  It would be a great opportunity for me, especially if Delta were to hire me.  But, it is sooooo expensive.  I’m not sure what to do. 

I’ve be occupying myself with work at Lisa’s house.  In fact, I made a trip to the dump today.  Thrilling.. At my house, I finally lined up a contractor to remove an American elm tree from my rear property line.  Once this tree is removed, there will be no problems install a chainlink fence.  I’ve also changed my mind about sanding my hardwood floors.  I think that I’ll do it myself to save money. 

Time to go. Please welcome Ellen, the newest MSEL blogger.

tp

Ok, that may be an overstatement, but life at VLS is pretty good. That being said, I should probably disclose that I’ve been here for a grand total of 2 days. Orientation began yesterday with a packed schedule and a few hundred smiling new-comers. The MSEL program has about 30 students enrolled this year.
I am still adjusting to the climate in Vermont (I wore a sweater today…and it’s August!). I grew up in western PA (high temp today: 82 F) and attended school in Columbus, Ohio (high temp today: 83 F). Both places definitely do not warrant sweaters in August. Or September for that matter. Oh well, I guess it’s a trade-off to live among gorgeous mountains and vegetation.
Orientation consists mostly of trying to catch the MSELs up to speed with the 2Ls and 3Ls since we will have most of our classes with upper-level law students. Today we learned about briefing cases, the Socratic method (which, for the record, I think is bunk), and the courts. Stuff most ppl probably knew already, but a refresher never hurts.
Tonight I am going to Crossroads, the local town bar, for a little bit. I haven’t been yet, but the other students seem to like hanging out there. I certainly won’t be getting wild and crazy!!
Tomorrow we head up to Montpelier for the day. I am looking forward to visiting the city, capitol, and meeting with members of the state congress. Fun Fact: I hear Montpelier is the only state capitol without a McDonald’s!

Well, I heard from Delta on Friday. The Exec. Director will not be making a decision on the position until September. Apparently, they are still concerned about the workload, i.e. is there enough work in their carbon portfolio to justify a full-time associate. From the extent of the questions during my interview, I got the impression that there was a lot of carbon-related work to be done. Apparently not. Furthermore, if Delta decides that there is enough work to be done, then a decision needs to be made about where this position would be based (Chicago or Michigan). So, I wait for Delta to make two decisions – 1) is a full-time associate needed? 2) where will a full-time associate reside, if needed?

In the meantime, I’m going to apply some of my persuasive writing skills (learned in Prof. Bartrum’s class) and respond to the email with several reasons why there is a need for a full-time position. I’m going to focus on carbon markets and Delta’s other environmental programs. In other words, I want to show that I can contribute to all of Delta’s programs. Plus, I think a persausive letter will also demonstration my determination and desire to work for Delta.

Interestingly, I met a woman at Lisa’s party this weekend, who has a background in biofuels and energy efficiency. She knew of Delta and reaffirmed the value of a career with Delta. Always nice to hear.

So, my work around Lisa’s house is mostly done. Sometime this week, I’m going to take a whole bunch of crap to the dump. Lisa is also talking about hanging dryway in her three season room. I’m not sure if this is just talk or something that will occur this fall. But if it does happen, I’m sure to be the lead “contractor” for the job. Meanwhile, there are several projects that I’d like to take care of around my house, now that it appears I’ll be in Lansing for at least another month. I’ve decided to hold off on the landscape improvements until fall, when I can cut-down all the perennial vegetation and work with clean beds. I also want to sand my floors upstairs. I’d like to do it myself, but I’m afraid of ruining my pine floors. And although it is far more expensive to hire a contractor, they would be able to do the entire upstairs and stairwell within a week (it would probably take me two weeks to do it myself). So, I may just bite the bullet and hire someone.

You may be wondering why I’m willing to spend all this money on my house when I don’t have a job. Good question.. Well, here is how I see it. Most likely, I’ll be leaving this house. While I’m hopeful that Delta will hire me, it’s unlikely that they will allow me to live in Lansing. If Delta doesn’t hire me, then I’ll probably find work somewhere outside of Lansing. It just doesn’t seem likely that I’ll be able to find work in the Lansing-area. So, if I spend money now, I’ll only add value to my house when I (presumably) put it up for sale this fall. And believe me, nice hardwood floors will add value. Furthermore, I’m also going to have a tree removed so I can completely fence-in my yard. Right now, there are fences on both sides, so I just need a fence along the rear boundary and gates on each side of the house. I’d like to have this done within the next six weeks. Again, this adds value to my house.

So, there are my plans during my time of unemployment. Lisa and I have been hanging out alot. Actually, I’ve been sponging alot of food from her frig. In fact, I haven’t even visited the grocery store in the 2 weeks that I’ve been home. Hehehehe.. Yup. Living the good life!

