[All] Focus Group Contact Information Sharing

Robert Milligan mill at continuum.org
Sat Jul 6 13:15:59 EDT 2013


Hi Josh,

First let me say commend Transition KW for you efforts to create a  
local climate change tool kit. Now let me reply to each of your 3  
paragraphs.

1. I did not find out about your meetings until the morning of your  
second meeting of July 2nd, the one on health. Because time was short,  
I tried to reach you through your listed phone number. The person at  
the "linked" number said he could not get you a message. So I  sent   
you an email indicating that I would be attending the 2:00 pm meeting  
(with 5 health & climate change references included). I did not just  
drop in. However, since nobody indicated that an invitation was  
necessary, I decided to attend the next meeting and subsequent ones  
because I had unique ideas to contribute in those other areas.

2. I will attend the Food &  Agriculture group if there is room. I am  
sending Stacey Danckert an mail indicating my intent.

3. Neither a dinner nor beverage/snacks are necessary for any meeting  
I attend, But I can have expectations created which I use to plan my  
daily eating pattern. The only information I had was about a dinner  
provided.

Best regards.
Robert


On 5-Jul-13, at 5:07 PM, Josh Morel wrote:

> Hi Robert,
>
> I am sorry to hear that the meeting yesterday didn't work out.  
> Although we welcome all potential attendees, the focus groups are  
> not drop in meetings. In my original email I had asked for a  
> response from those willing to attend so we could plan  
> appropriately. This is why I did not include the specific meeting  
> place in that email.
>
> For the Food & Agriculture group, if you still want to attend please  
> confirm with the organizer of that focus group Stacey Danckert (sdanckert at gmail.com 
> ).  I did let her know that Ginny confirmed she would attend and  
> shared her email.
>
> In regards to the other point, originally I had thought it would be  
> dinner. However, this did change and in our confirmation emails to  
> attendees we indicated that beverage and snacks (not dinner) would  
> be provided. It was up to each person to attend or not based on that  
> reason.
>
> Sincerely,
> Josh Morel
>
> CC: all at gren.ca
> From: mill at continuum.org
> To: morel.josh at hotmail.com
> Subject: Fwd: Focus Group Contact Information Sharing
> Date: Fri, 5 Jul 2013 13:39:38 -0400
>
> Hi Josh,
>
> Ginny Quinn and Norah Chaloner, GREN members had indicated you  
> needed help in finding additional resource people to attend your  
> Climate Change Toolkit sessions. Yet after attending the previous 2  
> sessions and making good contributions, when I arrived last night I  
> was told your meetings were by invitation only and this session was  
> full -- but I could wait to see if there would be space. It became  
> too crowded. Fortunately I had another meeting nearby that was also  
> valuable that I could attend.
>
> What concerns me is the "invitation only" part. Specifically, if I  
> wish to attend your Food & Agriculture (final) session from 2-4 pm  
> on Tues. at the Misty Mountain Cafe. Am I -- or any other GREN  
> member -- invited if there is room? And what is the dinner  
> situation? (see my July 4 query below in the PS)
>
> Best regards,
> Robert
>
> Begin forwarded message:
>
> From: Robert Milligan <mill at continuum.org>
> Date: July 4, 2013 3:07:02 PM GMT-04:00
> To: Josh Morel <morel.josh at hotmail.com>
> Subject: Re: Focus Group Contact Information Sharing
>
> Hi Josh,
>
> Sharing my contact information is OK:
>
> Robert Milligan
> Grand River Environmental Network AND Independent Sustainability  
> IDEAS Catalyst
> mill at continuum.org (and 519-696-2288 -- I welcome exploratory phone  
> discussions)
>
> Thanks to you and TKW members for your practical innovative and  
> collaborative efforts.
>
> Best regards,
> Robert
>
> PS: In an email that you sent to Norah Chaloner around June 22, you  
> said, "The focus group will be 2 hours long and will be held on  
> Tuesday July 2 at 2-4PM at a location in downtown Kitchener. Dinner  
> will be provided!"  This implies the expectation of a meal for  
> contributers when one attends a session.
>
> When I arrived on Tues. 10 minutes late, there was some indication  
> that some had consumed coffee &/or muffins. Nobody mentioned a meal  
> afterwards.
>
> Then when I arrived for a meeting last night, we were told we could  
> get a coffee and muffin or something. Glen Woolner of CREW decided  
> to get a sandwich and a drink. He mentioned that he was with the  
> group in the meeting room. I chose a sandwich and bottled water.  
> Would kindly clarify the meal situation. I will at least be  
> attending the session tonight on transportation & infrastructure.
>
> On 3-Jul-13, at 9:00 PM, Josh Morel wrote:
>
> Hello Everyone,
>
> Thank you again for making yesterday's climate change focus group so  
> interesting.
>
