[All] Robert's Reply

Robert Milligan mill at continuum.org
Fri Mar 28 21:05:38 EDT 2014 

Dear All.

Thank you everybody who responded to my previous email that was basically critical of the older generation that (mostly) we are a member of— especially those other members with the most power — whose incompetent approach to Life on Earth has caused most human-extinction sustainability problems while undermining their solution.  

Directly & indirectly, GREN — while helping some activist members and others with their challenges — needs to act as a group to do more to recognize and help solve tipping-point-level sustainability problems in WR & the rest of GR bioregion (& beyond as an exemplar). 

WREN is a group who want to create a collaborative network of very active sustainability groups — along with financial backers — to get more done faster.  They seem to have better recognized the urgency. Their meeting last night was very professionally done and generally showed great potential to meet the high standard for innovation expected of players in WR. 

(Obviously i viewed the meeting different from Eleanor — perhaps my view was mediated by my cloaking device — who appears to have higher expectations of an organization in its initial stages. I’ve never been accused of not being a tough critic, but I do have empathy.and a willingness to collaborate with others who are willing.)

WREN is offering to work with GREN — as with other sustainability organizations — to help make it more effective. GREN — — not just the executive — could have a meeting with them to explore possibilities. (I am now noticing some attitudes that could make this impossible!)

Any criticism I have of GREN is for purposes of making GREN a better organization with the by-product of minimizing our loss of active members. 

Sorry if some of you took my criticisms personally. But no matter how much you have done thus far, the most able must do much more — including the training of apprentices who would amplify your good works now, then carry on when you are no longer able. 

John was not a direct target, But as I said s year or so ago, he needs to do much more as a leader to help enhance GREN at least as mentioned above.. (The “sorry John” comment — meant mostly in jest — had to do with my use of the word “HELL” as part of the expression “ENVIRONMENTAL HELL" and his expressed concern that GREN members always be secular in GREN communications — which some may disagree with.)

Alll of Humanity must better use their talents to sustainabilize the World in these ultra-critical times — God help us if we do not!

Love to all,
Robert

PS: I did not receive directly the emails directed to me sent by jan & Greg — is somebody playing games?



On Mar 28, 2014, at 7:54 PM, Eleanor Grant <eleanor7000 at gmail.com> wrote:

