Attendees: Bethany, Greg, Jeff, John, Kathie, Kathleen, Marvin, Maureen, Steve K. and Susan
Guest Mike Oles from Earth House Coffee + Books came to promote a showing of King Corn, a documentary film about the politics, process, and impacts of growing corn in this country. The showing was on Jan. 17, but PBS stations will be broadcasting the film on April 15 through the Independent Lens program. We subsequently approved a $50 sponsorship of the film.
December minutes were approved; Kathleen reported a balance of $270.54. She got approval to reimburse herself for phone calls to close whatever account we have with PayPal.
In a related issue, Greg is making efforts to regain ownership of the yahoo groups from Skywolf.
We welcomed 3 new faces who we hope will be joining our group, although Kathie subsequently said that her attention has turned back to keeping Rocky Ripple safe from the state’s efforts to “streamline” government, which would potentially do away with incorporated towns like Rocky Ripple. We hope that Steve and Susan will join us next time as well as Jay, who has volunteered to be Secretary of the IGP.
Bethany reported that IGP will have 8 delegates to the GPUS Congress in Chicago in July. The coordinating committee proposes that the 4 IGP officers and the 2 delegates to the GPUS be awarded 6 of the delegate slots with the other 2 positions filled in a manner yet to be determined. The February meeting of the IGP will take place in Indianapolis on Feb. 24 at Earth House Coffee + Books at 237 N. East St. (corner of East and New York) from 1-4 p.m.
We decided to move our meeting date to the second Wednesday of the month, partly to accommodate Steve’s teaching schedule.
Discussion of: Ecological Footprint index and a handout from Greg on that topic; running Green candidates for office; State Rep. Vanessa Summer’s sponsorship of a smart growth resolution; the Indiana State Government’s proposed logging of the the back country of Morgan Monroe and Yellowwood State Forests; Steve Bonney’s independent candidacy for governor.
After the meeting, John screened The Story of Stuff, a documentary on the production, use, and disposal of manufactured goods. A date has been set for a public showing sponsored by MCGP on Friday, Feb. 22, at Earth House Coffee + Books at 237 N. East St. at 7 p.m.
Next meeting is Feb. 13 at the Abbey, 825 N. Pennsylvania, from 6-8 p.m.