Report from the Fourth Meeting
of Siempre Sustainable Network
605 Elm, Seguin, TX 78155
Jan 14, 2007
After a pot-luck dinner, Chair Marvel Maddox called our meeting to order. Other attendees included Gloria and Joe Saenz, Sylvia Manning and Tony Weisman, Gloria Caballero, Nancy Masterson, Roland James and Barbara O’Hara, Clara Beatriz Pascar, Jack Sample, Tim Snyder, Betsy Martin and me, and Rodney and Sydney Burton. New attendees Tim Snyder (TLU student and the Netzer Co-Op http://netzers.podbean.com/about/ ), Jack Sample (SouthWest Pride, Inc. http://southwestpride.com/ ) and Sydney and Rodney Burton (Seguin entrepreneurs http://vogueshoesofseguin.com/ ) introduced themselves to the group.
Tim Snyder gave a brief overview of the Talloires Declaration for sustainability that a task force is reviewing at Texas Lutheran University for likely adoption. Jack Sample mentioned that his organization is involved with parenting and anger management classes, and that he is investigating work with veterans through the American GI Forum. Sydney and Rodney both have had a long-term positive relationship–through the Peace Corps and otherwise–in working to protect the environment and in promoting conservation & sustainability. Barbara O’Hara is an administrator with the Alamo Area Library System.
Vision, Mission, Goals Statements (Nancy Masterson). After a presentation by Nancy Masterson including various options for vision, mission and goals statements, our group felt for the most part that the shorter options were the better ones:
• Vision—Our vision is to become an ecologically sustainable community.
[Patty Raspino feels that we should reconsider revising the vision statement into one more like our original draft: “To become an enlightened community that is steeped in the natural world, culture, heritage and family, & that embraces the tenets of sustainability in a dynamic & holistic fashion. A sustainable community is ecologically sound, spiritually rich, socially just & humane.”
She believes we need to emphasize–for all interested in Siempre Sustainable Network–that our concept of ecology and sustainability is really comprehensive and involved in bringing folk together. It is more than taking care of plants and animals and the environment! It involves economics, the social system, and teamwork!! (As her student so beautifully told her, “ … (people) need to understand that sustainability IS about their work and their house payment”.)
Patty also feels we need to develop a “Purpose” paragraph for future materials and web site. It was suggested that I might work on such.]
• Mission—The mission of the Siempre Sustainable Network is to develop a community of conservation & sustainability by educating, facilitating, motivating & celebrating.
• Goals are to—
1. Educate by increasing public awareness & knowledge of local, regional, national & global environmental issues.
2. Facilitate action by participating in service & demonstration projects in our local watershed.
3. Motivate decision-makers to enact conservation & habitat enhancement practices.
4. Celebrate our appreciation for the natural world & the unique characteristics of our local watershed.
Nancy volunteered to continue to work on wordsmithing the vision, mission and goals statements. Moreover, she said she would appropriately organize strategies and proposed actions developed by the Vision, Mission, and Goals Subcommittee, under their respective goals.
During Nancy’s presentation, there was also discussion of development of a logo by Tim Snyder and Mary Holman. Both have experience in this area and are willing to develop some sample logos which might be attractive and meaningful to folk involved in with Siempre Sustainable Network.
Texans Take Care of Texas (Patty Raspino). Patty will have an event for the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality’s program, Texans Taking Care of Texas, at Samuel Clemens High School close to Earth Day in mid to late April. This educational activity will take place on the Samuel Clemens campus on a Saturday, and will truly be Texan—and “country”–with boots, cowboy hats and saddles. It will target students, parents, teachers, and administrators, young and old et al. I agreed that I would help with this event in any way possible—including arranging for a soil erosion demonstration and a hands-on soil and water biota exhibit.
Talloires Declaration and TLU (Tim Snyder). Tim Snyder further discussed his efforts through a Leadership Group on the Texas Lutheran University, at getting TLU to adopt the 10-point Talloires Declaration to begin to develop sustainability policies in teaching, research, operations and outreach. This declaration would mean initiation of actions by TLU to realize goals of conservation and sustainability.
It would not need approval by the Board of Regents, but to date has not been signed off on by TLU administrators. Nancy felt that we need to in some way get the city and city council involved in this Talloires Declaration effort, since the 10-point plan is one to which all organizations should adhere.
