GULP Outreach Notes
From CFI
Notes from the 5/2/06 General Meeting:
Four of our Outreach members attended the general GULP meeting and looked over the Outreach active projects to determine which one we would focus on during the summer. With planting/growing season now in full swing we decided to develop a number of “garden digi-stories” using the technology being used by the Ukiah Placemeant Project. At the end of the season we will develop a show using these digi-stories to inspire and encourage Ukiahans to seriously begin preparing their own gardens for food. We will collaborate with the Food Group in this project and have it as an educational tool for Adam Gaska’s teaching sessions at the Food Co-op. Seth Delaney has begun taking pictures and we are zeroing in on about four gardens that we will follow – from a patio in the pot food garden to a small farm in the outskirts. This project will involve some expert computer graphics work and if there is someone who knows how to do this, be in touch with us (467-8456). A potluck scheduled May 19th is for the purpose of planning this project in detail.
In April a couple of GULP members, King Collins and Scott Cratty, visited the Progressive and Environmental clubs at Ukiahi. The exchange of discussion went very well and we look forward towards developing this exchange in the Fall. King will be focalizing this connection and will invite various other GULPers to join him.
A “Virtual Library” of DVD’s has been started in virtual space. These films can be borrowed and shown by GULPers either for their personal use or if they want to share them with another organization to which they belong. We urge GULPers to make use of these important documentaries as a way of educating people about what needs to change and how we can move into a new economy with grace. For a list of titles, call Leeya (467-8456).
We now have a GULP column in the Ukiah Daily Journal. Once a month (second Wednesday, Business Section) we will have an article published telling about different activities and areas of GULP interest and concern. Be sure to tell your friends and neighbors to check out our articles.
The APPLE Yuba Gals television interviewers will be coming to Ukiah to interview four of our local “hero(ine)s” May 20th. These shows will be offered to television stations and localization groups all over the country. How wonderful it is to be sharing the outstanding contributions of Els Cooperrider, Dave Smith, Kate Magruder and Anne Oliver. We are so fortunate to have these people in our area, supporting GULP with their projects.
When the right organizer turns up to promote a community wide teach-in, call Leeya Thompson 467-8456. These programs are important not only to educate the public about the post-carbon age, but to generate energy for GULP.
April 25, 2006 Outreach Report
Current Outreach programs.
1. UDJ column articles. To be published on Business page, once a month, 2nd Wednesday. Get hard copy and electronic copies of article to Richard Rosier (udjfeatures@pacific.net) and KC Meadows by 1st Wednesday. Also, author needs to be photographed by Richard. Article should be sent to Steering Committee by last Wednesday of the month to be reviewed and edited if necessary. Who goes next?
2. High-school Interface: Progressive, Environmental & Conservative clubs. Develop programs with clubs (with their assuming the leadership): writing essay on post-Peak Oil, reading essays on radio, published in newspaper. Set up film series. Have debate on radio. Brainstorm other possibilities of interaction with students.
3. Virtual Library. Keep it updated and make available to organizations and churches in area that would like to set up a film series for their own groups.
4. Video-taped Peak Moments. On May 20th and 21st APPLE’s Yuba-Gals will be here to videotape interviews with some of GULP’s and Ukiah’s finest. These interviews will be available not only to GULP, but will be shown to localization groups around the country. People we have identified for interviewing are the following: Cliff Paulan, Adam Gaska, Ron Cole, Michael Malthus (Fetzer Gardens), Dave Smith (Briarpatch and Local Heros), Kate Magruder, Els Cooperrider, Anne Oliver, Sumo & Jenny, Scott & Holly. Have these people been contacted and what day is best for them?
5. Peer Spirit Circles. This group is up and running – 11-12 women involved. Plan is to split into four groups in a couple of months, then four more groups, etc. until the whole county is filled with Peer Spirit Circles. These will be adapted to various needs.
6. Announcements to various county news media on GULP activities.
7. Maintain email list of participants.
Potential Outreach Activities:
1. Monthly film/speaker series for general community. 2. Create opportunities for speakers in organizations around county. 3. A celebration/fair late summer. 4. Story catching of old-timers with specific skills that must not be forgotten.
Recommendation:
Each of the current programs/task listed above should have a specific person in charge who is willing and able to develop the programs already begun, and/or initiate potential programs. GULP is still in its infancy and rather than take on too much at this time -- a formula for burnout—it would be better to consolidate what we already have and then grow from there.
