WORD: Tom Murphy: Time to be honest with ourselves about our looming energy risks | Energy Bulletin

http://www.energybulletin.net/stories/2012-05-15/tom-murphy-time-be-honest-ourselves-about-our-looming-energy-risks-0

Solarize Salem announces Round 3

http://solarizesalem.org/solarize-salem-announce-phase-3/

If you have a good solar capacity at your property, you have a unique moment in which to take advantage of a price meltdown and historically unheard-of low interest rates to make a significant investment in diversifying and strengthening Salem's energy infrastructure.  The more of us who feed into the grid, the more resilient and less polluting the grid will be.   

Stopped clock right this time: Stronger vocational education makes more sense than college for all | OregonLive.com

http://www.oregonlive.com/opinion/index.ssf/2012/05/stronger_vocational_education.html

Robert Samuelson is usually pretty bad, hovering down in George Will territory for vacuousness.  However, like a stopped clock that is right twice a day, he gets it right now and then.  The bursting of the higher ed bubble is one such moment, as people all over America are realizing that higher ed is not the driver of our well-being but an artifact made possible by the well-being that was powered by, mainly, less educated people having access to the amazing wealth provided by cheap energy.

Now that the cheap energy is a thing of the past, we can crank out all the degrees we like and we still won't bring back the growth economy.  The cargo cults of the South Sea Islands famously confused cause and effect, thinking that the Allied troops that brought all the cargo to the islanders could be lured back by thatch control towers that mimicked the ones that the troops had created when the war was on.  That's how most people think about education --- we rode a century-long oil boom to unimaginable prosperity and, in its wake, sent a lot of people into "higher ed" and gave out a lot of degrees.  But it wasn't the degrees that did it, and any attempt to keep the prosperity by continuing to overproduce people with degrees is going to send even more wealth into the black hole of nonproductive investment.

Not that we don't need educated people, badly.  But what we need is a serious upgrade in our understanding of what it means to be educated, and mainly for a revolution in our concept of education for citizenship.  The dominant paradigm in schools today is producing people capable of continuing on into higher ed, at great cost, for no obvious reason.  That is already failing, as the debt tsunami is taking that outmoded model out to sea.

Anyone interested in making a real, meaningful contribution to Salem's future should think about starting a charter school focused on giving young people the means and methods of educating themselves for the future.  Call it what you like, but the curriculum would be long on giving kids the analytical skills to understand what a gigantic ticking time bomb we've left in their beds, and the practical skills to cope with the effects of that, and the community building skills to nurture themselves as agents of their own destiny in a much more difficult world.  Done right, you'd combine the best of homeschooling with the best of cooperative education and apprenticeships and create some very formidable people.

Doubly Great Recycling ... Turn unused/outgrown bikes into better futures!

http://youry.org/news/recycle-your-bike-at-the-salem-y/

Click here to download/view the complete Bicycle Recycling Program Flyer

2^nd Chance Bicycle Recycling Program!

We have partnered with the Oregon Youth Authority to recycle unwanted, broken, or damaged bicycles back into the community for a nominal fee. These bikes will be repaired by the OYA youth residing in enclosed youth facilities. The youth will be learning bicycle repair skills and in turn will be giving back to the community.

Our bike donation will be held 10am-2pm, June 2^nd, in the Salem YMCA back parking lot! If you have any bikes that you would like to donate please bring them by on June 2^nd! We will be glad to take them off your hands and give you a donation receipt.

We are also in need of tools, a list can be found in the brochure (see link above this article).

You may also know of a child in the community or in your program that is in need of a bicycle. We would like to know their story and why they deserve a bicycle, we will have a limited amount of bicycles to donate back to the community. We plan to have repaired bicycles ready for purchase and donation by mid July.

It is our ultimate vision that the 2^nd Chance Bicycle Recycling initiative be self sustaining.  This initiative has a variety of positive outcomes associated with it.  Focusing on adding another educational component for OYA, providing bikes to children of low income households, encouraging and promoting physical activity, community responsibility, and sustainable transportation; all while recycling and reusing unwanted bikes.

