First Parish in Concord

Green Sanctuary Group

First Parish > Green Sanctuary > Meeting Minutes

Meeting Minutes

February 24, 2008

Please amend the following if you were present and feel that something needs
to be added or changed.

Present: Bob Andrews, Jay Barnes, Bob Harper, Berni Jenkins, Betty King,
George King, Peter Nobile, Peter Norton, Lori Pazaris, Jim Pazaris, Andy
Proulx, Jim Snyder-Grant

Peter Nobile chaired the meeting and opened it with candle lighting and
environmental reading.

Using a handout outline supplied by Bob Andrews (attached), Peter led us
through a discussion of the steps to Green Sanctuary Accreditation.
Highlights were as follows:

*       There is a need for the Standing Committee to officially “charter”
Green Sanctuary, charging us with the task of leading First Parish along the
path to becoming a Green Sanctuary church.  Bob handed out a sample charter
from another church, also attached. This process has begun. The Social
Action Board has unanimously accepted our proposal to move toward Green
Sanctuary Accreditation; and Eric Van Loon has forwarded a modified version
of this proposal to the Standing Committee (third attachment). Gary and
Jenny have both verbally reviewed this and have communicated their support.
*       There is a need to complete a comprehensive environmental audit of
the church and its programs.  We are hoping to complete this audit before
the end of the current church year. What we are looking for at this point is
systematically collected data about current environmental policies and
practices in the church, not any specific changes in these practices. A
checklist used by another church to carry out this task is the fourth
attachment to this message. Other forms a readily obtainable on the web.
*       This audit has already begun, with a carbon footprint of the church
having been recently presented at a Forum by Andy Proulx and Jay Barnes. It
was agreed that this kind of assessment will need to be repeated after the
building expansion and renovations are completed, and after systematic
efforts have been made by the congregation to alter it.
*       There was a good deal of discussion about the need for a comparable
audit to be conducted in the areas of recycling, management of trash, and
purchasing.  It was pointed out that these are interrelated. Our audit must
cover information about current policies and practices in all of these
areas.  Maria Cox (not present) has begun to collect examples of EPP
policies around paper goods, cleaners, and landscaping needs.  Barbara
Wheeler, who was present, said that she could contribute a good deal of
information about the Town of Concord’s recycling policies and programs.
Both she and Betty King (also Present) expressed an interest in working with
Maria to complete an audit.  Bob said that Sue Beck has also expressed an
interest.  The group agreed that these people should operate as a subgroup
in completing an audit that encompasses recycling, purchasing, and
landscaping.  The staff person with whom they need to consult is Doug Baker.
Any action plan developed out of this audit will need to involve Doug.
*       Discussion of the need for an audit of how environmental concepts
are integrated into the RE program, it was agreed, requires the active
involvement of an RE staff person with the process.  Peter Nobile said that
he would ask that an RE staff person be assigned to work with our committee.
We will be looking at existing policies and practices within the RE program
that are related to environmental education.
*       The audit must also encompass existing policies and practices about
integration of environmental concepts and practices into our worship
program.  Peter Nobile will work with CC King and the ministers on this, as
well as on a plan for a special Green Sanctuary-driven Earth Day worship
service.
*       The Steps to Accreditation document attached to this message is to
be regarded as a working document, to be further refined through email and
face-to-face communication among GS members. Not all areas that should be
covered were discussed at this meeting due to time constraints.

Green Sanctuary wants to work with the ministers on a special Earth Day
service, featuring our program. This would include both the services
themselves and the coffee hours after the services. We might want to take
over the coffee hour for a small-scale environmental fair, featuring
environmental information and “green” products, including CFL bulbs.  Peter
Nobile will work with others (??)on developing a plan.

Several members of FP and Green Sanctuary are working with Concord Climate
Action Network to promote the Low Carbon Diet program in the community.
Green Sanctuary will be active in introducing this program within the
church. We are using the bulletin board and website to share information
about it.  This Tuesday at Noon Berni Jenkins, Andy Proulx, and Barbara
Wheeler will be presenting on environmental issues to the Women’s Parish
Association.  Berni will focus on the Low Carbon Diet, Barbara on Recycling,
and Andy on Home Energy Practices.  On March 30 a presentation on the Low
Carbon Diet will be offered at the Sunday morning Forum.  Eric Van Loon has
offered to pull together a Low Carbon Diet group among his neighbors.  In
addition, we discussed forming a group of Green Sanctuary Committee members.
It was agreed that this was a good idea, although no specific follow-up plan
was finalized.

Peter Nobile agreed to put together a Green Sanctuary calendar if people
will send him information about all upcoming events.  Peter Norton will put
it on the website once tt is created.

The next Green Sanctuary meeting was scheduled for Sunday, March 16.  It
will be in the Tavern at 12:15 PM , contingent upon approval from Doug
Baker.