SDC Committee Meeting Agenda
5:30 pm Thursday 21 May 2010
Community Church, cnr Filleul and St Andrew’s
Present: Jocelyn Harris, Bob Lloyd, David Tucker, Maureen Howard, Jinty MacTavish, Nick Holmes, Janet Brady, Paul Young, Mark Jackson.
Apologies: Phil Cole, John Cocks, Tracey Willmot, Suze Keith.
Minutes 22/4/10 & business arising
Ø Bob reported that he has been asked by the DCC Community Sustainability Panel to produce a Peak Oil report with Susan Krumdieck, a companion report to the Fitzharris report on Climate Change. The final draft will be due by the end of August.
Ø David Tucker’s attempts to find an auditor have not come to fruition. Jocelyn brought up whether SDC really does need auditing, because it was expensive to do. (John Cocks later clarified by email that SDC does need to.) Bob suggested we put the cost against Vodafone account, but Nick pointed out that his project expenses can’t be used for baseline operating costs. However, since it is specifically having the Vodafone grant that has put SDC’s income over the threshold for needing auditing, there maybe a case for this money to cover the cost.
Ø Jinty to find out who Volunteer Otago use as an auditor. A call for suggestions for an auditor to be included in the newsletter for suggestions.
Secretary’s report: This month’s correspondence: Feedback on renewal online from a member, Donald Geist, and a thank-you note from Enviroschools to SDC, and Nick Holmes in particular, for help with their recent Regeneration event.
Treasurer’s report: Tabled.
Tracey is standing down as Treasurer. Will advertise in the newsletter for a replacement.
Minute of Appreciation for Tracy: All agreed that Tracey has done a stellar job as Treasurer and her work has been much appreciated.
Community Sustainability Panel Update:
Ø There hasn’t been another meeting since the last SDC meeting as the DCC have been busy with their annual plan.
Ø The next one is scheduled for the 4th June. Anything to be brought up at the next meeting needs to send it to Jinty by mid next week.
Ø Unfortunately Jinty will not be able to attend, but Phil Ker suggested that Nick represent SDC instead so he could talk to them about his work. (Nick wants to propose DCC find a bit of waste land for the 22 Youth garden project. Phil Ker was keen to support this proposal. )
Ø Jinty to pass on that SDC are really pleased that the CSP has asked Bob Lloyd and Susan Krumdieck to produce the Peak Oil report.
Futures Forum Update: Jocelyn said she has now met with Carolyn Burns of the University Sustainability Council, and she’s fully supportive of the proposed forum.
Ø Jocelyn to solicit further support from other key people.
Hands Up Applications: Progress Update:
Ø John, Jocelyn and Nick met and discussed questions to ask the applicants in their interviews. John had a template from MWH that was useful. All agreed that, to be fair, both applicants be asked the same questions.
Ø Nick talked to Vaughan’s manager (one of the business plan applicant’s) as a reference for Vaughan.
Ø Need to think about what sort of long term plan SDC wants, including levels of expectations required.
Ø Need to set up interview with speaker phone. Polytech’s video conferencing facility was suggested. Nick to find out about using this.
Ø The second branding position is still being advertised but there have been no applicants as yet.
Vodafone World of Difference Programme: Update:
Ø Nick pointed out there was now a well stocked bookshelf at the back of the church with books on sustainability for his 22 Youth participants to borrow, or for others to view while in the church.
Ø Nick reported that the Centre for Sustainable Practice at Polytech are launching new certificate and diploma courses in sustainable practice in September, and that these could possibly link in with his project.
Ø Recent activities with the youth group include learning sustainable local food production skills, and as such they have visited various permaculture gardens, such as Jason Ross’. They are still looking at potential sites to set up their own garden which would act as an ongoing classroom for teaching food-growing skills to young people.
Ø Nick to post his Vodafone WoD blog on SDC’s website.
Ø A blurb to be included in the next newsletter to tell members that they can now find out about Nick’s activities in the form of a monthly blog.
Report on submissions to DCC:
Ø The report included references to the recent US Military’s Joint Operating Environment Report projecting peak oil in 2012; the US government’s Energy Information Administration’s 2009 graph showing projected dropping off of oil supplies between 2011 -2015.
Ø At the oral submissions, Jinty said she focussed on the front page of SDC’s submission and reiterated SDC’s concerns that the council was basing its decision–making on a number of assumptions (about the ongoing availability of cheap oil, about the proximity of the impacts of climate change, about the need to mitigate climate change, etc).
Ø A number of questions were asked. Dave Cull asked about the potential positives for Dunedin if the city became really proactive about sustainability initiatives.
Report on Green Drinks:
Ø Maureen reported that last month’s drinks with Hendik Koch, of the Shetland Street Community Gardens, drew about 20 people and generated a good discussion afterwards.
Ø Next month: Waitati Edible Garden (WEGies) will talk about growing and eating pumpkins, potatoes and garlic in ways that don’t contribute to GDP.
Ø As Maureen will be away in June, Bob volunteered to host the drinks. Bob to book Filadelfios for the next two months and Jinty to send out email reminders for both June and July drinks.
Membership: How to get people to renew subs?
Ø Bob said Ted Trainor, who had done a critique of the Transition Towns movement was to speak at the university soon. Maybe SDC could invite members to this talk?
Ø Jinty pointed out that the promotion of the intended community grants would help raise SDC’s profile.
Community Grants:
Ø It was agreed we need to make a visually attractive advertisement for the awards in the next couple of months so it can be advertised three months in advance.
Ø It was suggested approaching the Star to promote the awards and 10/10/10. Advertising the awards in the Star would help raise awareness of the 10/10/10 work day event, and vice versa. There is scope for articles about the nominees and their proposed projects, and follow up articles on completion of the projects.
Ø General agreement with idea of specifying separate award categories for School, Community, and Business.
Ø Next steps: Jinty to draft some branding around the awards and will approach the Star about partnering with SDC on the awards, prior to the next meeting.
Website training: Mark gave instruction on posting to the website for interested committee members.
Other Business:
Ø David has been attending the Business for Change Group’s monthly meetings. So far they’ve had Tim Bishop reporting on projects, Steve Henry talking about a biodiesel programme and the problems of implementing it in Otago; and Peter Morrison on a method of taking all types of waste plastic (1-7) to make building blocks. David feels the group is starting to make some progress.
Ø David also reported hearing rumours about the local supermarkets boycotting products that are being sold at the Otago Farmer’s Market, and wondered whether SDC wants to do something about this? Needs to be verified.
Meeting closed: 6.41pm
Next Meeting: 17th June.
