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SRGB Hub Meeting 2007-10-2 (91.6kb)
Self Reliant Golden Bay
“Hub” Meeting Minutes
2 October 2007

Present: Liza Eastman, Alan Vaughan, Bruce King, Nicola Basham, Victoria Davis, Andy Clark, Joe Bell, Alan Blakie, Peter Foster, Joann Vaughan, Hijlko, Shirley Ford, Debbie Campbell, Michael Thomas, Kelcey Chandler-Yates, Leigh Gamby, Scott Mieras, Claire Webster, Landon Carter, and Spring Thomas
Apologies: Stuart Borlaise, Carolyn McClellan, Noel Riley, Richard Kempthorne, and Tessa Whiteman

Facilitator: Landon Carter
Notes: Spring Thomas

How did we get here? Overview with Brief History
Claire Webster, spearheaded by our Community Board, Claire was asked to convene a late May 2007 public meeting to begin addressing the different aspects of a more self-sufficient community. About a dozen volunteers stepped forward to plan to organize a venue in which a true cross section of the community could be involved. This group was called the interim Steering Committee, which recognized it would dissolve as a functioning group upon completion of its work. From the onset, it was agreed that no one wanted the attitude of ‘telling others how to do things’, rather opting for a new way to bring together and empower people to make the changes that they identified. Open Space Technology was the chosen methodology for what came to be called Self Reliant Golden Bay ‘Community Forum’. Held on 1 & 2 September 2007, approximately 300 people touching every aspect of the community and skill bases explored 30 different topics in break-out sessions throughout the weekend which was dubbed a great success. The idea that the people who came generated the ideas worked brilliantly. From this weekend came the potential for 27 Action Groups to be represented at the first ‘Hub’ meeting. All Action Groups were invited to send one or two representatives to today’s meeting. Others who weren’t at the Forum and had energy to give to this next stage, were also invited to attend.

How do we support and encourage more community self-reliance from the work begun at the Forum?
The concept of the Hub is to bring together and empower a cohesive group of representatives from Action Groups to grow ideas into positive change with both passion and responsibility. Through the work of the Forum, certain community needs such as food supply, affordable housing, stronger neighbourhoods and more sustainable transport, to name a few, need to be further addressed. As a model, the Hub is surrounded by the spokes of various Action Groups feeding into the centre. It is intended that this model facilitates communication and provides support for furthering each other’s ideas.

How do we best communicate?
Two best ways to get information out will be both the GB Weekly, which has offered to cover regular updates of progress, and a dedicated website.

Hijlko, a local web designer has offered to work with Debbie Campbell and Dylan Stamat to create a dedicated website: www.selfreliance.org.nz. Galen King of Lucid Design has offered to sponsor the community site. Hijlko reported the overall content of the site which will include interactive texting, news of upcoming events, contact information and general documentation. There will be discussion groups online for both Hub and Action Groups. Spaces for new groups and others to join will be provided with the website. Cautions were expressed about having many photos and/or videos as most people in the Bay are using dial up connections and it’d be infeasible for them to use the site. In addition, concern was expressed that there are people in the Bay who don’t have computers. Going online at the library and following along with the GB Weekly were two solutions offered for this concern.