> I actually found the WREN meeting pretty weird.  The only other Grenners there were Kevin and Greg.  I got the impression that most groups were small businesses or initiatives at UW, or collaborations among these.  The jargon used was incomprehensible.  I couldn't imagine one of those people going to city council to save a wetland, for example.  I thought that's what environmentalists do.
> 
> If Jason would like to start a site to monitor current issues in W Reg and who supports them, I guess that's OK.  But the site should also include actions that are planned and petitions that are live.  And they have to be removed when they're out of date.  Having a clearing house of these  could be a useful service.
> 
> My 2¢,
> 
> Eleanor
> On Mar 28, 2014 5:51 PM, "Susan Koswan" <susankoswan at execulink.com> wrote:
> I’m also concerned that we keep trying to re-invent and create a central hub. We started GREN to do that and now WREN has created itself to do that also. Just seems like a lot of duplication and needless repetition and now we want ANOTHER central hub website? I don’t get it. I love new ideas, new energy, new connections, new synergy, but it requires building from what we had or don’t we risk repeating the same mistakes and continually reinventing the wheel. Or am I missing something here?
> 
>  
> 
> From: Jason Comely [mailto:contact at jasoncomely.com] 
> Sent: March-28-14 3:39 PM
> To: susankoswan
> Cc: All
> Subject: Re: [All] In Defence of Robert
> 
>  
> 
> 
> Hi Susan,
> 
> There are three reasons why I think Lulu's idea has merit, and that it's worth pursuiting:
> 
> 1) I would need the FTP credentials, username and password to access the GREN website files and make any changes. Do you know them? If not, who does? Would they entrust that information to me?
> 
> 2) The concept of wepower.ca is a united voice, not just the voice of GREN
> 
> 3) Although $20 isn't insignificant, the  only "real" expenditure is my time, and the few minutes it might take others to throw together some copy
> 
> Best,
> 
> Jason
> 
>  
> 
> On Fri, 28 Mar 2014 15:28:00 -0400, "Susan Koswan" wrote:
> 
> > I appreciate what you’re both doing here, but we already have the GREN website, which is underutilized and are already paying for the domain name etc. etc. Can we save the expense and work with it?
> > 
> > Thanks,
> > 
> > Susan K 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > From: All [mailto:all-bounces at gren.ca] On Behalf Of Jason Comely
> > Sent: March-28-14 3:22 PM
> > To: butterflybluelu
> > Cc: All
> > Subject: Re: [All] In Defence of Robert
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > Thanks Lulu. I just purchased the domain (see below).
> > 
> > I'll work on the design. I need the following information for the body of the web page:
> > 
> > 1) The key demand
> > 
> > 2) Further explanation of the key demand (3-4 paragraphs)
> > 
> > 3) A list of all the groups endorsing the demand
> > 
> > I should be able to manage the rest.
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > Like I said, the web page will be online by Saturday night.
> > 
> > Thanks again Lulu, and look forward to contributions from other GREN members.
> > 
> > Best,
> > 
> > Jason
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > Below is the summary of your order: 
> > ================================================== 
> > Invoice number: 327042751
> > ================================================== 
> > New registration: 
> > - wepower.ca 
> > 
> > ================================================== 
> > SubTotal: $12.88
> > GST: $0.64
> > PayPal Service Fee: $0.27
> > Grand total: $13.79
> > ================================================== 
> > 
> > To manage your domain:
> > 1) Please login to your Namespro.ca account
> > 2) Click on 'my domains' on the left menu
> > 3) Click on the desired domain
> > 
> > Thank you for choosing Namespro.ca . We are committed to 
> > provide trustworthy and dependable domain services to you.
> > We appreciate your business. 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > On Fri, 28 Mar 2014 12:07:07 -0700 (PDT), Louisette Lanteigne wrote:
> > 
> > > Just sent you $20 for the URL. Keep the rest for Tim Horton's. :0)
> > > 
> > > Lulu 
> > > 
> > > 
> > > ________________________________
> > > From: Jason Comely 
> > > To: butterflybluelu ; All 
> > > Sent: Friday, March 28, 2014 2:54:32 PM
> > > Subject: Re: [All] In Defence of Robert
> > > 
> > > 
> > > 
> > > 
> > > You are so smart and inspiring Lulu. A great idea. I'm embarrassingly low on cash, but if people reading this are willing to donate $2 via PayPal to me, I'll buy the domain and design the website and have it done and online for everyone to link to by this Saturday night, midnight. Promise.
> > > I'll need about $14 to buy the .ca domain at namespro.ca. Here's my PayPal email account: contact at jasoncomely.com
> > > Best,
> > > Jason
> > > 
> > > 
> > > 
> > > On Fri, 28 Mar 2014 11:39:12 -0700 (PDT), Louisette Lanteigne wrote:
> > > 
> > > > Hi folks
> > > > 
> > > > Thanks for your kind words Jason. Your making me blush here, my goodness.
> > > > 
