Ecominds-a Mailing List: Fall Kick-Off Meeting Sept. 29, legislative hearing & more!

[Joe + Madalyn (joemadalyn]

UU EcoMinds-A List for September 12, 2005
 
UU EcoMinds promotes lifestyles, policies, and technologies
that respect and sustain all life on earth and is a working 
group of the Metro Unitarian Universalist Social Justice Alliance (MUUSJA)
NOTE from the editor:  All are terrific, but #1, #8, #11 are 
encouraged for active UU EcoMinds members!
In this (long!) posting:
ORGANIZING Events!
#1  UU EcoMinds Fall Kick-Off Meeting - Sept 29, 7 pm at 1st Universalist
#2  Moving the Midwest Towards Energy Independence - Sept 17,  11am,  St. Paul
EDUCATIONAL Events!
#3  Renewable Energy: Options and Opportunities - Sept 15th, MPCA, St. Paul
#4  Building Green in a Black & White World - Sept 16, Minneapolis
#5  Toxic Hazards in Community: pollution sources in south/sw Mpls. Sept 26
#6  MN Solar Home Tour -- Oct 1, 2005, 
#7  Films: "Affluenza" & "The Cost of Cool: Youth, Consumption & the Environment "
Oct. 6
ACTION Events! (educational too)
#8  UUs invited to Senate hearing of Renewable Energy Standard bill - Sept 27.
#9  Community Solar Project Planning Workshop, Sept. 24, West St. Paul
UU-SPECIFIC Items
#10  1st  Universalist Wheel of the Year events: solstice and equinox events begin
Sept 22
#11  UU Ministry for Earth (formerly Seventh Principle Project) -- New Name and
Action Item
#12  UU Ministry for Earth seeks Regional Coordinator for Prairie Star District
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ORGANIZING Events!
#1 UU EcoMinds Fall Kick-Off Meeting (guest: Rep. Ray Cox)
-Thurs. Sept 29,  7 - 9:15 p.m.
1st Universalist Church, 3400 Dupont Ave. S., Mpls
There's a lot brewing!  Watch for separate post with more info and agenda!


 Meeting will include:
- An informational talk by Rep. Ray Cox (R) 25B on the MN Renewable
Energy Standard bill.  Cox is strong supporter and is Vice Chair 
of the Environment and Natural Resources Committee.
- Discussion and confirmation of UU EcoMinds focus for the year
(promoting conservation and passage of a state renewable energy standard),
- Planning projects and actions: follow-up on Peak Oil, working with partner
 organizations, suburban organizing, and more!


- Updates from congregations.
PLUS:  Come at 6:00 pm for  "Kilowatt Ours" - short, sobering movie
about the problems with coal-fired energy and how to reduce your use of it.
Feel free to bring a brown-bag dinner. We'll have drinks and light snacks.
Need Childcare?  
Contact Chris Burda by September 22 (612-827-1596 or cburda [at] smm.org)
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#2 Moving the Midwest Towards Energy Independence


Saturday, September 17 at 11:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
St. Paul Trades and Labor Assembly, 411 Main St. St. Paul 
Before our EcoMinds meeting, you can hear U.S. Representative
Betty McCollum's vision for moving the Midwest towards energy
independence, and learn how you can help the United Steelworkers'
"Fight Back '05" campaign to bring this issue to suburban voters
and pass the MN Renewable Energy Standard.  Their effort is based
on statewide statistics compiled in concert with our
partner organization ME3.
FFI or RSVP: Tara Widner, (612) 623-8003 or twidner [at] steelworkers-usw.org.
You can also visit www.fightback05.org <http://www.fightback05.org/> 



Ride the bus over!  Meet at the Uptown Transit Center on Hennepin and 28th St. 
in Mpls and ride the 21A.  Departs at 9:29am
(next 21A is 9:45 if you miss the first). 
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EDUCATIONAL Events!
#3  Renewable Energy:  Options and Opportunities
September 15th , (Thursday), 9:30 - 11:00 am,
MN Pollution Control Agency, 520 Lafayette Road in St.
Paul, http://www.pca.state.mn.us/about/regions/stpaul.html#map
Mike Bull from MN Dept. of Commerce summarizes recent legislation
encouraging development of renewable energy and shares
vision of what role renewables, particularly wind
energy, can play in the future of Minnesota's electrical generation.
Rolf Nordstrom from the Upper Midwest Hydrogen Initiative
will discuss how, taken together, the region's native energy sources,
hydrogen and fuel cells offer the chance to relieve our 
dependence on foreign oil, stimulate jobs and economic
development and offer a hedge against the negative impacts of
climate change.


