About bart

I live in a small condominium in the San Francisco Bay Area. From 2004-2009, I was the main editor for the Energy Bulletin website (http://energybulletin.net). In previous lives I was a technical writer for Hewlett-Packard, a high school teacher and a newspaper reporter and editor.

Newsletter – October 5, 2011

Posted on October 6, 2011 by bart

TRANSITION PALO ALTO
Newsletter
October 5, 2011

News

New book – “Transition Companion” – discount copies available

Let it all hang out at new Chat group

Opportunities with Transition groups

Burt Liebert writing “Take Back the Power”

Transition Garden Group forming

Events

Acterra’s Green@Home energy specialist volunteer training – Wed Oct 5 and 12

Free screening of “I AM, the documentary” – Thurs Oct 6

Sharing Event – garden produce, crafts, Halloween costumes – Sun Oct 9

Bike Palo Alto – Learn how easy it is to bike in Palo Alto – Sun Oct 9

Frances Moore Lappé at Stanford: “Cultivating the EcoMind to Transform Our Food System” – Tues Oct 11

Community Food Conference in Oakland – Nov 5-8

NEWS

New book – “Transition Companion” – discount copies available

We just placed a bulk order for “The Transition Companion” by Rob Hopkins which will be released in late October.

The book is a sequel to “The Transition Handbook,” and gives strategies and ideas It should be an important book.

If you are interested in reserving a copy, email Annette at annetteisaacson AT comcast DOT net.

List price is $29.95. We can offer it for $20.

A book group will probably form to read the book together. It’s more fun to read it that way.

More (see links under “Additional Information” at right of page)
PDF of excerpts:

Let it all hang out at new Chat group

To cope with all the ideas and events, we’ve set up a new Yahoo group for announcements, news items and discussion. It’s called tpa_chat

If you already have a Yahoo account, you can sign up by sending an email message to
tpa_chat-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

Complete instructions – see next item below.

Opportunities with Transition groups

Interested in connecting with one of the groups active in Transition Palo Alto? Just sign up for the Yahoo group to get news of meetings, events, and discussions.

Current groups:

transitionpaloalto for the newsletter and occasional Transition-related posts of general interest. Open.
tpa_book2 Transition Book Group 2. Meets every two weeks on a variety of subjects. Open.
tpa_book4 Transition Book Group 4. Now sponsoring the Resilience Circle (tpa_resilience)
tpa_book6 Transition Book Group 6. Now reading the Transition Handbook.
tpa_book7 Transition Book Group 7. Will begin reading the Transition Handbook in November. Will probably meet Thursday in the daytime.
tpa_chat for ideas, events, discussion. Open.
tpa_conversation Conversation and community discussion group. Deals with group process. Open.
tpa_food Food-related topics.Open
tpa_garden Gardening-related topics.Open.
tpa_resilience Resilience Circle. Started recently. Meets every week. Still open.
tpa_reskilling Reskllling classes (learning hands-on skills). Open
tpa_slow_money Money topics, with emphasis on the local economy. Investing, money-management, business.

[Thanks to David H. for pointing out that 2 of the URLs were wrong in the emailed version of the newsletter]

To join the tpa_chat group (or any of TPA’s groups – just plug in the appropriate name, e.g. “tpa_resilling” instead of “tpa_chat”):

1. Go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/tpa_chat/

2. Click on “Join Group” (in blue) on the middle right of the page.

3. If you have a Yahoo ID account, sign in with it.

If you DON’T have a Yahoo ID account, it is recommended that you fill out the forms to get one. It’s free and takes 5-15 minutes. Once you have one, it makes your interactions with Yahoo groups much easier. At the bottom right of the page, click on the button “Create New Account”

If you DON’T have a Yahoo ID account and you cannot / do not want to go through the process of signing up for one, send me your name and email address and I can sign you up for the group. ( bart AT cwo DOT com ).

4. Fill out the options. You can probably stick with all the default values.

If you don’t want mail filling up your inbox, you can choose the “Web Only” option in Step 2. With this option, you can go to the Yahoo Group website to read messages, rather than having them sent to you. (Thanks to Rani for this tip.)

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/tpa_chat/messages

5. After you’re signed up, you can send messages to the group by using the mail address
tpa_chat@yahoogroups.com

6. To un-subscribe, send a message to
tpa_chat-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com

Burt Liebert writing “Take Back the Power”

Transition Palo Alto has been honored to have Burt and Marge Liebert at many events.

They have been involved in Transition-like activities for many decades. Recently they published an eco-topian novel called “Out of the Cage”

Burt has been an actor, drama teacher (UC Davis), Humanist, Peace Corps volunteer, lecturer, activist and horseback rider. Marge has been an innovative special-ed teacher, a prolific artist, and an undaunted activist.

