RANDOLPH SUSTAINABLE LIVING NETWORK ­  meeting news
January 6, 2006

From the Randolph SLN, Jan. 10,2006
    
Two New Carpooling Options for Central Vermonters

Carpooling is a great way to save money, reduce consumption, and make a contribution to the wise use of resources in Vermont.  With these goals in mind, the Randolph Sustainable Living Network has developed two ways for carpooling to happen in the central Vermont area and possibly beyond.

The first carpooling option involves going to the Randolph Cooperative Market bulletin board in the foyer and signing up directly  there. One sheet of paper is for offering rides; the other sheet is for those needing rides.  Scrap paper is available to jot down names and phone numbers.  Feedback about the Ride Board can be given by calling 728-9033.

The second carpooling option involves using your computer to access a list made available through Yahoo. To learn more about this list, go to http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ride-share

To Subscribe to this list, write to the following email address: ride-share-subscribe@yahoogroups.com .  You do not need to put anything in the text of the email;  this is an automatic service provided by yahoo.com.

Once you have joined, you can post a message, which will go to all the members of this list. The address is: ride-share@yahoogroups.com.  If you are looking for a ride, please put NEED in the subject are of your email along with date and destination.  If you are offering a ride, please put OFFERING in the subject area of your email along with date and destination.  Keep the text  short and sweet; we do not want this list to turn into a chat room.

To Unsubscribe from the list, write to the following email address: ride-share-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
Comments on how to make this list a better resource? Write to the List owner: ride-share-owner@yahoogroups.com

This list is being managed by a volunteer member of the Sustainable Living Network. The Ride-Share home page is being carefully laid out so as to follow its goals of  helping individuals reduce consumption, save money and help develop a system in our community that addresses wiser use of our resources.

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RANDOLPH SUSTAINABLE LIVING NETWORK ­  meeting news
November 2006

From the Randolph SLN, Sat, 18 Nov 2006:
We had 10 people in attendance last Wed. Nov. 15 for our monthly potluck and  meeting. 
Jenna reported on a Tom Wessels workshop she attended at Rowe  Conference Ctr. in MA.  Tom wrote The Myth of Progress and has been giving talks around VT this fall. Jenna was very impressed with the workshop and suggested that Tom's book would make for a good discussion group.

Karen E. reported on a power point presentation on global warming at the Upper Valley Sustainable Living Network's meeting last week. Everyone who attended thought it was very empowering, rather than just depressing. Rebecca will see if Beth Swain, the presenter, will come to Randolph to give the talk here, hopefully at VTC.

Jenna proposed having a book discussion group, or "Book Salon," meet regularly at her house.  Contact Jenna if you’re interested .

Lydia has re-proposed a discussion group on the Omnivore's Dilemma by Michael Pollan.  Several people have read the book since her first proposal and are very excited about the book.  Call Lydia at 207-314-9689 or email her at lap7@hotmail.com if you'd like to join up. Monday night is best for her, but Sun. or Tues. would also be OK.

Nancy suggested that people insert favorite quotes into their Christmas cards-- related to peace, the environment, or whatever suits their fancy.  Nancy also reminded us about the annual Peace Fair at Bethany Church on Sat. Dec. 9th from 10-2.  The Randolph Sustainable Living Network will have a table there with information about what we do, including tips for sustainable living.   We'll also have information about the Vermont Earth Institute and the discussion courses available through VEI.  If anyone would like to volunteer to sit at the table, please contact Susan M. at 728- 9033.   Also, if anyone would like to help provide entertainment (music, dance, etc.) at the Peace Fair, please contact Susan M. 
 The SLN meeting for Dec. (Wed. Dec. 13th) will be at Carl and Lisa's house in Bethel.   Directions will be sent out, or you can call them at 234-5524.
HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO ALL!      (from Susan Mills)
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RANDOLPH SUSTAINABLE LIVING NETWORK ­  meeting news
April 2008

Events and Announcements from the 4/9/08 Potluck Meeting, Randolph:

