[Green] Follow-up on Green Sanctuary Committee meeting

[Dawn Hewitt]

Please read EVERYTHING, but especially items 4 and 5, because I need a volunteer for set-up and clean up Saturday (assuming the Solar Generator class is a go).

1. The sweet gum ball removal project on the section of the River Trail that we are committed to maintaining is complete. It didn’t take long to sweep up and remove gum balls from three sections. Perhaps wind, rain, or foot and bicycle traffic moved most of them to the sides of the trail. There were only three spots that needed work. Still, the sweet gum trees are laden with their nasty seed pods. I’m afraid this will have to be an ongoing project. 

2. Adeline, the Solar Overview Continuing Education Class for Professionals is to be January 25, according the MOU. (But that’s a Friday. I suspect January 26 is the real date. I couldn’t find proposed dates for the Solar Installer training class; I did propose to Annie that we have a third Learn to Build a Solar Generator class, and she proposed it for March 30. 

3.  Attached are the three MOUs for the three solar classes. I haven’t signed them nor have the Warmkes. We’re working on trust here, which is fitting, given today’s sermon!

4. According to the MOU, for the Learn to Build a Solar Generator class, we are obliged to provide coffee and/or tea, three tables (or more as required), and chairs for all students and the instructor; and a whiteboard. Do we have a white board?  I know we have an easel with a poster-size paper tablet. I asked Annie if this will do. I will go to FUUSM tomorrow during my lunch break (while the office is open) to find out if there is a whiteboard. Does anyone know?

5. I will be leaving town Wednesday afternoon and returning Monday night, so I can’t be at the Solar Generator class Saturday. Unless the class is canceled, we'll need a volunteer to arrive at 12:30 to plug in the coffee maker, set up the tables and chairs, get out the whiteboard (or easel with a poster-sized paper tablet and markers), make the coffee, get out mugs, start hot water for tea, get out the tea bags, sugar, creamer, etc. And at the end of the class, to unplug the coffee machine and hot water pot, clean up the cups & etc. I would volunteer if I could!!  I’ll be in Philadelphia!!  Also, the volunteer will need to arrange with Chris Keller (or someone else) to access the social hall. 

Even though I’ll be driving to Philly Wednesday night, I promise to check my email as soon as I arrive to find out if the class is go or no go. I’ll keep you posted. I HOPE we will need a volunteer Saturday!!

6. Finally: The meeting minutes we approved today say the solar installer class costs $820. That’s true, but does not include the cost of the certification exam, which is $150. So, you’ll note on the MOA the class price says both $970 and $820. That’s why. Perhaps the Green Sanctuary Committee could offer a $100 scholarship for the class, and we could ask the Values Trust for $150 to pay for the certification exam, so the recipient would have to come up with $720. Alternatively, GSC could offer to pay for the $150 exam, and we could ask the Values Trust to pay for …. some other amount. Just food for thought. 

I think that’s all. Thank you for reading this the whole way to the end!

—dawn