Sustainable Belmont Minutes from October 3, 2007
location: Belmont Public Library, Flett Room
Attending: Jack Dennis, Joan Teebagy, Nancy Forbes, Priscilla Cobb, Hank Thildeman, Jen Dewey, Jennifer Page, Laura Caputo, Jan Kruse, and Heather Tuttle
Heather Tuttle commenced the meeting at 7:05 p.m.
1. Planning for SB's October 28 Forum
Talk by Dr. Peter Frumhoff, of the Union of Concerned Scientists, called "Confronting Climate Change in the Northeast", the second in a 2 part series on the Northeast Climate Impact Assessment Report is scheduled for Sunday Oct. 28, at the Belmont High School Auditorium.
Heather distributed flyers to those present to post around Town, including at places of worship
Flyer is also available for electronic distribution & will be modified to state that the forum is on Sunday
Jan will publicize through Citizen Herald and Globe, will post on Town web site and list serve, will ask Will Brownsberger to send to his e-mail list, Jan will send flyer to federal Representatives and Senators, BHS Science Dep't, Belmont Conservation Commission, Belmont Health Dep't
John M. will publicize at Belmont Hill School, B.U. and Harvard
Jennifer will contact the Boston Media Center to run a PSA and to film the event (Jeff Hansell). She will also put in revised request for equipment (3-4 tables needed for sponsoring and other groups to display materials in hallway). Jan will invite Belmont Municipal Light Dep't to have a table to distribute materials at the forum
Jan will ask Dan LeClerc to make opening remarks and introduce forum speakers; will ask Rosemary Burke (League of Women Voters Pres.) to introduce Will; moderator for 30-min Q&A still needed
Hank will coordinate audio/visuals for forum
Question was raised re: who pays for janitorial services. Jennifer will speak to Peter Holland. Jennifer also noted that police detail not required if attendance is under 400
It was requested that SB members show up to help with set up at 6:30 p.m. on Sunday 10/28
2. Step it Up 2: Sat. Nov. 3
Jan announced that the second "Step it Up" national even is planned for Saturday, November 3. The Concord chapter of MCAN is organizing a regional event. There will be a gathering at the Old North Bridge in Concord. Theme: "let the energy revolution begin here." SB will encourage Belmont members to attend.
3. Donations in memory of SB member Walter Lind
Jennifer reported that in conversation with Walter's wife Kathy, she was pleased to hear of the idea to have donations made in Walter's memory and thought that The Green Roundtable (one of the two potential donees suggested by Jennifer) sounded like a particularly fitting organization to benefit. It is a Boston area non-profit which focuses on research, education and policy making related to green buildings.
Jan will contact the Green Roundtable to get name and address to which donations should be sent (and make sure that donors will receive acknowledgements). Jan will send e-mail message with this information to SB e-mail list.
4. Walk to School Day: Wed. Oct. 3
Hank reported that Walk to School Day was celebrated at elementary schools in Belmont and other Massachusetts and New Hampshire towns
There were "celebrity" walkers, including teachers and selectmen leading groups of children and parents who met at various locations throughout town to walk to school together
Hank estimated that there were about 100 participants at the Wellington School. He will find out who the organizers of the even were and report back at future SB meeting
5. CAP Update
Jack described survey of about 40 representative businesses/institutions which the CAP group is conducting over the next few weeks. Volunteers needed to help with survey.
He distributed the survey and Jennifer distributed letter of introduction and survey instructions. Jennifer explained guidelines for questionnaire. An electronic version of survey is available for businesses/institutions if they prefer, but should be discouraged
SB members attending signed up to survey particular businesses/institutions
It was emphasized that the information collected will not be publicized in connection with the named individual businesses and that businesses/institutions should be told that. Also: businesses should be asked if they would like to be acknowledged as having helped when the CAP is published.
Re: collection of waste data for CAP - it was suggested that might want to collect data on number of building permits issue for home remodeling in order to estimate waste generated from that activity in a given year.
Heather adjourned the meeting at 9:00 p.m.
Minutes submitted by Priscilla Cobb
| 