  • Attended and Feasted in harmony:  Susan, Susan, Karen, Karen, Monique, Merliss, Free & Rebecca (who are both soon sadly moving out of Randolph, but will keep in touch), and Thea (newcomer to Randolph but not to Sustainable Living, sent by Hilary, friend of Kep’s.  Her email: TEA@AnimalAnswers.info). 
  • Lots of Announced upcoming events, in chronological order: 
  • 4/13: Sunday Service at Bethany UCC:  Carolyn Tonelli on her year in Ecuador, with the six who went to Mexico this week for Border Crossings reporting in too.  Carolyn and Monique are involved with a Women’s Trust in NH.  Thea is involved with the small farmers suffering from the Free Trade Agreements (FTA’s) in Costa Rica, Guatemala, Mexico, Peru, and soon, Ecuador and Colombia, and also with the Jubilee Bill for debt forgiveness.  It is Jubilee Sunday, when many faith groups forgive debts and move forward toward peace.  .
  • 4/14: Mon. 5:30 PM Randolph Area Greening Group at VTC
  • BY 4/15 latest:  CAPE WIND PROJECT NEEDS COMMENTS IN FAVOR

After releasing a draft environmental impact statement on Cape Wind, the federal government is now accepting public comments in preparation for the final environmental impact report.  If built, this source of clean, renewable energy would be the first of its kind in the United States and would set important precedents for the future of clean energy development in this country. Here’s your chance to help give Cape Wind the green light it needs to start generating the green energy we all need.  From UCS:

Please submit your comment by April 15, on the form at: http://ucsaction.org/campaign

  • The Herb Group planned and finalized a next meeting at the house of Susan D (728-6248), on Wed. the 16th April, on mushrooms and liver function and healthy diets with fungi.  Not a potluck. 
  • For the web-accessible, carbon-free teleconferencing is available many places, with a new series of webinars on “The Politics of Food”, critical discussions of US big ag and food trade policies.  The next one is on 4/18, 12 noon to 1 PM EST (9-10 PST), on “Honest Tea's Quest to Stay True to its Mission While Partnering with Coca Cola".  Sign up for all and see all about the Food Tour thru Sept, at http://www.elpnet.org/foodtour  
  • 4/18-19:  Non-Violent Communication workshop, at VTC Langevin House.  Friday 18th 6:30 – 8:30 PM, and Sat. 19th 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM.  Sign up with Monique (763-7770) or Susan M. (728-9033) 
  • Sun, April 20; 2 pm, Langdon Street Cafe, 4 Langdon St., Montpelier:   A discussion on Community-Scale Agriculture and Government.  

Joel Salatin’s frustration with a regulatory structure that restricts, rather than embraces, community-scale agriculture is presented in his book "Everything I Want to Do Is Illegal”. Come watch snippits of a Salatin film and hear excerpts from his book read by VT farmers struggling with some of these same regulatory barriers.  A short discussion will follow,

  • 4/20: EARTH DAY!  Is NO ONE CELEBRATING???? Guess it’s moved to EVERY DAY??  I can only find MIDDLEBURY:  1-3 pm. Middlebury Green. If interested in helping, exhibiting or have questions please contact: 802-388-9478, lasermily@yahoo.com
  • 4/21:  Randolph Town Energy Committee mtg., 6:30, Municipal bldg.
  • 4/23:  RURAL VT:  Luncheon and Talk with Joel Salatin at Sterling College Wednesday, April 23, 2008:  fundraiser lunch 12:30 - 1:30 pm (ONLY 12 tickets will be sold! $50 each for intimate discussion with him at Sterling’s Dunbar Dining Hall); Public Lecture, then 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm - Sterling’s Simpson Hall.  Talk is open to the public, suggested $15 donation appreciated.  Memberships in Rural Vermont sold there and online (/www.ruralvermont.org/), sliding scale, BEFORE you can then go FREE to the ANNUAL MEETING: Wednesday, April 23, 2008, 6:30 - 9 pm, (another chance to hear Joel S. give the keynote, and another great organic potluck) at the Royalton Academy, Rt. 14, Royalton. 
  • 4/24: Thurs 6:30 PM Potluck for Co-Creative Gardening Group:  also at Susan D’s (728-6248).
  • 4/26:  9 AM – 3 PM; AFSC Statewide Gathering:  Bethany UCC in Montpelier.  Lunch available for donations; lots of panels, workshops, speakers, on peace, sustainability, white privilege, and organizing communities for change.   802-229-2340 = jgainza@afsc.org
  • VEI offering new class groups in Sustainable Food, in addition to lots of ongoing discussion groups on Global Climate Change and other topics related to sustainability.  If interested in joining any of them, see their website (/www.vtearthinstitute.org/) or Susan M (728-9033) and Karen B.(234-6659).  Also they are looking for workshop ideas for their annual retreat at Knoll Farm, which is 9/20.
  • The Peak Oil Group that started out in Montpelier a couple years ago is now huge, statewide, and mostly doing online networking and conferencing:  see their diverse site, //www.vtpeakoil.net (where we are not listed in the Regional Sustainability Meeting Groups, should we be?) The Montpelier POG (peak oil group) meets the second Wednesday of each month in the Unitarian Church, Montpelier. 6 pm potluck (please bring your own plate, cup, bowl, and utensils, if feasible); 6:30 presentation; 7:00 or 7:15 business meeting.  April 9, May 14.
  • Or the slightly more global site of Dmitri Orlov, who says “Peak Oil is hardly the problem – it is the foolish notion that infinite economic growth on a finite planet is possible. Collapse can be triggered when any one of many other physical limits is exceeded - drinkable water, breathable air, arable land, and so on – and so the limit to sustained oil production is only one of many physical limits to growth.”

