Transition Asheville Local Economic Action Group (LEAG)
First Meeting - March 4, 2011
The Group had an authentic experience of the vibrant "deep economy" of West Asheville at the funky, noisy Westville Pub. Present: Roger Bass, Art Freeman, Morgan Markowitz, Jonathan Robert, Cathy Scott, David Wheeler: Facilitator
Meeting opened with a long, drawn-out discussion of whether we wished to be known as the LEAG of Extraordinary Activists, Major LEAGers, or the Economic Justice LEAG of America - results were inconclusive.
Welcome and introductions.
David passed out maps of an estimated Asheville Market Area: "Sustainability in Asheville does not stop at the city limits. There is a large area around the city that is economically symbiotic with Asheville. As the local economy develops, this interdependence will become crucial ... Wendell Berry spoke of the natural ecosystem around us as 'The Great Economy,' upon which we depend entirely for life support and the conditions and resources that determine our smaller human economy ... One of the hallmarks of the dominant economy is its short-sightedness. It hardly thinks past the next quarter, much less about the effect of our actions on the seventh generation to come. Just shifting this time frame would bring about dramatic changes in the shape of our economy."
Jonathan: The Seven Pillars of Sustainability: Sustainable Agriculture; Waste Management; Renewable Energy; Green Building; Community Capital; Independent Retailers; and Non-Profit Organizations. "Let's use the tool of the L3C, the low-profit limited liability corporation, which straddles the current 501(c)3 and LLC taxDesignations … A profit-making corporation with a socially responsible mission statement that it must follow. During introductions, it appeared that there was a common interest and concern about a shortage of local investment to finance the transition to a more localized economy. If capital were available, this would be a very good time to start new businesses, as job creation is on everybody's agenda right now."
Art: "A squirrel does not know that there is a recession, because it is living off the local resources. We should be talking about thrival, not just survival."
Morgan has interests and skills to offer ...
Cathy would like to see a socially just economy that providesculturally-appropriate products, and work and business opportunities for minority populations.
ACTION IDEA
Roger: Start a Slow Money-type movement to tie investment to the community and the land.
ACTION IDEA
Jonathan: A Local Economic Summit to bring together all the stakeholders in the local economy to report, cross-fertilize, and learn from each other to coordinate our actions. The group discussed a list of important individuals and organizations in the local economic scene.
ASSIGNMENT: Pick one or more people from the list and interview them about their thoughts and perspectives on the local economy. Explain to them briefly about Transition and its mission, and then LISTEN. Draw them out with questions from the list and improvise more personal, more specific questions on the spot. Goals: introduction to Transition, fact-finding, opening a relationship.
ACTION IDEA
David: MakeItHere.net, a proposed website and game to solicit ideas for import substitutions to build a local economy. "Open-sourcing as an economic development plan." Take around an on-the-wall, paper version of the game to begin the process, build relationships, and also to seek a sponsoring organization to produce the computer version.
A Brief Identification of Transition (THE ELEVATOR SPEECH):
The Transition movement is concerned with the issues driven by peak oil, climate change, and the resulting economic disruptions. The primary strategy to meet these new conditions is economic localization and community-building. We strive for the goals of community resilience and sustainability, so that in these changing times our communities can thrive and not just survive.
MEETING: contact David Wheeler for date, time and location
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
ACTION GROUPS -- CONTACTS
Find a place where your desire for change overcomes your resistence to engaging in anything new because you are too busy. What is more important than the life of our communities and the restoration of our Earth/home? Here are others who are working in areas they feel passionate about, seeking to make a difference locally by building resilience to cushion us from the coming economic and climate shocks. Which areas are you passionate about?
Food and Water
Kevin Bose
kevin_bose@hotmail.com
815-277-7240
Health
Rudi Simko
r.simko@morrisbb.net
702-0343
Housing
Linda Burke
lburke@abtech.edu
776-1303
Energy
Richard Fireman
firepeople@main.nc.us
Reskilling
Stan Corwin
colnstash@att.net
254-3515
Transportation
Jim Barton
jzbarton@gmail.com
318-7418
Heart and Soul
Maureen Linneman
http://www.mynewsletterbuilder.com/tools/refer.php?s=2725780901&u=22936119&v=3&key=1a2f&skey=0116ceb446&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mynewsletterbuilder.com%2Ftools%2Frefer.php%3Fs%3D2686453919%26u%3D22875375%26v%3D3%26key%3D1c20%26skey%3D46502e5e54%26%20
254-9115
Education
Merima Friedman
merimasfriedman@hotmail.com
450-3076
Local Economics
David Wheeler
davidjudith7@bellsouth.net
254-6795
Neighborhood/Community Building
Chas Jansen
cjansen@mtsu.edu
768-1449
Find a place where your desire for change overcomes your resistence to engaging in anything new because you are too busy. What is more important than the life of our communities and the restoration of our Earth/home? Here are others who are working in areas they feel passionate about, seeking to make a difference locally by building resilience to cushion us from the coming economic and climate shocks. Which areas are you passionate about?
