Here we are, off to another active and hopefully informative and inspiring New Year! So BE REMINDED: for the winter months our monthly meetings will be at THE GRANGE HALL, Moodus, across the street from the UCC church, which is 499 Town Street. All meetings start at 2:00 pm.

Sunday January 10th at The Grange, 2.00pm:
Our January 10 meeting will feature the film 'Renaissance'. It is about a conference held in India between a group of 'new age' thinkers and the Dali Lama. You'll be surprised by what happens.

Sunday February 14th at The Grange, 2.00pm:
In February we're planning to show, 'THE END OF SUBURBIA': Oil Depletion and the Collapse of The American Dream, a movie that discusses the dwindling supply of cheap energy in the form of fossil fuels and its effect on society.

Saturday March 6th at the Gelston House, 8 Main Street, East Haddam, 4.00pm
Earth Charter of the Lower River Valley 'Summit':
James Howard Kunstler keynote address:
Our annual summit event is scheduled for Saturday, March 6, 2010 from 4 to 8 PM at the Gelston House in East Haddam. This is a gala affair featuring a keynote address by James Howard Kunstler, delicious appetizers, a cash bar and a panel discussion about the Transition Town initiative. It is a must-see event!
Tickets are only $20 before February 14th and $25 thereafter. We are encouraging everyone to buy two tickets by January 15th to minimize our financial exposure on this project. Please go to www.earthcharterct.org to buy tickets.
James Howard Kunstler is the author of, 'The Long Emergency', 'Geography of Nowhere', 'World Made by Hand', and several other books. He is a leading expert on peak oil and its ramifications to our society.
Doors open at 3:30pm for complementary snacks. We'll feature the keynote address from 4.00 to 5:30pm, then hors'd'oeuvres and a live panel discussion focusing on community level responses for creating a sustainable future.

Sunday March 14th at The Grange, 2.00pm:
Hungry for change? Then our March film should sate your appetite. Food, Inc. is Robert Kenner's unflattering look inside America's corporate controlled food industry. Bring a sick bag!

Sunday, April 11th at 2.00pm we will feature our annual meeting/work party as the theme of the monthly meeting. Location: The Sanctuary, 55 Bogel Road, East Haddam.
This meeting will review 2009 and plan another year of Earth Charter-related activities. On this Sunday we expect some two dozen of us to come together to work elbow to elbow and shoulder to shoulder: stuffing envelopes and applying address stickers for the distribution of appeal letters. While we work, we will discuss our hopes and dreams for ECCoLoV in the coming year and how it might continue to promote Earth Charter ideals in all areas of our local life. The fact is, to keep moving, we need your financial help.

Sunday, May 2nd at 1.00pm we will be hosting the Awakening the Dreamer symposium in place of our regular meeting. We have moved the date to avoid meeting on Mother's Day! Location: The Sanctuary, 55 Bogel Road, East Haddam.

Sunday, June 13th at 2.00pm features the Transition Towns' film, In Transition: from oil dependence to local resilience. This documentary was the very first film made about the 'Transition' movement, showing how global communities responded to peak oil and climate change with creativity, imagination and humour, successfully rebuilding both economies and townships. Its message is positive, solutions focused, viral and fun! Location: The Sanctuary, 55 Bogel Road, East Haddam.

Sunday, June 27th between 11.00-2.00 we will be hosting our annual Rain Barrel Day at Ballek's Garden Center. This has become a very popular Eccolov spring project, and once again we are grateful to Ballek's for providing their facilities. In addition to being able to buy a 55/60 gallon rain barrel at a wholesale price, Eccolov will also be holding their very first bake and book sale. Location: Ballek's, 90 Maple Avenue, East Haddam.

Sunday, July 11th between 1.00-4.00pm we are pertnering with The Sanctuary at Shepardfields and Dirt Floor Studios to offer the, 'Tao of Voice' workshop, featuring holistic teacher, Valerie Walsh. The workshop explores the natural organics of voice for singing, self-exploration and healing. The cost for the afternoon is $35. Please call 860 319 1134 for availability, and any questions that you may have. Location: The Sanctuary, 55 Bogel Road, East Haddam.

Autumn calendar, to be confirmed:
In August, we are planning a program on wildflower identification given by a Master Gardener, and tentatively scheduled for August 15. For September, a time of abundance, we will feature a film about backyard food production, with bonus videos on keeping chickens. In October, we will focus on harvest celebrations locally and around the world connecting people with the seasons and the earth, demonstrating what all people living on the earth have in common. All cultures have rural traditions and celebrate the harvest. ECCoLoV will look to connect the scraps of historic rural traditions we have left with the present and make it relevant to people living today, especially in the context of Peak Oil, Climate Change and the re-localization of our lives.

POST YOUR EVENT
Is something happening in your community that would be of interest to our members and supporters? Then please email pye@earthcharterct.org full details and we will add your event to our Calendar.