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Hoppin! Common Good Economy (Common Good Bank) News, 02/07/2011 |
Common Good Economy News Real community. Real money. Real Power. |
(Please welcome Janet Henderson, author of our newsletter this month.)
Dear Friend of the Common Good,
We have had an extremely eventful week or two with the planning for our very first Founding Members' Retreat and then the Retreat itself.
Report on our First Retreat
The "Coming Together for a Common Good Economy" Founding Members' Retreat was held Friday evening, Jan. 28 through Sunday lunch, Jan. 30 at the historic Inn at Shaker Mill Farm in Canaan, NY. Forty people participated enthusiastically. The retreat included brainstorming together, breaking into small groups to work on various issues, and inspirational talks, both planned and adhoc. It was fun! For details, see:
commongoodbank.com/2011/02/general/founding-members-retreat-january-2011
Coordinating Committee Meeting
Representatives from the various action categories (listed below) that were chosen during the Founding Members' Retreat will met yesterday (Sunday, February 6) to discuss next steps in those areas. The meeting was led by our Common Good Community Organizer from Loma Linda California Todd Chinnock, who is working with us in New England this month. The action groups and their representatives are:- Spirituality - Susan Jameson
- Leadership Training - Becky Meier
- Diversity - Anaelisa Vanegas and James Cumming
- Local Groups - Elfie Six
- Peace Force - Bob Connors
- Marketing - Mark Miller and Alan Becker
- Board - Nigel Hinds
- IT - David Pearson
Presentations This Week
- Monday, February 7, 7:00-9:00pm at the Lincoln Library near Bristol, Addison County, VT
- Tuesday, February 8, 7:00-9:00pm at the Chestertown Library, Municipal Center, Main Street, Chestertown, Warren County, NY
- Thursday, February 10, 7:00-9:00pm at Belding Memorial Library, 344 Main St., Ashfield, MA.
Founding Members' Get Together in Great Barrington, MA
We will also be holding a local "Founding Members' Celebration" this Thursday, Feb. 10 at 6 PM at the Friends Meeting House, 280 State Rd., Route 23 (towards Butternut Ski Resort) in Great Barrington. Please bring a dish for the potluck at 6. Following the potluck, we will update those of you who weren't able to attend the Retreat about what happened there and the progress we made, consider the design of future retreats and/or workshops, talk with Todd Chinnock, re-capture some of the exciting, fun, and stimulating moments we experienced during the Retreat, and (for those who want to stay for a final, optional, hour) brainstorm ways we would like to contribute to the Campaign for a Common Good Economy. Todd has been in Massachusetts for a week or so and is really enthused by what he has experienced: “I have been so energized and inspired by the commitment and understanding held by this community that it gives me great hope for the future.” If you can make it, we would love to see you there!Suggestions and Proposals
Even though opinions have been encouraged and freely expressed at prior meetings, a suggestion has been put forth by Certified Dissenter Janet Henderson (see Note below) that, in future, we have a "Dissenters' Corner" during all meetings and retreats, in order to decrease possible pressure to conform and to provide a forum for minority opinions to be heard. For details and discussion seecommongoodbank.com/forum/framework-for-organizing-community-divisions/dissenters-corner
Membership Campaign Progress
Here's who joined since our last newsletter two weeks ago:- Christopher and Signe E. Schaefer
- Andrew Martin
- Ann Kreilkamp
- David Hewitt
- Emily Peyton
- Melanie St. James
- Nigel Hinds
- Roseanna E. Stanley
- Susan Shann
- Timothy McNerney
- Thomas F. Finnell
- Founding Members: 138
- Donations: $13,001
- Loan pledges: $69,725
- Stock purchase pledges: $528,700
- Total: $611,426
(If you are already a Founding Member/Owner, thank you! Tell your friends and relatives.)
Volunteer Update
Becky Meier and Janet Henderson are two of the people who are spending umpteen (that's the official term) hours a week devoted to the work of the Campaign. We have many people taking on new, more active, roles. Thank you to everyone who is stepping up to the plate and, as Rick puts it, "taking ownership" of some aspect of the work of the Campaign.If YOU would like to contribute actively, don't hesitate to speak up (call Rick at 413-644-0101), or come to the Founding Members' celebration in Great Barrington this Thursday, Feb. 10 and stay for the final hour. We want everyone to feel welcomed and included -- there is plenty of work to go around!
Board Meeting
Our next Board meeting will be this Friday at 7:45am in the Solidago Foundation conference room at Thornes Marketplace, Northampton, MA. Our agenda will include a report from the retreat and a discussion of the new Nominating Committee, which will be making suggestions for additions and changes to the Board.Housing Needed
Our National Campaign Director Rick DeVoe will be relocating to the Pioneer Valley within the next month or two. If you have a handle on inexpensive housing in or near Hampshire County, MA, please give Rick a call at 931-704-3887.Note: Any comments on anything in the newsletter, changes, questions, requests, discussions, dissensions, etc. may be directed to Janet Henderson at jmhenderson@CommonGoodBank.com.
Have a great week!
Yours,
Janet
Janet Henderson, Newsletter Authorin consultation with William Spademan
Campaign for a Common Good Economy
Real community. Real money. Real power.
PO Box 21, Ashfield, MA 01330 USA
+1 413-628-3336
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