Solutions

Representing Solutions at campus events is an awesome way to connect with the wider community. Lots of people signed up for the e-mail list, and some fantastic responses came out of the board we had up, entitled: “What does sustainability mean to YOU?”
Personal favourites include:
At home – playing music instead of listening to loud sounds on speakers.
In the community – edible public landscapes; urban farms
at school – on campus market

Share more ideas about what sustainability means to you by e-mailing them to viusolutionsnetwork@gmail.com !

Yes, we’re back! Solutions most certainly held meeting between now and the 2nd most recent post (January 2012) but for now it seems like getting current information out is priority numero uno a good idea. SO! Here are the minutes for our first Solutions meeting of the semester:

Solutions: a sustainability network
minutes for October 9th, 2012

members present: Alexander, Sacia, Megan, Jayde, Dana

1. Check-in question
What is your favourite thing about October?
Answers (in no particular order): two members celebrate birthdays in October and were excited about that. Autumn colors, pumpkin pie, fall harvest, Halloween and the inclusive nature and gratitude of Thanksgiving were noted as aspects of October that are particularly awesome.

2. Review of the club vision
All members present agreed that our current vision accurately represents the aims of Solutions.
Current vision: “to cultivate a campus community that practices & celebrates sustainable ways of living in connection with the wider community.”

3. Review of the club meeting format
There was a run-through of the particular roles that are typically active in each Solutions meeting.
Facilitator: is responsible for checking Solutions e-mail account during the week they are facilitating; forwards and replies to e-mails as necessary within that week; prepares agenda for upcoming meeting.
Timekeeper: keeps the meeting activities on track in accordance with the submitted agenda (reasonable flexibility is given by the timekeeper to the meeting space).
Note-taker: documents the activities and responses in the meeting.
Snack provider: brings snacks for meeting members! (it was agree to be noted that a kind fellow from the former Student Worker’s Action Group gave us donuts at this meeting).

The review of roles was followed by a review of the two meeting styles employed in Solutions.

General meeting: Where we establish our Community Norms, discuss all requirements under VIUSU (vision statement, budget, club council etc.) hold open discussions, engage in community interests, invite speakers etc. The basic agenda format used in these minutes in employed.
Focus groups: Where we work on our ongoing projects, campaigns and ‘DO’ing instead of just talking! We hold these groups in the format of “Open Space” where everyone is welcome to bring an issue/topic to start the conversation with others who are interested to talk about it. If you have an area you’d like us to focus on please bring it up at our next Focus Group meeting and be prepared to lead the discussion, or hold the space.
(the descriptions of these two meeting styles were established by Solutions’ former coordinator)

These two meeting formats and four flexible roles were agreed to be effective and useful in Solutions. Sacia will be taking on the e-mail tasks of facilitator until a routine for regular meetings is establish.

4. Club expenditures for the year – tabled
These will be examined in the next meeting as the club priorities still needed to be established.

5. Discussion of 2012/13 club goals and priorities
As many specific interest groups have gained their own momentum (such as the Community Peace Garden and the Campus Food Movement), Solutions’ members discussed the possibility for the Solutions’ club to serve three main purposes:
First: to establish a network of sustainable initiatives on campus, whether they are in classes, (inter-)departmental, one-off event, clubs, or present in another format.
Second: to facilitate communication and connection between these existing sustainable initiatives on campus, thus creating a central group in which information can be consolidated and redistributed to the wider campus community.
Third: to facilitate the growth of new sustainable initiatives and projects on campus in response to the desires of the student population.

These priorities were agreed upon collectively and will be held as the basis for club activity in the coming year.

6. Open floor to upcoming events
Club council meeting: October 16th, VIUSU – Sacia would attend as a representative of Solutions.
Events
Food Connections: Working together to promote food security on Vancouver Island
Friday October 19th 2012, 9am to 5pm
Island Savings Center , 2687 James St, Duncan
This day-long event will bring together a diverse group of people who are involved in food security initiatives across Vancouver Island.
Fusions of Food and Community: A symposium on Food Security in the Cowichan Valley
Saturday, October 20th, 9 am – 4:30 pm
VIU Cowichan Campus $20, inc. Local lunch & breaks
visit www.viu.ca/register/foodsecuritysymposium/ to register and for more information.
Defend our Coast: Victoria, October 22nd
A peaceful civil disobedience rally in front of the B.C. Legislature building to demonstrate public discontent for a lack of provincial legislative action regarding the Northern Gateway Pipeline development process. The VIUSU has a bus going down to the rally in Victoria. Bus will be departing at 9 am from the VIUSU, arrive at the rally by 11 am; bus will depart Victoria at approximately 5:30 pm from the rally and arrive back in Nanaimo at the VIUSU at 7:30 pm. You can sign up to be on the bus at the VIUSU (or show up on Monday with a big grin and ask nicely if there are extra seats).
7. Wrap up
True to Solutions’ style, we ended our meeting with something fun (more or less). A riddle was posed to the group. Warning: if you are prone to obsessing over riddles, don’t read on!
“A man walks into a bar, walks up to the bartender, and asks the bartender for a glass of water. The bartender looks at the man, and then takes a gun out from underneath the bar and points it in the man’s face. The man thanks the bartender and leaves the bar.”
Everything is this situation described happened the way it is described (no tricks of language or misunderstanding). What was the man’s motivation for acting the way he did?
(e-mail viusolutionsnetwork@gmail.com for the answer to the riddle!)

