<div><font color="#000000"><font><font face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif"></font></font></font>Robert,</div><div> </div><div>I believe that John Jackson has brought considerable respect to our organization because of his background, his experience, his calmness and his intelligent approach. He represents GREN well, and has made an impact on municipal and regional staff and council (and other levels of government) over the years.</div>
<div> </div><div>As much as I believe Kevin Thomason could slide easily into that seat, I believe that the mix is right. We have a strong executive, with two very active leaders in the president and vice-president positions who work well together.</div>
<div> </div><div>John has done a great job representing GREN before Council, chairing our meetings, and organizing internal and external meetings on various issues. He is a creative thinker, thorough, and a great listener. Kevin also has many great qualities (too many to mention here), but I think that his best work is behind the scenes. With John Jackson taking the President's role for GREN, it allows Kevin to represent GREN when needed, and also the myriad of other organizations that he is involved in, especially when we're looking for more voices on the same issue, e.g. Greenbelt, LRT, etc.</div>
<div> </div><div>I am so appreciative of John's time, and incredibly proud to introduce him to anyone as the President of our Network. Like you, he has been at this a long time, and I do not want to see him replaced anytime soon.</div>
<div> </div><div>Deb Swidrovich</div><div> </div><div><br> </div><div class="gmail_quote">On Mon, Jul 23, 2012 at 10:48 PM, Kevin Thomason <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:kevinthomason@mac.com" target="_blank">kevinthomason@mac.com</a>></span> wrote:<br>
<blockquote style="margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;padding-left:1ex;border-left-color:rgb(204,204,204);border-left-width:1px;border-left-style:solid" class="gmail_quote"><div style="word-wrap:break-word">Robert,<div><br></div><div>
I understand your concern for the environment and drive for action. However, at this point I am not willing to change my role at GREN from Vice-Chair and do not feel that there is any need for change - John has been doing a wonderful job and we need his leadership moving forward. While we may have missed a GREN meeting or two this Spring we have each all been involved in our own efforts and environmental pursuits quite actively.</div>
<div><br></div><div>It was me who suggested the October GREN meeting dates because as Ginny alluded to I am simply too swamped and overwhelmed with everything already on my plate to even contemplate a meeting any sooner. I believe that this timing also works better for John and Susan along with others.</div>
<div><br></div><div>I would agree that one of the things that we need to discuss at the October meeting is a work plan and goals for GREN for the coming year though I believe GREN may remain more of a forum for communication, discussion, and information sharing than see any radical new changes or directions.</div>
<div><br></div><div>I appreciate your compliments and desire to see more action on the environment though I believe at this point we need to stay the course and continue as planned.</div><div><br></div><div>Cheers,</div>
<div>
Kevin.</div><div><br><div>
<p style="margin:0px"><font style="font:12px/normal Helvetica;font-size-adjust:none;font-stretch:normal" size="3" face="Helvetica">----------------------------</font></p>
</div><div><div>
<br><div><div>On 2012-07-23, at 9:07 PM, Robert Milligan wrote:</div><br><blockquote type="cite"><div style="word-wrap:break-word">Hello Ginny & Don,<div><br></div><div>What led to my suggestion was another big gap in our meetings with John's announcement of an Oct. 17 meeting date. And I see the group intending to do almost nothing beyond talk -- mostly wasting the potentially-valuable collaborative time of some of the most effective, but largely separately acting, environmental activists in our GR Bioregion.</div>
<div><div><br></div><div>Ginny: </div><div>As now, the new vice chair could fill in for Kevin. And just like RIM brought in new blood at the highest level from within, when they were seriously faltering. So we could do likewise. Leadership rotation is often done in NGO organizations to great advantage -- including the modeling of fairness and helping others develop their community leadership skills further..</div>
