i have not been following this issue too much but it seems to be about some kind of public forum involving kitty peircy and greening the community.

thanks to those with the care for the community to try to help make a difference in rapidly changing times,,,

here is a thought,,

dont look for a political leader to do much of anything, sure, i like kitty, she says some good things, has sent a bit more $ to the neighborhood program, cancelled the wep - it would have bit the dust without her.  her record should not inspire too much hope, by its very nature, political leadership is muted so as not to offend the real power brokers- money making interests - and they are not too sympathetic with the environment, public health or positive human potential,,,,

in my opinion, a far better place to put time and energy is into where we live - our homes and neighborhoods.  already, there are many great examples of this in eugene, particularly around the local food issues. 

there are some wonderful non profits doing right on work, they dont need a political pat on the head, they need to connect and work with each other.  there are some programs within the city that can be helpful like parks volunteers, stream team,,,  

by far the best program the city helps to support is the neighborhood program.  there is  an existing network of communications between the city's 18 or so neighborhood organizations and each of those n'hood orgs have very useful capacities to communicate with thier respective consituencies by way of news letters, post cards, websites, public meetings.  certainly communications can be improved, and they can be with some effort.  there is an existing wonkish culture within the n'hood organizations that needs to be there but also needs to recognize n'hood orgs need to become much more populists and activst over issues this  e list cares about - global trends and relocalizing. 

there is at this time a beginning of a green dialogue within the neighborhood organizations, there is a green committee that has reps from 10 different n'hood organizations.-- several people on this e list are involved with thier n'hoods and are part of this green n'hood committee---

this new n'hood initiative is in the early going and discussions include creating a green speakers bureau, a series of public programs about going green [call it what you like] that can include urban food production, resource conservation, permaculture, conversion of properties, effective communications, different kinds of cooperatives, skills for healthy living closer to home,,,,, 

another popular idea is for a city wide green summit/expo with speakers, workshops, plenary session.  with the specific goal of connecting the various entities intown that are natural allies such as non profits, communities of faith, schools, scouts, various service organizations,,,,,

the city can help with these ideas because it does budget some money to the n'hood program, we even have some access to city staff to help out

the word is, there is an EXISTING structure that offer enormous potentials, it just takes people being involved

i cant say the people involved in this new green n'hood committee at this point are going to make happen all the ideas above, others will be needed, too.  the neighborhood organizations need to reinvent themselves into on the street, in the 'hood action

there are 3 different n'hood garden/property conversion site tours planned by 3 different n'hoods - river road july 26, friendly august 9, amazon august 23.  amazon has a n'hood green team, river road will have one after its next general meeting, these are historic initiatives, they need to be 1000 times greater,  they are growing. real functional examples of eco logical culture change will go far far more towards where we want to go than looking to a pat on the head and blessing from sympathetic but seriously underperforming politicians who are fearful of looking too progressive

the next meeting for the n'hood green committee is july 23 at growers market at 7 pm, open to all, please join us jan

a good calendar for permaculture oriented events is on the permaculture guild web site, it welcomes posted info from other groups, too that are focused on local food, living local,  i can help with access to the calendar

one can find out when and where thier n'hood organization meets, showing up and articulating a need and willinglness to be a part of grassroots/green activism can help move the n'hood orgs in a much more timely and productive direction

 I wanted to say that the town hall meeting based on the corvallis work, especially if some facilitators that can keep things focused can be found, would be a great thing and if it were January it might lead to something that could really help Kitty get elected

I feel that this is not enough at this point with the election around the corner.  there needs to be a specific platform with measurable results, or maybe tallying the measurable results that kitty has achieved and going door to door with that platform by hundreds of people.

Welcome to "E-UPDATE" - a twice monthly news brief to keep you informed of the work of the Corvallis Sustainability Coalition and to invite your participation.  Please forward this "E-UPDATE" to members of your participating organization and to other interested individuals. Check our website at www.sustainablecorvallis.org.

WORK GROUPS HEAR FROM THE COMMUNITY AT TOWN HALL #2    

A festive atmosphere mixed with thoughtful discussion as Corvallis area residents gathered at Corvallis High School on June 25th for the second of three town hall meetings hosted by the Corvallis Sustainability Coalition in 2008.  After being greeted by lively music and delicious refreshments donated by Fireworks Restaurant, the crowd of approximately 350 people gathered in the auditorium to get an overview of the long-range, visionary goals that are being proposed by the Coalition's twelve work groups: Community Inclusion, Economic Vitality, Education, Energy, Food, Health and Human Services, Housing, Land Use, Natural Areas, Transportation, Waste, and Water.

Participants then moved to the school cafeteria, where 26 discussion stations were set up, each with a facilitator and recorder who encouraged feedback on the proposed goals.  Each attendee was asked to visit two topic area tables during the evening.  In addition to providing their feedback on the proposed goals, participants offered their ideas for hundreds of strategies and actions to help realize the goals.  All the responses and ideas that were gathered will be used by the work groups to help refine the goals and prioritize actions for the Community Sustainability Action Plan.  

The evening closed on a celebratory note, as winners of special door prizes were announced and leaders of the work stations shared the most innovative actions shared at their tables. For further details on Town Hall #2 and the action planning process, go to www.sustainablecorvallis.org.  Mark your calendar for the next town hall meeting on October 7th.  

LWV OF CORVALLIS WINS ENERGY CHALLENGE COMPETITION

The League of Women Voters of Corvallis has won the Energy Challenge competition that was launched in March by the Energy Trust of Oregon.  The announcement was made at the June 25th Sustainability Town Hall meeting, when Energy Trust Communications Director Jan Schaeffer presented a $1,000 check to Shelly Murphy, who coordinated the League's Energy Challenge efforts. The Corvallis League was competing with other partner organizations in the Coalition to gather sign-ups for free home energy reviews.  League members signed up over 200 members, friends and neighbors over a 3-month period.  Runners up for the competition included the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, First Alternative Co-op, City of Corvallis , and Corvallis School District 509J.

This competition was part of a year-long campaign designed to promote energy efficiency and the use of renewable energy in Corvallis .  It began in March 2008 and will run through February 2009.  For more information or to sign up for a free home or business energy review, come to the Corvallis Energy Challenge booth at da Vinci Days' Green Town on July 18th through 20th, or go to www.corvallisenergychallenge.org.

Sustainability Guiding Objectives - A Framework for Decision-making

 Our community will:

1.   Reduce and ultimately eliminate our community's contribution to fossil fuel dependence and to wasteful use of scarce metals and minerals.  Use renewable resources whenever possible.

2.    Reduce and ultimately eliminate our community's contribution to dependence upon persistent chemicals and wasteful use of synthetic substances.  Use biologically safe products whenever possible.

3.    Reduce and ultimately eliminate our community's contribution to encroachment upon nature (e.g., land, water, wildlife, forests, soil, ecosystems).  Protect natural ecosystems.

4.    Support people's capacity to meet their basic needs fairly and efficiently.