1. Energizer:
bear, mosquito, salmon game: similar to rock paper scissors

2. Check – in:
what would you be out of the three animals of the game and why?
Alex: mosquito, range is expanding (they are versatile)
Dana: bear to play (especially as a bear cub) and hibernate
Elle: bear to play and be cozy
Chris: salmon to experience the world through water
Leah: mosquito to be a fly on the wall
Megan: bear because it’s at the top of the food chain
Travis: bear because it’s similar to him and what he enjoys in life (i.e. eating salmon and berries)
Sacia: bear to get picnic baskets and lumber around

3. Deep Bay celebration discussion (internal).
Contact Chris with questions.

4. Recruitment days debrief:
-Set up and tear down – fairly easy both days. Minimal difficulties setting up and retrieving solutions materials
-displays: checklist was excellent, eye catching, useable more than once, good use of space, engaging from a distance
-vision board was not as engaging as desired, small amount of interest.
-benefit of having the two days of set up – everyone has an opportunity to help with some aspect of the process (even if for a half an hour). Doodle poll was helpful in organizing everyone’s schedule to help.
-signing up new members by allowing them a doodle schedule to fill out – good way to find schedule of potential members
quiz: engaged and introduced people to what Solutions focuses on. point of participation is important
-good time in the semester to engage people – students and faculty are not too busy.

5. SFU Sustainable Campuses conference reminder.
When: February 16th – 19th (the Thursday to Sunday before VIU’s reading week)
Cost: $60
Where: Simon Fraser University, Vancouver, BC.
From the website: This year’s theme is “Campus as a Living Lab:” How can campuses move from places of learning about sustainability, towards learning by doing? How can we find what we need, where we are? More importantly, how can we develop and leverage local culture, knowledge, and innovation with opportunities available to us on and off campus?
Meeting notes on the conference: Chris and a number of other Solutions members have participated in previous Western Sustainable Campuses Conferences; past conferences were great networking opportunities for those looking for new sustainability ideas for their campus as well as opportunities to develop leadership skills in relation to the field of campus sustainability. Also looks like fun!

Options on the registration page offer billeting for students from out of town (so don’t worry about accommodation costs).
Link for more information: http://sustainablesfu.org/scc2012/

roles for next meeting (Thursday, January 19th, building 250 room 215):
facilitator: Elle
note taker: Travis
snack provider: Sacia
time keeper: Megan

Can’t wait to hear about everything you guys learn at Deep Bay!

See you next week :)

Sacia

1. Energizer: Make a shape

2. Check in: What is your New Year’s resolution?
Leah: go to yoga every week, already started!
Elle: make more meals
Chris: to be stoked about school
Kimberly: graduate and find a job
Travis: go to bed at a decent hour
Celia: floss, no email while doing homework, only check email 5x/day
Elise: Become ambidextrous (use right hand as well)
Jesse: go to the gym
Alex: be more active with CHLY
Dana: go on more adventures
Sasha: to say thank you more
Megan: eat healthier, live each day to the fullest

3. Semester at a glance
Planned in advance to make sure key events/activities happened this semester. See Solutions website for the outline: http://solutions.viu.ca/ (under “Executive Meeting”)

relaxed meeting (informal)
present: Chris, Jesse, Leah, Megan, Vlad, Alex, Emily

1. Signing Authority
   We established consensus agreement for Jesse Alexander to become an executive member and signing authority. He will be added to our signing authority list or replace Chris LoScerbo, if needed.
   Chris will submit this documentation to Chris Bergen at Stu-U.
2. Spring Semester at a glance:

