We envision the earth, our home, as a place where all creation flourishes.

Minutes of the Nov 5, 2007 meeting of the Sustainable Sanctuary Coalition

NEXT MEETING: December 3, 7 PM –

CHUCK GILLAM WILL BE MODERATOR.

The meeting was opened at 7:10 by Jerry Rees. Osa Moody brought treats enjoyed by all!

Attending: Christine Caseres, Barbara Chaplin, Rick Gasaway, Chuck Gillam, RoseTherese Huelsman, Osa Moody, Rita Norton, Susan Pavlakis, Jerry Rees, Barbara Shepard, Curt Straub, Margaret Thomas, Terry Wiggins.

News shared:

*  15 mayors signed the US Mayors Climate Protection Agreement at a mass signing on Nov 2 at Rockhurst.

*  The denial of an air quality permit for the Holcomb coal plant is not a “done deal”; a coalition of Republicans in the KS House are trying to galvanize the KS Republican Party to force a change in the law that would disallow the permit denial issued by the KS Dept of Health and Environment.  Chuck Gillam urged everyone to contact their senator and representative; names can be found at www.kslegislature.org

A recent news ad even tried to link the anti-coal power plant movement with support of terrorism!

Inspirational message : Jerry read _______________-

Treasurer’s report: Christine Cesares reported we have $345.99 in our account. She will not be able to continue as Treasurer and asked that someone else take over. It was pointed out that we still need a donation check off with levels of giving in our literature.

Mission and vision statements: Rose Therese reviewed our vision statement and our mission statement:

Vision statement: We envision the earth, our home, as a place where all creation flourishes. Mission statement: We are a coalition of persons from greater Kansas City faith communities. We partner with, encourage, and assist faith groups to preach, teach, model, and advocate for sustainable living and ecological justice for all creation, in keeping with the tenets of each faith group.

We discussed using a 3-person committee to “activate” our mission with what it is we want/need to be doing, such as best practices of congregations, that could then go on our website. Curt suggested at our November meeting we brainstorm a list of current or potential activities we could encourage congregations to undertake in support of our mission statement. WE WOULD LIKE EVERYONE TO POST THEIR IDEAS PRIOR TO THE NEXT MEETING.

January meeting -- presentation by Russ Rudy: Russ Rudy works in the KS Energy Office on the Facilities Conservation Improvement Program (FCIP). The purpose of FCIP is to help groups, such as congregations, make their buildings or facilities more energy efficient. Part of the presentation will have to do with Energy Services Companies (ESCOs) which offer performance contracts and/or financing to non-profits (which are not eligible for tax incentives) that are paid back through energy savings. 

Because this information would be useful to all faith groups we agreed we would try to invite the facilities managers of as many churches as possible to attend the January meeting. Jerry will ask Russ for a synopsis of his presentation and we will send this to our members and ask them to suggest facilities contacts who might be interested in attending the presentation.

Norborne:  SSC will sign a letter of opposition to this proposed coal-fired power plant located in _______________________

Greenability offer: There was a good article in the latest issue, featuring the work of several faith groups. The magazine has offered to let individuals or congregations sell copies ($4.95 a copy) and keep $1.50 of each sale. Jerry will forward the proposal to everyone.

SSC Website: Susan is still trying to find out why our emails into the info site on the web are bouncing. There is a UMKC student who has offered to help SSC and we will invite him to the December meeting as a possible source of website assistance.

SSC Yahoo Group: Remember not to press reply or reply all – rather, use the forward button then type in the name of the recipient for your message. We need to ask Bill to tell us again how passwords are used.

KC Mayors Sustainability and Climate Protection Conference: This event was held Nov 2; about 16 mayor signed. Overland Park has not signed yet. Jerry will send around a template for letters to the mayors who are not on board yet, and a copy of the actual agreement.

BREAKING THE SILENCE CONFERENCE

A group is working in Kansas City, Kansas, to bring together the diverse elements of the KCK community and many progressive groups in the metro area.  It has scheduled a conference /meeting/coming-together for Saturday, November 3 at the Reardon Center in Kansas City, Kansas from 9 to 5.

A goal of the event planning is to have FREE admission on the day of the event with the only costs being for food and drink as desired.

One of the featured speakers will be David Korten, author of The Great Turning  and When Corporations Rule the World.

The organizers hope that the $2,000/day rent at the Reardon Center can be paid by 40 groups paying $50 each for a table to promote their activities.  Tabling will allow progressive activist groups to share information about their activities to improve our community and our world.  For example, All Souls will table to share the activities of its various Social Justice groups.

Does SSC want to table?  (If we do – I cannot participate – I will propose to the Green Sanctuary Committee of All Souls that they rent a table and share it with SSC).