Working Forum for Congregation Green Teams

Congregation green teams and other interested persons are invited to participate in a forum on Thursday, May 8, 7 - 8:30 pm, at the Oak Park Library, Veterans Room.  The agenda will include:

1. PlanItGreen

• Present “Check-off” list for congregations, followed by discussion. (Gary Cuneen, Seven Generations Ahead)
• Break out session, regarding the critical topic areas:Energy – Transportation – Education  --  Water  --  Food  -- Waste - Open Space
• Each congregation is invited to send at least 3-5 people from their green team to participate in different breakout groups.

2. Energy Impact Illinois

• Presentation of house of worship energy efficiency program.—Skyler Larrimore, Elevate Energy
• Case study: First United Methodist Church.
• Energy efficiency for private residences. And a congregation contest!

The community has been alerted to the importance of restoring the health of our environment, and as was stated at the recent OP Village Board meeting, “There is a lot at stake.”  This is a good opportunity to reruit new members. Educate friends. Now is the time to make change for the good of all, together!

​Please RSVP to James Babcock: jlbabck@sbcglobal.net or 630.740.0638 or Dick Alton:  Richard.Alton@gmail.com or 773-344-7172.​

Oak Park Residents Voice Strong Support for Green Energy

Oak Park residents packed the house to send a message to Village trustees: We want green energy back! Citizens came out in full force to voice support for green energy at the Oak Park Village Board meeting on Monday, April 21. The audience filled all the seats, sat in the aisles, stood at the back of the room and even went up into the balcony. Participants let the Village Board know that they disagreed with the decision to go with a brown energy supplier for Oak Park's municipal aggregation electricity program.  They pointed out the climate impact of continued fossil fuel use, clearly a key concern for many in the room.  It was a powerful and inspiring experience for residents and trustees alike.

Twenty residents spoke during the public comment period, which lasted more than an hour.  Even residents who didn't directly address the trustees were lively and engaged. The audience applauded their neighbors' eloquence, nodded vigorously in agreement with their passionate arguments and sometimes vocalized displeasure with the Board.

As resident Mac Robinet said, “We’re all learning from this.”   The 60 minutes of public comments highlight Oak Park’s history of taking leadership on difficult issues, point out the important role that cities are playing in addressing climate change and illustrate, in a variety of ways, that what Oak Park does matters.    The perspective of new home buyers who are considering Oak Park and looking for a socially conscious community was presented.  Also heard was that although the brown energy option was on its face the lowest cost option, residents identified a myriad of hidden costs that affect health and prospects for the future.  You can view a recorded telecast of the entire meeting online here.

Afterward, when it was the trustees' turn to speak, Colette Lueck, who has been serving in Oak Park  government for 25 years, told the audience that this issue spurred the strongest outpouring of resident participation she's ever seen. In addition to packing the board meeting, residents sent emails and letters, called the trustees, wrote opinion pieces for the newspapers, and delivered a petition with over 500 signatures.

Read more in the Wednesday Journal: http://www.oakpark.com/News/Articles/4-22-2014/Sounding-down-on-brown-energy/ and in Oak Leaves: http://oakpark.suntimes.com/news/government/electric-OAK-05012014:article

Oak Park IL residents -- to opt for 100% renewable (green) energy, please follow these easy instructions before May 8! Please also spread the word to others.

Connect to Action: Congregation Green Teams Make a Difference

Green Teams associated with 20+ congregations in the Oak Park and River Forest areas are making a difference in their faith communities, in their facilities, in their community and

in state policies that promote sustainability.  If you are looking for a place to get involved and make a difference locally, often your own congregation is a great place to start!

If your congregation has a green team, consider joining it; if not, consider starting one.  You will find start-up ideas and resources in the GreenFaith Start-up Kit and GreenFaith Sustainability Resources.

