October 2011
Program Development
Agent of Change
Samira Zoofan, our intern, is up and running! She has an Agent of Change Facebook page set up, designed the flyer (with ideas & contributions from others), & is helping to recruit participants for the upcoming Agent of Change course. Yes—we have a date! October 24th is the start date, at the Earth Block Education Center.
There are a team of students helping Chuck and Samira raise interest & recruit participants. Samira, part of Students for Recycling, is a great “in” for reaching environmentally intentional students.
Communications and Membership
MemCom put a lot of energy into promoting this month’s 2nd Friday Social, succeeding in gathering 13 folks in chilly temps with high winds. The presentation by Kevin Eigel was well received with lots of Q&A. Next month: The social will be November 11th at Generation Green (Sawmill & 161) with Steve and Heather Johnson doing a presentation on Green Cleaning. As Chuck says, “The good news is that we will be INDOORS! “
Joanne has been fabulous in getting changes made to the website quickly, meeting one of Memcom’s goals to keep the website more alive & refreshed. Thank you Joanne! Still to come: a blog on the website.
Meantime, Chuck has initiated the 1st newsy update from the Director, which also included an invitation for folks to renew their membership.
Also on the mind of MemCom folks is exploring a new logo for Simply Living! Ideas being considered include a contest, inviting our membership as well as students form CCAD (Columbus College of Art & Design) to bring forth their creativity & refresh the Simply Living logo. More to come!
Falling under the umbrella of MemCom but initiated out of GTBS action circle is the membership policy. It is being submitted this month to the Board for approval. The details of how to integrate the policy with the database and GTBS forms are completed. Note that it is not a business membership policy—that is still to be worked through. The new membership policy will be available on the website soon. Thank you to Dominic, Richard L., Mary, Carol, Jim C., Chuck & Dan in getting this completed!
Earth Institute
Although the EI Action Circle has not convened, EI courses are springing to life at the initiation of community members: Roberta Wyn in Westerville is starting up A World of Health course, having had an interest meeting last week. Sue Green is also initiating a Menu for the Future course starting November 4th or 11th. And Sheila Fox is exploring starting an EI course with the folks in Sustainable Delaware.
Transition Central Ohio
A discussion began at the last Board meeting about defining a relationship between Simply Living & TCO. There is a meeting scheduled for November 17th with the Board, TCO, & the Sustainables to educate both the Board and the Sustainables about what the Transition Movement is all about. There will be a showing of Transition 101 and a discussion to follow.
This is a preliminary step to working with TCO to clarify goals, determine action steps, & rebuild relationships & trust with the Sustainables—as well as beginning to define the relationship between Simply Living & TCO.
Meanwhile, Chuck is working with Joanne Dole & Richard Lamprey to present on TCO & SOLE at the next Sustainable Worthington meeting scheduled for November 30th.
Support Our Local Economy
The latest from SOLE is that the Northland Area Business Alliance (NADA) – Chuck’s home territory! – is having a gathering with SBB & SOLE in attendance to recruit some of the many small businesses that will be there.
SOLE is also working closely with Fulcrum Creatives, a marketing/branding group, to create an RFP around the $2 Bill Campaign (spend unique $2 bills locally).
Meantime, the Roundup Campaign (displaying a card by the cash register of local businesses to “round up” to generate income for SOLE) is going well. Participants are offering great feedback, and more local businesses are expressing interest in participating.
SOLE has met with the SBB folks to initiate an advertising campaign to promote buying local over the holidays. It’s a late start, but the possibilities are promising.
Lastly, Marta Madigan is writing an article for Edible Columbus that features SOLE, Simply Living, and the Slow Money Alliance movement. She brings in Local Matters and ECDI as well, tying in the national Slow Money Alliance movement with what is happening locally.
Your Money Or Your Life
Although we haven’t referenced YMOYL as an Action Circle, it is a part of Simply Living, with Randall being the driving force behind this series. Patty Wagner, minister of the Maynard Avenue United Methodist Church, has asked Randall to lead this series for members of the congregation. It’s set to begin in January!
Organizational Development
Board Membership
No news this month!
Development and Fundraising
This AC will be back in action after GTBS. Business membership groundwork is being laid in soliciting GTBS sponsorships.
Finance
No action has been taken on this yet. Below is what we reported on last month:
Although finance does fall under Board responsibilities, Dominic foresees an Action Circle forming to perform internal auditing and processing—ensuring accounting is following procedures. This Action Circle is not formed at this time.
Recommendation: Chuck suggests that this be a standing-committee formed by the Board, involving Allison & cross-training with Joanne.
IT (Information Technology)
The IT folks have formulated the questions that need to be addressed with Groundworks, and a meeting is being arranged with Groundwords after GTBS.
Until there is confidence in the databank, QuickBooks will continue to be used for the level of detail currently needed.
Grant Seeking
This Action Circle is currently closed. Reference September’s report for recommendations.
GTBS
Everything is on track for GTBS!