Carterton - Meeting Notes 07 Feb 2008

Facilitated by Pamela Jefferies

Notes taken by Robin Marshall

Attendees

Robyn Bracey, Karyn Burgess, Sonia Corbett, Helen Dew, Pamela Jefferies, Heather Jones, Robin Marshall, Don Northcott, Judith Stehr, Andrew Stewart, Sheryll Tearle, Patricia Venn, Marie Weston, Mary Zajkowski

Apologies

Val Richardson, Karen & Ray Stewart, Roger Boulter, Chris Peterson, Di Grant, Eric Turner, Gill Stewart, Ortrun Wrana

Introductions

Attendees introduced themselves, attendees include residents of the Wairarapa (and one from South Africa) with representation from many community groups including The Green Party, Enviroschools, Wairarapa Organics, District Health Boards, Living Economies.

How ready is the Wairarapa?

A range of positive points of readiness included:

• Size and proximity to Wellington
• Enviroschools has shown enthusiasm of kids inspires parents
• Wairarapa has a broad range of resources
• Positive culture
• Involvement of other organisations
• Local council links
• Vege gardening becoming popular
• Willingness of transition towns members

some negative points included:

• Older population may be difficult to shift
• Getting the rural sector on board may prove something of a challenge, however, identifying and focusing on issues of greatest concern to the rural sector may encourage participation.

TT Carterton or Wairarapa?

There was some discussion on whether the initiative covered the entire Wairarapa or just Carterton:

• TT Wairarapa could act as a resource hub for smaller initiatives
• TT Carterton might be a smaller chunk to bite off
• Attendees covered the entire area, but would support focus on Carterton in the beginning
• TT Carterton could morph into TT Wairarapa Hub
• The issue will need further discussion

Inventory of Skills

An inventory of the skills within the room and also in the region was taken. A wide range of skills in the room was identified from gardeners and fund raisers to seed savers, web developers, accountants and networkers.

The Wairarapa has many organisations and individuals with which meeting attendees had links, this inventory should be documented in detail.

Raising Awareness

Ideas were floated for raising awareness including:

• Promotion in Carterton Crier
• Film nights
• Providing experts from Transition Towns members to Sustainable Living program e.g. one day workshops
• Use of the U3A slot on the 11th of Feb
• Mail out to PO Boxes is cheap
• Leveraging off existing mailing lists with a common view
• Community events, Sheryll offered her windmill raising as a possible opportunity

Steering Committee

A steering committee was formed with 7 volunteers or nominations including: Karyn Burgess, Sonia Corbett, Helen Dew, Pamela Jefferies, Robin Marshall, Judith Stehr, Marie Weston

An agreement was made to meet on the 23 Feb 2008 at 9am at Judith's house

Others were encouraged to think about sub groups

Issues Parked

Parked issues to be addressed within a later agenda:

• Obtaining rural sector input and cooperation
• Possibility of morphing steering committee into a hub steering committee or subgroup
• Steering committee to decide frequency of meetings
• Timing and timeframes, how long to stage the initiative

Creative Session

The meeting ended with a creative session, attendees were asked to draw an animal representing the town in 5 years. With giraffes, butterflies, unicorns, horses, deer, octopi, lambs, chickens, elephants, whales and meerkats - it was clear the diversity and imagination in the room was strong!

Next Meetings

U3A slot: 7.30pm Monday, 11th February at REAP

Steering Committee: 9am, Saturday 23rd February at Judith's place.