Earth Day-Related Events/Activities, 2008 (Marvel Maddox). Marvel presented ideas for Earth Day-type activities this year. These included being involved (possibly with a booth) in Market Days and the Farmer’s Market. This could be discussed with Mary Jo Filip, Mainstreet Program Director.
An excellent idea Marvel had was to discuss with Jill and Terry Frisbie the possibility of Chiro Java having a 10% off deal for coffees during Earth Day week for customers who brought in their own cup. And perhaps the deal could be made even “sweeter” if the java drinker walked or biked from her or his home to get a cup of brew from Chiro Java??
Marvel also suggested that we might develop articles for the paper during April–dealing with ways to reduce our ecological footprints. Moreover, he suggested that we contact schools and other appropriate entities about putting on the play, “Walden: The Ballad of Thoreau” http://www.waldenplay.com/ .
Finally, Marvel suggested that we contact Joseph and Miki Ward about the possibility of having a Siempre Sustainable Network sponsored tour of their APEX recycled Styrofoam block home during Earth Day week. Nancy agreed to help in making contact with this couple who are attempting to promote this appropriate technology— … and Green homes.
“Institutionalizing” Conservation and Sustainability (Roland James). Roland pointed out that we do need to begin to rapidly make some major changes in our habits of rampant consumption of natural resources, associated release of unprecedented levels of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, and ensuing desertification and climate change. He suggested that there are many schemes of utility pricing, rebate programs, tax breaks, and other incentives and disincentives that could be used to begin to get everyone in our community to employ: conservation in general, solar water heaters, more landscape and home design toward passive cooling and heating systems, other renewable energies, better insulation systems, etc.
Further Discussion. In discussion related to growth and consumption, Sydney pointed out that with our current economic system, we have to have consumption and growth, and homes, businesses and industry that are bigger and more “robust” and expensive–in order to have the tax base that gives us schools, hospitals, Wellness Centers, parks and public recreation, roads and public transportation, public institutions for basic and applied research, the fine arts and cultural activities, good government, police and military, etc., etc.–i.e., the “quality life” we currently have in our communities. (Ecological economists and ecologists like Herman Daly, H.T. Odum, John Ikerd, David Pimentel, Chuck Francis, Miguel Altieri and others have dealt with this concern.)
Clara mentioned problems of excessive packaging of products and has recently been concerned about problematic characteristics of all light bulbs. (And Alicia Helton recently raised a question about using Styrofoam vs. plastic vs. paper vs. metal vs. glass cups, etc.) … Choosing “appropriate” technologies is oftentimes difficult. As far as I’m concerned, conserving and using less of anything is always the most appropriate route. But of course Sydney has pointed out problems with this strategy in our current economic system.
Other Notes. Marvel, Roland, Gloria Osborn and I attended the San Antonio Environmental Network meeting in January. Roland has shown some excellent sustainability-related films in his home recently, and will continue with these film-showing get-togethers. Seguin held another Master Plan meeting on January 31.
I’ll work at the Master Naturalist Booth at the SA Rodeo on Monday, and will attend training on March 28-29 for starting a Master Naturalist Chapter. Roland James and I will attend the 19th Annual Southern Plains Conference, Managing Energy, and Water & Carbon: Communities Responding to Global Climate Change on February 19.
Bill Barker of Solar San Antonio has been publicizing the “Truth Be Tolled” documentary by Emmy-nominated SA filmmaker William Molina, which will be shown (Premiere Screening) at the Palladium Theater at 6:30 pm on February 7. This film has revealing footage where the State Auditor announces that TxDOT cooked the books and misled senators about the Trans Texas Corridor.
At SouthWest Pride/the old Sue Smith School, Roberto Luna and I prepared the soil and added compost to a plot that will be planted to vegetables and flowers later this winter/spring. I hope that this and other efforts might eventually spark a community gardens program in Seguin.
paul b. martin
Acting Secretary
605 Elm, Seguin, TX 78155
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Report from the Fifth Meeting
of Siempre Sustainable Network
SouthWest Pride, Inc. (Old Sue Smith School)
607 Jefferson St., Seguin, TX 78155
Feb 11, 2008
After a pot-luck dinner, Chair Marvel Maddox called our meeting to order. Other attendees included Sylvia Manning and Tony Weisman, Gloria Caballero, Nancy Masterson, Roland James, Clara Beatriz Pascar, Jack Sample, Rodney and Sydney Burton, Patty Raspino, and Mary Jo Filip.
