Ecominds-a Mailing List: MUUSJA EcoMinds Tonight @ FirstUniv, Minutes from Nov

[Ralph Wyman (rwmuusja]

Hope to see you tonight at 7 at First Universalist, Cummins Room, 3400
Dupont Ave S, Minneapolis
- Ralph


MINUTES for MUUSJA?S EcoMinds Meeting for 7 pm Nov 5, 2009 (1st
Universalist)
 
Attendees: Chris Burda, Catie Chi Olson, Rebecca Cramer, Lisa Herschberger,
Marcy Leussler, Cecelia Newton, Ralph Wyman

We hope to set up a schedule for monthy meetings, including a change of
location, since it is nice to visit other congregations. Meetings will be on
the second Thursday (12/10, 1/14).

1.)   Brief summary of the EcoMinds plan presented at the MUUSJA fall
meeting  (5 mins) 
Legislative action 
Work with HIRE & Green Jobs 
Develop statewide EcoMinds network 
Special events ? General Assembly, etc.

2.)  Report on HIRE goals & plans for 2010 leg session (from Ralph and
Catie) & discussion (20-30 mins) 
++ Jan 21st, 6:00 - 8:30 pm is the kickoff for HIRE?s legislative agenda
(Location T.B.A.)
3 HIRE working groups
Office of Energy Security ? Jeff Bauer and Karen Monahan are co-chairs.
Green Jobs ? (Ralph is co-chair with Jennifer Jimenez) ? Legislatively, the
major issue is the bonding bill.  HIRE Green Jobs is working to get hiring
equity language from the OES built into the bonding bill this year. UMN and
state colleges are requesting bonding $$ for asset preservation
(maintenance), though no new building. Green Jobs is looking at language
passed or proposed elsewhere, with the next need to implement the bill.
HIRE will work to include green criteria, energy efficiency, renewable
energy. HIRE has trained people through the apprenticeship program.  first
energy efficiency RFP (request for proposal) from the state stimulus bill
didn?t have the required language HIRE passed last year.  No HIRE
legislative allies felt that this was a worthwhile fight. The CAPs
(Community Action Partnership) issued the RFPs, but were not aware of the
change in language. $2 million specifically for retrofit for low income
homes and $500,000 for outreach and training to let low income communities
know about the funds.  Met with Alice Hausman on House Bonding bill for this
session.
HIRE developed 6 characteristics of green jobs - family sustaining (40 hour
work week), de-carbonizing, reproducible, intentionally inclusive, scalable
and reproducible, multiplier effect (located within a larger system?. Life
cycle analysis concept), value the whole person and full time jobs ?
criteria. 
++ We could and should do this education within our congregations.
4 areas for green jobs focus ? initially:  E side of St. Paul, University
Corridor, Phillips, North Minneapolis.
With HIRE, Catie attended the joint legislative hearing with OES. There are
many opportunities to make change at OES, since they are not prepared at all
for ARRA accountability. 
Infrastructure: (Catie)
Mn/DOT actions ? Catie has blessed the delegation going into the Mn/DOT and
been part of negotiations with Commissioner Sorel and listening
opportunities with the appointed Mn/DOT facilitator.  There have also been
meetings within the Mn/DOT designed collaborative. 
What Eco-Minds knows that could be useful for HIRE infrastructure: 
? In Great Britain, the road contract says it must last 30 years (here we
only require about 10-15 years)- how it?s laid down. 
? U.S. requires states to write the high speed rail plan, will dictate for
25 years, MN DOT is writing this now. We have lacked the capacity to engage
in this issue. 

3.)  Legislative update (Ralph?) (5 mins) (see below) 3.5) 350 recap and
next steps ? Cecelia ? would be nice to meet with Kloubacher?s staff ? she
sent a postcard to ________ Roberta made 350 pins, she could have a
workshop, to get the word out on 350.   Catie will do research to find out
what the UUA is doing about Copenhagen. 

4.)  UUSC cooperative plan proposal - (Ralph - 5 mins)  UUSC offered $5,000
to do a short term organizing project on global climate change in MN.  Re
work to get green and economic equity.  Draft tomorrow ? document by end of
November, work in Jan.  Nicole is the outreach coordinator from UUSC.  Tools
they have include an email database in MN.  Calling (Charlie Clements
voicemail) to call people.  Could have a workshop/training on legislative
advocacy on this issue.  To strategize, to get this language into law.
Bonding Committee ? capital and XX committee. Chair of house committee ?
open to , vs. chair of senate committee (hates extraneous language).  Find
senators on that committee vs. Linda Berglund, Patricia Torres Reyes,  need
them ? ROBO calling.  Gets directly connected.
Go hear Rev. Mark Morrison read hear on Nov 14 (Sat), and also Friday night
(Nov 13), author of Memoirs of an Immigration Baby. The workshop on Saturday
is titled ?The Perversity of Diversity?.   

5.)  Explore options for EcoMinds to participate in G.A.- onsite or
offsite.  (Lisa re: UUMFE, others?)(5-20 mins)  Kendyl could talk with
Central Lutheran about a meeting for GA.  What are we trying to accomplish. 
Steve Supan ? climate and financial stabilizing 
Jim Harkness ? WWF in China for years
Winona Duke  -  
Cecelia Martinez ? 
Workshop ? Model for Green Jobs, How to build a Alessandra Williams, Steger,


6.)  Plans to outreach to MN congregations/Green Sanctuary teams, etc. (5-20
mins)
Do we have the energy to compile a MN-specific "report" on who's doing what?

Do we want to promote lighting audits/retrofit to all MN UU congregations? 
Do we have the capacity to visit congregations in greater MN?  With what
specific purpose? 
Do we have a strategic plan to effectively create legislative alerts /
response?  
Other suggestions? 
6 b)  Betsy Ellis suggested MUUSJA ? Tues night training on how to have
house parties with Sierra Club ? Marcy and Betsy will go and check it out.

7.) Revisiting the EcoMinds year plan, how has today's discussion refined
these plans? (5 mins)
Legislative action 
Work with HIRE & Green Jobs 
Develop statewide EcoMinds network 
Special events

8.) Action steps - review assignments (5 mins)
Get list of people on the bonding committees
Education about the green jobs
Marcy talk with Kendyl about Central Lutheran
Ralph/Catie talk with Louis King/Steger about the Workshop ? if agreeable,
then we?ll also talk with Rowen and UUSC (Nichole) about this.
Catie ? find out who will go to Copenhagen
Marcy and Betsy go to Sierra Club 
Rebecca brought information about Northland Bioneers


-- Minutes submitted by Lisa Herchberger and Catie Chi Olson