<div><br></div><div>Don:</div><div>Thanks for your viewpoint. But it would be most helpful if you could give some indication of your thoughts about how we could reverse the decreasing member interest in GREN such as through some new efforts to define and help solve local environmental problems -- which ones or other ways?. And if you don't mind, would you be so kind to describe what environmental efforts that you have participated in &/or hope to involve yourself in the future (esp. w. GREN). Surprisingly, you are virtually the only visible person in the group whose environmental background I know little about. I think that I recall your interest in Greening your church (specifics?) which in itself would be commendable.</div>
<div><br></div><div>Best wishes,</div><div>Robert<br><div><div><br></div><div>On 23-Jul-12, at 4:37 PM, Janet and Don Roberts wrote:</div><br><blockquote type="cite"><span style="text-transform:none;text-indent:0px;letter-spacing:normal;word-spacing:0px;white-space:normal;border-collapse:separate"><div lang="EN-CA" vlink="purple" bgcolor="#ffffff" link="blue">
<div><font face="Arial">Hello All</font></div><div><font face="Arial"> I am completely satisfied with John's leadership throughout GREN's short existence.</font></div><div><font face="Arial"> Don Roberts</font></div>
<blockquote style="padding-right:0px;padding-left:5px;margin-right:0px;margin-left:5px;border-left-color:rgb(0,0,0);border-left-width:2px;border-left-style:solid"><div style="font:10pt/normal arial;font-size-adjust:none;font-stretch:normal">
----- Original Message -----</div><div style="font:10pt/normal arial;font-size-adjust:none;font-stretch:normal;background-color:rgb(228,228,228)"><b>From:</b><span> </span><a style="color:blue;text-decoration:underline" title="ginny@kw.igs.net" href="mailto:ginny@kw.igs.net" target="_blank">Ginny Quinn</a></div>
<div style="font:10pt/normal arial;font-size-adjust:none;font-stretch:normal"><b>To:</b><span> </span><a style="color:blue;text-decoration:underline" title="mill@continuum.org" href="mailto:mill@continuum.org" target="_blank">'Robert Milligan'</a><span> </span>;<span> </span><a style="color:blue;text-decoration:underline" title="jjackson@web.ca" href="mailto:jjackson@web.ca" target="_blank">'John Jackson'</a></div>
<div style="font:10pt/normal arial;font-size-adjust:none;font-stretch:normal"><b>Cc:</b><span> </span><a style="color:blue;text-decoration:underline" title="all@gren.ca" href="mailto:all@gren.ca" target="_blank">'GREN'</a></div>
<div style="font:10pt/normal arial;font-size-adjust:none;font-stretch:normal"><b>Sent:</b><span> </span>Monday, July 23, 2012 2:53 PM</div><div style="font:10pt/normal arial;font-size-adjust:none;font-stretch:normal"><b>Subject:</b><span> </span>Re: [All] GREN fall meeting - October 17</div>
<div><br></div><div><div style="margin:0cm 0cm 0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;font-size:12pt"><span style="color:rgb(31,73,125);font-family:Calibri,sans-serif;font-size:11pt">Robert I , for one, am not interested, as a member of GREN, in chasing around the Continent or the Planet looking for environmental causes. I have been more than satisfied with John and I would be satisfied with Kevin Have you asked Kevin if he’s willing to accept this position????? I’m getting too old to go after anything except local and Regional concerns for the most part....but let the others have their input if they are interested in expressing an opinion.<u></u><u></u></span></div>
<div style="margin:0cm 0cm 0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;font-size:12pt"><span style="color:rgb(31,73,125);font-family:Calibri,sans-serif;font-size:11pt">Kevin’s a pretty busy fellow and travelling a lot. It may be too much of a burden with his schedule.. ...unless they would be co-chairs. (yes, it worked at RIM for awhile.) When you start changing these things , eventually the whole picture dies . I’ve been associated with this type of situation before. John could chair one meeting and Kevin (IF he is willing) could chair the next meeting....or they could both sit up at the front and co-chair when both are available.<u></u><u></u></span></div>
