Minutes:20070106

From EcoReality

Saturday, 6 January 2007: Membership Meeting

Meeting brought to order: 10:19
- Present: James Cowan, Shannon Cowan, Jan Steinman, Carol Wagner.
- Facilitator: Shannon
- Recorder: Jan
Check in:
- Carol: distracted from travel, but glad to be here
- Shannon: 10, grateful for slowing down, fortunate to have awareness of health issues, excited to meet new people
- James: 8.25, foggy and distracted, grateful for sun
- Jan: 6, miserable cold makes it hard to focus, grateful to have everyone back
Old business:
- Agenda approved with one addition: woodstove training
- December minutes approved
- Finance report:
  - $1012.39 current balance, not including current rent
  - Fibiger cashed check, agreeing to payment terms, so will set up payment plan and send checks for next six months
  - purchased 1/2 yard of gravel for walk
  - AGREED: to purchase an additional 1/2 yard for muddy spot by cottage
  - quotes for insulation discussed, noted that they were much higher than grant amount
  - AGREED: to purchase the insulation, plus chicken wire to hold it in
- Open action items:
  - Carol: kitchen logbook DONE
    - James would like it to be a real book, instead of sheets of paper
      - AGREED: that James can make a real book kitchen logbook if he desires
  - James: 2007 schedule entered in wiki DONE, needs work, all will help
  - James: book Diana Leafe Christian, IN PROCESS, firming up dates with her and YES.
    - ACTION: .
  - Task list review deferred
New business:
- Insulation discussed in finance report.
- Newsletter format discussion: it is Jan's intent that each of us have a voice in the newsletter, not that it be strictly confined to stewards' reports. Make it inviting, it can be about anything.
- Elizabeth May's visit:
  - AGREED: EcoReality can host Elizabeth May's visit January 23, with a potluck before her Ganges appearance. Also, EcoReality can provide her with lodging, and EcoReality waives the normal fees. Jan will report this to Andrew, Elizabeth's travel manager. Jan and Carol will coordinate.
- Advisory Council meeting planning:
  - two brainstorming sessions:
    - programs to hold
    - garden plans
- Work party planning:
  - divided into rain/dry activities
  - Carol stewards weatherstripping project
  - Carol will check on insulation availability
- Residents' meeting moved to Sunday 19:00.

Meeting adjourned, 11:17.

Respectfuly submitted, Jan Steinman 00:48, 8 January 2007 (PST)

Advisory Council Meeting

Meeting brought to order: 13:10
- Present: James Cowan, Shannon Cowan, Jan Steinman, Carol Wagner and Beverly Vreeswijk
- Facilitator: James
- Recorder: Carol
Check in:
- Shannon: 10,
- Carol: 9
- Jan: 9.925
- Beverly: 7
- James: 9.5
  - Everyone shared about how they got to "this place"
  - James explained EcoReality's process, how we got started and how we have used Creating a Life Together.
  - Discussion about land availability on Salt Spring and how we could find a large parcel.
  - Discussion about our membership process.
    - We are governed by concensus
    - Roles of the advisor council
    - Access to EcoReality website and purpose
  - Beverly shared her interests: broom and invasive plant eradication, wild plants and gardening
  - Took a break to walk the property
Check out:
- Jan: 10
- James: 10
- Shannon: 9
- Carol: 9
- Beverly: 8