Continue reading to find out how Oak Park and River Forest congregations are taking action to care for the earth.Green Teams are:

• Conducting zero waste events and reduced waste sent to the landfill to near zero!
• Planting congregation vegetable gardens and donating the food to the food pantry.
• Landscaping with native plants that reduce flooding and support the natural water cycle.
• Installing renewable energy sources including geothermal and solar in their facilities.  (Note that grants have been received to help congregations afford these capital expenses.)
• Making their facilities more energy efficient:  using energy audits to guide the work and working to “seal the envelope,” and install energy efficient appliances.
• Traveling to Springfield to advocate for environmental legislation at the state level.

The Interfaith Green Network is a network of area congregations who through sharing sustainability practices, projects and dialogue is working to build a vibrant vision and role for congregations in caring for Planet Earth.  Twenty-two congregations have participated in the Network to date.

James Babcock of First United Church of Oak Park, Mac Robinet of St.Edmund Parish, and Dick Alton of Euclid Ave United Methodist Church make up the leadership team for the Interfaith Green Network. A high priority of the network is helping congregations to form and strengthen green teams. For help getting a green team started at your congregation or getting your congregation engaged in the Interfaith Green Network, please contact Dick Alton, Richard.Alton@gmail.com or 773-344-7172.

See also related article about upcoming  Interfaith Green Network Forum on Priorities for 2014.

Interfaith Green Network Hosts Forum on PlanItGreen Priorities for 2014

PlanItGreen is the ten-year sustainability plan for the Villages of Oak Park and River Forest.  The plan engages all levels of the community in reducing their environmental footprint and advances common sustainability objectives. The Plan has goals, targets, and strategies in each of nine sustainability topic areas including energy, waste, transportation, water, food, education, community development, open space and ecosystems, and green economy.

On Thursday, January 23, 7:00pm, at the Oak Park Main Library Veterans Room, the Interfaith Green Network will host a presentation by Gary Cuneen of  Seven Generations Ahead.  Gary will present a report card of PlanItGreen's activity highlights, challenges and strategy snapshots. The report card illuminates trends, highlights successes and shortcomings and proposes future priorities, strategies and resource allocations needed to achieve the 10-year plan’s goals by 2020.

Congregational representatives will also explore ways that they can be involved in moving the plan forward in 2014.  All congregations are invited to participate.   RSVP for the upcoming forum on January 23^rd: Richard Alton ( richard.alton@gmail.com)

The Interfaith Green Network is a network of congregations who through sharing sustainability practices, projects and dialogue works to build a vibrant vision and role of congregations in caring for Planet Earth.  Twenty-two area congregations have participated in the Network.  For the last 3 years the Network has worked to help congregations support PlanItGreen.

See related article at http://www.greencommunityconnections.org/2012-oak-park-river-forest-sustainability-report-card/.

Interfaith Green Network Kick-off Event

“Faith and Green”

What green values are important to you and your congregation? What activity are you most proud of toward meeting those values? What is your vision for future green activities? World Café small-group discussions will give you and others from the community an opportunity to share and dialogue around these questions, in a facilitated and focused “deliberative democracy” setting.

Wednesday, September 18, 7:00-8:30pm, Oak Park Library, Veterans Room

The evening will be introduced by Clare Butterfield, founder of Faith in Place, an organization that helps 900 congregations of all faiths to better integrate their religious values and teachings with effective actions aimed at healing the earth.

Also, an original skit, on the problem of climate change, will be presented by the Fair Oaks ACTS Drama Ministry.

Wednesday, September 18

7:00-8:30pm

Oak Park Library, Veterans Room

For more information, or to RSVP, contact:

Jim Babcock

Interfaith Green Network

First United Church of Oak Park, Environmental Stewardship Team

jlbabck@sbcglobal.net

630-740-0638

GROW Divestment - Chicago Kick-off Meeting

Are you ready to take the fight against the fossil fuel industry to the next level? Let’s G.R.O.W. Divestment (Gather. Rise. Organize. Win.) this summer! From the end of July through mid August, G.R.O.W. Fossil fuel divestment meet-ups across the United States are seeking to connect students together and link them to the work of off-campus environmental groups. Come the fall, we’ll be more ready and well-connected than ever.

