Steering Group Minutes

Te Aro (TARO)/ Wellington Central Transition Towns Steering Group Meeting.

16th of April 08’ @ The Lido Cafe

Present: • Simon • Anne • Alison • Stuart • Andrew (need to get everyone’s last names)

Agenda: 1. Who are we, what do we do, what have we done and what do we want to do? 2. Synergies 3. Announcements 4. Alison – Report

Proceedings 1. Who are we, what do we do, what have we done and what do we want to do?

So far the groups activities have been: • Movie Screenings – “What a Way to go” @ Ron and Leanne’s house (ongoing). • Frank has been screening films at Cross Ways and organized a Permaculture presentation that Andrew gave. • 3 meetings held at the southern cross, Simon and Andrew’s house, and Still Water’s Community where Anne lives. • Simon, Andrew and Alison have been doing a lot of gardening. Everyone in the group is enthusiastic about doing more gardening.

Future film screenings • Where to get a data projector (possibly Juanita, Alison to inquire) • Possibility of screening films at the Southern Cross on Monday nights (after 7:30pm). • Anglican Social Justice Commission has free power of community DVDs (Anne to inquire). • Alison: Juanita has DVDs available for $2. • Probably can use Still Waters as a venue.

What we’re about and what attracted us to Transition towns and being on the steering group:

Offering a positive vision of what we’re for, what we want to create rather than what we’re against. We may be “Making history”. Being Action orientated. Doing things together. Community feeling. Positive approach. Connecting with the rest of life. Being part of global movement. Emphasizing our connection with living beings and the life process. Getting everyone on board, working in collaboration rather than isolation. Exploring how social and environmental arenas interact. Valuing sustainability. Moving from personal lifestyle change to engagement with the community. Responsibility. Focusing on what we can do, not on what isn’t happening with others. Relocalisation as a solution to so many problems. Food production/urban agriculture. Is weird that wouldn’t know how to fend for ourselves if we had to. Everyone would be happier if we reconnected with community and environment. Appeal of grass roots, inclusive solution. Everyone can be involved.

Comment: Nelson Council maybe putting in $ to Trans Towns initiatives down there?

What role do we see for ourselves? Provide structure, organization to others involved in the wider TARO/Wgtn Central TT group. The benefits of our size (5 people) in making decisions… Growing community, creating a space we can come back to – that TT is community that’s forming a growing. To create a container in which possibilities can emerge.

Still Waters is available for future meeting and screenings.

What would happening in that space? Creativity, community growth, fun, food, connection, TT being an example of a healthy community. Everyone feels appreciated, whatever their level of involvement. Increasing our knowledge, we see what we can do, then we do it, then we have more knowledge. A cycle of learning and practice. A space for practice community education – similar to the goals of the Te Aro Community Garden Solidarity Tour. We’re creating resilience. It’s the only real response to the problems we’re facing – a creative, positive, practical, community response. Inspiring!

Specific ideas of what we’d like to do • Reaching out to business (as suggested in Transition Handbook). Having a package of info/presentations to share with them. • Simon’s presenting to Sustainable Energy Forum and Engineers for Social Responsibility in Auckland in July. • Using Aro Valley Community Hall for events. An interactive facilitated community conversation on the future of Te Aro and what we love about it and want to improve on. Andrew will inquire with Mary-Alice Arthur from 4 Million Dreams group about possibility of facilitating this event. She will be hosting the Re-Connect: Conversations of Change event on May 2nd at St Johns Church – corner of Willis and Dixon st (see announcements). Steering group will attend this event, with the aim to meet with Mary-Alice soon after to design a community conversation for Te Aro. • Advertising our group (more than just on line) – posters/fliers, chalk ads on the foot path, Valley voice newsletter, logo (Andrew, Robbie Nelson possibly to design). – Logo maybe be a native plant (like the Taro) or animal. • Formalising our group – we read through the requirements for formalizing, meet them and want to formalize our TT initiative. • Possibly creating a garden at Still Waters.

What will we do at our next TT meeting May 5th or 6th - Have an open agenda in which all present can suggest and decide on what will be covered in meeting. - Report back on this meeting - Discuss future project ideas including film screenings and community conversations - Report back on “Reconnect” event - Ideas of little actions that we each are and can take to make positive difference. Share ingenious ideas ie 3 small things we want to do before the next meeting to build sustainable community and lifestyle. Then at next meeting report back on how we did in implementing them.

Alison - Report Alison shared her positive experience of attending a Permaculture Presentation Andrew gave at Crossways. She really enjoyed it and is very enthusiastic about learning more about Permaculture together.

Announcements • Sue Kedgley Presentation at meeting room on mezzanine on evening of 17th of April (Alison and others to attend). • Greens Event on Victoria Campus (focusing on Transition towns) from 12pm on the 29th of April in the Cotton building, rm 304. - Strong synergies with the greens. Group eager to make connections and build relationship. - Downtown Eco Therapy. “Potting up” Native trees at midland park, Lambton quay – 12-1:30pm, wed 23rd of April. All welcome. - Re-Connect: Conversations for Change. 6-9pm. Friday May 2nd. (maybe more, details still being clarified). St Johns church meeting rooms, corner of Dixon and Willis st. Interactive conversations exploring synergies between Wellington sustainability initiatives. Likely focus: what are we all doing for June 5 world environment day, and fun, social time in which we can get to know each other and foster community. - Simon will send details of this event to TT email list

Next steering group meeting Saturday 3rd of May, Olive Café, Cuba st, 3pm.