Walnut Branch Project Update—Mary Jo Filip and Nancy Masterson. Seguin Main Street Program Director, Mary Jo Filip and Walnut Branch Project Committee Member, Nancy Masterson provided an excellent update on the Walnut Branch project here in Seguin. (See www.ci.seguin.tx.us/general/walnutbranch.pps for a dated overview/presentation that is “similar”, and www.mysanantonio.com/news/environment/stories/MYSA112607.01B.seguincreek.28b0a8f.htm lwww.seguingazette.com/story.lasso?ewcd=e26f42062297d28e for related recent articles).
The Walnut Branch watershed covers two-thirds of the city of Seguin, and prior to work by the Corps of Engineers for “flood control”, it was a beautiful complex of oxbows, walkways and recreational area of green space enjoyed by the citizens of Seguin and its visitors. The city now has a step-by-step Jacobs Carter Burgess-plan to restore the areas within a five minute walk of the stream to its prior natural beauty and beyond. This green space will serve as a transportation corridor for pedestrians and bicyclers from northwest Seguin to through central and south Seguin.
The vision statement developed through this project is:
“The citizens of Seguin, Texas have a vision of a future when Walnut Branch, from FM78 to the Guadalupe River, is restored to an optimal, diverse and dynamic stream ecosystem, celebrated as a source of community pride and historical significance, valued for its economic benefits and enjoyed by all.”
Realization of this vision will include archeological surveys and studies, protection and restoration of ecological and cultural resources, construction of water falls, retention ponds/soccer fields, decomposed granite hike and bike trails, steps down to the stream, and a creek side diner. Dynamic, on-going accomplishments within this project will depend on collaboration and funding by entities which might include individual citizens and citizen organizations, student groups, Master Naturalists, our Parks and Recreation Board, Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority, TAEX and Texas Parks and Wildlife, as well the issuing of bonds.
Phases in general order of the restoration process will be:
1. The area of Church’s Chicken on Court Street to Nolte Street will be superbly restored.. (This will serve as a model to stimulate the community to want to do more and for launching additional funding opportunities.)
2. Connect the Phase 1 area with Starcke Park East. (This and the other phases will also involve restoration of the area around and including the Matthies House–which will be home to the Wilson Pottery Foundation collection. www.seguingazette.com/story.lasso?ewcd=7b8a96adcd16cbe4 )
3. Work on upstream area north of Court Street. [This will include protection of the springs in the area of Juan Seguin Elementary and restoration of the wetland in the area behind the Police Station, as well as the Herman Land which has great trees and will be wonderful park land. (Tony Weisman openly hoped that city Tree Ordinance Committee members will not cave in to developers when deliberating and realizing our tree ordinance—and that, for e.g., “an old 18-inch established tree could not be removed if nine 2-inch trees were planted”. www.seguingazette.com/story.lasso?ewcd=0956d61390d9a830 ) ]
City-Wide Clean-up for Earth Day—Mary Jo. On either April 19th or the 26th, the city will have a city-wide cleanup for Earth Day!
Texans Talking Care of Texans—Patty Raspino. Patty Raspino indicated that her Earth Day-related event for Samuel Clemens High School is coming together. She expects collaboration from her Environmental Club and with her city water people and Guadalupe Valley Electric Cooperative—as well as Siempre Sustainable Network.
San Antonio Environmental Network—Marvel. Marvel mentioned that he, Gloria Osborn, Roland James and I attended this meeting at Mitchell Lake Audubon Center on March 26. There was a birding opportunity and lively discussion of various local and global environmental issues, including that energy conservation is the key to being sustainable–and centralized vs. the more appropriate decentralized (rooftop) “renewable” energy.
Promoting and Discussing “Conservation and Sustainability” in Religious Congregations/Parishes During Earth Week, …–Marvel Maddox. Marvel Maddox et al. will meet with the Guadalupe County Ministerial Association in the Guadalupe Regional Medical Center back dining room at 11:30 am on Thursday March 13 to discuss appropriate ways to address our churches. Also, others of us will attempt to meet with our pastors and friends about the possibility for this to be addressed in our particular congregations, parishes and religious groups.