<div style="margin:0cm 0cm 0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;font-size:12pt"><span style="color:rgb(31,73,125);font-family:Calibri,sans-serif;font-size:11pt">I may be speaking out of turn but I imagine we have to get input from the members so I might as well be the first one to state my opinion which is currently where I stand with your suggestion. Thanks for hearing me out. Let the opinions begin !!! Ginny<u></u><u></u></span></div>
<div style="margin:0cm 0cm 0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;font-size:12pt"><span style="color:rgb(31,73,125);font-family:Calibri,sans-serif;font-size:11pt"><u></u> <u></u></span></div><div><div style="border-width:1pt medium medium;border-style:solid none none;padding:3pt 0cm 0cm;border-top-color:rgb(181,196,223)">
<div style="margin:0cm 0cm 0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;font-size:12pt"><b><span style="font-family:Tahoma,sans-serif;font-size:10pt" lang="EN-US">From:</span></b><span style="font-family:Tahoma,sans-serif;font-size:10pt" lang="EN-US"><span> </span><a href="mailto:all-bounces@gren.ca" target="_blank">all-bounces@gren.ca</a> [<a style="color:blue;text-decoration:underline" href="mailto:all-bounces@gren.ca" target="_blank">mailto:all-bounces@gren.ca</a>]<span> </span><b>On Behalf Of<span> </span></b>Robert Milligan<br>
<b>Sent:</b><span> </span>July-23-12 1:25 PM<br><b>To:</b><span> </span>John Jackson<br><b>Cc:</b><span> </span>GREN<br><b>Subject:</b><span> </span>Re: [All] GREN fall meeting - October 17<u></u><u></u></span></div></div>
</div><div style="margin:0cm 0cm 0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;font-size:12pt"><u></u> <u></u></div><div style="margin:0cm 0cm 0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;font-size:12pt">John,<u></u><u></u></div>
<div><div style="margin:0cm 0cm 0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;font-size:12pt"><u></u> <u></u></div></div><div><div style="margin:0cm 0cm 0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;font-size:12pt">
The current infrequent meetings and the related lack of any significant inspired local (i.e. Grand River Bioregion) action by GREN itself -- compared to what needs to be done as the Planet exponentially dies -- is undermining GREN's viability as indicated by the attendant loss of active members. Perhaps we need a more dynamic leader such as Vice Chair Kevin Thomason? You have served us well John since our beginning -- and have done very commendable environmental work in Southern Ontario over many years -- but now may be the time to graciously become Chair Emeritus. <u></u><u></u></div>
</div><div><div style="margin:0cm 0cm 0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;font-size:12pt"><u></u> <u></u></div></div><div><div style="margin:0cm 0cm 0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;font-size:12pt">
Best regards,<u></u><u></u></div></div><div><div style="margin:0cm 0cm 0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;font-size:12pt">Robert<u></u><u></u></div></div><div><div style="margin:0cm 0cm 0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;font-size:12pt">
<u></u> <u></u></div></div><div><div style="margin:0cm 0cm 0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;font-size:12pt"><u></u> <u></u></div></div><div><div><div><div><div style="margin:0cm 0cm 0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;font-size:12pt">
On 22-Jul-12, at 5:37 PM, John Jackson wrote:<u></u><u></u></div></div><div style="margin:0cm 0cm 0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;font-size:12pt"><br><br><u></u><u></u></div><div><p style="margin:0cm 0cm 12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;font-size:12pt" class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif;font-size:11pt">The next GREN meeting will be held on Wednesday October 17 at 7:15 pm.<br><br>Please reserve this date in your calendars now. The agenda and location will follow later.<br>
<br>John<br><br>--<span> </span><br>John Jackson<br>17 Major Street<br>Kitchener, Ontario N2H 4R1<br><a href="tel:519-744-7503" target="_blank" value="+15197447503">519-744-7503</a></span><u></u><u></u></p></div><div style="margin:0cm 0cm 0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;font-size:12pt">
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