Date: Saturday, August 17th 2013

Place: Roosevelt University, 430 S. Michigan Ave, Chicago

Join Chicago Youth Climate Coalition (CYCC), a coalition of mainly university students working for a just and sustainable future, RU Fossil Free, the fossil fuel divestment campaign at Roosevelt, and Chicago 350, a climate group building a divestment campaign for the city of Chicago, as they plan for widespread divestment throughout the area. The divestment movement has spread to over 350 campuses across the country, and we've already seen divestment wins in multiple colleges, congregations, and cities.

Dylan Amlin, a student at Roosevelt University and co-chair of the Chicago Youth Climate Coalition, has been working to expand on the work already done and get more people involved. Along with members of the Oak Park and River Forest area, Dylan was one of the hundreds who gathered outside outside the Chicago Hilton during Obama’s visit last month as a reminder that that the president’s decision on the Keystone XL Pipeline could determine the fate of our climate and our future. Read more about that rally here.

The current actions are modeled after the successful South African divestment movement, and CYCC is helping to shift power to our universities, congregations, and other communities in the face of political silence on climate change. "I've found divestment to be a powerful way to bring attention to climate change as an urgent and moral issue," says Amlin, "it sends the message that if it's wrong to wreck the planet, it's wrong to profit from that wreckage." Divestment across the nation has been getting real attention, a recent NYTimes article about Obama's nod to the divestment movement is evidence of that.

This meeting will begin to expand the divestment movement to other schools, congregations, and community organizations in Chicago. The training will include spaces for networking, learning how to make the connection between on- and off-campus work, and creatively discussing next steps for the newly-built coalition. When all the students, congregations, and other community organizations come together, we can transform the climate justice movement!

Register here and check out our the CYCC Facebook event.

Date: Saturday, August 17th 2013

Place: Roosevelt University, 430 S. Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60605

Time: TBA

The event is free of charge.

To learn more about climate issues and what we can do, please see the Climate Resources on Green Community Connections web site.

River Forest's Green4Good Recycling Extravaganza

District 90’s Green4Good committee will host their second drive-up, drop-off recycling event Saturday May 4, 2013, from 8 am to 1 pm rain or shine at the parking lot of River Forest United Methodist Church, located on the northeast corner of Lake Street and Thatcher Avenue (7970 Lake Street, River Forest).

Partners for this event include the Village of River Forest, River Forest Citizens Corps, River Forest United Methodist Church and Roy Strom Co. Drivers will enter off of Lake Street and will be asked to remain in their cars while volunteers unload items. Click here to View/Download the PDF Poster

What to Bring

New this year - carpet and padding and fluorescent tubes will be accepted. ACME Recycling returns to collect electronics (including de-humidifiers and air conditioners - but NOT refrigerators), batteries (household, computer and car), and scrap metal. SCARCE, an environmental education not-for-profit in Glen Ellyn will collect musical instruments, school supplies (old crayons, rulers, usable spiral notebooks and binders). The Epilepsy Foundation of Greater Chicago will accept apparel and shoes in any condition in addition to small housewares.

Additional collections on site: Whole Foods - corks; Cook County Sheriff’s Office of Support Services will accept prescription medications (except for liquids); Air Cycle-CFL bulbs and Fluorescent tubes; Lions Club - eyeglasses and hearing aids; Amerigas - propane and Oxygen tanks; Cintas - fire extinguishers; Working Bikes - working and non-working bikes, sewing machines, bike helmets and accessories, non-motorized wheelchairs; Animal Care League - collars and leashes.

No refrigerators, mattresses cribs, car seats or plastic ride on toys will be accepted.

For a more complete list of what is accepted at this year’s Extravaganza, please see http://www.district90.org/subsite/dist/page/green-team-1385 and click on the link for the event’s poster which lists all accepted items.