(“The [ministerial] association is a multi-denominational alliance of churches in and around Seguin assisting those in need in a primarily spiritual way. The Ministerial Association provides some limited financial support, including a prescription medication program funded by the United Way. The alliance also sponsors community projects and other events to bring the community together.” www.ci.seguin.tx.us/planning/seguin%20resource%20guide.pdf )
Also, I agreed to develop a draft of a short and generic Earth Day presentation (to be used for oral delivery to congregations or in church bulletins) for review at our next meeting. My rough draft follows:
Counting and Caring for Our Blessings
When we were hunter-gatherers at a population of only thousands in the world—and we consumed only about 4000 Calories per capita per day for food, fiber and shelter, … impact on the whole of God’s Creation by humans was minimal. … And in these times humans lived relatively healthy and peaceful lives in the absence of war.
Now we have 1000 times the population numbers, and particularly in areas north of the equator, many, many of us consume 500 to 1000 times the amount of “stuff” we utilized with we were in concert with Nature and the Land. At the same time, many powerless peoples—oftentimes south of the Equator– struggle to meet their minimal basic Caloric needs of about 1500 per person per day. Therefore Nature is mostly being converted to Artificial– and War has become a part of our Nature!
Farmer philosopher and poet, Wendell Berry beautifully wrote, “To live we must daily break the body and shed the blood of Creation. When we do this knowingly, lovingly, skillfully, reverently, it is a sacrament. When we do it ignorantly, greedily, clumsily, destructively, it is a desecration. … To cherish what remains of the Earth and to foster its renewal is our only legitimate hope of survival.”
In this period of Lent, approaching Spring and Easter– or i.e., Renewal– let us focus on how we might conserve and preserve more of Creation we call Nature. Let us begin a dialogue within ourselves, with our family and neighbors, with our leaders– … toward lowering our consumptive habits and better protecting what is Natural and the basis of Life and Living Systems. Let us leave most of Creation for the poor, the powerless and the disenfranchised, … no matter that they may be from diverse origins, from other lands with different languages, of different cultures, of color or pink—or even unborn. … “Let the Earth be Glad.” Psalm 96:12
………………………………
A group here in the Seguin area that is attempting to address these issues in both a Local and Global fashion is meeting regularly the evenings of the second Monday each month at the old Sue Smith School at 607 Jefferson Street.
Note: A bench for Central Park with a metal plate attached containing a quote by a religious leader connecting morality and ecology, has been donated in the name of Siempre Sustainable Network.
Developing the New Master Plan for Seguin. You can find and view the presentation Mesa Design Group gave at the last meeting dealing with Seguin’s Comprehensive Master plan, by going to the city’s web site:
www.ci.seguin.tx.us/
Birding Opportunities—Nancy. Nancy announced that there will be bird walks at the Seguin Outdoor Learning Center on March 6 and 27 (beginning at 8 am) and on April 10 and May 8 (beginning at 7:30 am).
Misc.. Hazel Mondin is the contact person to inquire about the Farmers Markets in Seguin. Roland James made some comments about our need to have more passive cooling heating of our homes, solar water heaters and (rooftop) photovoltaics (as well as local agriculture serving the food, fiber and shelter serving locals) in order to reduce our carbon footprint. (See www.bizjournals.com/sanantonio/stories/2003/07/21/story7.html , www.seguingazette.com/story.lasso?ewcd=36d40b49d5d4865a , www.constellation.com/portal/site/constellation/menuitem.447c4fc72aed32908d84ff10025166a0/ for “related” articles on Seguin’s Rio Nogales natural gas power plant—which adds to Texas’ carbon footprint, but upon which we’ve become “dependent” for local income through gray water sales to it, etc..)
Sylvia pointed out that we in Seguin should be composting (in a simple fashion) our garbage, leaves, grass clippings, and other organic matter. Nancy assured us she would contact Joseph and Miki Ward about having a tour of their Green home around Earth Day. Marvel said the Frisbie’s are receptive to having coffee at Chiro Java at a discounted price for those who demonstrate “conserving and sustaining actions” in the period surrounding Earth Day. Ruben Perez has arranged for a limited tour of Vista Fibers Recycling Plant on Friday March 7.