Food and Water
Kevin Bose
kevin_bose@hotmail.com
815-277-7240
Health
Rudi Simko
r.simko@morrisbb.net
702-0343
Housing
Linda Burke
lburke@abtech.edu
776-1303
Energy
Richard Fireman
firepeople@main.nc.us
Reskilling
Stan Corwin
colnstash@att.net
254-3515
Transportation
Jim Barton
jzbarton@gmail.com
318-7418
Heart and Soul
Maureen Linneman
http://www.mynewsletterbuilder.com/tools/refer.php?s=2725780901&u=22936119&v=3&key=1a2f&skey=0116ceb446&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mynewsletterbuilder.com%2Ftools%2Frefer.php%3Fs%3D2686453919%26u%3D22875375%26v%3D3%26key%3D1c20%26skey%3D46502e5e54%26%20
254-9115
Education
Merima Friedman
merimasfriedman@hotmail.com
450-3076
Local Economics
David Wheeler
davidjudith7@bellsouth.net
254-6795
Neighborhood/Community Building
Chas Jansen
cjansen@mtsu.edu
768-1449
Drop Out of Business-as-Usual/Time to Engage
Partners in Transition,
Current events turn my attention to the timeliness of Transition Asheville’s efforts. Once again we learn of trouble in the Middle East and see oil prices rise suddenly as uncertainty invades the markets. I see this as (yet) another wake up call to the desirability of local resilience, of a Plan B in WNC. With uprisings in Islamic capitals, and in US capitals where long-established worker rights are under attack, I see people self-organizing around mutual interests and self-preservation. I also see people with the power to suddenly shift attention to new collective and inclusive solutions.
So much is now being written and debated nationally and internationally about these current events, it makes my head spin. Even as I follow this historic unfolding, I always turn to consider ways I and my neighbors, friends and family might prepare for any of the most likely ways current events could impact how we’d like to live our lives. And this was the very spirit of the 4 sets of questions pondered in the afternoon session of the World Café at the end of January:
Most critical to the kind of sustained change we all envision are the tasks of continuing these conversations with a widening circle of others and keeping existing action groups viable and growing in number over the long haul. I encourage you to network with some friends, colleagues, and/or associates and challenge yourselves to imagine and initiate some change that turns toward greater resilience through local alternatives and sourcing. Ultimately, there will be as many action groups in every interest area -- energy, healthcare, transportation, education housing, etc. -- as there are different situations where change can be manifested. Some groups will be large and create coordinated efforts with a focus on the long-term; other groups will be smaller and more short-term, focusing on one or two very specific projects or campaigns within a neighborhood, business setting, faith community, or civic group. Much can be done when many hands take a part. The time for the Great Work as we move to the Great Turning is here, now. How will you get and stay involved?
Elsewhere in this blogspot, you can see where the World Café questions led and to leave your comments or ideas. You can also find contact people for the various Action Groups that have begun our community's process of Transition. And however you are involved, remember to share whatever you and others are together doing with the Transition Asheville newsletter (debibrewer@aol.com) so we all can see the uprising we are making for a more balanced life and a more resilient community.
Finally, the actions across the Middle East remind us that all people desire dignity, peace, and a safer world for the next generation - and that change can happen on a scale and at a speed that was not even possible just a few years ago. I hope to see the day (soon!) when populations EVERYWHERE will flood the streets demanding an end to corporate globalism and the attack on our Earth/home it increasingly represents as we move past peak oil. Today would be a good day for all of us to rise up, to demonstrate responsive and responsible actions EVERYWHERE in the hopes that our children and grandchildren will not grow up on an Earth dangerously unlike the one that gave us birth and in communities we no longer recognize.
In Transition, In Solidarity,Chas
Current events turn my attention to the timeliness of Transition Asheville’s efforts. Once again we learn of trouble in the Middle East and see oil prices rise suddenly as uncertainty invades the markets. I see this as (yet) another wake up call to the desirability of local resilience, of a Plan B in WNC. With uprisings in Islamic capitals, and in US capitals where long-established worker rights are under attack, I see people self-organizing around mutual interests and self-preservation. I also see people with the power to suddenly shift attention to new collective and inclusive solutions.
