Sustainability: Faith and Action (S: F&A)
First Session: 25 April 2008

Clerk, Dick Grossman

Recording clerk: Noel B. Pavlovic

In attendance: Catherine Stevens, David Abazs, Noel Pavlovic, Marshall Gibson, Alan Conner, Marci Ankrom, Nancy Halliday, Hollister Knowlton, Roy Treadway, Judy Lumb, Susan Swanstom, Ruah Swennerfelt, Kristina Keffe-Perry, Mary Gilbert, Ken Lawrence, David Millar, Eric Joy, Mary Jo Klingel

1. Silent worship

2. Discussion of ‘Action’, worship

3. Each person briefly talked about our understanding of what “sustainability” means. Some of the definitions were: whatever we do does not take resources from next generation; does not detract but enables future to have access to resources; meeting the needs of the present without jeopardizing future generations; preserving biodiversity, including all species; the way we live and relate to each other. War is not sustainable. One person saw sustainability in shapes, noting the importance of turning lines into circles.

Are we sustainable now? The Ecological Footprint suggests that we have exceeded the planet’s ability to support us by about 30 percent. Our human population is not sustainable. Overconsumption makes things worse. Symptoms of our lack of sustainable lifestyles include loss of wetlands and decreasing water supply,

4. Introductions: each person shared a task that we have done during the past year. The variety was outstanding, with each person having something to report. living in Argentina, getting rid of TV, living in Belize, home energy audit, How to loose 5000 pounds of carbon, doing it too, CSA (community supported agriculture), Meeting reduced significantly energy usage by 37%, bought an Energy Star clothes washer, farm to school produce program, compact fluorescent, only buy used books, LEED certified Peace house on the prairie, rain gardens, new furnace and windows-gas use was ¼ of previous, keep thermostat at 52 degrees and use space heaters where needed, prevent sprawl, walking 1400 miles spreading the earth gospel, thermostat at 55, bicycle trip to FGC, gave up car, limit car use, insulation for the home, gifted with the teens and received a ritual as the water family, use public transportation

5. Nuclear Power Minute: was approved in Burlington, revised and now has been approved.

6. Energy policy and climate change: Ed Dreby composed a statement of what we can do, Keith Helmeith pamphlet about energy policy from a Quaker perspective, It was suggested that we take advantage of other Friends’ groups to coordinate our sustainability activities. Someone mentioned a Pendle Hill meeting in August, David White will look at the draft. We can do more with what can really work? Conserve and simplify

7. Men for Men: There are funds available to pay for three men to have vasectomies, but there has been no interest so far. We agreed that there needs to be more publicity. It has been in BeFriending Creation, not yet in Friends Bulletin, submitted to Friends Journal. We should solicit donations to help pay for more vasectomies for Quaker men. Discussion ensued about the Quaker Condom idea. Ideas included spreading the news to yearly meetings newsletters; green QEW condoms with QEW symbol on one side and ‘make love not war”; they could be distributed at FGC Gathering; link Quaker Condoms to the Men for Men project as well. Friends thought the condoms would disappear when in a basket in the bathroom.

8. Schedule for next meeting.

Second Session: 26 April 2008

Clerk, Dick Grossman

Recording clerk: Noel B. Pavlovic

Keeper of the Heart: Judy Lumb

In attendance: Catherine, David Abazs, Noel Pavlovic, Marshall Gibson, Alan Conner, Marci Ankrom, Nancy Halliday, Hollister Knowlton, Roy Treadway, Judy Lumb, Susan Swanstom, Ruah Swennerfelt, Kristina Perry, Mary Gilbert, Ken Lawrence, David Millar, Eric Joy, Mary Jo Klingel, Robert Jones, Brad Hornick, Hollister Knowlton

1. Report on UN activities: Mary Gilbert has been going to the UN for 8 years and it has been a very rewarding experience. She has been struck by the deprivation of information about worldwide events in the US. She has been designated as the interim representative to DPI status and Nominating Committee is searching for an alternative representative. She has observed that there are opportunities to coordinate with QUIF, QUNO, and other international groups through DPI status. The task before the committee was to appoint an interim support committee of oversight for the UN representatives. The committee consists of David Millar, Bill Holken, Catherine Stevens, and Judy Lumb. The committee departed from the room to meet separately to discuss purpose and quidelines.

2. S: F & A will encourage Friends to use their stimulus package for Earthcare.

3. Small grants are available from QEW. Applications are due May 1, and Ruah has received three applications so far. Two additional projects could be funded with the remaining $400.

4. Mary has requested support for her FGC presentation. In her absence, we where unsure how to proceed.

5. S: F & A has $150 budgeted to spend in the 2008 fiscal year. The Finance Committee needs our new budget by August 30. We decided to spend our budget on an advertisement for Men for Men project in Friends Journal. Ruah, Louis, Dick and … will work on coordinating the development of the advertisement. The ad will need to be at Friends Journal by June 9 to be in the August issue. The display ad will cost $40 per inch.

6. Quaker Condoms: We encouraged Dick to pursue the Quaker Condoms in preparation for the FGC meeting.