NEWSLETTER

October 28, 2008

Dear Earth Friends – a Summit wrap.

Well, it happened! Our Climate Change Summit on the 11th was certainly the biggest and most different program we’ve run to date! And before anything else, I have to pass along our collective thanks to those who had worked so diligently since April to put it all together. So stand up please, Mike Tregaron, our Co-chair, Martha Hansen, Eileen Roark, Lars Ahlquist, Geraldine DeLopez, Erika Faircloth, Theresa Govert, and Annie Gourley! If I told you what all they did for the cause, it would take up this whole sheet, so lets us just applaud - they really deserve it!

So - we walked into a transformed scene at the high school cafeteria with its Earth-green tablecloths and myriad of exhibitors who made it all stunning to the eye! Our silent auction decorated the center space, compliments of Juliet Tregaron, and it drew constant attention throughout the afternoon.

Keynoter Dr. Gary Yohe explained his take on getting ready for climate change by the process of risk management, just as an insurance company would do to prepare a client for something potentially disastrous. That goes hand-in- hand with Yohe’s idea of mitigation – to actually soften or alleviate dangerous conditions ahead of time.

The Selectmen’s Panel following left us feeling positive indeed about the future of our towns and the preparations that are already going on in many different forms. Kudos to selectmen from Cromwell, Essex, East Haddam (our Host and Web Anchor, Mark Walter), Lyme, Old Lyme, & Old Saybrook!

Our six workshops gave attendees a wide variety of options on the subject of Earth care, and we are indebted to our own presenters, Nancy Ballek and Mike Harris, plus Dr. Edward Monahan, Roger Smith, and Tom Worthley for an extremely informative afternoon!

And during all this time, Independent Study students, Erika Faircloth and Theresa Govert, kept their handful of our new Earth Scouts ‘troop’ busy with activities centered around the Earth Charter principles. We wish them all the best as this project, hopefully, grows. Anyone want to help?

In our closing moments we activated our first annual Sustainable Business Awards! The graphics design firm of Cummings and Good of Chester created a handsome certificate and Seal of Excellence which we presented to: Richard Hosley, Jr. of Hale Hill Biofuels, Portland and Branford, in the category of Clean Energy; Jonathan Rapp of The River Tavern in Chester for his fine work in Food Services; Honorable Mention in that same field went to E.Haddam’s Deb Marsden of CT Farm Fresh Express; Joanne Roczniak of the East Haddam Senior center Busses and Medical Car for their dedication in the field of Transport; to Nancy Mackinnon of Ballek’s Garden Center for service in Local Economy; and to The Rev Maggie Minnick of Fabian’s Place in Middletown for her compassionate work Sheltering the homeless.

Our sincere thanks and congratulations to you all!

And to each of YOU who attended and/or helped in one way or another, many, many thanks!

Next Meeting
Our regular monthly meeting for November will be held at the Sanctuary yurt on the 9th at 2 pm. Our projected program was to hear from some of Glastonbury’s ABC (A Better Chance) group home students, but we still are having scheduling difficulties. So if they cannot come, we will nonetheless have an interesting film - probably the one we were screening at the Summit until we had to pirate the projector for Dr. Yohe’s PowerPoint.

But DO come for we have lots to consider - like whether or not to have a December alternative to a meeting, which our Board has decided to skip for the Holiday Season. In addition we have some Auction items most of you have not seen and would have some fun with! From the Florence Griswold Museum we have a $50 value of beautiful note cards, four passes to the museum, an artist’s sketch pad, and miscellaneous museum materials! And we have a large
original Laurie Alt mounted photograph, plus a $99 Gift Certificate to Valley Shore Martial Arts for one month of Karate classes! Now’s your chance!

And for those who haven’t yet purchased the phenomenal bargain Earth Charter T-shirts (sage green, 100% organic cotton) for $10, well...it’s time!

Summit Photos Are Now On Our Website – eccolov.org

Please forgive the layout–my first try, and time limited!

Another Author in Our Midst!

Some of you will remember Eleanore Milardo, whose fascinating home gardens we visited for our May meeting. Hers were the 14 native-species gardens and the large spiral one celebrating the Sacred Universe - something like our own Cosmic Walk at the Sanctuary. Her home has become a Mecca for those tired of the conventional lawn routine and wonder how to get back in real touch with Nature.

Her book is the story of one woman's life quest to help others and open the way for us to reach the truth of the Divine within each person. The testimonials are great and my copy is on the way!

The bad news, however, is that our friend has been diagnosed with bone and liver cancer and has had to give up many activities, including her favorite,
gardening! She is doing as well as one can, but a kind word is always in order. So: running.water@sbcglobal.net

From Our Members . . .

From newcomer Madly Bynum comes this interesting video for the ‘social justice’ principle of the Earth Charter. Be sure to watch it all the way through. Very short.
www.brasschecktv.com/page/451.html

Miscellany . . .

Have you really looked at your CL&P bill lately? If so, you’ll have noticed the “Clean Energy Today” insert that keeps coming. This is a voluntary program that supports clean, renewable energy produced from natural means such as wind, water and other sources. Embarrassingly, only a very small group of East Haddamites (not privy to other towns info) have signed up, and this should be changed!

Take it from me, the additional cost is minimal! Their example lists $4 to $9, and that’s about it. And one of these days our combined efforts could earn a town building a free solar panel or two! Please join me and our few others in considering - better yet, obtaining–the services of this option!

Simply send in the simple form contained in your next bill. It’s painless and a true Earth Charter action!

And remember our Summit Motto:
The World is in OUR Hands!!
Use them creatively

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Blessings for putting up with us this long!

Sustainable Living is:
Earth Community, Earth Economy, Justice and Peace for All

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