So much is now being written and debated nationally and internationally about these current events, it makes my head spin. Even as I follow this historic unfolding, I always turn to consider ways I and my neighbors, friends and family might prepare for any of the most likely ways current events could impact how we’d like to live our lives. And this was the very spirit of the 4 sets of questions pondered in the afternoon session of the World Café at the end of January:
- What might be the consequences in our lives here in WNC if gas prices suddenly spiked (even to $8/gal.) and supplies here began to dwindle? What beneficial consequences or opportunities this crisis might bring for our community?
- To be proactive instead of reactive, what ideas and/or projects might soften or eliminate the negative consequences in this scenario? Which ideas &/or project might best take priority to move the community beyond oil dependence?
- What would we need to learn &/or acquire to support this preparedness (or resilience) planning? Who would be our local allies and partners in the work to build community resilience?
- What results/changes would indicate that we are moving in the right direction for powerdown planning by next year and 5 years from now? What are some “next steps” your group (or individuals in your group) will pursue to move this community energy descent planning into action?
Most critical to the kind of sustained change we all envision are the tasks of continuing these conversations with a widening circle of others and keeping existing action groups viable and growing in number over the long haul. I encourage you to network with some friends, colleagues, and/or associates and challenge yourselves to imagine and initiate some change that turns toward greater resilience through local alternatives and sourcing. Ultimately, there will be as many action groups in every interest area -- energy, healthcare, transportation, education housing, etc. -- as there are different situations where change can be manifested. Some groups will be large and create coordinated efforts with a focus on the long-term; other groups will be smaller and more short-term, focusing on one or two very specific projects or campaigns within a neighborhood, business setting, faith community, or civic group. Much can be done when many hands take a part. The time for the Great Work as we move to the Great Turning is here, now. How will you get and stay involved?
Elsewhere in this blogspot, you can see where the World Café questions led and to leave your comments or ideas. You can also find contact people for the various Action Groups that have begun our community's process of Transition. And however you are involved, remember to share whatever you and others are together doing with the Transition Asheville newsletter (debibrewer@aol.com) so we all can see the uprising we are making for a more balanced life and a more resilient community.
Finally, the actions across the Middle East remind us that all people desire dignity, peace, and a safer world for the next generation - and that change can happen on a scale and at a speed that was not even possible just a few years ago. I hope to see the day (soon!) when populations EVERYWHERE will flood the streets demanding an end to corporate globalism and the attack on our Earth/home it increasingly represents as we move past peak oil. Today would be a good day for all of us to rise up, to demonstrate responsive and responsible actions EVERYWHERE in the hopes that our children and grandchildren will not grow up on an Earth dangerously unlike the one that gave us birth and in communities we no longer recognize.
In Transition, In Solidarity,Chas
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
WorldCafe: OVERVIEW
To the afternoon World Café participants,
It has taken me a long time to get the work you did in the afternoon session of the World Café online and I apologize for that. But rather than a sprint to meet someone else's deadline, ours is the marathon effort to progressively shift our local culture to greater resilience as we power down.
As you look over the results of the brainstorming we did around specific action areas, you will see that the outcomes are quite uneven and varied. I know that some among you may observe that there is little new in what the interest area groups came up with at the World Café. It is undoubtedly true that in the environmental literature and in the plans of other Transition Towns, these ideas and many others have been researched, adapted to specific situations, and set to work. But now it is WE who are deciding the best way to understand, adapt, and implement strategic changes, not in the abstract, but IN OUR CITY (or neighborhood, or faith institution, or civic group). We are the ones we’ve been waiting for and it is (for now) in our hands or in our hearts to make whatever change we can.
Some World Café participants have asked me how Transition Asheville will organize action groups to move us down the path. My answer is always that, like the Universe, the Transition effort is self-organizing. We use tools like the World Café and Open Space sessions to bring people together and to forge working relationships around shared passions. From there, groups move under their own steam and at their own pace. Until it is decided otherwise, no one is necessarily in charge or overseeing. Rather each person can spontaneously contribute whatever skills s/he possesses to do whatever shared and ongoing conversations suggest most needs doing. This sort of grassroots effort will inevitably be slow and messy, but results come at the right time and are often amazing. Believe it! I’ve seen it.