Orientation week has started for all the incoming students. Lots of fun during the week, with lots of parties and free alcohol. I’m still waiting for my summer grades, which haven’t been posted yet. Supposedly, the registrar is posting the grades within the campus web as soon as Profs submit grades. But from the looks of it, my summer profs grade papers very slowly! Ugh. I don’t know the final date when grades must actually be submitted to the registrar, but I hope it is soon. It’s frustrating to be finished without actually knowing your grades.

Alright, time to work on my persuasive email. wish me luck..

tp

Well, I don’t have a job yet, but I did very well during my 3 hr interview. In fact, I interviewed with five of the nine associates at Delta!  I was asked a lot of questions about carbon markets (obviously) but also questions about Delta’s other programs.  Apparently, every associate assists with programs in other areas.  In addition to carbon markets, I would be doing some work in energy efficiency, brownfield redevelopment and community development.  So, the job certainly prevents lots of challenges. 

As I predicted, I had several questions about the MSEL degree.  Throughout the interview, I became very thankful that I took a broad approach to the MSEL program.  It enables me to work for a small non-profit like Delta, where associates are asked to do everything.

I need to mention one more thing – Prof. Firestone was right – READ the NEWSPAPER!!  As I was preparing for this interview, I went to the website ecosystemmarketplace.com to read the latest articles on the carbon market.  Well, I came across an article where the NRDC is calling on State and Municiple governments to not join the Chicago Climate Exchange because the CCX does not require baseline measurements for offset providers.  When I mentioned this article during the interview, they had not seen it.  So, I scored some major points by simply having knowledge of current events.  Thank you Prof. Firestone! 

On tap for today, I’m going to lay some edging stones around Lisa’s front flower beds. Like Red Green says, “if the women don’t find you handsome, at least they will find you handy.”  thankfully, I’m both!

tp

Well, here I am in Chicago at the fabulous Hard Rock Hotel.  Wow!! Nice place.  Flat screen tv, leather snake skin chair, stainless steel everything.  Now I know why I’m paying nearly $200 for one night. 

At any rate, I’m here for my interview with the Delta Institute tommorrow.  If you recall, I’m interviewing for a position that works with Delta’s emerging carbon portfolio.  Specifically, I would be working with farmers and other landowners to aggregate and trade carbon offset credits on the Chicago Climate Exchange. Interesting job and one that is at the forefront of the emerging market for ecosystem services.  I’m excited and nervous about interviewing for this job.  I’m not sure why I’m nervous. After all, I’ve held up under the steely, confidence-robbing stare of Prof. Firestone and survived Administrative Law.  After those experiences, I should be prepared for anything.  During the interview, I expect to answer a lot of questions regarding carbon markets and a lot of questions about the MSEL degree.  Most people have never heard of the MSEL and immediately assume that I am an attorney.  So, I hope to have a standard line memorized when I’m inevitably asked to explain my degree. 

So, I’d like to say a few words about my midwestern sojurn from Lansing to Chicago on Amtrak.  First of all, it’s not bad.  For starters, there is tons of leg room – twice as much as you would find on an airplane.  Plus, you bring all your luggage on board and stow it in the cavernous overhead bins.  Of course, this is problematic because people will haul full-size pieces of luggage onto the train.  The ride down was about 5 hours, with 4 stops (Battle Creek, Kalamazoo, Dwoziack, Niles) between Lansing and Chicago.  Plus, we got stuck in “freight traffic”.  Go figure.  And, my fare was cheap – $50 round trip compared with $200 to fly.  If Amtrak has a downfall, it is the number of young children on board. With cheap fares, lots of leg room, carry-on luggage, and really simple boarding (no security checks), families flock to the train.  I had three young kids around me, laughing screaming, etc.  Ugh. 

A few other observations about my 5 hour trip.  I saw lots of poverty along the route.  From homeless people sleeping beneath overpasses (or in the city park next the tracks in Kalamazoo), to the rundown neighborhoods outside of Chicago that surround the tracks. Poverty is everywhere along this route.  I also saw lots of pollution.  The train passes through the rail yard of US Steel in Gary, Indiana. Tons of trash, rusted out buildings, emissions – not a pretty site.  So, I guess it’s true.  Ride Amtrak and see America – the REAL America. 

Well, I think that I’m going to wander around town and grab a bite to eat. 

tp

Well, my vacation seems to have ended.  Lisa has asked me to remove four shrubs from the front of her house.  Ugh!  The tap roots on these Yews are so deep that I even have problems pulling them out with my truck.  Tough work.  Once the work is done here, I’ll be working at my place.  Welcome home Todd..

I had a nice two hour phone screening interview with the Conservation Resource Alliance in Traverse City. They are looking for an individual to lead their WildLink program, which seeks to establish wildlife corridors between private and public lands.  Hopefully, they will ask me back for a second interview in a week or two.  Of course, on Monday, I’m taking the Amtrak to Chicago for my interview with the Delta Institute.  I’m staying at the Hard Rock hotel on N. Michigan Ave.  It was the best deal that I could find on Hotwire.  Anyway, I’ll be studying for this interview all weekend.  This is a great job and I can’t afford screw up this interview. 