More:
https://transitionpaloalto.org/learn/about-burt-and-marjorie-liebert/

A few weeks ago, Burt distilled his feeling about current events in a piece of writing called “Take the Back Power”

http://outofthecagenow.blogspot.com/2011/09/take-back-power-by-burt-liebert-it-isnt.html

It may be a statement that many can agree with. At first reading, it seems like the “Move to Amend” moveement against corporate personhood that some TPA people are involved with (cf Gerry G.).

http://www.peaceandjustice.org/programs/Move_To_Amend/MoveToAmend.pdf

-BA

Transition Garden Group forming

Romola Georgia is starting a garden group for discussion and activities around gardening. Romola is a Master Gardener and a founding member of Transition Palo Alto.

You can join by going to
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/tpa_garden/

Or by writing Romola at rgeorgia AT gmail DOT com

UPCOMING EVENTS

Acterra’s Green@Home energy specialist volunteer training – Wed Oct 5 and 12

Come learn more about how to save energy in your home — and help others in the community do so, too! Please join us at Acterra for this volunteer training program on the next two Wednesday evenings:

Wednesday OCTOBER 5 & 12: Next Acterra’s Green@Home Energy Specialist Volunteer Training.

Green@Home Energy Specialist Volunteers meet with residents in their homes to install basic energy and water saving devices and create home energy conservation plans. Each HouseCall is performed by 2 volunteers & takes 2.5 hours. The next training will be: October 5 AND 12, 5:30 – 9:30 pm. The class will meet in Palo Alto. For more details about the location and to register for this training, see http://greenathomeprogram.eventbrite.com/

Please pass the word to others that may be interested.

Hope you can join us –it’s a fun, hands-on learning program with tools and a comprehensive learning manual.

– Debbie Mytels / Associate Director, Acterra

Free screening of “I AM, the documentary” – Thurs Oct 6

Topic:
The shift is about to hit the fan
Event date:
Thursday, October 06th, 2011 – 5:30pm – 8:30pm
Location:
Cubberley Auditorium, Stanford University

Trailer:

Reviews:
http://blog.seattlepi.com/peoplescritic/2011/02/24/review-i-am-the-documentary/
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/movies/2014320323_mr25iam.html

– Sarah R.

Sharing Event – garden produce, crafts, Halloween costumes – Sun Oct 9

Neighbors Sharing Food/Flowers/Herbs from their Gardens
Neighbors Sharing Arts & Craft Supplies

Sunday, October 9 11am – noon
FREE !
Common Ground Organic Garden Supply & Education Center
www.commongroundinpaloalto.org
559 College Avenue
Palo Alto, CA 94306

Join us to share garden bounty. Bring what you have to share; take home something you don’t. Think of it as a “free” backyard farmers’ market.

Bring your homegrown fruit, vegetables, eggs, herbs, honey, and flowers! Bring your outgrown Halloween costumes and paraphernalia.

Come meet other artistic people, share stories, clear out your closets, and help save stuff from the landfill at the Craft Share! Bring your old arts and crafts supplies, Halloween and other paraphernalia, and take home what you really need.

Throughout the Bay Area, neighbors are coming together to share. Our Palo Alto sharing event is supported by a coalition of community ecological organizations and neighborhood groups including: Acterra, Barron Park Green Team, Barron Park Garden Network, Barron Park Assn, Common Ground, City of Palo Alto Community Gardens, Slow Food South Bay, Transition Palo
Alto and Transition Silicon Valley.

The Common Ground store is open during the event, so plan to stop in to get any supplies you need to continue your garden bounty. Also, the event is located only 3 blocks from the California Ave Farmers’ Market, which is open from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM. You will have time to shop or have lunch at the market after the event.

Join us to share garden bounty as well as halloween costumes. Bring what you have to share; take home something you don’t. Think of it as a “free” backyard farmers’ market.

– Rani

Bike Palo Alto – Learn how easy it is to bike in Palo Alto – Sun Oct 9

Join in for an afternoon of fun and learn how easy it is to bike in Palo Alto! Bike Palo Alto! 2011 will be on Sunday October 9, 1-4 pm.

Start at El Carmelo School (Bryant & Loma Verde) for bike safety info, helmet fitting, bike registration and bike safety checks and maintenance. Then choose one of our highlighted routes and take a fun ride with free treats along the way including ice cream at Baskin Robbins and fruit at Mollie Stone’s & Whole Foods.

Bike Palo Alto! is a free, family friendly event, no pre-registration necessary. Just bring your bike & helmet and be ready to lower your carbon footprint and have some fun! Event highlights:

Learn tips on how to bike safely on public streets and make sure your helmet is ready to protect you!
Get a great local bike map highlighting bike routes in and around Palo Alto!
Check out Palo Alto’s great bike routes and stop along the way for free ice cream and other treats!
Learn about bike safety accessories to make your ride safer and register your bike!
Want to know the best bike route from your home to your favorite destination? Ask the Route Wizard!
Bring your bike by for a free safety check and basic maintenance!
Sign up for our free raffle for a chance to win a great prize!