                        www.postoilbulletin.com

  • Mon, April 28; 4 pm; Ackley Hall, Rm 334, Green Mtn College, Poultney. Neil Kamman, from the VT  Dept of Environmental Conservation will speak on this subject, “Mercury Contamination in the NE”
  • BIOFUELS CLASS: May 2-4, at Yestermorrow Design/Build School, Rte 100, Warren. This workshop enables students to begin replacing fossil fuel with renewable fuel in a variety of applications. The heart of this intensive course is the adaptation of diesel engines to operate on straight vegetable oil.
  • Ongoing, Every Tuesday:  INVESTING FOR A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE  Tues(s) until June 3, 6:30 pm; Kellogg-Hubbard Library, Main St, Montpelier. Elisa Leibowitz - Moderator.  Reading and discussion group, we will explore: What is socially responsible investing? What does it mean for companies to be responsible?  Is it time to boycott some (again?) or divest? Info: 223-3338
  • BUILDING RESILIENT COMMUNITIES, ENERGY CONFERENCE: Thurs, May 15; Stratton Mountain Resort, Stratton.  Day-long conference focusing on distributed energy solutions such as customer sited combined heat and power projects, district heating systems, targeted energy efficiency measures, Building Resilient Communities; Lisa Daniels, Windustry (on community wind energy projects); Chris Young, North East CHP Initiative; David Blittersdorf, Earth Turbines; Paul Peterson, Synapse; Blair Hamilton, VT Energy Investment Corporation; David Sweet, World Alliance for Decentralized Energy; Scudder Parker, New Generation Partners;  James Rose, Network for New Energy Choices; more..... Info: www.REVermont.org
  • Another Eco-Team, using the Low Carbon Diet workbook, will be starting at Bethany Church soon.  Call Betty Edson at 728-4057. Books can be ordered locally.
  • Ask Thea (Animal Answers) about her film collection to discuss at small public social fora.  They include “What a Way to Go”, “Food Fights”, all the Nat Geo/Animal Planet docudramas, wildlife films, and documentaries on Big Ag/TNC’s (eg “The World According to Monsanto”), and delegation reportings on “Free Trade” in developing countries.  After lobbying for stricter punishments for Animal Cruelty in VT, is there a need for more and more shelters?  I’m working on animal care and training again, ask away, and is there a demand for basic dog behavior classes? (“Happy Hounds in Harmony”).  Also tell her if there is interest in a new Deep Ecology discussion course (the last one in Barre/Montpelier in 04 turned into “The Science and God series”, discussing books and films like “What the Bleep?”  Tea@AnimalAnswers.info.  

For all interested in Women’s small business startups or collectives in all nationalities’ communities starting and supporting their microbiz endeavors:  

  • Umoja Women's Discussion Group. All ethnic groups invited. 1st & 3rd Sat., 1pm in Montpelier.  Info. call 229-4227.   ANY OTHERS??
  • All of VT’s Social Actions Calendar:  “What’s a Citizen to DO??” is compiled by Debra, get on her mailing list for a BIG weekly listing: debra@vtlink.net
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