All posts by Chris Alemany

AVTT Meeting – Minutes from Feb 16

My apologies for not getting to this quicker. I gotta remember not to give in to the urge to write notes rather than type them directly… just not very efficient!

Anyway, I will do my best to summarize:

#1 Meet and Greet Members
In Attendance: Chris, Dan, Edna, Myron, Colin, Rob Powelson (new member!)

#2: Permanent Meeting Place
– We met in the basement of Echo Village (the retirement home across from “Echo woods”). It was a nice room, very large, would be great for movie nights and it’s free for AVTT to use. Dan indicated the catch is that we can not pre-book long into the future. That said, he doesn’t anticipate there being a problem getting bookings there when we need to in the future.

– It was also discussed and agreed that we should use the opportunity of us being there in the basement to include residents at the Village in any movie showings that we might have there.

– There was also the possibility discussed of having meetings at Echo Center in one of the smaller rooms. This would be great for visibility but would come at a cost (by donation?). We would receive a preferential rate from the City.

#3: Films
– March – Energy – March 16 at 7PM with AVTT meeting at 6:00 beforehand — we need to have a title ready to show for the Energy film by next week (Feb 20-25)
– April – Water film – April (World Water day is March 22 and Earth Day is April 29)
– May – Food Inc
– June – Findholm (?)

#4: Groups

– Edna for food group reported that the farmers are very excited with the success of the local food initiatives. They are starting to have to expand their capacity to meet demand. Great news!
– Edna and Chris reported on the Local Food Directory. It is starting to come together and is near completion. Will be meeting with the ACRD, City and CHamber shortly to show it to them, get their endorsement and get it up on their website. http://www.patransitions.net/localfood
– Lots of Food stuff going on, but no specific Food Group meetings being scheduled right now.

Energy group had its first meeting. Made plans for a movie focusing on Energy issues and hoping to draw people in to work on the EDAP.
– From Energy Group Minutes –
– Energy Group will be producing a “one-pager” hand out for folks at the Energy movie event
Other news:
– There will be a door-to-door survey for the ACRD Socio-Economic impact study for the Raven Coal project supported by the AEC.
– Dan passed on the good news that the ALEHS has gotten its official society papers and is moving forward on a business plan. We all wish them great success.

#5: Events:
– Thunder in the Valley – Happens in August – Chris attempted contact with no response. Will try again
– July 1 Canada Day parade. It was discussed that it would be great to have a presence at the parade. We need volunteers in the group to do it. Lots of people already busy with other things. Chris will put it up on the website to see if anyone wants to take it on.

#7: Next Meeting Time/Place
March 16 at Echo with the Movie!

AVTT Meeting – Live Blog/Minutes – January 19

Agenda AVTT Meeting:

1: Welcome and Introductions
– Who’s here: Dan, Edna, John M., Chris, Phil, John Olsen, Myron, Phil LeBlanc, Elyn and Colin VIRTUALLY! 🙂

2: An Excerpt from the Transition Towns Primer or Manual
– Could Curious Coho Books Transition Town…..

3: Groups Update
Food
—– Food Map —- Chris and Edna working on getting addresses into the maps.
Edna:
has had long conv. with farmers to see what they need help with. etc. Lots of networking
Also mentioned the I Eat Locally Grown bumper sticker
Agricultural Farm plan – on ACRD website –
New Farm/farmer wants to contact schools about things they can do with the schools/students. Will be contacting schools about possibility
New contact has indicated possiblity of starting new community gardens
Susan Roth – putting together online marketing map..— Connecting producers and consumers.
Need to talk to ACRD website about merging two maps together
….. No upcoming official meetings —–
Myron:
At the Food/Plan meeting there was talk of branding successful in Comox Valley… brand Port Alberni as “Organic” Food Destination? Or “Sustainable” Food? “Natural”? Debate continues… Building signage, festival, “slow food” movement.
Not “Certified” Organic — Talk of using City compost waste stream in the food production in Valley, this would preclude “Certification”…
Also talked about Succession and Mentoring of Farmers/Farms. There will be another draft of the Farm Plan.
AV Social Planning Council – Asked consultants to create a Food Charter for the Valley
Phil: Does Agricultural Plan address Fish?
Edna: Not specifically addressed, but mentioned and was talked about extensively. First Nations were also represented.
Phil: Some examples of local food/stores are paying and selling for premium service of grains to be transported without fossil fuels (by sail!)
John M.: Labels that include fossil fuel entrained in the product manufacturing etc.
Phil L: Greenhouses — self-sustaining — using fish called “talapia” as only fertilizer. He just completed his own greenhouse. www.helpinghandmaintenance.biz
John M.: PragTree Farm, Washington State.
—- Backyard Food Tour — Through the City/Parks&Rec —- February 5th —-

Energy —

WIll be meeting directly after this meeting

Other Groups

Housing Group has officially spun off — Dan is still in contact, sounds good.
Education Group not really active until some new initiatives get spun up (see below?)
Water Group… Water will be big in the future.Talked a little bit about boil water advisories, Beaver Creek, Regional water, etc.
Lilian –

3: Where shall we meet in future
Dan : Can’t consistently book Abbeyfield anymore. — Echo Village also not successful.
West Coast Aquatic – Jake – Edna will contact. Great space… possiblity
Myron mentions Jake will also be returning to AVTT with more question.

4: Planning a Movie night
– Hijacked Future – Problem of saving seeds/Biodiversity
– Finhorn – Operating on Transitions principles for over 20 years.
– Food Inc –
—- can we have seperate night — ask questions before hand —-
Have Food Inc at Echo.
Dan –
Will book Echo / Dogwood Room / Donations / Food Inc. / February 23 / Bring Projector from
– John has ordered a film on Chocolate Industry from Africa.

5: Plans for the Year
– Community Gardening
– Thunder in the Valley…. Ron Mani —-
Year of Electric Car? Lightning in the Valley? Talk to CanEv in Errington?
– EDAP
– Food Group slogging along

6: Next Meeting
February 16th
______________________________ DONE!

Agenda AVTT – Energy Meeting:

1: Who are our members

Phil L, Colin, Myron, Dan, Lilian.

– And When/How do we cast a net for more?

Talk about Energy at the Movie night and other….
Could also have a movie night specifically on Energy — Run of River movie?
– Next one after Food Inc. suggest to wider group on 16th

2: What is our purpose/focus?
– Energy Descent Action Plan
This is a core focus of all Transition Towns under the Transition Model
…….
Will have to branch out to find experience in the community about Energy situation/footprint of various sectors
Put together a picture of future energy needs?
Looking at Models for Descent Plans
– Kinsale, others. Chris will try to dig up some and speak about them at next meeting
Myron will dig into Inventories.
– Examples of EDAPs

Chris will contact a few people about the Thunder in the Valley.

3: When and Where shall we meet in future
16th @ 6:30 — push big meeting back to 7:30 —

DONE _______

Views: 9