Free. Register ahead to ensure a place: 
Send an e-mail to mary.osborn [at] pca.state.mn.us 



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#4  BUILDING GREEN IN A BLACK & WHITE WORLD
September 16, 2005 (Fri.), 7:30 - 9:00 am, Minneapolis, MN 
Sponsor: Mississippi Headwaters Chapter of the US Green Building Council
(http://www.usgbcmn.org/).  Talk on market transformation and
discussion with author and national green building expert David
Johnston, designer of the Boulder Green Points Program
$10 (students free). For details and registration see
www.usgbcmn or send e-mail to programs [at] usgbcmn.org 
----------------------------------------
#5  Toxic Hazards in Community: pollution sources in south/southwest Mpls.
Monday, Sept. 26, 7:00 - 9:00 pm,
Free; at Matthews Park building (24th St. & 29th Ave. S)., Minneapolis, MN
Sponsor: Seward Neighborhood Group.
A seminar focused on pollution resulting from
Transportation and power generation, with a particular focus on
SW Minneapolis. Presenter: Dr. William Toscano, Head of Environmental 
Health Sciences, Univ. of MN.
Background on toxic hazards in community can be seen at
http://enhs.umn.edu/files/pdfs/seward%20PBT%20talk.pdf 
For event details contact Bernie Weibel at Bernie [at] sng.org
----------------------------------------
#6  MN Solar Home Tour
Saturday, Oct 1, 2005, 10:00am - 5:00pm


Local sponsor: MN Renewable Energy Society.
Self-directed tour of homes and businesses that use renewable energy systems.
An educational opportunity to learn about energy audits, 
photovoltaic systems, solar powered hot water systems, wind power, 
implementation and more. Sites in the Twin Cities metro area, 
Brainerd, Duluth, Lake County, Red Wing, Rochester, Sandstone, 
Mora, Houston, Olmsted.
Part of the National Solar Tour (see http://www.ases.org/).
Free. Details at http://www.solartour.net/
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#7  Films:  "Escape from Affluenza" and  "The Cost of Cool: 
Youth, Consumption & the Environment " followed by panel discussion
 by faculty and eco-design professionals
Thursday, Oct. 6, 7:00 - 9:00pm (Doors open at 6:30)
 Eco-Design and Business Film Series
Sponsors: Mpls College of Art & Design, o2-USA/Upper Midwest Chapter, MPCA.
2501 Stevens Av S, Mpls


 MCAD Auditorium 150 (in main building)
Suggested donation: $5. 
Details at http://o2umw.org/events
 ----------------------------------------
ACTION Events! (educational too)
#8  UUs invited to Senate committee hearing on MN Renewable Energy Standard bill


