Maryland Genuine Progress Indicator

Maryland has updated its Genuine Progress Indicator (GPI) to include 2009 data. According to the new data, Maryland’s social and environmental progress increased, but were offset by declines in some economic indicators, resulting in a slight decrease in the overall GPI.

For 2009, Maryland’s Gross State Product (GSP) was more than $286 billion, a 3.84 percent increase from 2008. Maryland’s Genuine Progress, however, actually decreased about 1.2 percent to $146.6 billion. Despite the overall decrease, both environmental and societal values actually improved by 2.7 percent and 8.5 percent, respectively. The last time GSP increased while GPI decreased was 1979.

The Maryland Genuine Progress Indicator was implemented in February 2010. This innovative online tool allows policymakers and citizens to more accurately measure the State’s standard of living by including indicators of social and environmental health along with traditional economic calculations. Developed by experts from several State agencies, the Governor’s Office, and the University of Maryland, the GPI is designed to complement traditional economic measurements such as the Gross State Product.

The GPI incorporates 26 factors in three categories — economic, social, and natural — from the costs of crime to the costs of ozone depletion. Costs and values used in calculating the GPI are based on academically reviewed studies. These numbers are not presented as the ultimate value to society, but rather as a standard against which to measure year to year changes.

According to the state, the GPI is an educational tool designed to allow the public and policymakers to better balance the costs and benefits of decisions on how to use the resources available to them.

source: MD DNR

Maryland Fishing Shows, Expos and Flea Markets

The following list includes several Maryland fishing shows, expos and flea markets that will occur in February and March 2011.

19th Annual Pasadena Sportfishing Group Flea Market/Show
February 19 & 20
Saturday and Sunday
8:00 AM - 2:00 PM - Both Days
Admission $3
Earleigh Heights Fire Hall
161 Ritchie Hwy (Rt. 2)
Severna Park, MD 21146

MSSA Annapolis Chapter Saltwater Fishing Expo
Saturday, February 26
8:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Admission $5
Annapolis Elks Lodge #622
2517 Solomons Island Rd.
Edgewater, MD 21037

MSSA Dorchester Chapter Fishing/Hunting/Boating Flea Market
Saturday, March 12
8:00 AM
Admission $3
American Legion Post #91
Foot of Rt. 50 Bridge
Cambridge, MD

MSSA Essex-Middle River Chapter Fishing Flea Market
March 19 & 20
Saturday 9am-4pm / Sunday 9am-2pm
Admission $3
Commodore Hall
1909 Old Eastern Ave
Essex, MD 21221

MSSA Southern MD Chapter 18th Annual Fishing Fair
March 26 & 27
8:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Admission $2
Solomons Firehouse
 

Keep Maryland Beautiful Grants

The Maryland Environmental Trust (MET) is now accepting applications for grants through the Keep Maryland Beautiful program, an initiative dedicated to helping volunteer-based non-profit groups or communities solve natural resource issues. The grants are funded by the State Highway Administration, a division of the Maryland Department of Transportation, as well as previous donations to MET.

MET is offering two types of grants through the program: The Margaret Rosch Jones Award of up to $2,000 and The Bill James Environmental Grants of up to $1,000. The Margaret Rosch award will recognize an ongoing project that has already demonstrated success in solving an environmental issue, whether local or statewide. The Bill James Environmental Grants are awarded to nonprofit youth groups that initiate new environmental education projects in their communities.

The Margaret Rosch Jones Award honors a woman who demonstrated a dedication to preserving the Chesapeake Bay. Born in 1906, Margaret Jones had a genius IQ, wrote poetry and was a self-taught Latin scholar. Jones was the executive director and moving spirit of the Keep Maryland Beautiful Program for many years. The award is given to non-profit groups or communities who have a plan for an on-going, proven project that reflects Ms. Jones’s qualities of devotion, energy and ingenuity in its work to re-build and enhance the community’s natural resources.

The Bill James Environmental Grants are given in memory of William S. James and are awarded to school groups, science and ecology clubs, and other non-profit youth groups for proposed natural resource education projects. Born in Aberdeen in 1914, Bill James studied law at the University of Maryland and then practiced law in Bel Air for 38 years. He served as President of the Maryland Senate and was the principal architect of many of Maryland's most important environmental laws, including wetlands law, Program Open Space, and agricultural land preservation. Senator James drafted legislation to create the MET, incorporating the activities of the Governor’s Committee to Keep Maryland Beautiful.

For MET to consider a project, it must demonstrate leadership and volunteer participation; offer potential benefits to the environment and community; and have a feasible plan, including goals, success criteria and time line for completion.

The deadline to apply is March 31, 2011. Application forms are available at www.dnr.state.md.us/met/grant_programs.asp

source: MD DNR