Thursday, July 20, 2017

SC Green Team Meeting Notes 7/20/2017

Green Team Meeting Notes 7/20/2017
Your building and facilities ought to exemplify your theology!
·         Quote from Trinity United Church of Christ, South Side of Chicago

Mark Bohrer, Candy Dann, Bill Schroeder, Fran Fink, Steve Fink, Susan Johnston
Away: Janet Clarke, Iric Rex, Terry Ebner

Discussion, welcoming Susan J
·         We asked Susan where she's coming from, with the environment. It is her most important issue.
·         Talked about the environmental movement

Church Picnic readout
·         Ended up with very little "throw away trash", everything else was recycled or composted!
o    Wally was supportive – setup at 6:30AM that Sunday with Steve
·         ACTION: Candy – send a "we all did it!" blurb for SC weekly buzz

Open discussion - Pass along good news, about what we do, what we all can do
·         Ideas for our church members – what they can do (composting, energy efficiency)
·         Ideas for other churches – share
o    For example - Share plan for no waste picnic – like a "case study"
·         Starting the conversation – speaking up with friends
·         Getting the message out

Next possible idea: Make a church green video! Let's investigate...
·         Steve posits using people he is currently working with on Andover projects
·         Do one about the church & a green story
·         Involve the whole church, bring in other groups, trustees, giving, youth, etc.
o    This could be used Jim Antal and MACUCC – he may have ideas for us
o    This could also be used by Mass Interfaith Power & Light
·         Why, What, How – on one topic, one thing we've done? Or more future looking, vision? Both?
·         Fit in the retreat? Use the video to promote the retreat?
·         NEXT STEP:
o    ACTION: input to a Story board: Candy – evolve historical presentation
o    Next meeting – talk about this extensive

Retreat Planning
·         Green Retreat for the Future 2.0
o    Plan for Fall 2018!
o    Retreat - Similar format & structure, Explore area, Science projects, Guest speaker
o     Speaker is  (for example) UCS, John Rogers?? Deval Patrick?

·         Market as Family Christmas gift December 2017
o    Booklet handout?
§  Successes, inspiration, stories!
·         Lead in: In House Multi-generational event – Oct 2017 – Harvest Dinner
o    Afternoon internal retreat ? mini science fair?
o    Lead in to Harvest Dinner or do this at Harvest Dinner?
§  Have readout on the projects

Church Greening
·         Creeping non-environmentalism
o    Was is there a mini-kitchen in library? Refrigerator, microwave, coffee makers...when kitchen is not so far!  Steve will talk to Alex.

Giving Garden – status update from Fran
·         more land is being prepped
·         same area being farmed this year, as last
·         many local church groups and some businesses are volunteering

Harvest Dinner
-       NOT on church calendar October 14th
-       ACTION: Mark will contact Alex and Linda H – to get this on church calendar

Church Divestment - Bill
-       Trustees of the Trust Funds are receptive to the topic, if there were funds with low overhead expenses that were fossil free
o    There are a number of fossil free ETF funds run by State Street Funds
-       How should we move this forward this year?
o    Can we advance this with the church year, to get the membership onboard, to lay the groundwork for a church vote?
o    Candy’s Recommendation: Ask Ron Hill (an investment advisor), to get him onboard early
-       What’s the ask of the TOTTF? Is this an action done over time (say 5 years)? Like the UCC General Synod

Parking Lot - Previous Meeting Notes
Connecting church to green activism
·         Next Step #2: Green elements of Lupine Road
·         Making Lupine Road super green
  • make project “as green as we can make it”

Church Greening
·         redesign the lighting for the steeple altogether-
o    one got hit by lightning recently and now Wally is using Buddy Electric to rebuild it.  I asked Wally to please ask Buddy Electric to at least give a quote on what it would take to convert it to LED, as an option.
o    What about outlining the steeple in LEDs, which might have some cool side effects like being able to switch colors (add rainbows, bathe it in pink for Breast Cancer awareness, etc).

·         Recycling
o    When we get new equipment, we need to start a re-education campaign.  "Leave it Better than you found it!" Apparently, among Wally's list of issues are that people leave the bathrooms frequently with paper towels on the floor.  Also pizza boxes are left with pizza inside.  And, cardboard boxes are not broken down.  Also, people put items with food or liquids into the recycling.  We need to own some of this!  Within Fellowship Hall, we need to kick-off with some signs around welcoming our new recycling containers, letting people know that they are starting out nice and clean and hope to stay that way and that only happens if they DON'T put stuff with liquids or food into the recycling containers.
o    Fellowship Hall - We will request/order two pairs of three-part slim jims (one extra large black one for trash with a wide mouth lid, one blue with blue circle lid for bottles and cans and one blue with blue slotted lid for paper, each will have a sign holder attached to the back so it is close to eye level at least for some of us and they will be permanently connected together and will think about whether to also order dollies so they can be easily moved).
o    Youth Center - We will request/order a pair of slim jims (one black one for trash and one blue for recycling)
o     Third Floor - We will request/order a pair of slim jims to be stationed next to the water fountain (one black one for trash and one blue for recycling)
o    LIbrary - I have added one blue recycle basket on the inside side and will also add one on the other side near the exterior door.  They just barely fit but Wally agreed that we need a pair in BOTH locations.  
o    Classrooms on 2nd floor - don't need anything at this time but Wally will keep one trash basket lined and one blue recycling basket unlined in each room.
·          Fluorescent light bulbs - these can be taken to the Recycling Center in North Andover on Holt Road.  They don't ask for IDs there and they do accept FLs as well as many other recyclable items at no cost.  They also accept construction and demolition materials at a fee.
o     Ballasts - I will check but these are likely "Hazardous Waste" and need to be take to an HHW event and will cost us something for disposal but possibly Buddy Electric has a way to properly dispose of them.  I asked Wally to check with Buddy Electric also.