Following the path toward an eco Grand Chute

I just got back from this morning's meeting with Director of Community Development, Allen Davis and key proponents of municipal sustainability. Actually, I sat out of the main meeting, as Chairman Marsden and Supervisor Pluess also attended. Since there wasn't a public meeting notice posted on the town's web site, the three of us would have constituted a illegal quorum. Supervisor Pluess graciously offered to return home, but I encouraged him to stay. Being an advocate of green building and attending conferences both for building and sustainability, I've had many hours of research on the topic. I felt it was important for Sup. Pluess to listen to the experts and get excited about this opportunity. I was able to catch up with Allen Davis afterward.

The meeting went very well, and sustainability leaders presented a strong concept. They will be working with Allen Davis to formulate a 10-minute presentation at the October 7th Plan Commission meeting at 6pm. The Plan Commission can give their recommendation on whether to proceed further. The Town Board theoretically could take a vote based upon the Plan Commission's recommendation at that night's Board meeting, if the subject is placed on the agenda. A starting point could be the formation of an ad hoc committee involving Grand Chute residents as well.

Exploring sustainability in Grand Chute

The Grand Chute Town Board agreed at the August 19th meeting to direct staff to investigate requirements for becoming an eco-municipality. Community Director of Development, Allen Davis, is busy researching the direction it takes to become a sustainable town and will report back to the Town Board. Also, next week, he and I are meeting with leading advocates in the Fox Valley for sustainable practices. We'll discuss what practices could be easily adopted by the town and receive the quickest benefit.

One of the people we'll be speaking with is Leslie Taylor. She has helped coordinate sustainability workshops in the Fox Valley, and arraigned for the authors of the book The Natural Step for Communities: How Cities and Towns Can Change to Sustainable Practices at the FOTH conference this past June.

The following is an announcement Ms. Taylor sent regarding the formation of community book study circles:

"The Natural Step for Communities" Study Circles Forming

Are you interested in helping to build community understanding and knowledge about sustainability?

Individuals and groups in communities all over Wisconsin are reading The Natural Step for Communities: How Cities and Towns can Change to Sustainable Practices. This book is commonly used for group study circles to deepen people's understanding about sustainable communities and the decision-making process that leads to them.

Torbjorn Lahti (co-author of the book and founder of the eco-municipality movement) has been quoted saying, "Perhaps the most important factor to why we were successful in becoming an eco-municipality were study circles…It's a question of people taking control over their own situation and their own future."

Many people who have participated in a study circle have felt more informed, empowered, and encouraged to create positive change in their own community.

If you are interested in being part of a study circle, please contact:

Ø Leslie Taylor at ltaylor@sustainfv.org (920-739-7307), or

Ø Catherine Neiswender at catherine.neiswender@ces.uwex.edu (920-232-1972).

We will do our best to coordinate groups at times and places that work for the greatest possible participation. If you are part of an existing group that's interested in learning about The Natural Step for Communities, let us know.

The Appleton Public Library has several copies of the book in circulation, or you can purchase your own copy. Conkey's bookstore in Appleton and Amazon.com have been good sources.

Study circles work best when done over an 8-week period, but we can condense them into 4-week timeframes if that's all you have time for!

We have planned 3 one-hour orientation sessions to get people the information they need to get started. You only need to attend one of these sessions - after the orientation we will connect you with a group and a leader, meeting at a yet-to-be-determined time and place.

Here are the orientation sessions:

September 10, 7 – 8 p.m., Appleton Public Library lower level meeting room

September 17, 7 – 8 p.m., Menasha Public Library lower level meeting room

November 12, 7 – 8 p.m., Appleton Public Library lower level meeting room

Please respond to this message with a note indicating which days of the week, time of day, and location will be best for you to participate in a circle.

We will organize the circles to begin shortly after the orientation sessions.

If you are interested, but unable to attend any of the above orientation sessions, let us know that, too. We'll do our best to plan something that will work for you!

Also, please forward this message to any friends, neighbors, co-workers, or business associates who may be interested in learning about building a sustainable future for the Fox Valley area.