October 3, 2007

Post Oil Solutions Organizational Meeting

October 3, 2007

Introductions

Present: Bill McKinn, Dora, Frederick Noyes, George, Jane Janet, Kiah, Liz, Chandra, Sherry, Steve, Tim, Walter

Start meeting with a moment of quiet.

Agendas passed out: available on the internet prior to every meeting.

Announcements:

  • Post Oil Retreat, on SIT campus Sunday, Oct. 28th. Rotch Building, Room 109
    • Where we’ve been and where we want to go
    • Potluck
    • Go visit Community Garden on SIT campus
      • Community Garden workstudy (Chris Adams)
      • Alternative Energy workstudy (Stevie Freeman)
  • Thurs. Dec. 19th – Community Celebration Day as part of the Forum, invite others in the community and share in community and sustainability building. Potluck. Positive film to show as a way to end the year.
  • Medicinal Plant Workshop at Manatu 10-4, rain or shine $10 donation.

Learning about endangered medicinal plant and visiting habitats and planting, as well as being able to take some home with them to plant and grow. Contact # in Friday’s reformer or give Sherry a call.

  • Dora – Land Conservation organization has awards and they’re looking for nominations and thought it would be nice to nominate someone from the larger community. For individuals. Nominations by end of November. Doesn’t have specific info with her, she’ll email it out to everyone.
  • Windham Solid Waste (WSW) made presentation to the Select Board and they’ll be focusing on education, on recycling. Going to make real strong effort. About 10% short or behind other communities on recycling. Recycling has steadily decreased over past few years.
  • Fundraiser for Drop-In Center, $20 at Landmark College, Putney
  • A Group from the area is going to Boston on the 27th with AFSC – protest the war
  • Geothermal program advertised via NHPR. Check online for more details.
  • Want to do recyclables downtown but town won’t pick up the tab to pick them up. Need someone to pick them up and deposit them somewhere where they will be picked up. No downtown building is covered by public trash collectors.

Agenda Item (A) Leadership Council (LC)

  • There needs to be a body of people who are accountable within organization continuity and accountability.
  • 10 people have been asked to join, 8 have responded positively, 7 present (Jane to join later).
  • Informal body, may evolve rules, regulations, etc. over time as they see fit. Focused on decision-making.
  • Not Tim and not Liz as part of LC. Possibly Frederick and/or Kiah if they decide to continue on, want to be more involved.
  • Address issues of agenda, facilitation, etc. Reaching a state of transition. Tim will continue on as community organizer.
  • Steve moves to have Tim continue meeting until the LC has a chance to meet and discuss, etc.
  • Two big issues for LC: creating agenda and moderating the meeting. All are capable and willing, but they need to create an organizational strategy for themselves.
  • The issue of the LC will be taken up at the 28 Oct POS retreat.

Treasury Report - Jane

  • Janes figure for checkbook right now: $2776.56
  • Localvores – Windham have paid back $400.00
  • Lots of activity in treasury right now – payments going in and out.

Winter Farmers Market (WFM) – Sherry

  • Year ago from right now we didn’t even know there would be a market.
  • 25 applications in for vendors in market – fee included. Some paid whole vendor fee. Most people signed up for full season, Nov. Dec., 1 ea. For Jan., Feb., March. If its successful we’ll be able to have it for a full five month market.
  • Tim doing publicity. Cindy doing article for "Earth Matters" article, Sherry article in "Commons" and announcement in Vermont Local Banquets, a magazine type free publication. That will be out soon.
  • Juried market which means that people will be judged as to whether they can be a part of it, just as Brattleboro Area Farmers Market (BAFM). Vendors who haven’t been juried by BAFM need to be juried to enter into market – prepared foods, value-added goods.
      • Criteria: quality, duplications, handmade, locally made, etc.
      • Meeting will be on the 10th for a training session, strategizing, and then jurying from 6-8:30, jurors should be there by 5:15 or so.
      • Chandra - Anything about environmental sustainability as far as packaging as part of the criteria? – Sherry supportive of idea. Market centers around year-round access to local foods.
      • Teas, medicines, herbal remedies important as part of the sustainability component à caring for ourselves, local herbs. We’ll pursue more of that.
  • Begins Nov. 3 all Saturdays, except for Nov. 17th (last day of BAFM), Dec. 1 market will be holiday market but will be BAFM’s, not ours. Till end of December, then January, February, and March, one date in each. Shandra will be coordinating musicians for the markets. No amplification, maximum of two musicians per set. Shandra has most dates filled, with a couple of maybes. Possibility of publicity – press releases, calendars, etc.
  • Nov. 2 Gallery Walk night, will publicize at the River Garden as part of the walk (night before opening). One vendor will show sample baskets, etc. of what will be there.
  • POS will have a table at the market – people welcome to come down and sit at the table for an hour or 2, etc.
  • 4 agriculture vendors, 1-2 meat vendors, other vendors are crafts.

Should WFM become part of BAFM?

Lots of discussion around issues of

  • POS being an "incubator" of the WFM while it continues to build steam as a community fixture.
  • Securing Right of First Refusal with the River Garden.
  • Being able to expand it, run it and jury it as POS sees fit.
  • Has potential as moderate fundraiser as well.
        • The Leadership Council voted that POS should continue with WFM on a non-permanent basis, with the aim of it becoming independent with an independent board.

Kiah – Taking class called Social Civic Leadership through BUHS and SIT, 80 hour internship required.

  • Farm Stand Directory Project – calling town clerks to get numbers of farmers and farm stands. Other means suggested by members.
  • Farm Stands need to pay with Dept. of Agriculture, so not all are listed.

Liz’s Update

  • Conversation with Jenny Russell at the Merck Family Fund went well, lots of resources to search for grants for Cindy.
  • Met with Kiah and will be partnering to do all sorts of projects via SIT and BUHS
  • Bike program interest.

Wrap Up
  • "Vital Communities" Homework for LC – Policies governing fiscal agent relationships
  • Case Foundation – pushed date back for grantmaking till Oct. 18th. Final announcements won’t be announced until Feb. and March.
  • C and S - could be great option for local, small grants. (Cohen and Son).
  • Cindy has flexibility as far as whether she’s full time or half time.
  • Fair Winds Farm Thanksgiving Week-end Hay Ride Fund Raiser – POS shows up Friday to help set up. Proceeds split 50/50.