Understanding the Full Dimension of Sustainability—paul martin. A rough list of actions to take and points to make in the presentation Marvel has asked me to develop for our next meeting on March 10 follows:
Everyone to the blackboard to write short phrases upon it indicating their concept of sustainability.
I began thinking about concepts and the practice of “conservation and sustainability” at least since the 7th grade (My early thoughts, spurred by Richard Guajardo in junior high Catholic catechism class, dealt with the social justice, equality, equity and humaneness component.).
Biology (Principles/ecological processes, 2nd Law of Thermodynamics)—Politics (Saul Alinsky)—Sociology (Sustainable Livelihoods)—Economics(Steady State/Herman Daly) Ethical use of Energy
Target the poor, resource limited, powerless, disenfranchised, the unborn with opportunities/education/financing/support… (so they won’t be compelled to join our military/Al-Qaeda/exploitive corporations/…)
Live like the poor; learn conservation from the poor (though not from the “poor in spirit”)
I would be perfectly happy working full-time to just: retrofit our house; travel by foot, bicycle and bus/train; build solar water heaters and composting toilets; garden; secure a conservation easement for our farm; raise grass-fed beef, patch fence, do rotational grazing/practice Holistic Resource Management; etc.. Nevertheless, I can not ignore the rampant local and global destruction of our natural resource base by those with more power than I—and must attempt to battle it.
Our 6 billion humans, and especially the empowered people of the U.S. and other developed nations (and the powerful ”haves” in lesser developed nations) detrimentally impact soil, water, energy flow, and biodiversity—and effect climate change, i.e. we have definitely “overshot!”. (Water quality & quantity problems, soil erosion, desertification, dead zones, extinction rates, climate change, …)
Lowering detrimental impacts on Nature/the Land means—first and foremost—conservation, conservation, conservation. And we need to begin now!!
But how???? (Work in collaboration with the village and the global community to help each other to truly begin conserving locally and globally!)
One tenet of sustainability involves “caution and tentativeness”! (Many elders in Seguin understood and practiced this in the past. However, we’ve recent begun to worship at the altar of rapid growth of the economy—regardless of the inevitable detrimental effects on our natural resource base.)
Some things that will begin to happen in our city: Reduction of trash, reuse, recycling; … use of nuclear energy
Things that might not happen, but should, for attaining better quality life for all—including other species, for a longer period of time: lowering energy throughput, ecological education
Look up/”Google” these following words/phrases/concepts and you’ll begin to develop a better understanding of the concept of sustainability:
holistic sustainability ecological footprint carbon footprint energetics “emergy” embodied energy net energy net primary productivity mineral cycles
carrying capacity appropriated carrying capacity top soil humus nitrogen cycle sustainable livelihoods holistic resource management sustainable agriculture
natural systems agriculture conservation and development of sustainable community
Second Law of Thermodynamics watershed different components of “biodiversity”
paul b. martin
Acting Secretary
605 Elm, Seguin, TX 78155
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Report from the Sixth Meeting of Siempre Sustainable Network
SouthWest Pride, Inc.
607 Jefferson, Seguin, TX 78155
March 10, 2008
After a great pot-luck meal and introductions, Chair Nancy Masterson called our meeting to order. Other attendees included Rodney Burton, Gloria Caballero, Manuel Garcia, Roland James, Sylvia Manning, Betsy and Paul Martin, Clara Beatriz Pascar, Darryl & Patty Raspino, Joe Saenz, Valeria Rezende & Luiz Otavio Campos da Silva, and Alice Rezende da Silva.
Reducing, Reusing, Recycling. Nancy, Roland James and Paul Martin provided an overview of the Vista Fibers tour which was organized by Ruben Perez, Director of Public Works, and included Linda Duncan, Information Officer–City of Seguin. Although others mildly disagreed, most Siempre meeting attendees felt that curbside recycling would be feasible and is needed for Seguin.
Other discussion proposed: (1) the studying of cities with successful recycling programs (Schertz? SA? Floresville? Boulder, CO? Curitiba, Brazil?)—and implementation of at least components of these programs in Seguin, (2) some inexpensive cost/benefit analysis, and (3) the organizing a critical mass of folk with an effective spokesperson in order to get this on our City Council’s agenda, and to address and persuade City Council toward more and more education, projects and programs that facilitate and encourage “Reducing/Reusing/Recycling”!!
