Dave Block ’93, a contributing editor for two environmentally oriented magazines, will give a speech and answer questions on “Personal Steps For Environmental Protection,” from 12:15-1 p.m. Tuesday, April 24, in the Farinon Center Marlo Room. While at Lafayette, Block founded and ran a paper recycling program for Academic Computing Services.
The Earth Week event is free and open to the public. A buffet lunch will be provided at no cost.
Before taking a position with Lafayette’s Public Information Office this month, Block was an associate editor for BioCycle, Journal of Composting and Recycling, and In Business – Creating Sustainable Enterprises and Communities. The two magazines are published by the J.G. Press, Inc. in Emmaus, Pa. where Block retains the position of contributing editor.
Block began at J.G. Press as an assistant editor in 1997. In addition to the two magazines, his articles have appeared on a number of websites, including ones maintained by The United Nations Association of the USA, the Cornell Work and Environment Initiative, and rat haus reality press. His work has been cited by the Smart Growth Network, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Oregon Department of Environmental Quality, and Iowa Department of Management, among others.
In August 2000, Block made a presentation on food residuals composting at an organics recycling conference cosponsored by BioCycle and the Northeast Recycling Coalition, and partially funded by the EPA. He also has served as a moderator at organics recycling conferences.
Prior to joining J.G. Press, Block spent four years at Forbes Newspapers Inc. in Somerville, N.J., where he held the positions of reporter, copy editor, and newspaper editor. When he left Forbes Newspapers upon its sale, Block was editor of the Metuchen-Edison Review, Green Brook-North Plainfield Journal, and Warren-Watchung Journal, as well as supervising the Highland Park Herald, a newspaper he had previously edited.
Block graduated from Lafayette with a double major in history and religion. He was awarded the David Fowler Atkins, Jr. Prize, presented to a student who shows promise of future usefulness in service to religious communities.
During his sophomore year, Block was co-editor of The Lafayette, when he and co-editor Heidi Ludwick ’01 computerized production of the newspaper. Over four years, Block also served the newspaper as technical advisor, sports editor, sports columnist, editorial columnist, news reporter, and sports reporter for men’s basketball, lacrosse and football.
Block held positions as sports director, football and basketball engineer, secretary, disc jockey, and talk show host for WJRH, the campus radio station. He announced Leopards basketball and football games at the station for two years, and initiated equal coverage of Lafayette women’s basketball during his tenure as sports director.
Block was a member of the now-defunct Kirby House social living group, where he served as athletic chairman and house chairman. He was a Bible study leader for Lafayette Christian Fellowship (LCF) and was editor for one year of The Angelis, the LCF newsletter. He also served on the Academic Council Committee comprised of administration, faculty, and student representatives, and was a member of a Technology Clinic team that conducted work on the causes of low birth-weight babies.
For the past seven years, Block has been a volunteer with the senior high youth group of Cornerstone Evangelical Free Church in Easton, Pa.
His most recent talk at Lafayette was for a Career Services forum on careers in the media last school year. Before taking his current position at the college, he was a freelance writer for the Public Information Office. He is married to Janine Block ’94, information specialist with Lafayette’s Career Services.