Group Reports from self-reliance Community Forum
  • Alan Vaughan: Marine Management Plan
    There is much to be done for the Bay to be protected for future generations. Policies and rules must be put into place in order to control the projected pressure onto the Bay’s resources as other areas in the country diminish their's. In order to achieve a broad-based Management Plan for Golden Bay marine area, thirteen relevant stakeholders were identified. It is recognised that the following groups will need to be included in any ongoing consultation and that this poses a problem; Commercial fishers, Recreational fishers, Marine Farmers, Environmental groups, Boating enthusiasts, Transport operators, Iwi, Department of Conservation, Ministry of Fisheries, Port users, Tasman District Council, Maritime Safety Authority and Tourist businesses, due to the challenge of being able to meet at a time convenient for all parties.
  • Liza Eastman: Elderly and Aging Care
    This group will report with any action in the future.
  • Victoria Davis: Film Group
    This group has taken off and already has the script, cast, technical assistance and theme song, “Silver Bay”. So it's already alive and well in the Bay! An interested group of film makers has formed, application for funding is in the works and Victoria is serious about developing career opportunities in short films, TV commercials and full feature films. The filming site has been located and the ‘tree house’ is under construction.
  • Michael Thomas: Affordable, Sustainable Housing
    Affordable Housing has already had their first follow-up group meeting on the 27th September. From this meeting they decided they wanted to first pursue the reduction in the costs of TDC fees associated with installing solar hot water systems on Bay homes. They will continue with monthly meetings.
  • Ngang: Alternative Money Systems-HANDS; Hemp Production; Domestic Food Production; Home Gardens; Cooking and Food Storage
    All are well underway, HANDS has a great momentum and is presently developing their own website. Hemp Production has already had a first meeting at the Community Centre, with 17 people involved in numerous sustainable applications of hemp within the Bay including bio-fuels, building materials, and food sources. They are investigating an Australian product called ‘aragum’, which can be mixed with hemp.
  • Shirley Ford: Totally Local Market
    Shirley is spearheading this effort to bring a vibrant, creative weekly market to the Bay and has been communicating with TDC, and folks from both HANDS Markets and Totally Local Markets, in order to support and combine efforts wherever possible. A projected first market is December 1st and notices are going out to allow crafts people enough time to begin making their wares. TDC has responded favorably to a preferred site close to the new library. If this isn’t possible, the plan is to ask private landowners to host the market. Questions arose about whether fish and meat might be offered, and if crafts people going to the Nelson Market would conflict with our Totally Local Market.
  • Claire Webster: Neighbourhood Networks
    Robina McCurdy and Joanna Piekarski will work together to advertise, lead groups and ‘Take Stock Events’ to identify and record the Bay’s people resources, equipment resources, knowledge, and make record of what has been already done.
  • Debbie Campbell: Food Supply
    So much is happening! Great efforts have been actively underway to address the Bay’s Food Supply and how to take advantage of the 12 month growing season. This group has already successfully linked with local restaurants to support them purchasing locally grown food. The concept of focusing food through a website and the development of an online ordering system is underway. Defining areas of the kinds of food to be grown, equipment needs, glass house availability, and the transition of some dairy land to food growing are all on the move towards solutions. Sol Morgan is working alongside this focus group. The idea of developing a ‘Sustainable Chest Fund’ is being developed as well to provide funding for paid positions.
Following Discussion
Joann Vaughan: Concerns were addressed about whether there was a conflict between the words self-reliance and sustainability, and what impediments are there to being self reliant.
Debbie Campbell: “Self-reliance and sustainability may look different, but we’re all trying to get to the same place. How can we combine the two?”
Claire Webster: “As part of the Steering Committee’s goals we were looking for ways to mesh these together and to work towards the concept of sustainability for the next ‘Seven Generations’ philosophy.”
Peter Foster: Points were made that in his opinion self-reliance was economically based and sustainability encompassed both environment and economy. “Sustainability is ambiguous.”
Leigh Gamby: “You can’t have self-reliance without sustainability.”
Alan Vaughan: “self-reliance is totally dependent on sustainability.” Points were made about the collapse of past communities and to learn from their mistakes.
Peter Foster: Concern was expressed about the ambiguity as to the definitions of: Sustainable Community, Sustainable Environment, and Sustainable Economy.
Debbie Campbell: “Let’s not get hung up in the words. It’s important to be inclusive in our thinking in order to enhance the Bay. Let’s be careful not to fracture into small groups and diminish our momentum. Let’s continue to make positive steps forward!”

Community Board Report – Joe Bell
Apologies and Acknowledgments: Board Members Carolyn McClellen, Stuart Borlaise and Noel Riley unable to attend; Leigh Gamby and Mik Symmons present.
Recognizing the successful interaction between the Community Board and the interim Steering Committee, Joe addressed the formation of what we are now calling the ‘Hub’. He acknowledged that this has evolved very well and that the Community Forum was a great success. The Board has served as a catalyst since they are unable to work on anything more and that they look forward to the efforts of the Action Groups. He asked for the Hub and the Board to define where the Board fits into future progress.

Questions
1. Who is responsible for informing the public on actions of the groups?
Answer: Appointed representatives of each Action Group will communicate to the website and through the Hub for information to the Golden Bay Weekly.
2. How do people join groups they’re interested in?
Answer: All groups are open to new people and a contact list needs to be made.
3. How will positions/initiatives of Action Groups be represented to TDC?
Answer: to be explored later.
4. What provisions for confidentiality are in place?
Answer: to be explored later.
5. If people join action groups and contribute, how can their efforts be reimbursed?
Answer: to be explored later if funding is sourced.
6. If there are vested interest in outcomes, how will they be dealt with?
Answer: to be explored if and when necessary.
7. Is there a relationship between the Hub of Action Groups and the Community Board?
Answer: The relationship is one of individual relationships and individual responsibility.

Hub of Action Groups Formation
Now that the interim Steering Committee’s goal of a successful Self Reliant Community Forum is complete, the next step of bringing forth sustainable community efforts is needed. It is recognized that longevity of momentum needs people to bring it along responsibly. Volunteers were requested to form the Hub. Those who agreed to carry this forward are:
Michael Thomas
Debbie Campbell
Scott Mieras

Also willing to assist, but not on a fully committed basis:
Claire Webster
Kelcey Chandler
Spring Thomas

SM, 28/11/07

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