For the fifth consecutive year, AFP Annual Conference attendees
will have the opportunity to be part of AFPAware Community
Service Day and give back to the community hosting the biggest
event in treasury and finance.
This year, AFPAware volunteers will hit the
beach-and clean it up-in collaboration with ECOMB, the
Environmental Coalition of Miami & the Beaches. To volunteer
for 2012 AFPAware, email afpaware@AFPonline.org. To learn more about the AFP Annual Conference or to register, click here.
BBVA is the sponsor of AFPAware Community Service
Day for the third consecutive year.
On Sunday, October 14, AFPAware volunteers will travel
by boat to Teacher's Island, a small, man-made island in Biscayne
Bay near Miami Beach, and clean up the shoreline. There, they'll
also hear from two naturalists who will explain the origin of the
island and its natural habitat, as well as the environmental impact that
litter has on the beach, the Atlantic Ocean, the plants and animals
that call Teacher's Island home.
"Our mission is to educate and raise awareness of residents and
visitors about the impact of litter on our environment," said Luiz
Rodrigues, the executive director of ECOMB. "People leave trash
behind on our beaches and islands thinking the city or state will
pick it up. Between the time it is picked up the litter can wash
into the ocean and bay so it's really important to educate the
public and to return to these beaches-sometimes eight times a
year-to keep them clean.
"This is where AFP comes in," Rodrigues continued. "We can't do
these cleanups alone. We need the support of our community. We will
work with AFP to do a big sweep of this island. We'll collect cans,
plastic bags, coolers, broken chairs…it's really unbelievable what
people leave behind."
ECOMB was founded in 1994 with the sole purpose of cleaning up
Miami's beaches. Rodrigues, who started with ECOMB in 2000 as a
volunteer, said the organization has since expanded its mission to
address sustainability issues.
"This is a really fun event, but it's also very important.
Seldom can people tie in the importance of what they are doing to
the potential impact to marine life," said Rodrigues. "Every tiny
piece of plastic that we see is important to be collected. That's
because birds won't ingest a glass bottle or a beer can because
they're too big. But if they see a small piece of plastic, they
will."
Advice for
AFPAware Volunteers
- Protect yourself from the sun. Wear a hat and
sunblock, Rodrigues said, adding that volunteers should wear a pair
of shoes they don't mind getting wet.
- Don't bring disposable, plastic water bottles.
Instead, bring a reusable bottle-preferably stainless steel. "Our
goal is not to generate more trash, so we bring water for
volunteers in coolers," he said.
About AFPAware
AFPAware is centered on the three guiding
principles of Workplace, Community and Environment. AFP consciously
partners with organizations committed to corporate and social
responsibility. Entering its fifth year,
AFPAware continues to impact communities across the
country.