SC Meeting Notes 23 Feb 2008

Carterton - Meeting Notes 23 Feb 2008

Facilitated by Pamela Jefferies

Notes taken by Robin Marshall

Attendees

Sonia Corbett, Helen Dew, Pamela Jefferies, Robin Marshall, Don Northcott, Chris Peterson, Judith Stehr, Marie Weston

Apologies

Karyn Burgess

Structure

It was confirmed that we will operate as Transition Towns Wairarapa given the home towns of SC members. A focus will be placed on Carterton to create the first Transition Town.

If we have an event, we have a committee for the event

Meetings will generally be on a Saturday morning

Roles:

Pamela - Facilitator

Robin - note taking and web communication

Judith - offers time and effort, coordinating house meetings

Sonia - Spokesperson

Action: find a Carterton SC

Resources

The room above the lounge is a picture theatre that could be used, Sonia, would be happy to follow up

Pamela thinks the Greytown Land Trust would be the type of organisation interested in buying such a venue

Heather Jones putting together an article for the paper about Tearl's windmill. Helen to send article to the SC

REAP/U3A 7.30pm 2nd Monday of every month, photocopying, projector, room. We need to explore this opportunity - Helen to talk to Karyn and Judith about complementing the Sustainable Living workshops or doing something in combination with them

Cafe Forum used as an informal outreach place - this should go on the web site

Raising Awareness

A signature should be placed on all our emails

Wairarapa and Carterton to be separate sections on the TT wiki and information to be better organised - Robin to address

Wairarapa Organics, possibility of asking the Coles to help disseminate info on the stalls at Farmers Market

Print Media:

Pamela to write article for Wairarapa News

• Following on from the series of lectures, where to from here and what can you do? - Transition Towns Wairarapa
• In the 'Keeping it Green' section
• Piers Fuller - Wairarapa News

Robin to write info pack for times-age and dominion

• aimed at response to fuel price hikes
• factual and alternative strategy for dealing with price increase
• Contact at times age: Rebecca Burgess
• Include Helen Clark Quote about peak oil

Sonia to write article for Carterton Crier

• Last friday of month is deadline for Crier - up to 6 weeks to the readers
• Talk about Transition Towns Carterton
• local focus,
• mention house meeting can be facilitated
• possibility of producing some filler content for the Crier

Films:

• Venues discussed: library, south end school
• At Lounge, the Wednesday night film 'End of Suburbia', didn't go as well as it could due to the size of the venue and difficulty of engaging people in discussion.
• Sonia to follow up availability of school, and possibility of contacting the school community about a film night
• Environmental film festival had three district council backing it which gave credibility
• James Samuel has a library of videos we can use, as does Helen

House meetings:

• at TT members houses or interested people's houses
• possibility of a film
• using our own networks of friends
• Judith to champion

Other opportunities:

• Robin to talk to Chris of Lounge, possibility of a small film night or drinks and discussion
• Helen is meeting Morgan (ex-commissioner of the environment) - who's a great speaker - she will sound him out
• Calendar of events should be created, on the wiki if possible

Resources & ideas

The website:

• A private page on the website for people and coucnils
• A public page for articles
• Anything website related to go to robin
• A Link to Sonia's website and articles

Finance

• Number one on next meeting agenda
• Do we need a bank account?
• Register as an organisation - James Samuel will know more about this
• Trust House opportunities for Grants - Pamela has done many applications and will take care of these.

Organic farming

• Wairarapa Organics have a strategy
• Omnivore's Dilemma - NZ future is sheep and beef

Reports from individuals

Pamela: Saw James in Waiheke

• asked about the structure, informing decision around structure changed
• asked about workshops - possibility of a workshop in the Wairarapa, but more likely to have a semi-formalised group training.

Don:

• provided information on similar experiences of the Wellington group, who are still working on formalising the steering committee and hence the structure.

Chris Peterson:

• Wairarapa town council CEO's are aware of the need to address the sorts of issues that TT addresses
• There is a recognised (?) need for a sustainable development section within the council
• Porirua, Hutt City and Wellington are working on environmental/sustainable policy
• Will speak to Forest and Bird about Transition Towns
• Sustainable Wairarapa members may be interested in coming to TT meetings

Interesting events coming up:

• Turn off lights for an hour
• UNEP - June 8th meeting in Wellington - awareness
• 11th hour opening - fundraiser for ?
• Outdoor Skills - Grant Redvers antarctica climate change thing
• Major revision of LTCCP consultation process is happening now, there is an opportunity for transition towns support to be an outcome

Other Business

Books:

Change the world for Fifteen Bucks

• New Zealand Version - Dawn Baggaley (in tt movement)
• We are What We Do movement

Carbon neutral by 2020

• is about what TT is about

Plan B

Events:

5th March climate change conference, Wellington - Helen attending

Meeting in Wellington

• 42Collective, Transition Towns, Paul Bruce - "Connect"
• 12th March

Good Life Trail - Stall opportunity - Easter Monday

Miguel here from Japan, 9th April, LETS conference on 12th and travelling around NZ to talk about complementary currencies to TT groups

Next Meeting:

9th March, 152 High Street North, 9am