April 12, 2006 We (Ruth, Star and I) were privileged to host Janaia and Robyn from APPLE in Nevada City who attended and filmed the WEL Conference over the weekend. These two intrepid media people filmed at least 15 "Peak Moment" interviews with folks from Willits. They plan on returning to Ukiah May 21-22 to videotape about 8-10 of our own GULPers. Suggested interviewees are Adam Gaska (growing food), Ron Cole (Magnegas Technology), Michael Maltus (Fetzer Gardens), Dave Smith (Local Heros and Briarpatch network), Kate Magruder (Story Catching/Placemeant Project), Els Cooperrider (5th District), Anne Oliver (Smart Growth, etc.), Sumo & Jenny (Cloud Forest & Steering Committee, etc., etc.), Cliff Palan (our Great Leader). They would like to catch some coverage of the HS group if this materializes. If anyone reading this notice would like to make another suggestion, please contact Leeya at 467-8456.
April 13, 2006 Scott and I (King Collins) attended the Progressive Club meeting, yesterday, high noon, Room E1, Brad McClanahan’s class. Scott presented our views briefly, I said that KMEC wanted put them (the HS kids) on the air, that lots of us want to know what they are thinking. We got a lot of intelligent comment from almost everyone at the meeting, probably about 20 or so, and 6 or 8 members of the Progressive Club who directed the meeting. More later. King king@greenmac.com 468-5513
April 8, 2006 The PeerSpirit Circle (StoryCatching Project) met with great enthusiasm Wed. 4/5. A circle is formed on a methodology dependent upon a specific structure. Once the circle is established new people are unable to enter until the individuals in the circle become familiar with the format and are able to form new circles. For those of you who would like to know more about these circles, contact Star Flaniken 467-8475.
April 5, 2006 We broke into our individual groups at last evening's general GULP meeting. Present in Outreach was Ruth Sander, King Collins, Seth Delaney and Leeya Thompson. The three immediate tasks we assigned to our group are 1) working on talking points in preparation for going out to the larger community to share GULP's vision of the future and action we are currently taking. 2) King and Chris (KMEC) will be interacting with some of the various clubs at the Highschool and see what common projects might arise out of that contact. 3) Leeya will be contacting churches to find people who could enable GULP to share information with them.
Outreach has also established a relationship with the UDJ for a monthly column of information from the various GULP groups. Our first column will be run Wednesday, May 10 on the Business Page. In recognition of the resources from elder residents in Ukiah, we will be exploring with the Placemeant Project (Kate Magruder) a process known as Story-catching and Peer Spirit Circles. This group will be meeting today (Wed. 4/5) and I'll report more fully on it following the meeting. We have a good start on our mission of communication and education for Gulp and will be posting our talking points on this site and request that you edit, add and inform us of those you have found to be important. If you know of anyone in the Ukiah community who would like to be part of Outreach, please have them contact Leeya 467-8456.
Notes from an initial meeting, which expands on short and long term goals and possible projects is located here
OUTREACH
Who are we?
The Voice and public face of GULP.
What does that mean?
Communication:
To announce GULP events to the greater community.
To communicate to others the reality of these times as well as the potential solutions for the time.
To create events that will communicate GULP’s message in such a way that it can be received by non-GULPers.
Education:
Short term: To begin the process of waking people up to the environmental/political/social realities facing us in the near future with the depletion of cheap energy.
Long term: To create an educational setting with apprenticeships to teach basic skills in community building, local manufacturing of needed items, food. Teachers and information for these skills will be drawn from the other departments of GULP as well as local resources beyond GULP.
What do we need to learn? What are the current resources in our community that offer skills and apprenticeships for a self-sustained economy?
What are the groups to whom we can share information and learn from, i.e., agricultural, churches, schools, service organizations, public services (fire dept. etc.)
How do we prepare?
Develop talking points.
Create scripts and presentations using various media.
Line up speaking/presentation engagements
Write newspaper articles.
Interview Resources (people)
Some ideas for presentations and public interest:
Stage: skits, music, film, panels, interviews with local resource experts
Fair: showing alternative technologies. Make it a celebration of the possible
Video series for highschool, Mendo college, and general public.
Get teachers behind this educational effort to promote creative writing envisioning projects for students. Offer prize for best paper.
During the highschool “shadow” day (i.e. student shadow the working adult), have them shadow alternative gardening, technology, etc.
Get students involved in some of the projects around water, composting, community gardens, etc.
What do we still need in order to move forward?
More people on the Outreach committee with a skill in communicating and speaking to groups.
A clear Vision and Mission statement by the GULP community
A list of talking points, graphics (charts, pictures)
Getting our “Road Trip” together, including our speakers and .visual materials
A list of organizations and dates for presenting our material
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