South Church Green Team – meeting notes – 7/23/15

South Church Green Team – meeting notes – 7/23/15

Who’s was there: Mark, Candy, Bill, Steve, Fran

We missed you: Janet, Iric, Terry

(ACTIONS in red)

1)     Discussion Time

• (Candy) Edgewood – Tim Vails, Chair of the Board of Directors, and chair of Andover Economic Development
•  connect Tim to Standard Electric in Wilmington – deal of $2 light bulbs for commercial entities
• (Bill) contact MIPL on additional LED light bulbs for churches
• (Candy) get Dave Standwood’s list of fixtures that need to be changed to use LED light bulbs

2)     Climate change messages in fall service(s)...all

-       Jim Antal's request to UCC churches

-       to connect with Pope Francis' encyclical for calling for action on climate in advance of 

Paris session COP21 (30 Nov-11 Dec). Pope Francis visits US around end of September.

-       Another faith based message: Rabbinical letter from 300+ rabbis:

https://theshalomcenter.org/torah-pope-crisis-inspire-300-rabbis-call-vigorous-climate-action

- find out what Dana’s thoughts are on green content of fall service

- In June, Dana offered the idea of smaller messages in service. 

Get her input now that Alex is onboard.

- post meeting update: Mark and Steve talked with Dana and Alex at church on Sunday, 

and both were interested in discussing ideas for the fall, both in regard to church 

service messages, and a possible Harvest Dinner this fall

- (Steve) propose a meeting time for them in August (when Dana is back)

        - possible messaging around stewardship of the earth or witnessing for the 

             creation messages in services

-       positive messages of things that are happening, things people are doing

-       Thoughts: What green things are people doing? What have people done?

-       Ask for a show of hands at church? Explore ideas of what could  work...

-       How could kids join, contribute?

3)     Idea: Harvest Dinner this year, Steve’s idea of science fair, to bring out what people are doing.

·         International Dinner, Interfaith dinner?  Science fair presented by kids?

·         (Mark Steve) talk to Dana, Alex - done - both were receptive to idea - 

NEXT STEP: schedule meeting in August when Dana back

4)     Idea: Time for another all-member retreat? maybe in Spring? Could this be an opportunity

    for youth/HS to lead?

·         further discussion needed. Talk about this with ministers.

5)     The Second Church in Newton - Environmental Speakers’ Series - Sunday October 4

·         SC Green Team was invited as an example of a green congregation, to speak,

 in conjunction with Jim Antal preaching that Sunday

·   Mark is going and others are interested in going too!

Info here on their website (scroll down to Oct 4^th):

 http://www.2ndchurch.org/news_and_events.htm

6)     Interfaith community garden...Fran gave an update

·         at Rolling Ridge, really doing well, compost added, lots of veggies planted and coming up

7)     Divestment discussion at church...Bill

·         Bill will be talking to Dave Floreen

8)     Lupine Road...Candy gave an update

·         discussion on the project will be ramping up in the fall

·        (Candy) ask Iric - how green could this project be?

9)     Historic mill district...Steve

·         2^nd phase getting started now… 3c503 to be created…the road to a more sustainable 

and livable Andover

10)  update from retreat on cultivating hope in a time of climate change...WS, CD?  Not discussed

11)  Suggestions for monthly email/blurb/newsletter: green good news...all --- Not discussed

    - collect ideas and share with MB

    - (CD) news from Anil on solarize Andover?