You are invited!

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Margo Duesterhaus on December 6, 2011 at 9:39am

To get the ball rolling on our Transition Howard County movement, I'd like to ask a few questions to get a sense of what people are interested in.  This group belongs to everyone who wants to join and we can make it whatever we want it to be. So please share your thoughts.

I'd like to find out what topics are of interest to folks here. Are there particular aspects of transition that people want to focus on (food, water, energy, economics, ...)?  Are there particular activities that are of interest (watching movies about sustainability, discussing books/topics, specific projects, ...)?

In addition to face-to-face meetings, I would also like to have an online/virtual component to the group to help people connect and share even if you can't make it to a meeting.  I see this forum as a good place to do planning for events/meetings, but again, we can use this space in whatever way the group prefers.

Finally I'd like to share just a few ideas of things that I would like to do at meetings and/or online (these are in no particular order):

1.  Watch and discuss the movie: The Power of Community: How Cuba Survived Peak Oil

2.  Talk about public banking.  Lore met someone from the Public Banking Institute (PBI). 
www.publicbankinginstitute.org   See the link to learn more about public banking and how state banks are good for sustainability.  MD Senator Jamie Raskin has introduced a bill to start a Maryland State Bank.  We could have someone from PBI come and give a talk to our group about public banking in general and the bill in specific.

3.  Learn about permaculture.  Dan and I are embarking on the "Duesterhaus Permaculture Project" (in our yard) and are pretty much learning as we go.  If you are interested in learning with us, that would be great.

4.  Plan a "coffee and conversation" on Transition Towns to help spread the word.

Please share your thoughts,

Margo

Permalink Reply by Charlie Goedeke on December 6, 2011 at 2:35pm

Margo,

I have an uncertain schedule that day, since it's the start of the Timonium Woodworking Show, and I've made a commitment to one of our local clubs to help get things rolling.  I don't yet know whether that means that I'll be free by noon, midnight, or somewhere in between.

All your suggested topics sound good.  Today I'm particularly interested in #1, since I was listening to a talk show which brought up the point that renewables get much less in government subsidies than oil, coal, and nuclear, and yet they also get much more flack of the "they oughta be self sustainable" ilk.

VBR,

Charlie Goedeke

Permalink Reply by Margo Duesterhaus on December 8, 2011 at 10:12am

Hi Charlie,

I hope you can join us on the 6th.  Feel free to stop by even if you can't get to the meeting until after 7pm.  I will send you a message with directions to my house.

Right now I am leaning towards topic #2 for January and maybe we'll do the movie in February.  But I'm hoping others will chime in with ideas and preferences.

Thanks!

Margo