Alright, I suppose that I should finish up my work today.  Who needs a gym when you have a girlfriend. 

tp

Well, I am home.  After 18 hours of cross-country driving, I rolled into Lansing at 6am on Monday.  Ugh!  What a long, boring (and thankfully) uneventful drive.  I’ve decided that I don’t want to make any more drives over 8 hrs, especially when I’m pulling a trailer.  Although I am home, I don’t know if I want to unpack.  With a couple of job interviews in the next week, it seems unlikely that I’ll be staying in Lansing. So why unpack if I’m going to have to repack by the end of the month?

Funny story – when Lisa and I were unloading, my next door neighbor, Sherry comes over to say hi.  Sherry and her husband Paul have lived in that same house for 40+ years now and kinda treat me like a son.  Anyway, Sherry walks over and the first words out of her mouth are, “Hi Todd.  My gosh, you’ve put on weight!”  Yeah, thanks Sherry.. Just what I wanted to hear.

At any rate, I’ve got lots of stuff to do at home.  For starters, by Sherry and my neighbor across the street, Donna, have commented on how messy my flower beds are. They both would like to see me fix those beds up.  And, since most of the upstairs of my house is empty, this would be a great time to sand and refinish my hardwood floors.  In any event, I need to decide how much money to spend on my house, since it seems unlikely that I’ll be in it much longer.  Certainly, refinishing the floors, improving the landscaping and completing the fence around my property would add value to the house.  Question is, do I spend the money?  I don’t know..

On the job front, I have a phone interview tommorrow with the Conservation Resource Alliance in Traverse City, Michigan.  CRA specializes in streambank restoration and creation of wildlife corridors.  Of course, next week I’ll be in Chicago, interviewing with the Delta Institute for a position involving carbon aggregation.  Also, I received an email yesterday from The Nature Conservancy, asking me to apply for their carbon markets specialist position.  I’m not sure how they got my name, but I suspect that someone passed along a resume that I submitted for a climate change internship.  All three are strong prospects.  I’m leaning toward anything involving carbon markets, since this field is emerging and has the potential to be very satisfying and very lucrative.  Wish me luck..

Alright, time to head home.  I’ve been hanging out at Lisa’s place, since she has wireless internet and air conditioning. 

tp

So, here I sit, awaiting the final exam of my VLS career.  Prof. Firestone’s international environmental law exam is all that stands between me and freedom.  2 more hours and then I am done.  Phew..  I haven’t studyied at all for this exam.  I’m relying completely on my outline, which I hope are supurb..  At any rate, this is it..  Thank God! 

Lisa has arrived and is packing my stuff as we speak.  We plan to leave early tommorrow morning, arriving in Lansing on monday morning. 

Alright, time for me load up the examsoft software.  here goes nothing..

tp

Hey, how about that?  3 classes, a paper/presentation and one final exam left in my VLS life.  Awesome!!  Last weekend, the Environmental Law Center (ELC) hosted the MSEL/LLM Celebration for all the soon-to-be grads.  It was a mini-graduation ceremony without the cap-and-gown.  All the grads were recognized and given an opportunity to speak to audience.  My dad was very impressed. 

A couple of observations about the ceremony.  First, where were all the faculty and staff? Other than ELC staff and Director Mihaly, Profs. Judy, Bartrum, and Sheldon were the only faculty members that I saw at the event.  In terms of Administrative staff, Dean Atwood was the only one in attendence that I know of (Dean Shields was scheduled to speak, but had to leave town at the last moment).  I was very disappointed.  I suspect the low turnout was a combination of poor follow-up by the ELC, scheduling conflicts, and apathy.  While I hate to be cynical, the low faculty/staff turnout only reinforces the perception (shared by many of my classmates) that the MSEL class does not carry the same status as the JD class.  Shrug.  What can you do?

Other observations.  The ELC should move the event indoors.  It was soo hot on saturday!  Ugh.  The only saving grace was the breeze.  Without that small measure of comfort, the event would have been unbearable.  Our class speaker was rather, umm, entertaining.  Yeah..  I was not moved nor inspired by his talk, but I was entertained.  As always, the food was good and the alcohol flowed – no complaints there.  In all, it was an enjoyable event and I send my sincere thanks to the ELC for organizing the event and giving the MSEL/LLM class a well-deserved moment in the spotlight. 

On the academic front, Prof. Mihaly has deemd my fellowship paper satisfactory!  Oh yeah!!  So, I have met that important requirement of graduation.  All that I need to do now is pass sustainable development and Intl. Envtl. Law!!  Can you say home free?

Lisa is flying in on Friday to help me pack and drive home with me.  Actually, she’ll probably end up doing all the packing, as I will be busy study for and taking my Intl. exam on Saturday.  Lisa tells me that one of the defining moments of any relationship the first cross-country drive.  Well, after marking our one year anniversary on saturday, Lisa and I are going to discover what it is like to be stuck in a truck with the same person for 16-18 hours.  A defining moment indeed! 

Alright, I need to get back to my sustainable development paper. 

tp