SC Green Team Meeting Notes 9-21-2017

SC Green Team Meeting Notes 9/21/2017

Present: Mark Bohrer, Candy Dann, Susan Johnston, Fran Fink, Steve Fink, Kate Jagger

Away: Iric Rex, Terry Ebner, Bill Schroeder, Janet Clarke, Marty Mason

Mark to add Marty Mason to Green Team committee mailings!

Next meeting: Possibly Oct 1^st at Bohrer’s?

1)      Kate Jagger special guest - representing Giving Committee (and Trustees too)

·         She requested us to include Nora in all minutes and key information communications so that Nora is up to date with our activities, and can help with our communication

·         Kate asked about budget needs – we should keep this in mind

                                                               i.      for example – does the Green Team ever have a child care budget need?

·         Giving Committee requested to have the minister(s) deliver the giving message

·         Two funds in church could support Green Team activities, if money is an issue:

                                                               i.      Seeds of Faith Fund and Science Fund

2)      Harvest Dinner

·         Same format as last year - Mark – send out program draft to group

·         Advance prep – Fran, Susan to make and bring pesto

·         ACTION: Mark – contact Dana – request announcement about Harvest Dinner on 9/30, talk with her about speaking, and Giving group announcement, need pasta makers!

                                                               i.      Talk with her about Earth Day Service spring 2018

                                                             ii.      Talk with her about Green Retreat plans for Oct 2018

·         Action: Mark – need guitarist to play song before dinner – TBD – Martin M or Steve L?

·         ACTION: Mark – make and post posters for Sunday 9/30

                                                               i.      IF YOU HAVE A PASTA MAKER – call Steve

·         ACTION: Fran / Emily – make a Giving Garden picture slide show

·         ACTION: Steve: sign up past makers

                                                               i.      Heather Abourjailly has one

                                                             ii.      last year: Finks, Rex, Danns, Shaws, Audes,

·         ACTION: Steve – find a Ted Talk or other content. Neil deGrasse Tyson video?

·         ACTION: Mark – See if a rehearsal dinner on Sun 10/1  5:30PM?

3)      Retreat Planning - Green Retreat for the Future 2.0

-          Highland Center Date set: Oct 5^th – 7^th – Columbus Day weekend 2018

-          Steve to organize retreat committee, and to have flyer for Harvest Dinner

-          Retreat - Similar format & structure, Explore area, Science projects, Guest speaker

o   Steve presented the Why/How/What for the retreat (include)

-          Market as Family Christmas gift December 2017

o   Retreat theme: Successes, inspiration, stories!

o   start with a family environmental project, what is the story?

-          Everything good that’s happening that we don’t always think about

-          For example: Candy talked about how acid rain was solved

-          For example: Steve presents about his house, with pictures

-          For example: kids show what they’ve done, what they care about << this is powerful

o   kids especially have moral authority

-          For example: Bill tell the story of MIPL, what, why, who

-          Have readout afterwards on the stories at church, at a service

Parking Lot

Plans for Earth Day 2018

-       have a green/solar house tour.

-       invite North Parish, Christ Church, many congregations

-       See if there is a local solar tour

-       ACTION (Mark): contact staff – date for Earth Sunday in Spring

Church Greening

· Creeping non-environmentalism

 Was is there a mini-kitchen in library? Refrigerator, microwave, coffee makers...when kitchen is not so far!  Steve will talk to Alex.

Church Divestment (last updated June 2017)

-       Trustees of the Trust Funds are receptive to the topic, if there were funds with low overhead expenses that were fossil free

 There are a number of fossil free ETF funds run by State Street Funds

-       How should we move this forward this year?

 Can we advance this with the church year, to get the membership onboard, to lay the groundwork for a church vote?

 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

-       Put together a handout about how the church might do this (options)

-       Dialogue about church members personal portfolios

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 14^th

-       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.

2017 Annual Report of the Green Team

2017 Annual Report of the South Church Green Team

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The Green Team is an ad-hoc committee within South Church. Its purpose is to promote good environmental stewardship in the church's facilities, and also in our homes and the wider community. The committee also works to foster action on Climate Change.  We meet on the 3^rd Thursday of every month during the regular church year. We welcome new members and new ideas. Everyone is welcome to participate!

Looking back through the 2016-17 South Church year:

Last June, we helped make the all-church picnic a “green” event again by setting up and demonstrating how to compost food waste, paper products and recyclables, and how throw away trash can be greately reduced, almost to zero. Our goal was to show that it’s easy to do this at your home once you know how.

On October 2^nd, 2016 we hosted the 4th annual Harvest Dinner to celebrate the 2^nd year of the Giving Garden. This year’s family evening included homemade pasta making in fellowship hall, activities for kids, a vegetarian/low impact pot-luck dinner, and several videos to share and discussion time after dinner. An enjoyable night for all ages.

We hosted another “Sustainable House of Worship” workshop at South Church on February 12^th, presented by Interfaith Power & Light, for people of all faiths to learn the best ways to reduce energy consumption at their houses of worship. This was attended by 10 members from 4 different congregations in the area. (We might have had twice this number if a snowstorm that day hadn’t kept numbers down!)

At the Earth Day service on April 23^rd, we welcomed our MACUCC conference president, Rev. Jim Antal. After the service, we hosted a get-together luncheon for church members who wished to take part in a Q&A session with Rev. Antal.

On April 29^th, dozens of church members joined with other members of faith communities from around the US – and with many other groups – at the climate rallies and marches in Washington, DC, and in Boston. In DC, more than 200,000 people turned out to let their voices be heard.

Throughout the year: we coordinated and worked on energy efficiency improvements at the church related to air-sealing, and plans to insulate and air-seal the “chimney” that goes from the boiler room to the attic (on the other side of the front wall of the sanctuary). More improvements can be done! We can use your help!

Throughout the year: We had discussions on divesting from fossil fuels with the Trustees of the Trust Funds, the church committee responsible for investing the church’s endowment. We hope to bring the divestment discussion to the church membership in the near future.

This coming year: We hope to work with ACT and Habitat to help make the affordable housing units as green as possible.

BIG PLANS: We are planning an all-church retreat on nature, the environment and creation care in the fall of 2018, at the AMC Highland Center at Crawford Notch, NH.

Mark Bohrer, Candy Dann, Bill Schroeder, Steve Fink, Fran Fink, Janet Clarke, Iric Rex, Terry Ebner   www.southchurch.com/greenteam.htm