(Subsequent to this March 10th meeting, Nancy Masterson has written and sent letters to Mayor Betty Ann Matthies and the city council, the city manager, and the editor of the Gazette Enterprise, which point out reasons for recycling and improving on the current system of garbage and trash management. Moreover, Roland James has proposed a feasible and relatively simple system for realizing “curbside recycling” at no additional cost to Seguin citizens (And in fact, Roland’s plan–which includes real “trash-” and recycling-pickup–should cost somewhat less than the current system of garbage/trash management for Seguin.).
Earth Day Related Activities. Patty briefly reported on her Texans Taking Care of Texas event which will take place at Samuel Clemens High School. This student event is coming together and will include a booth and activities developed by our Siempre Sustainable Network. (It will take place on May 17th, and will be preceded by a Siempre event on April 19th at the Sample’s SouthWest Pride facility, and a similar activity on May 3rd at the Blue Star Arts Complex, Alamo & Probandt Sts.-SA.)
There was some passionate interaction concerning the role schools should play in facilitating the ecological learning by students. Luiz Otavio wonderfully emphasized and pointed out the “long row to hoe” toward conservation and sustainability—and how we have to continue to try to work together and communicate such that we do journey toward our goal of conservation, resilience and sustainability. (We didn’t reach any real consensus in this discussion other than that we agreed the educational approach should be holistic and “continuing.” … In discussing ecological education and holism, … David Orr of Oberlin College has written in his classic essay, What Is Education For? www.context.org/ICLIB/IC27/Orr.htm , that “all education is environmental education”!)
[Patty Raspino also mentioned that she could use us with Siempre, and others, as volunteers to cut “cedar” at the bird refuge in Cibolo—Warbler Woods. If this were done and the cedar (juniper) was simply left on the ground, her student’s would volunteer to haul it to a desired location.]
Master Naturalist Program. Paul mentioned that our Extension Service County Coordinator-Travis Franke and Natural Resources Agent-Jeff Hanselka are planning to develop an informative meeting about Master Naturalists in late April or May. Also, Paul did attend a portion of a Master Naturalist Chapter leadership training that took place recently on the Bamberger Ranch near Johnson City. He found the Comal County Chapter to be very receptive to the possibility of collaborating with us in the development of a chapter here in Guadalupe County!
“Commonwealths…the Foundations of Resilient Local Communities”. Paul reminded our Siempre group that Dr. Darryl Birkenfeld, Executive Director of Ogallala Commons would be giving a seminar at TLU on April 11, for which Dr. Birkenfeld provide the following abstract:
Over the past 30 years, rural communities of the Great Plains have witnessed recurring scenes of population loss, stagnant economies, youth out-migration, and degradation of natural resources…anything but the picture of sustainability and resilience. In recent years, residents of rural communities are beginning to rediscover that every community already has in place 12 foundational assets that can be called commonwealths. In this presentation, community developer and educator Darryl Birkenfeld, will identify and describe 12 commonwealths, and engage participants in visualizing these key founts of resilience for their communities. He will also illustrate how Ogallala Commons (www.ogallalacommons.org) a nonprofit community development resource network, uses 6 fence posts, as key capacities that reinvigorate the 12 commonwealths, in communities located in Kansas, Colorado, New Mexico, and Texas.
Sustainability? Paul was asked by Marvel Maddox to say a few words about the scope and various aspects of sustainability. Paul mentioned the monumental paper (Vitousek et al. 1986, published in Science) which estimated that “about 40% of the present net primary production in terrestrial ecosystems is being co-opted by human beings each year.” This major source of truly renewable energy, i.e., net primary production (NPP), is what is left over from solar energy capture through photosynthesis in plants, after the plants themselves have met there own respiratory needs.
If we are going to curb this rampant increase in the co-opting of NPP, and stop the precarious conversion of the Natural world to artificial, while providing quality life for all, then we are going to have to develop local and global policy and programs that:
• target the ca. 1-3 billion humans that have power over and utilize few resources (less than $2 per day or less that 4000 kilocalories utilized) such that they will have quality life similar to that of the middle ca. 2 billion, and
• bring the top 1 billion (making a average of more than $100 per day, and utilizing 200, 000 kilocalories+) down in kilocalorie usage to that of the middle 2 billion in a relatively non-disruptive way.