> Some attendees have asked me to see if anyone is agreeable to  
> sharing contact information for the purpose of connecting on other  
> potential climate change related topics. I have blind CC'd everyone  
> on this email and will only release your information by your  
> permission. If you are interested, please provide your name,  
> affiliation and email you would like to be contacted by. The contact  
> list will only be distributed to those who also provided their  
> information.
>
> We do also plan on providing information to everyone who attended on  
> our analysis of the focus group and survey data.
>
> Sincerely,
> Josh Morel
> On 2-Jul-13, at 10:25 AM, Ginny Quinn wrote:
>
> Hello    Josh    could you send me  more info  on   Human Health, 
> (including  diseases, temperature stress , increased frequency and  
> severity of extreme weather events).   If  possible   I am also  
> interested in info  re    the  Food and Agriculture   Focus  subjects.
> I need to know  what you are seeking to learn   and/or confirm,   
> regarding  specifically  both of  these subjects.
>   Since the water and flooding  meeting  has already   occurred,     
> I’d also be interested  in a report  of the findings   and /or   
> confirmation of some of the  currently  viewed   topics of concern   
> in this area,  as well as the  proposed  potential actions   to   
> mitigate  the damages  which continue  to  endanger this  
> generation   and all future generations   from the inadequate  
> actions  and  lack of knowledge  of  our paid  representatives.    
> Yes, our water resources  is a VERY   important   area  to work on   
> and protect.   Thanks   Ginny   Quinn     519-578-0005    Kitchener.
>
> From: Josh Morel [mailto:morel.josh at hotmail.com]
> Sent: June-27-13 7:39 AM
> To: Louisette Lanteigne; Ginny Quinn; 'Norah Chaloner'; 'GREN'
> Subject: RE: [All] request for help re Waterloo resources.. see bottom
>
> Hello Lulu and Ginny:
>
> These are all very fascinating points. I'm going to look into David  
> Rowade and Conestoga College SWMP program. Ginny - I hope your  
> grandson is doing okay.
>
> I was wondering if either of you feel you could contribute at one of  
> your Focus Groups for the Climate Change Adaptation Toolkit. The  
> scope of this project is adaptation to the negative impacts of  
> climate change at an indvidual/community level (as opposed to the  
> municipal/prov/fed governmental level).
>
> There are five groups each on a different general area. The water  
> one already occurred. The upcoming ones are:
> -Human health - July 2, 2-4pm
> -Energy July 3, 7-9pm
> -Food and agriculture July 9, 2-4pm
> -Transportation and Infrastructure, July 4, 7-9pm
>
> If you feel you could contribute in one of these groups and are able  
> to attend it would be greatly appreciated.
>
> Sincerely,
> Josh Morel
> TransitionKW
> CCAT Project Member
>
> Date: Tue, 25 Jun 2013 11:45:38 -0700
> From: butterflybluelu at rogers.com
> Subject: Re: [All] request for help re Waterloo resources.. see bottom
> To: ginny at kw.igs.net; nrchaloner at hotmail.com; all at gren.ca
> CC: morel.josh at hotmail.com
> The Region's climate expert David Rowade has noted trends that  
> indicate the same annual amount of rainfall in fewer events based on  
> data taken from our local weather stations. It's the storm water  
> management that we really need to plan for. Calgary just had 6  
> months of rainfall in a 2 day period and over the last 10 years,  
> they have had two 100 year floods.
>
>  Here is an excellent article from the Former Chair of the National  
> Roundtable on the Environment and the Economy discussing this fact.
>
> http://www2.macleans.ca/2013/06/24/alberta-flooding-sets-records-prompts-calls-for-action-on-climate-change/
>
> No doubt urban sprawl played into this by paving over their  
> watersheds hampering infiltration of water.
>
> When it comes to the criteria for environmental impact studies, be  
> it for pipelines, subdivisions or other projects,  there is  
> currently no manditory test times or methods or standard units of  
> measurements that engineering firms are mandated to follow. These  
> firms are responsible for gathering the baseline engineering data  
> but often times they undermine water risks by avoiding 12 month  
> creek studies, proper bore hole depths, they avoid spring thaw etc.  
> Unless the baseline testing criteria is standardized to the point it  
> can actually secure reasonable data to determine delta water levels,  
> then we will continue to see failures in planning processes over and  
> over again.
>
> The key to protecting people from bad planning due to floods,  
> erosion issues etc. is to secure solid preliminary baseline data  
> that accurately reflects the hydrology of an area. We need to  
> mandate reasonable testing criteria to follow. Right now it's all  
> subjective. Folks can do a one day audit and get a plan approved  