Tuesday, September 27 1:10-5:00 PM,
State Office Building (between Capitol and Transportation Bldg)
Room 5 on ground floor (one floor below entrance level).
Don Jorovsky, Senator Ellen Anderson's Committee Administrator,
 invites UUs to attend this hearing of the Regulated Industries
Committee (chaired by Republican Tory Westrum) on the Renewable
 Energy Standard (RES) bill.
Sen. Anderson is author of the RES bill. Because EcoMinds 
and ME3 will be working hard on passage of this legislation this year,
understanding multiple political perspectives on it  and
showing public interest in the bill will both be very important. 
PLEASE ATTEND!
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#9  Community Solar Project Planning Workshop
Sat.,  September 24, 8:30am - 4:30pm
West St. Paul, MN
Sponsors: Solar Minnesota, federal Million Solar Roofs Initiative,
 Minnesota Renewable Energy Society.
A community solar project involves neighbors, customers and  
members in the planning, fundraising and installation of a solar
energy generation system on a local building. Ex: Linden Hills Co-op 
is working on going solar with community support. 
(See more at http://www.solarminnesota.org/about/communitysolar.asp)
Hear inspiring stories of successful projects; learn from
experts on financing, incentives, community organizing, and solar
technology; and work with a facilitator to start developing
(or fine-tuning) a plan for your community.
Free. Details at http://www.nextstep.state.mn.us/next/CommunitySolarDayFlyer. pdf
----------------------------------------
UU-SPECIFIC Items
#10  1st  Universalist Wheel of the Year events
All events from 6:00 - 8:30pm
First Universalist Church, 3400 Dupont Ave. S., Minnepolis 
Like a liturgical calendar, the Wheel of the Year helps us to mark
the seasons and passages in our lives by celebrating eight festival
days of the solar calendar.  
1st Universalist is currently planning these multigenerational, 
family friendly festivals which will take place on the
labyrinth in the social hall at First Universalist on 
the following dates, assuming leaders come forward to help organize each one. 
To confirm: Kelli Clement, 612-724-6123, or kclement [at] mn.rr.com


 
Sept 22 - autumnal equinox
Oct 31 - Samhain
Dec 21 - our usual winter solstice celebration
Feb 2 - Candlemas
March 21 - vernal equinox
May 1 - May Day
June 21 - summer solstice
Aug 2 - Lammas
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#11  UU Ministry for Earth (formerly Seventh Principle Project) -- New Name and
Action Item
"UU Ministry for Earth" was approved at General Assembly as the
new name for the "Seventh Principle Project", sponsor of
the UU Green Sanctuary program and instrumental in bringing UUs the
Global Warming Study Issue/Action. http://uuministryforearth.org/index.shtml
 
RELATED ACTION ITEM - The call for Unitarian Universalism to take
seriously its commitment to affirm and promote the interdependent
web of all existence is overdue and now must come from you.
Commit to writing three letters:
One to Rev. Bill Sinkford


Unitarian Universalist Association
25 Beacon St. 
Boston, MA 02108 
wsinkford [at] uua.org
One to your District representative to the UUA Board of Trustees:
Mr. John Blevins
4618 Warwick Blvd, 5A


Kansas City, MO 64112
Tel: 816-531-5242
jblevins [at] uua.org,
and one to your District Executive:
Nancy Heege
Prairie Star District
122 W. Franklin Ave., Suite 303
Minneapolis, MN 55404


(612) 230-3273
nheege [at] uua.org
Share with them your vision for a UUA which celebrates the unique
religious perspective embodied in our seventh principle.
Share your concerns. Ask them to be mindful of the need to 
do the business of the UUA in a way that openly demonstrates UUs'
relationship with Earth. Tell them what your congregation's doing! 



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#12  UU Ministry for Earth seeks Regional Coordinator for Prairie Star District
 from Claudia Kern, Aug. 13
UU Ministry for Earth (formerly the Seventh Principle Project) has grant funds
to recruit and train volunteer Regional Coordinators who will help deliver
UU Ministry for Earth programming, offer timely Green Sanctuary
support, and facilitate collaboration between neighboring congregations
in a locally focused, and personalized manner. The role of a Regional
Coordinator will allow committed supporters of the UU Ministry for Earth
to deepen their volunteer commitment a little nearer to home.
An initial two-day training for Coordinators to be held in Boston,
November 18-20, will provide trainees with the appropriate tools,
strategies, and resources to confidently assume the role of Regional
Coordinator. Housing, meals, and carbon offsets for travel will be provided
by UU Ministry for Earth; however, trainees will be asked to cover
transportation costs. In addition to this initial training, Regional Coordinators
will receive ongoing support and resources.
You can download a full description at www.uuministryforearth.org
For more information, contact:
UU Ministry for Earth, PO Box 11, Lyme, NH 03768, office [at] uuministryforearth.org 

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E-mail your announcement suggestions to ecominds-editor [at] muusja.org
If you have questions and want to talk to a real person about
UU EcoMinds, call Madalyn at 612-926-5249. 
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