More About SEN

Features

  • SEN was incorporated in 1993 as a non-profit organization in the Province of Saskatchewan.
  • SEN members can share information, skills, publicity vehicles, and other resources.
  • SEN's website serves members and the general public looking for information about Saskatchewan issues and ways to get involved. Our Eco-Education section provides resources for teachers and students.
  • SEN organizes general membership meetings and working group meetings.
  • SEN publishes a bi-weekly e-newsletter, distributing information from many sources.
  • We help members, media, government personnel, and the general public connect with those who have skills and information they need.
  • SEN has been presenting an annual Environmental Film Festival since 2005
  • SEN has been awarding Environmental Activist Awards since 2002.

Membership

Membership in the Network is open to Saskatchewan "ENGOs" -- non-profit, non-governmental organizations that are concerned with environmental issues. Individuals may become subscribers to SEN's email information service and bi-weekly Info Bulletin, but are not entitled to vote.

Communication

SEN can be considered Saskatchewan's "one-stop shopping centre" for the general public, journalists, and government departments and agencies looking for information on environmental issues and for contacting members of environmental groups.

SEN assists communication in several ways. If you have access to email you can get news and information from the SEN on a wide variety of topics such as:

Diversity is our Strength

Within the membership of SEN and RCEN there is a great deal of diversity, so the networks have a policy of not taking positions on specific issues. This allows for valuable discussion and dialogue, but does not demand member groups conform to any "party line." This also means that the network is not an advocacy coalition or lobbying organization, but rather is a communications structure to allow environmental groups to do their own things more effectively.

Working Groups

SEN's Working Groups are where people from different member groups with a common interest in an issue meet to share information, collaborate on strategies and even organize joint projects. SEN has working groups dealing with:
  • forests
  • energy
  • wilderness protection
  • biotechnology
  • pesticides
  • water
Any issue can have a working group as long as four different SEN member groups want to form one. Members are welcome to join any existing Working Group or to organize a new one.

RCEN Affiliation

SEN is an affiliate of the Canadian Environmental Network (RCEN), along with provincial and territorial networks from across Canada. Through this affiliation, SEN members can participate in RCEN's National Caucuses on:
  • Agriculture
  • Biotechnology
  • Forests
  • Health
  • International Program
  • Mining
  • Toxics
  • Atmosphere and Energy
  • Water
  • Environmental Protection and Assessment
  • Youth

National caucuses allow people to connect with one another across provincial boundaries. They provide an important forum for collecting and sharing information, examining the cumulative impacts of provincial and federal policies, and for promoting a broader perspective on the issues.

Consultation

Environment Canada and other government agencies often hold consultation meetings on various issues. RCEN selects delegates from among its members to participate. In most cases, expenses for these meetings are covered. If there is a national issue you are particularly concerned about, please let SEN staff know so that you can be notified if a consultation meeting on your topic is planned.

Staff

Rick Morrell, Executive Director

Paddy Tutty, Administrator