Therefore the mantra, the mindset and the action have to be:
“reduction in consumption and conservation, conservation, conservation, …”
–and we will have to devise and transcend to a very different production, economic, and socio-political system.
paul b. martin
Acting Secretary
605 Elm, Seguin, TX 78155
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Report from the Eighth Meeting of Siempre Sustainable Network
SouthWest Pride, Inc.
607 Jefferson, Seguin, TX 78155
May 12, 2008
Our May 2008 meeting of the Siempre Sustainable Network was called to order by Marvel Maddox at about 7 pm (following a potluck meal). Others in attendance were Nelson Diarte, Barbara Effenberger, Chris Frels, Roland James, Bobbie Maddox, Paul Martin, Nancy Masterson, Clara Beatriz Pascar, Luz N. Perez-Prado, and Sister Elizabeth Riebschlaeger.
Reports were given on activities, including Dr. Darryl Birkenfeld’s TLU presentation from Ogallala Commons, the Holistic Management International of Texas annual meeting, Earth Day-related activities at SouthWest Pride & Blue Star Arts Center, and birding events at the Seguin Outdoor Learning Center. Moreover we briefly discussed preparations for another Earth Day-related event which took place on May 17th. (We’re particularly grateful to Deborah Gafford, NRCS, Cinde Thomas-Jimenez, GBRA, Wilfred Bartoskewitz, Texas Agricultural Education & Heritage Center, Judy Peschel & Wanda Kollaus, SISD, and Michael Cary, Seguin G-E and Darren Dunn, KWED/Daily News for their help in making the Earth Day events a success.)
From the general discussion at this May meeting–concerning future events and
activities– it was relatively clear that:
• Some attendees at our Siempre meetings are very interested in discussing processes of sustainability–and networking.
• Other attendees are interested in addressing more concrete actions items and how to effectively deal with them.
• Some are ready to deal with conventional ideas (generally already accepted as needed to be realized) for moving toward sustainability (even though they may not have been tested in a holistic fashion to determine if they are “appropriate” for moving us toward a resilient and sustainable community).
• Others are more concerned with short and long term changes in sub-systems of our community which are inherently non-sustainable.
Moreover, it appears that the following individuals are particularly interested in pursuing the following activities which may be helpful in making our community more resilient and sustainable:
• Nancy Masterson et al.—Earth Day 2009, City of Seguin
• Nancy Masterson, Clara Pascar, Roland James et al.—Enhanced recycling efforts
• Roland James—Helping the City develop energy conservation policy/initiatives; advocating for such
• Paul Martin—Working toward schools generally smaller in student population (but effectively interacting in mentoring, community service, and sports and other extra-curricular activities), with Green buildings, landscape and curriculum (and few cars and pickups)
{Of course we all are also interested in many other aspects of sustainability and appropriate activities/actions to that end.)
Establishment of (a) Standing Committee(s) for work on Earth Day 2009 was essentially tabled. Moreover, there needs to be continued investigation of planning and action toward a Master Naturalists Program by appropriate entities.
Finally, Sister Elizabeth suggested we might want to seek a 5 minute “sustainability” spot on KWED radio. Others thought we might provide the City’s “newsletter” with a recycling tip of the month, that we should have a green citizen of the year award (Agri-Fest?), and/or that we should look into DOE’s energy saving award.
……………………………..
Some upcoming meetings:
June 14—SA Sustainable Network (Discussion of Thomas Berry’s The Great Work), 11 am-1 pm, Friends Meeting House, 7052 N. Vandiver, San Antonio
June 21—Windfarm Field Day, Dickson Family 69 Ranch, Maryneal, Texas
July 17—Seguin City Council Meeting (Discussion of Tree Ordinance), 5:30 p.m. City Council Chamber, 210 E. Gonzales St., Seguin
Aug 9—Bexar Audubon Environmental/Conservation Summit (Levers of Influence?), 8 am-4 pm, Location TBA
Oct 11—Mitchell Lake Audubon Center Fall Wildlife Festival and Plant Sale, 9 am-4 pm
paul b. martin
Acting Secretary
605 Elm, Seguin, TX 78155
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pbm (2007-8)
[ 7 Ss / VV->^^ ]
