Transition PDX Newsletter - July 2009

"Inherent within the challenges of Peak Oil and Climate Change is an extraordinary opportunity to reinvent, rethink and rebuild the world around us."

- Rob Hopkins (founder of the Transition Initiative)

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Hello all,

Welcome to Transition PDX's first newsletter. We plan to offer this on a regular basis to keep everyone informed of what is going on with Transition here in the Portland metro area and to let you know how you can get involved.

This newsletter is still in the early stages of design and you will probably see a few changes before we reach a final format. It has been divided into the following sections - News, Events, Weekly Happenings, and Meeting Reports.

We welcome three volunteers, Ethan Kundson, Madeline McAdams and Tayt Held who will be helping Transition PDX over the summer. Thank you to them for stepping forward to assist Transition here in Portland, and to Theodor for getting this in motion.

Please send any comments or contributions to future editions to david@tpdx.net

David Johnson.

NEWS

Climate Action Plan Forums

Following the launch of the City of Portland and Multnomah County's draft Climate Action Plan, a small group within Transition PDX came together to organize the Climate Action Plan Forums. These took place over two Wednesdays in June 17 & 24 and gave people the opportunity to respond to the Objectives and Actions proposed. The event was opened on June 17th by former Secretary of State for Oregon (now running for Governor of Oregon in 2010) Bill Bradbury. Following the layout of the plan, people divided up into groups to make recommendations for areas such as "Buildings and Energy", "Land Use and Mobility", and "Food and Agriculture". Notes were taken from each group and at the end of meeting on June 24 and member from each group summarized the key recommendations from each group. The individual reports will now be collected together and presented to the City & County before the comment deadline of Monday, July 13th.

A follow up will take place on Wednesday, July 8 (7 - 9pm). For more information, check the Weekly Happenings section below.

EVENTS

Heart & Soul Group - Saturday July 25

On Saturday, July 25th the Heart & Soul Group will be hosting a day long event entitled, "Growing Transition Relationships". Transition PDX is made up of an eclectic group of people with shared goals. The challenge is working with our diversity. Come share this day with us, meeting your Transition partners and co-creating our collective identity.

The event will take place in the Che Room at St. Francis Church, 1131 SE Oak St from 9:00am - 5:30pm (tea at 9:00, program starts at 9:30). Guest facilitator, Patricia Pfost, will be facilitating part of the day using Dynamic Facilitation. We are asking people to bring a Potluck lunch to share.

So that we have an idea of numbers, please email me if you are planning to attend - david@tpdx.net

 

Open Space meeting - Sept 26th, save the date!

We are planning on an Open Space meeting, all day on Sept 26th to talk about the future of Transition PDX.  We are also planning a keynote speaker the evening of Sept 25th.

 

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WEEKLY HAPPENINGS



Wednesday Nights at St Francis Church (Dining Hall), 1182 SE Pine St

Wednesday, July 8 (7 - 9pm) - ReCAP: Climate Plan Recommendations and Community Resilience

Now that we've had time to reflect, we'll take a more in-depth look at the collective recommendations from the CAP Forums and review them in the context of improving community resilience as well as reducing carbon emissions. - http://www.thedirt.org/node/4077

Wednesday, July 15 (7 - 9pm) - Potluck / 20 Minute Neighborhoods and Emergency Response

The evening will start with a potluck to which neighborhood groups are especially invited. Then Jeremy O'Leary will be showing how the 20 minute walkable neighborhood model works well with a variety of emergency response scenarios. The presentation will be based on the term project for his recently completed GIS graduate certificate. - http://www.thedirt.org/node/4078

Wednesday, July 22 and Wednesday, August 19 (7 - 9pm) - Introduction to Transition

This introduction to the Transition Initiative model will explore the tools that Transition makes available to communities, as well as looking at how we are adapting the model for Portland. There will be time for questions and for exploring how you can get involved and bring the Transition Initiative to your neighborhood. - http://www.thedirt.org/node/4079

Neighborhoods

Transition Neighborhoods is a monthly meeting among neighborhood leaders familiar with the Transition Initiative model.  We share our progress in moving toward greater resilience and closer community.  Anyone wanting to work at their neighborhood level is welcome.  The meetings are fourth Thursdays of the month 7 - 9 pm.  The schedule for June - August is as follows:

Thursday, July 23 - 7-9  pm at Jeanne Longley's house, 741 SE 48th Ave (near Belmont)

Thursday, August 27 - 7-9 pm at Ralph Schmoldt's house, 2731 SE Market, (2 blocks south of Hawthorne, behind Safeway).

Meeting Reports



Core Hub

The following are members of Transition PDX's Core Hub of Transition PDX - Jim Newcomer, Zeratha Young, Jeremy O'Leary, Henry Amick, Steve Couche, Valerie Chapman & David Johnson. These notes are from the meeting that took place on June 22:

1. Jim Newcomer updated the Core Hub on how the first round of the CAP Forums went and that everything was on track for the second round;
2. Transition PDX has limited funds saved from the Training for Transition event held last December. These are held in a bank account with the Albina Bank. Jeremy O'Leary & Jim Newcomer agreed to join David Johnson as signatories on the account;
3. It was announced that three interns will be working with Transition PDX over the summer. These will be supervised by Theodor Arnason who will meet with them once a week. Zeratha will meet with the interns to present an Introduction to Transition;
4. Jeremy & David had met to discuss the setting up of an e-newsletter;
5. Jeremy proposed an overhaul of the email discussion lists currently in existence for Transition PDX. The following will be set up:
   • Discussion list - for those wanting to discuss anything Transition related (current moderator block on postings to be removed);
   • Updates list - for those just wanting updates as to vents being organized by Transition PDX;
   • Organizer mailing list - for those actually involved in organizing Transition PDX events, so that all organizers are informed as to what is going on in different areas;
6. Email addresses of the form ???@tpdx.net are available for people involved with Transition PDX which can be used for more formal Transition related business.
7. The Sunnyside neighborhood is applying for Official Transition status.

Neighborhood Group

The Neighborhood group meets on the 4th Thursday of each month. This report contains summarized highlights from the June 26 meeting:

1. Following the release of the City & County's draft Climate Action Plan, plans have been announced for the Fall to present Town Halls on the CAP to the Neighborhood Associations. There was a discussion as to if and how Transition PDX could respond to this plan on a neighborhood level;
2. A tool library is being set up in the South East;
3. The setting up of Transition Richmond is being explored;
4. The HAND neighborhood are working towards the establishment of "green teams" on neighborhood blocks, made up of 20-30 households;
5. There will be a meeting about setting up a Transition Initiative in the combined Creston-Kenilworth and Reed neighborhoods;
6. The setting up of Transition Centennial is being explored.