[All] GREN Minutes Sept. 16, 2009

Mon Sep 21 13:48:51 EDT 2009

Hi All GREN-

Here are the minutes of the Sept 16 meeting, below and attached.

Cheers,

Susan B.

GREN Minutes - Sept. 16, 2009

St. John's Kitchen, Kitchener

Pipeline Subcommittee Report 

.         Hasn't met

.         3 GREN subcommittee members attending Sept. 17 POLIS (Carol Maas)
workshop on water conservation 

Executive Committee Report (Executive met June 26)

E-mails and Website

.         Problem of people complaining they get too many GREN emails-Theo
will be setting up separate e-mail lists for each subcommittee. You can
subscribe to get the emails you want.

.         Issue to refer to Theo for resolution: How does one reply to only
the person who sent an email? Currently, can only reply all. Can we get the
individual email addresses of all the people on the lists we subscribe to?

.         "All" goes to everyone. One must be a paid GREN member to be on a
subcommittee. There will soon be a "members only" e-mail list.

.         Website will soon be updated. Positive responses to it from
non-GREN people.

Membership and Treasury

.         26 paid GREN members as of June 26. Everyone should encourage more
to join. 

.         Check with Theo to see when payment is due next.

.          $960.00 in account as of June, no debts. Website is paid up for 3
years.

Decision-making

.         Reviewed GREN decision-making policy around question of what
happens when individual members disagree with a GREN position. 

.         Agreed that people can argue their own position-just don't
identify it as a GREN decision or be directly critical of GREN.

.         Suggested that in publicly expressing a GREN position, GREN
representative can state that it's a unanimous one-or say "most GREN members
agree that."

.         Agreed that we need to more discussion about these issues at next
meeting. 

.         Send to the executive any ideas about how we vote on quick
decisions, or how we present ourselves to the public.  

Guest Presentation- Matt Soltys and Matt Lowell-Peltier on the anti-Hanlon
Business Park movement in Guelph.

.         Involved in issue since 2005, started group in 2008-LIMITS-(Land
Is More Important Than Sprawl). Organized walks on site, letters, research,
education, press releases, developing strong public support. 

.         July 27, 2009, 60 people occupied the land and stopped work when
City starting to install culvert 

.         Series of injunctions and counter-injunctions and legal action
with City - meant the group got access to key documents that strengthened
their position. However, City won right to continue with infrastructure-but
too late this year to continue. New environmental assessments will proceed
in the spring.

.         $100,000 suits against 5 protesters, including the 2 Matts. They
have no assets, and say fear of suits shouldn't discourage action. 

.         The LIMITS group is planning next steps. 

.         GREN passed a motion to draft letter of support and to donate $400
to help pay for a half-page ad in the Guelph Mercury. Subcommittee of David
W., Norah C., Judy M., John J. to follow up.

LRT Transit Options - Robert Milligan 

.         Presented maps showing his proposed location and ideas for an
Integrated Transportation Hub for K-W LRT, putting VIA, GO, LRT and bus
links in a single, central, easily accessible hub.

.         Also suggested various routes and technologies to raise efficiency
and lower costs.

.         R. is currently in conversation with Region staff and politicians
about his proposal. 

.         R. seeking GREN members who want to form a transit subcommittee. 

Greenbelt and ROP Report - Kevin Thomlinson. 

.         Waiting to see on province's position on extending greenbelt;
Environmental Defense supports it.

.         The biggest outstanding issue with the ROP is that the hard
countryside line has been deferred, with a November deadline to resolve it.
Not clear if there's consultation with landowners or what's happening.
(Breaking news on Sept 18 --schedule below for Region's open houses on
countryside line)

.         The rest of the ROP has been approved by Regional Council and sent
to the Minister for approval.

ALUS Tour  - Susan Koswan

.         S. was on bus tour of pilot project in Norfolk County--Farmers are
paid $150 an acre for next 3 years to naturalize parts of their land

.         16 funders of the project 

.         Some are keen to get the project going in Waterloo Region

GREN Meeting Schedule  ---  Next meeting Oct. 15

Oct. 15- Elora - location to be announced  

Nov. 18 - Kitchener, St. John's Kitchen

December - Party at Susan Bryant's house in Elmira. Details to be announced.

Jan 21 - Cambridge

Feb. 17- Kitchener

March 18 - Guelph

April 14 - Kitchener

May 13 - Brantford

June 16 - Kitchener  

Bring to next meeting or e-mail executive with ideas for guests and
locations.

Coming Events in the Community

.         Sept. 21- International Day of Peace -  3rd Annual Human Peace
Sign, Victoria Park Clock Tower, 7:00 pm    Contact Roger at 519-742-2565 or
www.nonviolencefestival.org

.         Sept. 22- Maude Barlow kicking off "Just Tap it! Don't Toss it!"
campaign at Federation Hall, University of Waterloo, 7-9 pm Admission with
one reusable water bottle.  

.         Oct. 24 -  350 degree Day of Action (on climate change)  e-mail
info at wpirg.org for details

.         Note that LED bulbs are now available at Home Depot!!

Region's Open Houses on Countryside Line (ROP)

.         Mon. Sept 28, 3-8 pm, Ayr Fire Hall, 1843 Wrigley Road

.         Thurs. Oct 1, 3-8, St. Clements Community Centre, 1 Green St.

.         Wed. Oct. 7, 3-8, Wilmot Recreational Complex, 1291 Nafziger Road,
Baden

.         Thurs. Oct 15, 3-8, Woolwich Memorial Centre, 24 Snyder Avenue,
Elmira 

Minutes by Susan Bryant, shbryant at artsmail.uwaterloo.ca

The Residential Energy Efficiency Project Presents, in partnership with
Kitchener-Wilmot Hydro and Waterloo North Hydro:

House-and-Money.gifEnergy Saving Renovation Workshops
September 23, 30 and October 7, 14
At the Kitchener Public Library, Country Hills branch, 1500 Block Line Road,
Kitchener 

 <http://www.reepwaterlooregion.ca/events_diy_workshops.php> Click for
Details Including Workshop Topics

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