This is from an email Pam Lewis sent me, posted with her permission ... 

1.  What about holding first, "smaller," neighborhood mini-summits, let's say on transportation:

• -to make sure all understand the science and the urgency for action in reducing CO2 emissions
• -to get the beginning knowledge and understanding of transportation planning, terms, processes, values;
• -to look at the demographics, needs, feelings of individuals in the neighborhood-having them say what's important to do;
• -to understand transportation options and how much CO2 is reduced using them
• -to brainstorm ideas to solve things at our Magnolia community level
• -to get commitment from each person on how they can and are willing to help
• -to begin to understand how we can work with our other neighbors, so for Magnolia,e.g., with  Ballard, West Queen Anne in actual proposals for solutions

This mini-summit would allow for the newly formed Climate Dialogue groups to grow bigger and stronger.  To get existing organizations (Sustainable groups, eco-village groups, schools and churches, Community Councils, Rortary, Lyon, Kiwanis, etc) to participate on the smaller community level should be a strong way to begin and hopefully result in many of those people continuing to be willing to help and work together.

Then comes a city wide summit of all of these mini-summits ready to learn more and work together to tackle some of the issues, to give feedback to our leaders and planners, maybe to choose some things to initiate and take action ourselves.

Or...

2.  Maybe the city wide Earth Summit comes together first over a topic -  we learn, talk, listen, brainstorm all mixed together and then at that summit we have time to come together by neighborhood community, to meet each other and begin to plan together our actions- e..g. to plan a mini-summit on transportation to get even more people in our community involved.

The individuals in the Magnolia Climate Dialogues group want to make a difference in Magnolia and chose transportation because it is the area where we can reduce the most CO2 emissions.  We want to engage, educate, and motivate Magnolia residents to become involved and to make significant transportation changes in their lives.  We are coming up on our fourth meeting on 1/22, at which a transportation planner from the Puget Sound Regional Council will begin our education on transportation issues/directions and get our feedback on what is important to us. 

It can't just be talk….without action out of it.  One of our members, with other Moms, has submitted a grant to grow the Walking School Bus program in Magnolia.  Another has sent the Governor a proposal for a campaign to reduce CO2 emissions immediately, state wide, without any funding or staffing needs.  Another has contacted our local Magnolia news and will be writing regular articles on related topics, like how easy and fun it is to take the bus to the zoo, composting in your backyard, etc.

Thanks for listening…

Pam

PS  I thought I was leaning towards #1 above, but now I think #2 would work equally well or better.  I would like to know what you think and what your advisors think and why.