> > > > There are always hardships before the blessings in life. There is pain before a baby. There is work before pay. There is the tilling of the soil before the harvests. Any good result relies on actual work and patience to see result. It requires us to work within the limits of what we actually have but when we collaborate we get even better results. That is what WREN and GREN are doing. GREN is about refining concepts using science/logic based approaches so we can clarify clear goals to work towards in regards to policy, political lobbying etc. WREN is the networking, the crafting of alliances to get physical results happening within the framework of existing business models because business governs our society. (In the context of the issues were dealing with.) I am optimistic about WREN and GREN and the other groups involved. The scale of collaboration will reflect the scale of the benefits received. That is exciting stuff. Those are game changers. 
> > > > 
> > > > Think how many agencies are linked purely to the networking aspects of business. We have unions, Chamber of Commerce, trade organizations and associations, charities like the Rotary Clubs etc. They do this because it works. The more bees the bigger the buzz. Common sense. Business thrives on collaboration and they are most effective by keeping their messages short and sweet. ie: Kill this bill. 
> > > > 
> > > > Not much explanation is ever given in the business world because they don't want it or need it. They simply know they agree on it for their own business objectives. It's common sense. The environmental movement desperately needs to do the same thing. 
> > > > 
> > > > For the environmental movement, I'd like to see a website. One single idea posted at the top of a page which is the most simple way to state a key demand: Save Hidden Valley, Support Provincial Review of Line 9, pass/reject this bill etc. All groups endorsing the idea is listed underneath. If a group wants to provide a hyperlink as to why they support the idea, we can provide it. That's it. 
> > > > 
> > > > We could call the site: wepower.ca. The URL is available. 
> > > > 
> > > > Simplicity of the message. Never underestimate it! 
> > > > 
> > > > Lulu 
> > > > 
> > > > 
> > > > 
> > > > 
> > > > 
> > > > 
> > > > 
> > > > 
> > > > 
> > > > 
> > > > 
> > > > ________________________________
> > > > From: Jason Comely 
> > > > To: jkliggett 
> > > > Cc: All 
> > > > Sent: Friday, March 28, 2014 10:55:19 AM
> > > > Subject: Re: [All] In Defence of Robert
> > > > 
> > > > 
> > > > 
> > > > Robert, what you said denegrates all of the work that the members of GREN and others in our communities have done and dedicated their lives to.
> > > > I'm a lurker to this list (and a member of GREN for several years). I just wanted to jump in to the defence of Robert. What impressions I got from Robert's email was a sense of humility to the limitations of GREN and a show of support and optimism for WREN.
> > > > I was at WRENE2014 last night and I was blown away with the event and the positivity in the room. WREN will be different than GREN, but not better. WREN is focused on collaborations, technological innovation and scaling projects bigger. 
> > > > In my mind, GREN exemplifies "the pen being mightier than the sword" philosophy and leveraging traditional media. And of course Lulu Lanteigne, who is a Canadian legend (I don't say that lightly) and she absolutely deserves a Wikipedia page of her own (but I digress).
> > > > What I'm trying to say is this is apples and oranges we're comparing. One does not nor cannot take away from the other. 
> > > > Back to lurking again.
> > > > Best,
> > > > Jason
> > > > 
> > > > On Fri, 28 Mar 2014 10:25:37 -0400, "Jan Liggett" wrote:
> > > > 
> > > > > Does anyone have an actual link to an official website of WREN itself, not the event? I can’t seem to find anything.
> > > > > Robert, what you said denegrates all of the work that the members of GREN and others in our communities have done and dedicated their lives to. It is wonderful that a younger generation understands something the rest of us know already. Some of that knowledge is inherent. What they don’t have is the historical knowledge that we have through actually being there. You know the kind of ingrained feeling that makes you skin tingle or the hair on the back of your neck rise. The kind of feeling each of us gets because we’ve been there and can’t be snowed; the nuances, the semantics.
> > > > > The world needs us and them also.
> > > > > 
> > > > > From: Eleanor Grant 
> > > > > Sent: Wednesday, March 26, 2014 8:25 PM
> > > > > To: GREN2 
> > > > > Subject: [All] Fwd: #WRENE2014 Update: Network Presenters
> > > > > 
> > > > > Is anybody from GREN going to this?
> > > > > 
> > > > > Eleanor
> > > > > 
> > > > > 
> > > > > ---------- Forwarded message ----------
> > > > > From: "Waterloo Region Environmental Network" 
> > > > > Date: Mar 26, 2014 5:25 PM
> > > > > Subject: #WRENE2014 Update: Network Presenters
> > > > > To: "eleanor7000 at gmail.com" 
> > > > > Cc: 
> > > > > 
> > > > > WREN - Waterloo Region Environmental Network
> > > > > Where sustainable community networks grow, and collaborative action thrives.
> > > > > View this email in your browser. 
> > > > > 
> > > > > 
> > > > > 
> > > > > 
> > > > > #WRENE2014 Update:
> > > > > 
> > > > > Network Presenters
> > > > > 
> > > > > 
> > > > > 
> > > > > 
> > > > > #WRENE2014 IS HERE! THURSDAY MARCH 27, 2014 6PM-8PM 
> > > > > REGISTER TODAY! 
> > > > > 
> > > > > 
> > > > > SHARE THIS EMAIL 
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> > > > > Hello Waterloo Region Environmental Network!
> > > > > 
> > > > > One day away! Quick update before the event tomorrow to announce our network presenters who will each briefly be speaking at #WRENE and providing WREN with updates.
> > > > > 
> > > > > We look forwards to seeing you there tomorrow! If you haven’t had a chance to register yet, please do so at http://wrene2014.eventbrite.ca
> > > > > 
> > > > > 
> > > > > NETWORK UPDATES & PRESENTATIONS
> > > > > Name Organization Focus 
> > > > > Sarah Brown ClimateActionWR
> > > > > http://www.climateactionwr.ca/ a.. Updates on key projects & momentum 
> > > > > 
> > > > > Sylvie Spraakman TransitionKW
> > > > > http://transitionkw.com/ a.. Updates on key projects & momentum 
> > > > > 
> > > > > Tania Del Matto Green House
> > > > > https://uwaterloo.ca/stpauls/greenhouse a.. Updates on key projects & momentum 
> > > > > 
> > > > > Felix Munger & Manuel Riemer Sustainable Societies Consulting Group
> > > > > http://www.sscg.org a.. Updates on key projects & momentum 
> > > > > 
> > > > > Hari Stirbet ASCEnt
> > > > > http://www.communitech.ca/programs/ascent/ a.. Updates on key projects & momentum 
> > > > > 
> > > > > Nicole McCallum & Jared Foxworthy Green Rocket
> > > > > http://www.greenrocket.ca a.. Updates on key projects & momentum 
> > > > > b.. Presentation of WREN community proposal 
> > > > > 
> > > > > 
> > > > > If you are interested in speaking on behalf of your organization and providing updates to the network at subsequent events, please let us know by emailing and we will add your to the list we are aggregating.
> > > > > 
> > > > > 
> > > > > REMINDERS:
> > > > > 
> > > > > COMMUNITY RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT - COMMUNITY CALENDAR
> > > > > 
> > > > > During the facilitated collaboration component of the event, we will be focusing our efforts on developing the Community Calendar - selected by you, the network, as the most requested community resource to develop!
> > > > > 
> > > > > To optimize your contribution of this community resource, please come prepared to share the following details around your organizations calendar of relevant events for as far into 2014 as possible: 
> > > > > a.. Event Name 
> > > > > b.. Event Date 
> > > > > c.. Event Focus (140 characters or less) 
> > > > > d.. Contact 
> > > > 
> > > > > Green Rocket is committed to aggregating the outcomes of this development into a digital Community Calendar of events, which will be hosted with our online community resources at http://www.greenrocket.ca. 
> > > > > 
> > > > > 
> > > > > ADDITIONAL NETWORK OPPORTUNITIES:
> > > > > 
> > > > > Energy Monitoring Offer - exclusive to WREN members!
> > > > > We are excited to announce that Minimise Energy, a sponsor of #WRENE2014, is offering an exclusive offer to WREN members for a two-week pilot of their innovative energy monitoring solutions – at no installation cost!
> > > > > 
> > > > > Please visit http://wp.me/psvZq-7GH for additional details and to apply.
> > > > > 
> > > > > 
> > > > > 
> > > > > Warm regards,
> > > > > 
> > > > > Nicole McCallum & Jared Foxworthy
> > > > > Co-Executive Directors, Green Rocket
> > > > > 
> > > > > ~~~~~*~~~~~* ~~~~~*~~~~~* ~~~~~*~~~~~* ~~~~~*~~~~~* ~~~~~
> > > > > 
> > > > > New to WREN? In December 2012, the Waterloo Region Environmental Network (WREN) supported the first event of its kind in the region to bring together over 70 individuals from 60+ organizations to network, define a collective vision, and determine opportunities for collaboration within the local sustainability cluster.
> > > > > 
> > > > > Let’s keep the conversation going! We are delighted to continually provide updates on the outcomes from this momentum, and ask for your continued involvement in networking with the local environmental community.
> > > > > 
> > > > > ASCEnt (Accelerating Social Cause Entrepreneurs) is an innovative pilot program – located in Waterloo Region — offering social entrepreneurs and benefit enterprises a comprehensive program to move companies from idea to sustainable success.
> > > > > Through a program of education and business mentorship focussed on earning revenue and balanced impact, our goal is to help social enterprises polish their go to market plans, build viable product offerings and make critical connections to partners, customers and industry influencers.
> > > > > With a focus on building and strengthening existing support systems and infrastructures for social enterprises, this initiative embodies the collaborative and entrepreneurial spirit necessary to create companies and jobs for public, social or environmental benefit throughout Ontario.
> > > > > 
> > > > > #WRENE2014 is brought to you by:
> > > > > Green Rocket 
> > > > > ASCEnt 
> > > > > Communitech 
> > > > > 
> > > > > Sponsors:
> > > > > Minimise Energy 
> > > > > Enviro-Digital 
> > > > > 
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