As you can see in this compilation, many of the action groups identified priority projects and next steps. In addition to these -- and most critical to the kind of sustained change that is called for -- is the task of continuing the conversation with others about how to keep your interest area group viable and growing over the long haul. There’s an agricultural image here that’s not accidental. It refocuses attention on the permaculture principles at the root of the Transition Movement. As we look to cultivate awareness and change on whatever scale and in whatever context, we might well remember to begin with small and slow solutions, and celebrate often!
I want to keep in touch with your action group and to support your work in any way that I’m able. Please keep my in your communication loop (cjansen@mtsu.edu). I also want to encourage you to share the ins and outs of your group process with others interested in Transition Asheville by contributing to the Transition Asheville Newsletter. (Send print-ready-pieces and/or subscription requests if you don’t yet get the Newsletter to debibrewer@aol.com).
I end with a heart-felt thanks for the contributions you have already made to the Transition effort by participating in the World Café. I look forward to the work we may do together on the Great Turning.
Sincerely, Chas
WorldCafe: EDUCATION
Participants???
EXCERPT: The consequences of dramatically higher energy costs?
1. dramatic busing reduction
2. reduce school days/longer days
3. online education
4. local community credit
5. one building schools
6. public space re-used (churches)
7. apprentice model (linked to reskilling) (trade skills)
8. "Dear Abby" column/ Transition Corner/ Mtn. Xpress
CHAS'S NOTE: The education group may have interesting areas of overlap with the Re-skilling groups, though you are up against institutional inertia. There are of course an endless array of opinions about how education should be done. Perhaps the Transition insights of peak oil on one hand and permaculture on the other can be used to bring a new kind of clarity to an ever murky debate. Yours will be a lively group I have no doubt. Where to start and with what next steps?
__________________________________________
COMPLETE NOTES
Question #1:
1. dramatic busing reduction
2. reduce school days/longer days
3. online education
4. local community credit
5. one building schools
6. public space re-used (churches)
7. apprentice model (linked to reskilling) (trade skills)
8. "Dear Abby" column/ Transition Corner/ Mtn. Xpress
Question #2:
Education system teacher development Kit:
- Science
- Economics -- applied math
- Links to greenhouse gas, population, energy consumption
- Social Sciences: studying historical paradigm shifts, and applying to current environment
Workshops for educators
Key questions: WHO is already doing this?
Transition Scholars
Awareness/Consciousness
Enabling [recruiting?] TA members:
- DevelopingCommunication Skills
- Elevator pitch--à standard) and personalized
Working with:
- Schools
- Social organizations
- Fairs/festivals/etc.
- Book study groups
Question #3:
Marketing/communications/PR working group
Professionals to create content and develop
Local Allies:
- Engaged educators:
- Bill Sanderson
- Cindy Byron (SILSA)
- Engaged students
Clean/renewable Energy Firms
- FLS Solar
- SolTherm
- Asheville Greenworks
- Canary Coalition--Avram Friedman
WorldCafe: HEART & SOUL
NOTE: HEART & SOUL is an interest area that came together after the World Café)
Interested folks:
Rachael Bliss
Susan Warren
Meridith
Leahsong
Dee Casey <smokylink@charter.net>
Rasil Savitsky
Rylin Hansen <gammarae55@gmail.com>
Maureen Linneman < reenielin@gmail.com>
__________________________________
From: Maureen Linneman <reenielin@gmail.com>
Date: Sun, Jan 30, 2011
Subject: Heart and Soul
To: leahsonf@frontier.com
Dear Leah,
Thank you so much for all your work yesterday. It is good to know there are so many potential ways to connect.
Here are the names of the people interested in the Heart and Soul Group. I am happy at this time to be the connector. We are going to look at a date to meet together when I get their emails.
Rachael bliss
Susan Warren
Meridith
Leah Song <leahsong@frontier.com>
Dee Casey
Basil Savitsky
Rylin Hansen <gammarae55@gmail.com> (she may not be on your email list as she came late)
______________________________________
From: Leahsong
Subject: RE: Heart and Soul
To: "'Maureen Linneman'"
Cc: "'Stanley Corwin'"
Date: Tuesday, February 1, 2011, 9:33 AM
Thanks, Maureen. I’m delighted to be part of a group with you and look forward to getting together. I’m forwarding your list to Stan, and think he’ll agree that we’re both happy you’re stepping forward as the “connector”.
Leah|
|
WorldCafe: WATER
Participants:
Kevin Bose <kevin_bose@hotmail.com>
Sherry Ingram
??
EXCERPT: Next steps for this group?