More good Straub stuff: Tonight, 5/29, and Thursday 5/31

TONIGHT! Tuesday, May 29, 2012 6:30-8:30 pm

Climate Series:
Home Energy Savings Course

Straub Environmental Learning Center

The second installation of our Climate Series brings Gerry Munzing, a trainer with Conservation Services Group and Energy Trust of Oregon, to discuss Home Energy IQ. He’ll educate homeowners about energy efficiency, conservation, your house as a system, and the behavior changes that lead to reductions in energy use and energy-efficient improvements. He’ll discuss topics such as: the importance of weatherizing for health, comfort, safety and savings; water heating savings; energy efficient solutions; heating more efficiently; and figuring out which solutions are right for you. Munzing delivers educational workshops to consumers throughout the Pacific Northwest and is a primary driver in the delivery of online and classroom based training initiatives. Munzing proudly represents Energy Trust of Oregon by providing homeowners and residential professionals with education to make homes more energy efficient, comfortable and safe. The class is part of our six-course climate series but is open to the public. Class is $5. RSVP to 503-391-4145 or fselc@fselc.org.

Thursday, May 31, 2012 7:00-9:00 pm
Soil: What’s in it for me?
Straub Environmental Learning Center

In this two-hour workshop, Geercrest Farm owner Jim Toler will define healthy soil in terms of chemistry and biology and explain how and why organic or naturally grown foods are healthier than most of what we buy at the supermarket. Toler founded Willamette Organics LLC in 2003 to provide support for organic farms and landscapes. He began working with Oregon Tilth in 2006 to create an Accredited Organic Land Care program similar to the one introduced on the east coast by the Northeast Organic Farmers Assn. That program was introduced here on the west coast in 2010.

He is also president of GeerCrest Farm & Historical Society, a 501 (c) (3) non-profit based at the historic 1847 Geer homestead east of Salem. The non-profit is primarily engaged in preservation of the farm, local history and agrarian culture. Much of their activity is centered on farm-life experience classes for school aged children. No RSVP is required, but space is limited. Seats given on a first come, first served basis.

The Most Important Job Posting in a Long While

If you seek a job with meaning and a chance to do some world-class good, here's one:

HEALTH CARE for ALL - OREGON
Job Announcement: ORGANIZER

Are you ready to make history?

Health Care for All-Oregon is a new coalition of 45 organizations (and counting) mobilizing to win a unified, equitable, publicly funded, comprehensive health care system for everyone in Oregon and the United States. We have active chapters around the state, thousands of contacts, and a solid leadership structure, all of which has been built by volunteers. Now we are ready to hire our first paid organizer to help us solidify our organization and build our momentum.

Duties include but are not limited to:

1. Create leadership development program to identify, train, and support leaders in HCAO chapters and member organizations

2. Organize new HCAO chapters in priority areas

3. Assist existing chapters and member organizations in developing greater capacity through assessment, planning, leadership development, training, and ongoing support.

4. Assist board and executive committee in developing and implementing strategic plan, regional and statewide meetings

5. Coordinate maintenance of supporter database

6. Collaborate with Communications committee to produce effective communications to supporters and the media

7. Collaborate with Fundraising committee to raise funds through individual donors (major and minor), monthly sustainers, organizational contributions, events, grants, etc.

8. Perform other related duties as assigned by HCAO Executive Committee.

Requirements
· Minimum five years experience in grassroots organizing, including all aspects such as fundraising, coalition-building, leadership development, strategic planning, communications;

· Ability to work independently and under supervision, prioritizing numerous and varied tasks;

· Ability to inform and inspire others through public speaking, meetings, and one-on-one relationships;

· Experience developing new programs and projects;

· Valid driver’s license and dependable vehicle (mileage to be reimbursed);

· Willingness to work long hours, including evenings and weekends, and travel statewide.

Additional desired attributes

· Background in health care policy and advocacy;

· Experience working with diverse constituencies, such as rural communities, communities of color, low-income communities, small businesses, etc.

Compensation:
Salary of $40K+, depending on experience; health insurance; paid vacation.

