SUSTAINABLE SOCIETY ACTION PROJECT, Inc.
Steering Committee Minutes
(Joint with the Alliance for a Sustainable Future)
Location: Cohen house in Upper Darby
October 1, 2007
Present: Elaine Cohen, Ernest Cohen, Lillian Garfinkel, Carlton Orchinik, Kathy Hornberger, William Moore, Dawn Mazzone, Dominic Roberti, Carol Roberti, Bill Marston, Ben Kalinas
The meeting was called to order at 7:30 PM, and the minutes of the last meeting, May 2, 2006, were read and approved. We all miss Keith Baker, who drowned during the summer while on vacation.
1. The minutes of the last meeting were read, and approved.
2. Financial report:
2.1 Checking Account $1078.78 (This includes a $25 error in our favor, which is probably an uncashed check.)
2.2 Brokerage Account: $1367.97 cash
plus 150 units of Templeton Dragon Fund @ $22.68 = $3402.00
Total: $4769.97
2.3 Donations & Expenses
Expenses paid by Cohens = $530, mostly mailing related
A donation of $500 was received from the Shafrits Foundation.
A contribution of $300 was received from Eugene Bougois, of Canada
2.4 The Tu B'Shevat Ecology Seder lost $4.29, offset by a Cohen contribution.
The Pesakh Ecology Seder resulted in a profit of $40.50.
3. We will be looking for a Tu B'Shevat speaker. The SSAP Tu B'Shevat seder will take place at Suburban Jewish Community Center on the evening of Monday, January 21, 2008.
4. Ernest Cohen reported on contacts with the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission. A new staff person, Rob Graff, is looking into energy and global climate change. Carlton Orchinik mentioned social change.
5. Dr. Kathy Hornberger brought up the matter of the next SSAP conference. She would like the conference to be held at Widener, and proposed March 9th for the date. She named a possible singer-songwriter for the event: Glen Waldek. In the following discussion, several ideas surfaced:
5.1 Theme: Where do we go from here? (Ernest Cohen)
5.2 We should get a Sociologist to deal with Culture change. "The wisdom of crowds". (Dawn Mazzone)
5.3 Dom Roberti discussed aspects of culture change, including motivation. Kathy Hornberger mentioned composting. Other thoughts: "changing mind set", "practical things", "positive thinking", "adaptation in advance of need: what I can do now in preparation"
5.4 William Moore: "retrofitting buildings", "Philly Car Share: intermediate level action", picked up the adaptive behavior, "Education".
6. Conference format: Dr. Hornberger suggested a break out into small groups: "This is what I am doing". Possibly with a beverage break.
6.1 Carlton Orchinik added, Motivation is more important then just interest. "What would you be comfortable doing".
6.2 Bill Marston: building community. He gave the example of recycling in his neighborhood.
7. Meeting adjourned about 9:30 to see the succah, and have a general free discussion over snacks.
Ernest B. Cohen
Post meeting news - October 8, 2007
Dr. Hornberger set up the date of Sunday, April 6th, 2008, in the Webb Room at Widener University. We are also free to handle the food ourselves.
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