Hi all, Green Neighbors DC is having its monthly meeting this Monday, at 6:30 pm – 8:00 pm in the fabulous Reading Room of Petworth Citizen. And although it is our monthly meeting, we’ll actually be discussing the future quite a bit:

a) how we shall continue and build GNDC to help meet the community and environmental needs out there; and

b) what to focus on, especially regarding local actions that we can take, as well as adding our voice to regional and national issues.

Please join us!!! We want to hear new voices, ideas, and come out with concrete actions.  We do already have some ideas – help us prioritize!

Here is the agenda below to get us started, and it is also attached at this link: Green Neighbors of DC Agenda June 26th 2017.  (We will bring printouts to the meeting – double-sided)

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Green Neighbors of DC

Agenda for June 26^th, 2017

Facilitator for Monday’s meeting:  Annette

Introductions, choose note-taker, timekeeper (2)

Reports of recent actions by GNs (5) 

1. Annette – report on DC Ecowomen “What Now” forum
2. Other as reported

Brief website report (5)

1. We need new front page article.

There are two main topics to discuss; we’ll just have to see how far we get this meeting. 

Discussion on Green Neighbors structure and member build-up. (30)

A listing of GN Strengths (besides determination and passion) – (we want to list these, not discuss each in detail).  Below are points raised at the last meeting – others?

1. Knowledge, connections to other groups (esp Basav, Catherine, Nick, David, and Fritz).
2. The mechanics, specifics of environmental tools – our Solar Partners, other partners, Annette, others.
3. Our growing website and FB audience, the farmer’s market, and greater community outreach potentials.
4. Green Neighbors: we have people who are green, who like the comradery, and also who want to help DC turn green.
5. Our strong political clout as actually working on the ground with citizens (tbdiscussed. highlighted by DC EcoWomen guest speaker specifically referring to GNDC).
6. Other? [To be discussed future meeting:  GNDC compared to other DC area ecogroups.]

Challenges

1. A lot of work falls on a few people, who are established professionals with major work or family responsibilities.
2. We have a diffuse responsibility structure
3. Green/the Environment covers everything on the planet – Sometimes we have a broad, but not deep interest in a particular subject, sometimes we get detailed, as when we fought Excelon. We need our core areas, but also have links to more resources.

Lessons learned from working with DC Table/DCEcoWomen:

1. A good method is splitting responsibility for different problems/issues, but together stronger. Thus connect efforts.  Helps provide ways to bring in people not otherwise connected.
2. An issue can be is that there are too many different directions. Have to be careful.
3. Feedback to Nick, our POC to DC Table, from Mary Beth, DC Table’s POC, that it is important to have local groups involved, instead of big picture folks from another state.
4. Knowing stakeholders is key.
5. Partner for events.

Next proposed steps for GNDC, to be discussed.

1. We need to recruit more core people to help run GN. Need younger, older, and more diverse folks in the core and in general.   Actions may include?
2. Assign and rotate point people each meeting – not just facilitators, but a lead pre-organizer/chair.
3. Be aware of all the stakeholders. Community needs; also GNDC compared to other DC area ecogroups.
4. Engage other communities, especially those in contact with long-term, local residents…Connect with others on a grassroots level, attend community meetings, spread the word.
   1. GoodSense Farm, ParkView citizens Action group, ANC meeting, Petworth Action DC, Neighborhood Assembly, DC EcoWomen. (AI:  update organizational list on Dropbox)
   2. Each meeting determine a rep for at least one ANC meeting.
   3. Give outreach to our partners. AI – Annette:  FB and Twitter thank you to Petworth Citizen, Petworth Library for hosting us – each time.
5. Connections to larger, regional, national groups?
6. Revisit our how-to process and regarding proposed GN efforts and achieving a quorum for things that require rapid response, such as requests for us to sign onto protest letters.  (Proposals were originally only supposed to be submitted quarterly, and those submitted online still had to be voted on in a meeting.)
7. Meetings on other nights besides Mondays as well?

Discussion on next subject/topic foci, green efforts:   “connecting the dots to action” (30 minutes)

Below are recent ideas put forth to focus on.  We need to discuss which ideas are within our purview, and prioritize.  Some will require the formal proposal procedure to move forward on.

1. We tend to alternate national, regional and local actions, sometimes for months. We should strive for balance at each meeting:  1) reports about national actions that GN can help sign on to/protest, etc…, or blog about;  2) reports/actions for regional (Greater Washington Area), and 3) reports/actions regarding local – DC itself and working with neighbors.   This will require planning the agenda more in advance – and planning for some actions over several months.
2. As we have been focused on the federal administration lately in protests, we should next emphasize regional/local work (while still maintaining a pulse on national efforts as #3 above states.). Suggestions for actions from last meeting and a previous meeting:
   1. (Local, Regional) – be an information resource, including through the website, farmers markets, and through public speaker events. See # 3 below for more detail.
   2. (Regional) Need 1-2 members to research, but then have GNDC discuss and weigh in locally on the DC Recycling Issue (this may be outdated, anyone have an update?)
   3. (Local) Utilize some of our savings to create a LED/energy information kit for dispersal to the elderly.   (AI:  Annette and others write a GN formal proposal.)next meeting.
   4. (Local) Strive for a big, fun, inspiring project, such as helping create a “rain barrel block” – where every neighbor on a block acquires a rain barrel. Working with partners such as the Anacostia Watershed, etc.., then press releases.  (fyi, there is strong interest already on Annette’s block).  This would require a GN formal proposal, but should be a later step.  Need some other community outreach first.
   5. (Local) Kids & Families. By engaging kids, parents are engaged.  Such as the Petworth kids march.  AI (Nick, Robert?):  Ask some members and others with kids for ideas.
   6. (Local) Outreach to local businesses/institutions/residents about switching to clean energy. Outreach Action?  (Definitely using #3 below, but beyond)
   7. (Local) RFK Stadium – Action?
   8. (Regional) CCAN Carbon Tax – Action?
   9. (Regional) Lorton, VA incinerator – Action?
   10. Other similar ideas – ideas welcome!

Prioritize.

3. How can we be an information source, library, and provide resources?
   1. (Regional) Share ideas online – such as general how-tos, regional orgs and resources.
   2. (Local) Update and create more outreach brochures
   3. (Regional) Website info
   4. (Local) Booth at the Petworth – and other – farmer markets. AI:  Catherine contacts (or helps one of us contact) the farmer’s market and schedule.
   5. Hold public events about issues for neighbors/get back to having some speakers (perhaps quarterly?)
   6. (Local) Provide “Green 101” training
   7. Specific topics
      1. (Local) Lead in Water
      2. (local) Bees (Fritz will supply content – as he has been doing; Annette will help write)
      3. (Local) Solar, we need to put some updates out there.
      4. (Local) Yard contamination preventing gardening.

Reserved time for other (15 minutes)

1. Choose facilitator or chair for next meeting.