[GREN-Exec] proposed draft for GREN website

[Susan Koswan]

HI GREN exec,

I've been looking at our very wordy What is GREN, Belief,  Commitment 
for the website. Suggesting these 4 lines to replace them:

DRAFT SUGGESTED

GREN is the proactive voice for the environment in the Grand River 
watershed.

Our volunteer network is made up of individual and organizational 
members who support and share their expertise with each other.

Depending on the issue we will collaborate, educate, campaign, protest, 
write, and meet as needed with other citizens, organizations, 
policy-makers, politicians, and private interests.

Our goal is to live within our means to protect the air, water, land and 
biodiversity in our rich and beautiful watershed.

WHAT WE HAVE NOW

*GREN members*

· are activists, watchdogs, guardians, stewards and concerned citizens

· support each other by sharing information and expertise

· foster environmental awareness and literacy, and

· promote respect for our natural world and our place in it.

*Our Belief*

We are near the carrying capacity of the essentials for life—water, air, 
energy, greenspace,

aggregate, agricultural land and wetlands—in our communities.

*Our Commitment***

GREN will draw from the well of creative people in our communities to:

· find innovative ways to live better with less

· work cooperatively to promote initiatives that restore, maintain and 
enhance the livability of our communities

· do so for all lifeforms, for current and future generations.

**

*Our Current Goals*

· Implement aggressive water conservation and reuse programs instead of 
planning on outside water sources, such as through a pipeline from Lake 
Erie to Waterloo Region

· Preserve natural and groundwater recharge areas such as Hidden Valley, 
the Waterloo Moraine and the Guelph-Amabel Aquifer

· Move our communities to adopt the precautionary approach and 
principles of sustainability in all decision making

· Measurably improve air quality

· Reduce private car use by improving infrastructure to support 
human-powered (walk/bike) and public transportation

· Increase production, availability and purchase of local and organic food

· Measurably reduce toxics use and toxic and climate-changing emissions 
(land, water and air)

· Institute waste avoidance, reuse and recycling and composting programs 
to avoid disposing of garbage either through landfill or incineration

· Eliminate urban sprawl

· Other goals as issues arise

**

*GREN Policies*

*Decision-making*

· Consensus will be the normal way of making decisions; in cases of 
disagreement, voting as per Robert’s rules will be the method.

· Two members of the executive and three GREN members constitute a 
quorum for meetings

· Members only make decisions. Meetings are open to guests.

· Members who can’t get to a meeting can be involved in discussions, 
decisions and voting by electronic correspondence.

· When quick decisions are needed, members will be invited to respond by 
e-mail, a decision will be made by the executive, and the item will be 
on the agenda for the next meeting.

· The agenda will be circulated at least a week prior to meetings so all 
members can participate in discussions and decisions.

*Membership*

· Membership fees are $20 for individuals, $40 for groups, and $5 for 
students.

· Treasurer will share the names and contact info of GREN members with 
the executive

· Treasurer will send e-mail invitation to all GREN members (member= 
paid up) to sign up for “member” list-serve. Treasurer will administer 
this general member list and add members as they reply.

· Each subcommittee will have a list administrator who will act as 
“gatekeeper” to that list—inviting members to join and allowing access 
only to those committee members.

· All postings on all lists will be archived, and those archives 
available to list members.

*Communications/Media*

· The Chair will be the spokesperson for GREN.

· Other GREN members can be designated to speak on behalf of GRENwhen 
the membership has agreed to their position.

· Members can ask GREN to support a particular issue only after 
discussion and agreement of other members (usually after a short 
presentation at a GREN meeting.

**

*GREN Meetings*

· Generally, GREN meetings will include a guest presentation, unless 
complex issues arise requiring more time.
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