Our yearly fund raising letter -- November 10, 2010

Projects

Great Lakes Bioneers Conference
This was the 9th year that the Center has co-hosted the conference with SEEDS, our sister organization. On October 15 - 17, at Northwestern Michigan College, the conference offers hopeful, positive solutions to many of our most pressing problems. The three day conference featured plenary speakers beamed live from the main Bioneers Conference <bioneers.org> in California; many workshops on topics such as renewable energy, wellness based health care, water, and more; great local food and music; and, perhaps most important, an opportunity to connect with others, to cross-pollinate ideas and create collaborative projects. The Great Lakes Bioneers Committee of about 15 people, another dozen people on sub-committees and countless volunteers make this conference happen. It is the grassroots!

350 Campaign and 10-10-10
Last year, the 350 Campaign was launched by author Bill McKibben, to lower the CO2 levels back down to 350 parts/million; NREC and MLUI (Michigan Land Use Institute) collaborated along with an ad hoc committee of individuals and other organizations to organize locally on Oct. 24th, the International Day of Climate Action <350.org>. On a blustery, cold, rainy day, October 24, 2009, 700 people showed up the Open Space park in Traverse City to participate in a giant skit in which the number 350 was spelled out. A photo was taken and sent on to the 350 Campaign where it was uploaded onto a web site. Afterwards, we held a rally with music and speakers at the TC Opera House where we wrote letters to our congress people about this critical issue.

This year, on October 10th, 10-10-10, Bill McKibben and his organization called upon the same network to create a Global Work Party. Individuals, neighborhoods, communities, churches, and other organizations were encouraged to get out and DO something to reduce our carbon footprint. Once again, the Center assisted in an event in Traverse City. We called it “Pump it Up!” We set up an “inflation station” in Traverse City with “green air”, the compressors powered by solar energy. We checked tire pressures for anyone who came by for free. Having our tires at optimal pressure saves gas and reduces our carbon footprint. There was also a “trunk sale” of usable items people brought down and sold or swapped out of their trunks. There are so many simple ways we can cut down on our carbon emissions—liking driving with our tires at the optimal pressure and buying and selling used stuff!

Investigating Resilience in our Community
A major focus at the Center is a project called Investigating Resilience. The project will explore the state of our community’s resilience through the use of various social and ecological indicators. Examples of resilience in some specific areas within our social community, such as food systems, health care, culture, energy, art and economics will be examined. We are collaborating with former local TV meteorologist, Dave Barrons on a weekly TV program shown on Upnorth TV at 6:00 PM on Monday evenings and on our resilience website <ir.nrec.org>. The show highlights people and projects in the area who are embodying the principles of community resilience.

For local people, we will convene a series of “fire pit” conversations to further explore the concept of resilience and how we can incorporate these concepts into our communities.

In March, Bob will attend “Resilience 2011” at Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ. The aim of conference is to advance understanding of the relationships among resilience, vulnerability, innovation and sustainability.

Media/Internet
The Center hosts several web sites that reflect our work: <nrec.org>, which contains general information about the Center as well as resources and relevant articles that are updated often; <traversepeacealerts.org>, for current information about local peace activities; <traverseareaprogressives.org>, which has the calendar of local events. In addition, our server hosts other community organizations’ websites.

The Center supports and utilizes a local media resource, the Upnorth TV, housed at LIAA (Land Information Access Association). This is the facility where we produce the local show on community resilience. Videos are hosted on Vimeo after they show on the public access cable channel - here.

The Center is very fortunate to have David (Grips) Krumlauf on our board. David is the chief technologist for the Pierce Family Foundation and helps keep the center’s technology current. He has become active with NTEN (Nonprofit Technology Network), and one focus is the use of social networking technology for nonprofits.

Activities

Peace work
For the past nine years we have helped to sponsor local peace marches to protest the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. We hope that we will be able to replace these marches with a peace celebration SOON!

Each year, the Center sponsors the Hiroshima Candlefloat on the Boardman River. The gathering begins with a circle in which we share our hopes and thoughts about peace, followed by the creation and launching of the little candlefloats; participants walk along the river in silence as the candles float down the river. This simple ritual, which we have done for more than 20 years, symbolizes our commitment to peace and honors the victims of all wars.

The Center continues to collaborate with local area peace groups, especially Mideast JustPeace, to educate and organize around peace issues, as well as produce video programs on area marches, speakers and other peace events.

Collaboration with Other Groups
The Center continues to play an important role in the community through collaboration with other groups. Joining forces and sharing resources with other nonprofit organizations is an efficient way to maximize all of our efforts and reach as many people as possible.

SEEDS, Earthwork Music Collective and Island (Institute for Sustainable Living, Art and Natural Design)
The Center works with these organizations by collaborating on projects, helping to spread their news and supporting their work in whatever ways we can. We are thrilled at the emergence of younger activists becoming a force in our community.

The Center is working with the Michigan Land Use Institute and other agricultural organizations to support a Food and Farming Network <foodandfarmingnetwork.org>. Bob is helping to facilitate meetings and managing the technical aspects of the their web site. The 3rd annual Food and Farming Summit will be held in February, 2011