Water group will start out with the Food Action Team; have presentations (Sherry, Michelle, Zev) to draw out some people interested in water [issues] & to educate the Transition core; meet with the Transition Hendersonville water work group.
CHAS’S NOTE: If this group has taken any of these next steps in the 2 weeks since the World Café, I and others would love to hear what you’re doing. To know that groups in these interest areas are active in any way is an inspiration to all of us and supports whatever each of us is able to contribute to the collective effort.
____________________________
COMPLETE NOTES
Q #1
Consequences of a gasoline crisis?
Less fossil fuel use will free up water since 56% of water use goes to cooling [machines that extract & process fossil fuels]
Opportunities?
Better understanding of where our [water] resources come from; [how water resources relate to agriculture]; how much fossil fuel is used for current water consumption, e.g., fueling pumps, etc.
Priority ideas/projects?
[Offer education about water conservation and use]; teach people how water issues affect most other issues
Linking Waters; Agricultural Extension Service
____________________________
COMPLETE NOTES
Q #1
Consequences of a gasoline crisis?
Less fossil fuel use will free up water since 56% of water use goes to cooling [machines that extract & process fossil fuels]
Opportunities?
Better understanding of where our [water] resources come from; [how water resources relate to agriculture]; how much fossil fuel is used for current water consumption, e.g., fueling pumps, etc.
Q #2
Proactive responses?
[Better understanding of under-used resources – rain water & gray water collection/use]; [Developing purification systems nearer points of use]
Priority ideas/projects?
[Offer education about water conservation and use]; teach people how water issues affect most other issues
Q #3
What to learn or acquire for preparedness?
How to cope with water shortages]; infiltration; [local water collection systems
Linking Waters; Agricultural Extension Service
Q #4
Metrics to measure change?
Number of cisterns; number of new infiltration sites/raingardens; amount of new porous paving
Next steps for this group?
Water group will start out with the Food Action Team; have presentations (Sherry, Michelle, Zev) to draw out some people interested in water [issues] & to educate the Transition core; meet with the Transition Hendersonville water work group;
WorldCafe: HOUSING
Participants???
COMPLETE NOTES
EXCERPT: Opportunities
· Little units
· Multi-Family housing (co-housing)
· Recycled building materials
· Legalize hemp
· Nauhouse off Brevard Road
· Hempcrete (Broadway)
· Encourage hempcrete etc. industry
· Municipal buildings to become LEED certified
CHAS’S NOTE: This group has not yet come to any conclusion about what ideas and/or projects might well take priority, nor were any next steps included in the notes. Will members of the original group – or any others for whom housing issues are a passion – offer input on priorities and next steps?
COMPLETE NOTES
WITH EXPENSIVE FUEL?
Cold Houses
OPPORTUNITIES?
Little units
Multi-Family housing (co-housing)
Recycled building materials
Legalize hemp
Nauhouse off Brevard Road
Hempcrete (Broadway)
Encourage hempcrete etc. industry
Municipal buildings to become LEED certified
[editor's note: How the following related to the questions is obscure]
Building community
Less stress
Car pools
Helping each other
Commons
Child care in neighborhoods
Integrate needs
Creativity
New entertainment
Greenways
Spread knowledge re local resources
Lawyer volunteers
Lobby
AAC block plant in Asheville/ there is a plant in GA
Kudzu [editor: possible building material ala hemp?]
Civil disobedience against housing authority
Webpage about local resources
Zoning codes: change the law Shuler? Fisher? Bothwell
Start locally to convince lawmakers that present building system is too costly and too toxic.
Celo Solar Panel Company
Solar thermal (too expensive?)
Geo thermal at UNCA and WWC
Creative Living Systems with houses
Simplify! Simplify! Simplify!
Circular thinking rather than linear, moving away from hierarchical structure, ie., educating lawmakers about hemp, etc.
Recycle old drywall, waste management
Involve an Association of Builders
Link with land use people
WorldCafe: TRANSPORTATION (1)(2) & (3)
WC: TRANSPORTATION (#1)
Participants???
EXCERPT: Priorities
- Expand bus system
- Build sidewalks
- Transportation sales tax
- Sunday bus service
- Integrated green transit advocacy
CHAS’S NOTE: Carol Wilson signed off on the table notes. Can she tell me who else was involved at that table? I see that most of your priorities are focused on solutions government must finally approve. Key to getting government to move will be mobilizing a large enough crowd of supporters. If this work doesn’t appeal, what are the grassroots options? What might community organizers suggest? Would the solutions differ by neighborhood or by age demographic?
WC: TRANSPORTATION (#2)
Participants???
