27 May Paul Robbins, determination, and the Austin Environmental Directory…

It was fun… Last night, local enviro-activists and luminaries gathered at the Barr Mansion to roast, pay tribute to, and raise funds for Paul Robbins.

Paul enjoys some unusual local fame. Best known as City Hall’s favorite anklebiter, he’s also  creator/editor/publisher of The Austin Environmental Directory and probably the world’s only unpaid environmentalist to have a "district cooling plant" named after him.

Paul began his work in the mid-70s as part of Austin’s legendary Tuesday Night Lemonade Club, a group credited with catalyzing the local movement for greener governance. Recently retired Austin Energy General Manager and former city councilman, Roger Duncan, credits Paul with originating many of the energy efficiency program ideas that later lifted Roger to international green-guru status. The two began their work together in the lemonade club.

Roger’s roast highlights — (paraphrased)

"Paul, I’ve been waiting years for this moment… People have often told me I am an unusually patient man — you may be the best teacher of patience there is… (irony intended)… I’m reminded of William Shakespeare’s Julius Ceasar … when Ceasar says, ‘Who is that man? He is lean, he reads too much! Make him fat…’"

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The Austin Environmental Directory is now in its 7th edition. The magazine is a "yellow pages" of local environmental issues and solutions. Written and funded mostly by Paul, but revered and referred to by thousands look for it at your favorite business around town. Or, you can check it out here and download the portions via pdf you wish to read.

The Austin Environmental Directory is accepting donation online.

Here’s to Paul — and the greater Austin community!

Photo by Jana Birchum, Austin Chronicle.