[GREN-Exec] GREN Website Update

Sat Jul 17 14:48:48 EDT 2021

Dear Grenlings,

(My new gee-whiz email system tried to force me to only say "dear John and Kevin")

O agree that we need to have an interactive verbal meeting. My hands hve become rickety and my typing swims with typos, which is a nuisance. I basically share John's thoughts.

I think Doug Wicken charged us too little.  Cn I add a bonus of $50 or $100? We have a lot of $ in the account.  Kebin has als mentioned that GREN is receivbing $32,000, and it would be good for him tohave an opportunity to brief us.

Thank you suysan K for forwarding Doug's invoice.

-Greg
________________________________
From: John Jackson <jjackson at web.ca>
Sent: July 17, 2021 11:42 AM
To: Kevin Thomason <kevinthomason at mac.com>
Cc: Greg Michalenko <gcmichalenko at uwaterloo.ca>; GREN Executive <executive at gren.ca>
Subject: Re: [GREN-Exec] GREN Website Update

I think the work Scott is doing looks really good and the bill is very reasonable, so I agree that we should go ahead and pay him right away.

I really like the list that Scott gives in his e-maill of what some of us should be able to update on our own without him having to be involved.

On Susan K's idea for alternating the GREN chair and secretarial roles, I think it sounds good. We should clarity what we define the chair and secretarial roles as. Do they include all of or only some of: 1) chairing/facilitating GREN and executive committee meetings; 2) setting up GREN meetings, including executive committee meetings, including dates and time, location, agenda, etc.; 3) taking and distributing meeting notes; 4) ensuring that GREN makes submissions on issues we are involved in in a timely manner, if we consider it important, 5) making sure GREN signs on to submissions from other groups in a timely manner, if it is a topic and content that we agree with; 6) making sure we respond (yes or no) to requests for support from other groups or individuals in a timely manner, if we consider it related to our mandate and reasonable within our resources; 7) making sure that GREN website is being updated (this doesn't mean actually doing it but checking it and prodding people to do so who should be updating); 8) prodding others who have volunteered to do certain tasks to make sure they are getting carried out - "prodder in chief"; and 9) official signer of documents for GREN

These roles can be done by more than just the chair and secretary, but we need to discuss the best ways to achieve these and how to do it. The treasurer role is fine as it is now because to have more than one person keeping track of the money is likely to lead to chaos. By the way, we need to make sure we correct the spelling of Greg's last name on the list of roles on the website.

We should look at the Vice-Chair role. What should that role be? Should there be more than one vice-chair?

What about having a lead for each issue area?

Yes it would be great if we could have an executive meeting to discuss all of this. It is hard to sort it all out through e-mails. I can set up a zoom call, or Susan K could do it if she still has a zoom account.

John

------------------------------
John Jackson
17 Major Street
Kitchener N2H 4R1
519-744-7503

On Jul 17, 2021, at 10:47 AM, Kevin Thomason <kevinthomason at mac.com<mailto:kevinthomason at mac.com>> wrote:

Hi Greg,

Here’s the attachment for the web invoice that you are seeking.  If you can get a cheque off to Scott that would be fantastic.

Cheers,
Kevin.

<GRENInvoice210716.pdf>

-------------------------------------

Kevin Thomason

1115 Cedar Grove Road
Waterloo, Ontario Canada  N2J 3Z4

Phone: (519) 888-0519
Mobile Phone/WhatsApp: (519) 240-1648
Twitter: @kthomason
E-mail: kevinthomason at mac.com<mailto:kevinthomason at mac.com>

-----------------------------------------

On Jul 16, 2021, at 5:38 PM, Greg Michalenko <gcmichalenko at uwaterloo.ca<mailto:gcmichalenko at uwaterloo.ca>> wrote:

The attachment for the web-work invoice seems to have done a disappearing act.  This happens when my email system automatically strings a bunch of emails together that have recipients in common.  I wish it would just leave them alone.  Could one of you who does have the attachment send it to me (and no one else)?

  *   Treasurer Greg

________________________________
From: Executive <executive-bounces at gren.ca<mailto:executive-bounces at gren.ca>> on behalf of Susan Bryant <shbryant at uwaterloo.ca<mailto:shbryant at uwaterloo.ca>>
Sent: July 16, 2021 2:19 PM
To: Kevin Thomason <kevinthomason at mac.com<mailto:kevinthomason at mac.com>>
Cc: GREN Executive <executive at gren.ca<mailto:executive at gren.ca>>
Subject: Re: [GREN-Exec] Fwd: GREN Website Update

Hi all-

The website looks great so far! Thank you all for getting that going. I’m in with Susan K’s idea of the rotating positions.

Did you see last week’s Leah Gerber article in the Record about the Mennonites and creek contamination? I get somewhat nervous about speaking about and for that community. But Leah does a nice straight-up job with the information. She does her homework, sitting in on most of the advisory committee meetings. We just received the latest creek report from the company, with the last of the revamping—only 700 some pages.

Cheers,

Susan B

Sent from my iPad

On Jul 16, 2021, at 1:57 PM, Kevin Thomason <kevinthomason at mac.com<mailto:kevinthomason at mac.com>> wrote:

Hi Susan and GREN Executive,

Thanks for following up with Scott on the website.  It has been on my To Do List the past few weeks but I have simply been overwhelmed with issues with pressing deadlines.

I would agree that the site is looking good.  I had started to go through it with wording for pages that needed it, some corrections, updates, etc.  Unfortunately, I am currently away from my computer in Northern Ontario and unsure if I have enough bandwidth to log in remotely and access the files, photos, etc. in the big feedback file I had been working on.