> based on that crap. We need standards set to actually mitigate risks  
> over the long term.
>
> Lulu :0)
> From: Ginny Quinn <ginny at kw.igs.net>
> To: 'Norah Chaloner' <nrchaloner at hotmail.com>; 'GREN' <all at gren.ca>
> Cc: 'Josh Morel' <morel.josh at hotmail.com>
> Sent: Monday, June 24, 2013 11:56:53 PM
> Subject: Re: [All] request for help re Waterloo resources.. see bottom
>
> Norah    and Josh    A few years ago at a Regional    or  City of   
> Kitchener  council meeting  (can’t remember  which one now.... I    
> was encouraging    (read started pushing for)  200 year   SWMPs   
> Storm Water Management Ponds,  to be  put in  new developments   and  
> basically in all new  developments:  the largest  currently  one  
> done  is the 100 year  SWMP  but many planners and developers  don’t  
> even want to do that.   Based on Hurricane  Hazel   and    Katrina   
> and now  many more....we absolutely MUST   demand   200 year    
> SWMPs.   NOW, once again we have our very own CALGARY AND  
> SURROUNDING  AREAS   in an  emergency  flood.
>   Our Grandson is a Calgary  Firefighter  who has been  ‘home ‘ this  
> past week and does not know the status of his   ( ordered to be  
> vacated) residence   in Calgary    as he will fly back tonight      
> and of course will be immediately  posted to  the areas in most need.
> This is a fine example   to use  Josh..but you will meet with VERY  
> STRONG   opposition and  negativity  from the developers  and  
> planners.   Because    ENLARGED   SWMP   size is what   they do NOT   
> want as  it takes up land they want to  make  profit on, in building  
> more houses.   This  is a very important  demand  that must be   
> promoted  and there’s plenty of proof  in  Climate  Change  and   
> melting of  the  ice in Alaska.   Etc.
>   Just thought you might have already  wanted to do  this  but to  
> let you know  you should FIGHT HARD   to  get this  discussed  and   
> passed in law by the Region etc.
>  The night  I attended the meeting  about  “Run off”    charges    
> was in Kitchener   and the only place at that time   that had done  
> the 200 year  SWMP  was Conestoga College.
>   Speak to the Environmental  Man...I can’t take the time to  find  
> his card  but  you’ll know  how to contact him   at the college.    
> Good luck    Ginny  Quinn.
>
> From: All [mailto:all-bounces at gren.ca] On Behalf Of Norah Chaloner
> Sent: June-22-13 10:10 PM
> To: GREN
> Cc: Josh Morel
> Subject: [All] request for help re Waterloo resources.. see bottom
>
> Hello Folks.. this is an issue for re the K/W region. I am sorry not  
> to have forwarded it sooner. Josh needs some help and you folks have  
> the answers he is seeking.
> Please copy me if you can pick this up so that I know it has been  
> looked after.. I really don't know a lot of the specific resources  
> and needs in your area.. That said, we will be setting up a CoC  
> chapter again in the fall in K/W.    Thanks for your help.  Norah
>
> Dear Norah Chaloner:
> I write to you today as a member of TransitionKW. Based on the  
> Transition movement started in the UK, TransitionKW brings citizens  
> together to build resilience and sustainability within our community  
> in the face of the oncoming challenges of climate change and peak  
> oil. One of our key projects that I am participating in is the  
> creation of a Climate Change Adaptation Toolkit (CCAT) to be used by  
> citizens and community groups in the Region of Waterloo to increase  
> resilience to climate change and its anticipated impacts.
>
> As the Council of Canadians local chapter contact , our project team  
> identified you as a stakeholder in the development of this toolkit.  
> For this reason, I ask for your participation in an upcoming focus  
> group session. In this focus group we aim to gain from their  
> expertise to learn how we can improve our capacity for resilience  
> and identify the gaps in emergency preparedness as it relates to the  
> area of human health for Waterloo Region.
>
> The focus group will be 2 hours long and will be held on Tuesday  
> July 2 at 2-4PM at a location in downtown Kitchener. Dinner will be  
> provided!
>
> Please let me know if you will attend, and if so, at which time(s)  
> you can come.
> Sincerely,
> Josh Morel
> CCAT Project Team Member
>
> P.S.
> Please also let me know of anyone else you would recommend to  
> participation in one of the focus groups. The five focus groups each  
> cover one of the following topics:
> ·         Water resources (including flooding and supply)
> ·         Human health (including diseases, temperature stress,  
> increased frequency and severity of extreme weather events)
> ·         Food and agriculture
> ·         Energy
> ·         Transportation and Infrastructure
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> All mailing list
> All at gren.ca
> http://mail.gren.ca/mailman/listinfo/all_gren.ca
>
>
>

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