EXCERPT: Priorities
· Learn from other cities
· Liberty Bikes (Claudia Nix) has lots to teach
· Study existing bike plan
· Quality Forward/Asheville, now Greenworks, as working partner
· Stay in touch with City's transit community
· Land of Sky Regional Council
CHAS’S NOTE: Are any of the folks at your table pursuing any of these ideas? Gathering more people interested in Transition transportation issues would probably help to get more of this agenda underway.
WC: TRANSPORTATION (#3)
Participants???
EXCERPT: Benchmarks
One year Benchmarks:
Congress of Green Transport groups to asvocate alternatives to private cars (reduce anxiety to change)
Legislative campaign of personal input (every 5 years National Transportation Bill)
Five year Benchmarks:
Passenger rail in Asheville, bicycle friendly
All buses on alternative fuel and more buses
CHAS’S NOTE: I’d be surprised if your group didn’t have some conversation about the priority of ideas/projects. What do you think are the best next steps for each or all of you? Seems like networking with others talking about transportation ideas at the World Café would be a good start.
________________________________________
COMPLETE NOTES
Transportation (1)
Question #1:
Consequences:
- Drive less with planning and prioritization
- More carpooling
- More bus demand/overstress system
- More biking
- Distant employment-àjob loss
- Less discretionary spending à job loss
- Short term bike safety crisis
- Cleaner air
- Less fossil fuel use
- Quieter
- More interest in peak oil and transition
- More pressure for oil wars
- More pressure for 'drill, drill, drill'
Benefits and opportunities:
- Walking --for health
- More bike sales and repairs
- More critical mass for bike/ped./car safely training and outreach
- More rail interest
- More family time
- More neighborhood time
Question #2:
Planning ahead to ease transition
Crisis plans already written
Mediation training
Bus rider training and incentives
Facilitate green transit job creation
Sidewalk building and maintenance
Marketing and education
Accelerate bike plan implementation
Bike harassment law
Bike/pedestrian transition plan and incentive package
Scooters and mopeds and education
Priorities:
- Expand bus system
- Build sidewalks
- Transportation sales tax
- Sunday bus service
- Integrated green transit advocacy
[Signed off by Carol Wilson ]
COMPLETE NOTES
Transportation (2):
Question #1:
Centralized transportation
Public transportation affected pro and con
Fuel alternativesàmore research
Shared rides
School buses? -à move to alcohol based fuel
More bicycling and walking
Need for local production of food
Seasonal diet
More greenhouses --à extending season
More gardening
More exercise
Air travel-à lessened and more expensive
Question#2:
Call-in center for all ground transportation in Asheville area
Car-pool database---àtailgate outreach
ZIM of West Asheville
Zip Cars (electric)
Bicycles free at kiosk
More bike lanes (along streamways or on some sidewalks, not competing with autos)
More sidewalks
Allow sharing taxi rides in city ordinance
Question #3:
Learn from other cities
Liberty Bikes (Claudia Nix) has lots to teach
Study existing bike plan
Quality Forward/Asheville Greenworks as working partner
Stay in touch with City's transit community
Land of Sky Regional Council
COMPLETE NOTES
Transportation (3):
[Chas: These folks came up with their own format!! (Happy renegades!)]
Skills:
Safe bike riding
Sensitive car driving
Discover best practices elsewhere
Car sharing classes
Acquisition (Materials):
Private car share centers (owner gets $ from rider/regulated hitchhiking spots)
Collective car owning
Data base for carpooling
Couch surf style data base for (one shot) ride share
Allies:
City of Asheville
Liberty Bikes (Claudia Nix)
Bike shop network/ Recyclery
Monthly Pedestrian/Bicyclist meetings
"Bring Back WNC Rails" Facebook page
Canary Coalition
Land of Sky Regional Council on Ground Transportation
Metropolitan Planning Organization (Federal $, requires democratic community participation)
Jim Bartonà offers 1-2 hour classes on recent history events in public transportation
One year Benchmarks:
Congress of Green Transport groups to asvocate alternatives to private cars (reduce anxiety to change)
Legislative campaign of personal input (every 5 years National Transportation Bill)
Five year Benchmarks:
Passenger rail in Asheville, bicycle friendly
All buses on alternative fuel and more buses
WorldCafe: ENERGY
Participants:
Mary Lou Kemph
Richard Fireman
Kendall Hale
Diane Stanton
Phil Biser
Bob Howarth
Subsequent email excert:
Thanks to Kendall for the Transition Town Notes. Thanks to both Richard and Kendall for the recommended reading. I plan to check out these suggestions. Would be interested in meeting again to plan the agenda for this work group. Mary Lou
______________________________________________
COMPLETE NOTES
What would be immediate consequences of gas price shooting up to $8/gal?
