March 2010 - We’ve done the official bits. Now let’s get moving… together.

(See two Transition Gatherings below)

News:

Forty people turned up to our AGM last week.  As people usually avoid AGMs like the plague, we were pretty pleased with the turnout.  We performed our official duties and can now tick the boxes: Our new committee is made up of:

Convenor - William Vorobioff; Secretary - Graeme Stuart; Treasurer - Alison Cleary;

Ordinary members  – John Hayes; Jacquie Svenson.

Others not to be forgotten have not taken on official positions, but are the tissue of the core working group.

Then, the movie In Transition 1.0 was shown, a compilation of various transition initiatives from around the world. Robust discussions ensued, and eventually we had to throw people out so we could get home ourselves. We intend to replay the movie soon.

Call to engagement:

Let’s face it. We all know what needs to happen next. We know we need a paradigm shift in the way we think, act, consume and share, and how daunting that can feel. The Transition Movement is a positive one and we believe we can have fun and be inspired by the changes ahead.

Much of the work to date has been carried out by a small but active group, however that is not sustainable.  We do need you, your ideas and energy not to mention enthusiasm to help us make the changes.  Some projects are already well underway, others in the pipeline.

Projects on the table

Earth Hour:  FIRE event at Braye Park on 27^th March, complete with wandering minstrels, the wheels of resolutions and stories of hope and inspiration - more soon.

The Gifts of the Furies - A powerful song/story for citizens in a Changing Climate. This is a mythical/contemporary performance that grapples with environmental destruction, and will be performed in Newcastle, then a citizens’ chorus will be taught how to perform the work. Weekend of 7-9th May .

Transition Directory and Calendar – online; so all our like-minded Transitioners can record their events in one location.

Heart and soul workshop - using Joanna Macy’s work.

Introduction to the Transition Model - A six-week course (WEA advertised?)

The Built Environment Forum - engaging builders, architects and the public

Newcastle Cycle Festival (perhaps in bicycle week in September)

Eco-film festival - Awareness raising film events

Monthly open public meeting, to give everybody the opportunity to be involved and contribute – starting next week.

Your ideas and projects, or space to ferment………...

Ideas Café & Transition Community Gathering

This coming Saturday 6^th:

 We intend using the World Café process to make sure people have choice in how they spend this time (socialising is one option, but many feel they like to be more productive) – with a focus on meaningful conversations.

 2:30 at Dimitri’s Café in Hamilton.

This coming Tuesday 9^th:

Open invitation to the first Transition Community Gathering to help get above projects moving.

We are finally taking our meetings out of the lounge-room and into the public arena. Please join us and let’s see where it takes us. This will be run on the “open Space” principle which invites you to observe or join in and contribute on a topic of our or your making, however and wherever your energy and interest takes you.

7:00 pm, Baptist Church Hall, Lindsay Street (just for a change).

An old Indian saying: “If you want to go fast, go alone; if you want to go far, go together”. Seems we’ve tried the first with some success, but at an increasingly diabolical cost. Let’s try the second.

With warm regards from us all

William Vorobioff (for the core working group)