SUSTAINABLE MORAGA: MINTUES OF MAY 2, 2007 GENERAL MEETING
1. President called to order at 7:04 p.m.
2. Approval of April 4, 2007 General Meeting minutes: Minutes approved as corrected with the addition of “the Environmental Science Club” before the word “Campolindo” in announcement #4.
3. Treasurer’s Report: Sold 100 bags in 3 hours last Saturday at Safeway.
4. Approval of Proposed Agenda: Agenda approved.
5. Announcements:
• Solid Waste Authority (SWA) representatives presented the new recycling program for food waste, to be implemented 9/1/07. Explained that all food waste (including dairy and meat) will be mixed with the green waste (green bin) and will be collected with green waste on collection days. They presented 3 bin options. All residents will get a bin; they may opt not to participate. Waste will go to same place green waste goes now – to a large composting area in Milpitas. It will not go to the landfill.
• Battery Collection Efforts by SWA: SM members expressed concern about the significantly reduced volume of batteries collected by SWA, as compared to SM’s efforts prior to SWA taking over the collection. The representative explained that they lack staffing to adequately advertise the program. SM members suggested that they apply for a large enough grant to pay for staff needs.
SM noted that, in recent encounters with the public (Earth Day, Energy Fair, green bag sales), we learned that residents were unaware of the SWA battery collection program, didn’t know which stores collected them, or didn’t know where the bins were in the stores.
• A SM member noted the problem with the decreasing bee population, and the potential widespread effect on plant/food production. She has 3 transplanted bee hives in her backyard that have been saved from adverse conditions, and she offered them.
6. Committee Reports:
• Energy Faire: The faire will be at 11 – 4 on Saturday, May 5; set up is at 7:30.
• President: Green building initiatives will be on the 5/9 Town Council agenda.
• CFL Bulbs: Philips and Sylvana brands have more mercury than GE brand CFL bulbs. Concerns were raised about the amount of carbon involved in shipping them from China where they are mainly manufactured. Others expressed concern about the mercury.
We will give away 200 CFL bulbs at the Energy Faire. Also, one member thinks he can get a grant from Cliff Bar to buy bulbs. We still need to discuss methods of distribution.
It was suggested that SM set up a table at the Summer Concert series to both sell Green Bags and CFL bulbs. Someone agreed to follow-up with Park & Rec.
• Sponsorship and Website/weblink Approval Guidelines: SM wants to serve as a responsible link to resources for people who want more information about sustainable practices.
Members considered using the Not-for –Profit status as a requirement for endorsement or website linkage. It was noted that SM is not a non-profit organization at this time, so members agreed that “not for profit” might be a general description, if not a legal structure. More general requirements are that the organization must have objectives aligned with SM’s objectives and be educational in nature. Members discussed voting, with simple majority, to select. More discussion is required to develop a formal policy.
• Membership: A question was asked about d how we enroll members. Discussed the need for more advertising – perhaps bulletin boards on Si-Si’s, Trader Joe’s, Library, etc.
• Green Bags: Discussed Canvas alternatives: they are costly, lowest price with order of 1,000 is $2.59 each. Also, they are much narrower than the green bags. The Green Bag company told SM they were researching manufacturing bags out of biodegradable material. We still need volunteers to sell bags on Saturdays at Safeway.
• Yahoo News Group: No report
• Green Movie Series: Discussed venues, such as the Commons, St. Mary’s, local church, library, or Barn. This could be a viable option only if there is a committee of volunteers to work it.
• Book Club: this was suggested supporting/creating a program like “One Green Read” – where schools, book clubs, service organizations, libraries, etc. read the same book, discuss projects related to it, debate and discuss the issues. This would also need committee volunteers to be considered a viable project.
• School Outreach: The president is scheduled to address the Science class at Campolindo on 5/22.
Next meeting is scheduled for June 6, 2007 at the Library.