- Negative: Mass panic, gasoline rationing by gov., hoarding, gasoline theft, blaming government, unemployment due to sharp decline in tourism, price increase of consumer goods.
- Positive: car pooling, more walking & biking, increase use of public transportation, neighborhood cohesiveness, more local shopping, decrease in CO2 emissions, more demand for electric plug- in cars and hybrids.
Proactive projects/ideas to soften negative outcome:
1)More public transportation 2) Increase in small businesses 3) More ecommerce (internet commerce) 4) Job sharing & 4 day work week 5) More sustainable farms/home gardens 6) Trade/barter 7) Re-skilling 8) Local processing of agricultural products 9) Interest in sustainable bio-fuels.
Local Allies:
Mentioned were: All solar companies,alternative energy companies, City of Asheville, universities and colleges, the hospitals, Environmental groups: WNC Alliance, Sierra Club, Canary Coalition, Dodwood Alliance, Land of Sky, WNC Green Building, Blue Ridge Sustainable, Advantage West, Asheville AIA, Green Drinks, Interfaith Power and Light, Green Monday, RiverLink, some local politicians, local banks.
Long Range Benefits:
Turn the flood plans into parks, support the Park Service, Redefine Gross Domestic Product. Redefine prosperity (gross happiness index). “Energy Realized for Energy Invested.” Sound Science! Investment & Research in Clean Energy.
Metrics to measure change:
The group did not address what results/changes would indicate that we are moving in the right direction for energy descent plan by next year or in 5 years. Nor did we speak to some ‘next steps’ Transition Town could pursue toward this goal.
__________________________________
CORRESPONDENCE
From: Kendall Hale
Subject: Transition Town Notes
To: "Richard Fireman"
Cc:
Dear Diane,Richard,MaryLou,Bob and Phil:
I have briefly summarized our discussion in the attachment. I am not
sure we are ready to do a presentation to the entire group, in that we really did not complete the exercise in the time allotted.
All of the ideas we came up with are ones that have been widely discussed in many forums in Asheville. If we wanted to deepen our discussion, I would be happy to meet again. Yes! Magazine is great to check out for reporting on local initiatives around the country. Good books to read on the subject of economics, energy and the environment are Natural Capitalism, by Paul Hawken, Amory Lovins, Hunter Lovins, and The Ecology of Commerce by Paul Hawken. David Korten has also written a great deal about local economics and the environment, and right now there seem to be more authors by the minute pumping out books and articles on the subject.
Thanks for a great afternoon, Kendall Hale, MA,LMT
www.sharonspringcabin.com
www.radicalpassions.com
828-628-4075
_______________________________
Date: Tue 1 Feb 2011
From: Richard Fireman
Subject: Re: Transition Town Notes
To: Kendall Hale
Cc: "Diane Stanton"
Kendall
thanks for quick turnaround. it was great working thru this Energy conundrum at the World Cafe, and afterword I wondered if the first question that was asked about $8/gallon got us off track.
As there will be a Transportation Working Group, I wonder if we should be thinking more about energy other than liquid fuels. Kendall listed several general resources. Here are two that may be more practical reads for our purposes if we are to actually organize a Working Group on Energy.
Robert (don't know if you prefer Bob or Robert) wanted us to read the EROI pages in the Transition Handbook. I am attaching Heinberg's more comprehensive and recent Searching for a Miracle for you to look at if you wish. Also a post on the Transition Town Network website speaks to some issues of developing a working group on Energy in the Energy Descent Plan format. [http://www.transitionnetwork.org/patterns/implementing-infrastructure/energy-descent-action-plans] I just scanned this post, but think that we all need to read the links to get full value of this article.
When the full minutes are released by the Initiating Group, I will send an email to all, and try to convene a next steps meeting of the Energy Working Group. until then, happy reading
For Earth Peace! Richard Fireman
WorldCafe: HEALTH & WELLNESS
WC: HEALTH & WELLNESS
Participants:
Rudi Simko
Su-Shen Huang
Dane Barrager
Cynthia Barrager
EXCERPT: Next Steps
· Compile directory of health care resources ~ Su-Shen Huang & Cynthia Barrager
· Gather information from the County Board of Health ~ Rudi Simko & Dane Barrager
· Organize workshops ~ Su-Shen Huang
CHAS’S NOTE: I continue to be impressed by the detail and thoughtfulness of your responses to the questions posed. And to the next steps you framed for yourselves at the end, I suggest you add finding allies who can help you with the research and planning you propose. But of course, other priorities may occur to you.
