====================================
Minutes by Terry Wiggins:
====================================

SUSTAINABLE SANCTUARY COALITION MEETING MINUTES

May 5, 2008, at Village Church

 Attending: Barb Chaplin, Leawood United Methodist Church Chuck Gillam, Village Presbyterian Church RoseTherese Huelsman, Guardian Angels Catholic ChurchCarol Meyer, St. Pius X Catholic Church Mid Lawrence, Shawnee United Methodist ChurchKarin McAdams, Penn Valley Friends MeetingAl Pugsley, Village Presbyterian Church Jerry Rees, Village Presbyterian ChurchBarbara Shepard, Shawnee Mission Unitarian Universalist ChurchCurt Straub, Unity Church of Overland ParkMargaret Thomas, Shawnee Mission Unitarian Universalist ChurchTerry Wiggins, All Souls Unitarian Universalist Church 

Call to Order:   Carol called the meeting to order at 7:05, and led readings (from Psalm 134) and meditation. The minutes of the previous meeting were accepted as they had been presented. 

Resource Sharing: 

  • Mid brought Greening Congregations Handbook. Terry had paper copies from web sites of 2 interfaith organizations -- www.faithinplace.org and the Earth Keepers of www.superiorwatersheds.org.  She also mentioned Congregations Caring for Creation in Minnesota, http://c3mn.net/ [which she learned, after the meeting, became an IPL chapter in 2006.] Barbara invited us to stand for peace on Mother’s Day.  She will email information to the group. Karin asked about a source for a low-cost energy audit.  Chuck will give her a source. Barb’s compost question was referred to the municipality or www.recyclespot.org.
  • Al noted that he is available for speaking about electric vehicles.

 Sign-On Letters:  Eileen Horn had given Jerry letters to Kansas Representatives and Senators, which he passed around for signatures   Terry wondered if the legislation mentioned in the letters was the best for SSC to be endorsing [and subsequently sent email to the list on this topic]. Feedback on Internal Organization:  We met in small groups to re-address the areas we discussed last meeting, to generate more ideas.  The purpose was to have ideas in place so that we can set goals and move ahead at our retreat on Saturday.  Karin is compiling the results of the small group discussions. Information for the retreat Saturday morning: We named previously barriers to reaching our vision. On Saturday, we will

  • set strategic directions that will dismantle the barriers or move beyond them, and
  • name what actions or initiatives we can take to implement the directions

 Our homework is to suggest a strategic direction to overcome each barrier.  We discussed inviting others who may be interested in the work of SSC.  Our conclusion was that if you want to bring visitors, use discretion, and orient them ahead of time. Defining what makes a good meeting:  RoseTherese led brainstorming, and classified responses into task and relationship elements.Tasks:

  • Going away with something I can implement tomorrow Doing creative, visionary, significant stuff, e.g., teaching a class Making a difference, on individual, congregational, or societal level
  • Problem solving, brainstorming

Relationship:

  • Giving and receiving moral support and inspiration Having new, interesting members at the meeting Synergy Hearing from everybody Respect for different points of view No pouting Conscious of the group No side conversations Opportunities for socializing before and after the meeting
  • Had fun, humor, laughter

 Communication, web site and email issues:  Carol and Bill had prepared a handout with questions to discuss.  Although we found ourselves unable to complete the discussion, and want to carry it forward to another meeting, we

  • Were not satisfied with our public web site.  Although the design and structure is satisfactory, it is out of date, and perhaps it was put together with what is now outdated technology.
    • Carol thinks we could network to find someone (probably young) to handle it for us. Curt will call Susan, and ask if she would teach someone to handle it, and ask if there is a better way.
    • Barbara mentioned knowing someone who had set up an excellent one.  Are there templates?
    Had some sentiment that Google Groups may be easier to use than Yahoo Groups, though it is unclear if we should change.
  • Comments on email:
    • Specific subject lines help. Traffic is low, except for Holcomb.
    • Should we have subgroups by interest, and keep our own lists.

 Phone calls to potential members:  Chuck will call the people on the list he gathered recently. 

Kansas Energy Situation:  Jerry has emailed everything. 

Lending Library Discussion:  postponed. 

Next meeting:  Margaret will chair, with Curt and Barbara on the agenda-planning team.  RoseTherese will do the minutes. 

Meeting Evaluation:  Al will compile the written evaluations and send them to Margaret. “God and Green”:  RoseTherese shared a story from the Today Show on March 17.  Her religious community’s motherhouse renovation (of a historic property to LEED gold standard) was shown. 

 Next Meeting: June 2, 7-9pm, Village Church Respectfully submitted,

Terry Wiggins