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Sustainability Alliance of SW Colorado
Board Meeting
February 12, 2009, 5:30 PM
City Council Chambers, Durango, Colorado
Minutes submitted by Lisa Mastny
Attending: Jim Dyer, Keith Fox, Werner Heiber, Sara Holt, Linda Illsley, Rebecca Koeppen, Lisa Mastny, Carolyn Moller, Katy Pepinsky, Tom Riesing, Denise Rue-Pastin, Dick White
Missing: Marcus Renner
Observing: Ginger Richardson, George Richardson, Cheryl Zeman
MEETING CALLED TO ORDER AT 5:38 PM BY WERNER HEIBER, CHAIR
Introductions
Board members and guests introduced themselves. Cheryl said that Rabouin/Zeman group has offered to serve as pro bono council for the Sustainability Alliance. She said that the law firm is making an in-kind donation to LOCAL and SASCO and would like to have a few moments on the agenda to introduce themselves to the group.
Mission and Vision Statements
Sara presented the new mission and vision statements, as follows:
Mission:
To promote the sustainability movement in Southwest Colorado by facilitating communication and collaboration among individuals and organizations to achieve integrated solutions, with a primary focus in La Plata County.
Vision:
A society that preserves and restores the integrity of the natural environment, nurtures healthy human and other living systems, and maintains a vital self-reliant economy, generation after generation.
A motion was made to accept this new wording. All were in favor.
Financial Report
Carolyn passed out the profit and loss statement. She explained that most income for the Sustainability Alliance was from individuals, and that the bulk of the total income is for LOCAL. Dick said the money from La Plata County for the Be Local book should be added in. Lisa asked whether the money from SWCRES was included. Dick said this money had been granted in 2007.
Denise asked whether the LOCAL money could be placed in a separate account. Carolyn said this was all under one tax ID number. Jim suggested we note that the LOCAL money is “restricted” funds. Lisa suggested including a line item about the various earmarks to the committees.
Marketing and Fundraising
Werner said that the LPEA Round-Up grant was submitted last Friday, requesting $2,000 for the website and logo. He said we had received bids between $4,800 for the logo and website and $8,000 for just the website, as well as a $500 logo bid from DHM. Jim asked when the money would be available. Werner said in a few weeks.
Ginger said she had not been able to find a calendar of local people and services. She said it would be helpful to have a resource guide.
Werner said that marketing and fundraising functions could be addressed by a content-based team, not a committee, or via a brainstorm session on how we could potentially raise funds and increase our income.
Denise said that the proposed library events are a fabulous idea, and it would be good to have membership and organizational materials available. She said we will continue to see memberships through that. She added that she and Tom have started a dialogue on green investing, as she wants SOS to be perpetually paying for itself. She said they would maybe try to get a green investment club going.
Werner said there is also talk about a local investment fund--which would commit to 1 or 5 percent of IRAs invested locally. He said a portion would go to nonprofits. Jim said this was tried in Minnesota, but there are issues with securities laws, the SEC. Cheryl said there may be a way to avoid that.
Werner said he read an article in the paper about weatherization and the upgrading of existing homes. He said we could create a matching fund to the federal economic stimulus plan. He gave the example of Samso, Denmark, which in 10 years became energy independent, with a portion of the money coming from local investments. He said they had enough of a pool that they were able to get bonds at reasonable rates. Cheryl said it would be good to get the idea as detailed as possible, and that she would be willing to take a lead in looking into it.
Linda said the speed at which the Be Local books sold is an indication of demand and openness in the community. Dick said there is a national effort managed by Coop America that is trying to manage 1 percent of portfolios locally. He said he will do some research on this. Linda said there are also the small business bureau “investment angels” at Fort Lewis College--a brain pool of savvy business people who might be able to do research on this. Dick said there is also a local venture fund to support local projects, started under the auspices of Region 9. Werner said we should maybe invite one representative from this area to our dialogue meeting.
Katy asked whether we really want more members, and said we maybe need to strategize about this first before moving forward. Werner said that Lisa and Rebecca had talked about creating a volunteer opportunities list on the website. Katy said we need to discuss the benefits of membership, versus just being a volunteer.
Werner asked whether we should form a content-based team. Gingersaid that membership creates awareness--via a sticker for your car, etc. Rebecca said that if people are willing to form that committee, they could address all of this. Lisa said we should maybe focus on the website and logo first. Carolyn said she will go through and figure out the best way to handle membership updates.
Werner said we need a banner for the website. Dick suggested that we authorize the expense for the logo as soon as it is practible. Lisa agreed that we can separate the logo and the website.
Rebecca made a motion that the Board authorize expenditure of up to $550 for design of a logo. The motion was seconded and all were in favor.
Werner suggested we form a team that is willing to meet regarding the website and logo. Carolyn, Lisa, Ginger, and Werner all said they would help.
Lisa said she would send Carolyn the old list of Board contacts.
La Plata Sustainability Dialogues
Werner summarized Marcus’s e-mail suggestions about the proposed LPSDs. Dick said that the Policy and Executive Committees agreed to focus the March LPSD on sustainability updates from local governments, with presenters such as Walt Serfoss and Nancy Andrews. Rebecca said she left messages with folks in Ignacio, Bayfield, and the Tribal Council.
Jim asked how these events differentiate from the library events. Sara said the library meetings are more public and education-oriented, whereas the dialogues are more about cross-pollination. Rebecca said the library events are public events, whereas the Thursday events are a stakeholder meeting. Werner said we need to figure out a date for the library events, such as the first Wednesday.
Dick asked whether we need an invitation list--such as 4CORE, DANPO members, San Juan Citizens Alliance, Fort Lewis College, Andy Gill, Green Business Roundtable. He said we can discuss this further at the Policy meeting on Feb 26. Lisa suggested inviting Greg Caton as well.
Lisa said she would talk wih Dick about developing an announcement.
Announcements
Werner said he talked to Kristin about the Green Expo and will meet with them next week. He said they will need help and will send out a list of jobs as well as a speakers list. He said they have 36 vendors signed up and are aiming for 60. Denise asked whether they will have sessions as well as booths. Werner said yes, they will have speakers.
Dick made a motion that the Executive Committee be authorized to enter into contract with EcoLogic Events and review the terms of that contract, especially in terms of any liabilities we may have. All were in favor.
Sara said the first library event was a huge success, with around 40–50 people. She said the next topic is Intro to Sustainability, and they are looking for videos.
Lisa said she would look into listings of sustainability videos.
Denise asked whether the topics and monthly slots for the Herald newpaper articles are all covered. Rebecca said that the first one is an Intro to Sustainability, and they can be only 500 words. She said she will be asking for input soon. Denise said that the first week in May is national drinking water day, so she would want to "blast the Basin" with messages about water. She said she is trying to get the Abbey Theater to show “American Southwest: Are We Running Dry?” She said she may be available to do an April story on the nexus of the two issues.
MEETING ADJOURNED @ 7:30 PM
Resolutions Approved
That the SASCO Board of Directors approve the minutes of the Board Meeting of November 13, 2008, with the understanding that the Executive Committee may incorporate minor corrections without further vote of the Board. [Via email]
That the Board authorize expenditure of up to $550 for design of a logo.
That the Eexecutive Committee be authorized to enter into contract with EcoLogic Events and review the terms of that contract, especially in terms of any liabilities we may have.