COMPLETE NOTES
1. $8/gal, short-supply gasoline… Negative impacts? ….Opportunities?
Negative Impact
· Reduced transportation results in reduced access
- Limited provider transportation
- Limited patient transportation
- Limited transport of medication and medical devices
· Current geographic concentration of services (mostly centered around Mission Hospital) also limits access.
· No existing mechanism for allocating/rationing limited resources. For example, how to choose between transporting food and transporting medicine.
· No existing mechanism for prioritizing which health care services are most critical or what geographic areas have the greatest need.
Opportunities
· Decentralize health care – pull resources into communities/neighborhoods. Perhaps at schools, churches, etc.
Results: tighter community ties, moves us toward wholeness of health and life
· Because the easy way (I’ll take a pill to fix my problem) becomes inaccessible, people take more responsibility for their health (I will fix myself).
Results: Improved lifestyles, self reliance, focus on prevention (meditation, yoga, breath work, de-stress), use of natural healing/home remedies/energy healing, shift in values/consciousness, providers become more aware of what and how to better serve patients
2. Proactive actions and priorities
Actions
· Information sharing between health care professionals and community at all levels…individual>family>neighborhood>community
· Educate about more holistic approaches
· Decentralize services – community clinics
· Doctors make house calls.
· More nurse practitioners, physician assistants
· Move away from specialists toward general practitioners as a partner to the patient who is responsible for themselves.
· Look at the health characteristics of the community and strategize how to meet the needs with a new strategy and services.
· Focus on prevention
· More utilization of alternative medical resources - Herbal schools, acupuncture schools, etc.
· Map demographics of community needs. For example, retirement homes such at the Vanderbilt Apts downtown and low-income neighborhoods need nearby health care.
· Visiting nurses
· Transportation plan needs to coordinate the needs. For example, how to choose between transporting food and transporting medicine when there’s not the ability to do all needed of both.
· Education by experts to lay people.
· Identify and make available local herbal remedies
· Promote local production of natural remedies
Priorities
· Education on how to be healthy – how to use herbal and other natural remedies
· Use Internet to distribute knowledge
· Remote health care – by computer, “Skype” clinics
· Medical database
3. What do we need to learn/acquire to support preparedness?
· Analyze medical needs of the community.
· Analyze medical services available.
· Create a “Community Map” that superimposes medical needs and their severity with population density and medical resource availability.
- Identify gaps based on the Community Map.
- Set priorities for limited resources based on the Community Map.
· 100% Internet access.
- For electronic medical record keeping
- For educating people on managing their own health
· Identify locations/access points for distributed health screening and care - Schools, YWCA, churches.
· Enlist help from drug stores in whatever new form they take. (Retail world will change dramatically.)
· Collaborate with Food workgroup to promote healthy lifestyles. Urban agriculture/community gardens.
· On line directory of alternative health care providers. Wellness and health care.
· Have the services go to the people/patients rather than people having to go to the service. Health/wellness workshops in the community.
· Train more nurse practitioners, physician assistants. Doctors are in limited supply.
4. Indicators of success…1 yr…5 yr…Next steps
Indicators at one year
· On-line directory of health and wellness services completed. (Mission Hospital may have info on alternative medical care resources.)
· “Community Map” completed
· Gaps between needs and resources identified
· Benchmark of current health status (prenatal care, obesity, diabetes, etc.) – Buncombe County is required by law to complete a health assessment every 5 years.
· Specific projects to undertake identified in cooperation with the County Board of Health
· Work with Tran. Ashe. Food, Transportation, and Water work group.
· Design a new system for delivery and payment of services to support our outcomes and achieve our indicators.
· Organize workshops.
Indicators at five years
· Compare current health status to year-one benchmark.
· Year-one gaps filled.
· Internet
- Number of people with access
- Number of hits per site.
- Per federal health care reform, medical database to be complete in 2014
· Based on Community Map and resulting priorities, have neighborhood health services in place.
- Number of screening sites and number of screenings.
- Children getting screenings.
· Increase in number of practicing PAs.
Next Steps
· Compile directory of health care resources ~ Su-Shen Huang & Cynthia Barrager
· Gather information from the County Board of Health ~ Rudi Simko & Dane Barrager
· Organize workshops ~ Su-Shen Huang
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