January
2-6th (first week) – Kick-Off planning (Jesse overseeing event planning and Megan helping)
5th – first meeting of semester: general – present “Spring Semester at a glance” to all members, Intro to new website and Kick-Off prep, Celebration – Skill Share ideas, presentation of “Solutions Coordination Reference Guide”; other
10th & 11th – Kick-Off (Recruitment) tabling just outside Upper Caf (Jesse will book tables etc.)
12th - second meeting: focus groups (Food Symposium event planning – Celia and Leah; Celebration – Skill Share ideas; Community Garden)
14-15th – Celebration at Deep Bay: http://viudeepbay.com/; http://www.viu.ca/deepbay/ Skill-share, site and bldg tour, big screen movie and sleepover! (Chris overseeing events planning)
19th – third meeting: general
26th – fourth meeting: Mentoring Workshop, ACER event Feb 21 Solutions 45min workshop – interest? Focus groups (Food Symposium event planning – Celia and Leah; Community Garden; Recycling/Compost Pilot Project from Jaylene and other Tour and Rec students)

February: *Piggy-Back Food Symposium Event!
2nd – fifth meeting: Speaker: Josie Osborne from Tofino Botanical Gardens: http://www.tbgf.org/gardens/
with short general meeting to follow!
9th – sixth meeting: focus groups (Community Garden; Recycling/Compost Pilot Project from Jaylene and other Tour and Rec students; Food Purchasing Policy, other)
16th – 19th – Sustainability Campuses Conference: Vancouver Field Trip!!!! http://sustainablesfu.org/scc2012/
20th-24th <<Reading Break>>

March
TBA – Field Trip to Alderlea Farm and OUR Ecovillage (Leah organizing)TBA – Speaker: __________
2nd – eighth meeting: focus groups (Community Garden; Recycling/Compost Pilot Project from Jaylene and other Tour and Rec students; Food Purchasing Policy, other)
5th-17th Go Beyond – 2012 Teach In -  http://go-beyond.ca/changes?utm_source=Default+Newsletter&utm_campaign=52b369ed40-December_Newsletter12_21_2011&utm_medium=email
9th – ninth meeting: general
16th – tenth meeting: focus groups (Community Garden; Recycling/Compost Pilot Project from Jaylene and other Tour and Rec students; Food Purchasing Policy, other)
23rd – second last meeting:
30th – last meeting:

April
TBA – ?Speaker: __________?
TBA – End of semester Celebration Field Trip: Tofino Botanical Gardens
5th – Last day of classes
6th – No meeting – Study Break!
23rd – Last day of Exams!

notes:

• connect with Jawn about regular bike mechanic workshops (and tool kit promo)
• connect with Worldbridger about films for us to host – add dates to “at a glance”
• Interest to connect with CHLY (and Changes show) about Radio opporunities?
• Interest to connect with the Nav about regular column?

Facilitator: Dana
Time keeper: Megan
Note taker: Chris
Snack Provider: Elle

1. Energizer: cup game – Yeah Megan leading!!!

2. Check in: Something awesome you’re doing over winter beak

Jesse: a lot of snowboarding and partying in Quesnell

Megan: back to Alberta for the holiday and a drive to Grand Prairie

Elle: go to Van to visit with freinds and enjoy the reunion!

Alexandro: Back to Duncan, hanging with friends and putting insulation in my cabin!

Chris: Seeing family in Calgary for early celebrations and then back to Nanaimo – love it (gingerbread, clear frosh/frozen landscape, slushy walks)!

Dana: Climb Mt Benson!!!

3. Next week’s meeting: Exec meeting to prepare for next semester – agreed a minimum of 3 people showing up and them having make an outline plan to present at the first meeting of spring semester and Solutions meetings would have that plan to work from throughout the spring.

4. Next Semester Meetings: Elle will compile the doodle decision and book rooms for all of next semester.

5. Cherry Point Celebration: after 11am on Sat – Chris will book it and email those interested – please email clauren1@gmail.com! 5 people confirmed!

6. Question: Aside from political and social issues, Is there enough nitrogen and space available in our world to produce food for our current (and growing) population without industrial agricultural practises.

AMAZING question!!! and we had a great discussion.

7. Upcoming Events/Community Reminders:
Rights and Democracy Club Local food Bake Sale tomorrow (Thursday) 11am – 3pm

Sustainability Seafood paid position this Spring Semester – apply!!!

ACER meeting on Friday 11:30am ICR (above Jump’n Java)

8. Focus Groups:

Bike Tool Kit – Chris

• Booklet presented: Went over what needed to still be done – assigned tasks for over the break

Garden Spring Prep – Alex

• This weekend plant bulbs, dedicate/expand garden area for culinary use (winter greens, bulbs etc.)
• Next semesters coordinator position shared between 3+ people.
• Leaf bagging party at 3pm in the garden

Next Semester recruitment tactics – Jesse

• brain storming next semester
• table and Q&A in the first few weeks
• posters

9. Wrap Up – Good luck on finishing up our semester everyone!