To apply, by June 18, 2012
Send cover letter, resume, and three references as Word attachments to singlepayoregon at gmail dot com, with the subject “Organizer application."

For background on Health Care for All-Oregon, see the (soon to be replaced) Oregon Single Payer Campaign website: http://oregonsinglepayer.org/.

For those with more gardening urge than space

From the good folks in Marion-Polk Food Share's Community Gardens program:

Hello folks.

A few gardens in the area still have available plots. See below for gardens with availability. Contact the listed coordinator to rent a plot. Plot sizes and prices vary.

For gardens outside Salem/Keizer, scroll down.

Salem & Keizer

Northeast Salem

Fuente de Vida
3295 Ladd Ave. NE
Coordinator: Pamela Lyons-Nelson
plnelson@teleport.com

Hammond Community Garden
4900 Bayne St. NE
Coordinator: Michelle Bertholf
hammondptc@yahoo.com
503-463-5975

Highland Neighborhood Garden
Corner of Hazel and Columbia NE
Coordinator: Cassy Hedberg & Karen Hill
chadcassy@comcast.net


South Salem

Julie's Garden
590 Elma St. SE
Coordinator: Cindy Kimball
whiteoakridge@juno.com
503-385-1876

Southeast Salem Neighborhood Garden
410 19th St. NE
Coordinators: Marcia Hoak & Nicole McDavid
marcia25@comcast.net
971-208-5402


West Salem

West Salem Boys & Girls Club Community Garden
925 Gerth St. NW
Coordinator: Erin Boers
boers.erin@gmail.com
503-779-5912


Keizer

John Knox Community Garden
452 Cummings Lane N
Coordinator: Mary Jo Emmett
mj.emmett@comcast.net
503-393-9447

Whittam Community Garden
5205 Ridge Drive NE
Coordinator: Kathy Whittam
kwhittam@comcast.net
503-510-9926


Marion County

Silverton
Silverton Grange Community Garden
601 Division St.
Coordinator: Leonide Martin
lenniem07@yahoo.com

Woodburn
Planting Communities Gardens
950 N. Boones Ferry Rd., other locations
Coordinator: Ian Niktab
considrpeas@gmail.com

Mt. Angel
St. Joseph’s Community Garden
925 S. Main St.
Coordinator: Sister Marcella
503-845-6147

Mill City
Mill City Community Garden
Kimmel Park, Mill City
Coordinator: Susan Chamberlin
503-949-5965


Polk County

Dallas
Common Grounds Community Garden
775 E. Ellendale Ave.
Coordinator: Landon Pegg
503-999-1339
garden@dallasalliance.org

Grande Ronde
Grande Ronde Community Garden
825 Grande Ronde Rd.
Coordinator: Angella McCallister
971-241-1719
grcrcfoodbank@yahoo.com


Ian Dixon-McDonald
Community Gardens
Marion-Polk Food Share

T: 503-581-3855 x329
C: 503-798-0339
F: 503-581-3862
E: imcdonald@marionpolkfoodshare.org
1660 Salem Industrial Drive NE
Salem OR 97301-0374
www.marionpolkfoodshare.org/

Maybe worth some time: Oregon's Kitchen Table

Hard to say whether this will turn out to be an innovative idea or just another way to chew the same ideas over and over -- why not sign up to take part and push it towards actually discussing meaningful ideas?

Go here to sign up:  http://oregonskitchentable.org/

Thought for a Lifetime

http://howtosavetheworld.ca/

THOUGHTS FOR THE MONTH

From the Dalai Lama, when asked what surprised him most about humanity:

Because he sacrifices his health in order to make money, then he sacrifices money to recuperate his health. And then he is so anxious about the future that he does not enjoy the present, the result being that he does not live in the present or the future. He lives as if he is never going to die, and then dies having never really lived.

Taming the Zoning Monster : Casaubon's Book

http://scienceblogs.com/casaubonsbook/2012/02/facing_the_zoning_monster.php

Hugely important insight:  Salem, like nearly every city, likes to toss the word "sustainability" around but it's absolutely against sustainable practices by residents.