For more information contact Julie Moller, 312-961-2306, or Judy Deogracias, 773-793-3449

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Green4Good

District 90’s Green4Good Committee is comprised of the Green4Good committees at each school, as well as several District 90 administrators all working toward making District 90 greener. Within each school, Green4Good strives to promote a safe and healthy learning environment; encourage environmental stewardship at school and in the community; and foster a lifelong connection to the natural world for all District 90 students and their families.

Please look for additional announcements about Green4Good’s initiatives on the District 90 Green4Good website. Green4Good school committee members include Katarina Berin, Keary Cragan, Judy Deogracias, Laura Maychruk, Julie Moller, Renee Sichlau and Liz Ziehl.

For more information about the Recycling Extravaganza, please contact Judy Deogracias or Julie Moller.

Contact:

Julie Moller, 312-961-2306 Judy Deogracias, 773-793-3449

Email: recycling.extravaganza@gmail.com

Website: http://www.district90.org/subsite/dist/page/green-team-1385

Smart Meter Training for Congregation Green Teams

Faith In Place, in consultation with ComEd, is developing an instructional kit on how to use the new smart meters smartly. Congregation green teams will be able to borrow the kit to use at Sunday coffee hours they host during the coming months to educate their congregation's members. The kit will include images, literature, and some visual aids on energy conservation. (And Faith In Place will throw in $100 for the coffee!) Representatives from the green teams of each congregation are invited to a training event on May 18,  10am-12pm, First United Church, 848 Lake Street in Oak Park.  At the training you will see the kits, get trained on how to do a coffee hour presentation, and sign up for your preferred date.

Now, as smart meters are being installed in our area, is a perfect time to educate people about how to use all the data that is available to them, for their benefit. And meeting at a Sunday coffee hour will be a good way to get a fairly large audience and distribute information so that it will actually be acted on.

Please RSVP to James Babcock (jlbabck@sbcglobal.net)

Stories of TRUST - Calling for Climate Recovery

Playing at various venues throughout One Earth Film Festival 2013 (see below for details) -

Tickets

Kelly Matheson; Christi Cooper-Kuhn/2012/9 min per segment/FAMILY

Stories of TRUST: Calling for Climate Recovery, is about the perfect trifecta of youth, law and justice.  This series of short documentaries features the voices of daring youth from across the country who went to court to compel the government to protect our atmosphere, in trust, for future generations.  Calling for Climate Recovery is a 10-part groundbreaking documentary series of nine young people who bravely share their stories of harm, activism and hope around the climate crisis.  

These youth have gone to court to hold their governments accountable for protecting the Public Trust resources that are essential for their well being and survival. What they want is simple: real Climate Recovery Plans, guided by our nation's best science, not dictated by politics and fossil fuel lobbyists. They come from California, Montana, Alaska, Arizona, Iowa, Colorado, Pennsylvania, Oregon and Massachusetts, but their stories cross state lines and tell a common American story.

Programming notes:

TRUST: Oregon - Oak Park Village Hall, Saturday Mar 2, 12:30P with Waterlife

TRUST: PA - Oak Park Village Hall, Saturday Mar 2, 3P with Houston, We Have a Problem

TRUST: AZ - River Forest Village Hall, Sunday Mar 3, 12:30P with A Simple Question: The Story of STRAW

TRUST: CA - River Forest Village Hall, Sunday Mar 3, 12:30P with A Simple Question: The Story of STRAW

TRUST: Montana - Centuries & Sleuths Bookstore, Sunday Mar 3, 12:30P with Killowatt Ours

TRUST: Alaska - Holley Court Terrace, Sunday, Mar 3, 3P with A Sea Change

Declaration of Interdependence

Friday, Mar 1, 7P/

Pleasant Home, Oak Park

Tickets

Sunday, Mar 3, 6:00P/

Unity Temple, Oak Park 

Tickets

4 min

Themed for Green Community Connections.  Connect with us!

Programming note:  will be seen at Opening and Closing Events