Scott’s invoice is quite reasonable and we should have Greg pay it as soon as convenient.  For now I think that the Executive can keep working on the site a bit further before getting everyone’s feedback on it.

Funding won’t be an issue as there is a cheque coming to GREN for $1,200 for a bunch of work I did with EcoSpark and I have just received news from the Greenbelt Foundation that we have been successful for a $32,000 grant.  A portion of these funds will need to go to other environmental groups and there will be some deliverables over the next two years such as some meetings and webinars but for the most part we are already doing many of the things this grant is asking GREN to do.

Again, once I am back to my computer I can circulate more information.

An Executive Meeting sometime soon would be good and I really like Susan’s suggestion of a rotating Chair/Secretary role.

Let me know any questions or ideas and I will be in touch more once I’m back in civilization.

Cheers,
Kevin.

------------------------

Kevin Thomason

Phone: (519) 888-0519
Mobile Phone: (519) 240-1648
E-mail: kevinthomason at mac.com<mailto:kevinthomason at mac.com>

-------------------------

On Jul 16, 2021, at 1:25 PM, Susan Koswan <susankoswan at execulink.com<mailto:susankoswan at execulink.com>> wrote:

Hi GREN exec,
I thought Kevin and I had left Scott hanging with the GREN website. I just emailed Scott and asked him to send us an interim bill. Greg, please see the attached invoice and pay him.

If you scroll down below to our correspondence, Scott has sent a link to a preliminary website. Let me know your comments ASAP, and let me know if you want to send this to the rest of the GREN list for comment.

Also, what do you think about listing Susan B and me as interim, alternating chairs/secretaries? I propose we put it out to the GREN list the possibility of having 2 members stand as interim chair/secretary for 1 or 2 year terms. Thoughts?

Best,
Susan K

-------- Forwarded Message --------
Subject:        RE: GREN Website Update
Date:   Fri, 16 Jul 2021 13:05:46 -0400
From:   Scott Wicken <frankenpoet at gmail.com><mailto:frankenpoet at gmail.com>
To:     'Susan Koswan' <susankoswan at execulink.com><mailto:susankoswan at execulink.com>
CC:     'Kevin Thomason' <kevinthomason at mac.com><mailto:kevinthomason at mac.com>

Hey,

Here is the invoice for GREN thus far.

Thank-you,
Scott Wicken

From: Susan Koswan <susankoswan at execulink.com><mailto:susankoswan at execulink.com>
Sent: July 16, 2021 10:28 AM
To: Scott Wicken <frankenpoet at gmail.com><mailto:frankenpoet at gmail.com>
Cc: 'Kevin Thomason' <kevinthomason at mac.com><mailto:kevinthomason at mac.com>
Subject: RE: GREN Website Update

I think it's looking great Scott. Haha Great Scott!

I just want to make sure you are being compensated for the time and work you've put in to date and not falling between the cracks here.

Can you invoice GREN for time to date?

Thanks,
Susan

On 15 Jul. 2021 16:15, Scott Wicken <frankenpoet at gmail.com<mailto:frankenpoet at gmail.com>> wrote:
Hello Susan and Kevin,

Hope you are enjoying your summer so far.

I believe we were at the point where we have a basic build and there are going to be suggestions about how to move forward. There is a basic test site up at https://www.scottwicken.com/GREN/ that basically provides a general appearance without any real functionality.

What I think I should develop is some interactive elements so that you can update things on your own, specifically:

-The ability to change your members/executive list and details
-The ability to list upcoming meetings with associated details
-Functionality to edit membership fees and details
-The ability to add current activities so each box opens a separate window of details, and a link to get involved
-A link to join the list-serve
-The ability to list and edit partners
-The ability to add and edit social networks

Basically, I would be setting up pages to list, add, edit and erase most of the elements on the page. These pages would be accessible via an admin page that would require a username and password to enter. You could modify the site at your leisure. After that, going forward, there would be very little need to have me modify elements on the webpage. I would be available of course if anything went wrong or anybody needed any help.

Let me know any suggestions you might have. I am excited to move forward on this project.

Thanks,
Scott

From: Susan Koswan <susankoswan at execulink.com<mailto:susankoswan at execulink.com>>
Sent: July 15, 2021 3:26 PM
To: Scott Wicken <frankenpoet at gmail.com<mailto:frankenpoet at gmail.com>>; 'Kevin Thomason' <kevinthomason at mac.com<mailto:kevinthomason at mac.com>>
Subject: Re: GREN Website Update

Hi Kevin, Scott,
Finally getting around to checking in to see what is happening with GREN website rebuild.
Best,
Susan
On 3/26/2021 10:43 AM, Scott Wicken wrote:
Excellent. Thanks for the update Kevin.

Scott

From: Kevin Thomason <kevinthomason at mac.com><mailto:kevinthomason at mac.com>
Sent: March 25, 2021 7:12 PM
To: Scott Wicken <frankenpoet at gmail.com><mailto:frankenpoet at gmail.com>; Susan Koswan <susankoswan at execulink.com><mailto:susankoswan at execulink.com>
Subject: GREN Website Update

Hi folks,

Sorry about the delay - it has been an insane week.  I have been in touch with Patrick who is going to package up the website and put together an information package for us on Friday afternoon.

I will pass along whatever I get from him as soon as I get it.

Talk more soon,
Kevin.

-------------------------------------

Kevin Thomason

1115 Cedar Grove Road
Waterloo, Ontario Canada  N2J 3Z4

Phone: (519) 888-0519
Mobile Phone/WhatsApp: (519) 240-1648
Twitter: @kthomason
E-mail: kevinthomason at mac.com<mailto:kevinthomason at mac.com>

-----------------------------------------

<GRENInvoice210716.pdf>
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