For more info go to: www.pagreenteams.org

Or find us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=208437172508446

Bike Palo Alto! Sponsors: Palo Alto CEAP, City of Palo Alto Way2Go & Sustainability Programs, Mike’s Bikes, Whole Foods, The Sweet Shop, Starbucks, Baskin Robbins, Mollie Stone’s Markets, Traders Joes, Kepler’s Books, REI, Palo Alto Bikes, College Terrace Association & the Barron Park Association.

– Annette I.

Frances Moore Lappé at Stanford: “Cultivating the EcoMind to Transform Our Food System” – Tues Oct 11

Stanford Food Summit 2 proudly and enthusiastically invites you to an evening with: Frances Moore Lappé

Cultivating the EcoMind to Transform Our Food System
Lessons learned from 40 years of the Food Movement

Please feel free to forward and circulate this with wild abandon. We would love to FILL Memorial Auditorium (capacity 1,700).

Stanford Public Forum featuring Frances Moore Lappé, Tuesday October 11, 7-9 pm
Target Audience: General Public

On-line registration is free, but required to help us keep track of numbers: http://foodsummit.stanford.edu

(please note: the website has a registration for the evening event)

The Keynote by Ms. Lappe will be followed by a panel discussion:
Moderator: Debra Dunn, Stanford d.school
Farmer: Dru Rivers, Full Belly Farm
Cook/Restaurateur: Jesse Cool
Nutrition Scientist: Christopher Gardner

– submitted by Lori W.

Community Food Conference in Oakland – Nov 5 – 8

The topic of Food Justice has been in the air recently, so I suspect that a number of you will be interested in learning about the Community Food Conference 15 – happening in Oakland from November 5 to 8. It isn’t cheap, but if you’ve attended conferences lately, you’ll know that it’s reasonable compared to some. You get quite a lot for your money. Check it out at: http://communityfoodconference.org/15/

If you don’t want to attend the entire conference, you have the option of attending ONLY a field day on Saturday, November 5. These trips give people the opportunity to visit food programs and farms around the Bay Area, from West Marin to Salinas. They typically come not only with great information and opportunities to learn, but a lunch made from local, sustainable food. http://www.foodsovereigntytours.org/u-s-tours/cfsc2011/

One field trip in particular that I’d like to mention to you is near by. Collective Roots is hosting a field day, right here in East Palo Alto. Many of you know Collective Roots well, and probably don’t need an all day tour of their excellent projects and sites. But others of you who have heard about them might want to check this out. You’ll get to visit quite a number of places, including the amazing and beautiful EPACS garden, and get a lunch of local, sustainable food cooked by the graduates of their Cooking Matters program. http://www.foodsovereigntytours.org/u-s-tours/cfsc2011/east-palo-alto/

– Peter Ruddock

Ongoing Events

alternate Tuesdays – Conversation, Community and Calling
alternate Wednesdays – Book group 2 continuing discussion, Reskilling group
Thursdays – Resilience Circle

2nd Sunday – Garden share at Common Ground
4th Sunday – Garden share at Full Circle Farm

Visit the website at http://www.transitionpaloalto.org for details

You can access the Calendar via:

https://transitionpaloalto.org/events-2

Contact the Transition team transitionpaloalto@gmail.com
to get on or off the newsletter mailing list (the transitionpaloalto Yahoo Group) or to suggest events!

editor for this issue: Bart Anderson
normal editor: Rani

– 30 –

Transition Palo Alto sponsors Introduction to Resilience Circles

Posted on September 18, 2011 by bart

By Thomas Atwood

On a balmy September evening in the Bay Area, 27 people gather at World Centric in Palo Alto to learn about the resilience circle movement. Many are already participants in Transition Palo Alto, and bring a mature understanding of the ecological basis of our collective pain. Others come at the invitation of friends, or out of curiosity. They’ve come to learn about local consciousness raising groups that face economic stress together in a supportive setting. As the evening progresses, the group experiences the power of a primal ritual. Some might attend the same event and argue that a ritual never took place. But, like any good story, it always happens when humans tap into the collective wisdom of the faces around the fire.

Debbie Mytels recording "cultural messages."

An opening reading from Meg Wheatley, Turning to One Another, sets the tone. Each voice contributes a line of the reading in turn, as though a Greek chorus had arrived just for the occasion. A round of introductions reveals a cast of characters that you might stereotype as comfortable, middle class residents of Silicon Valley, ground zero of American prosperity. The magic begins.

“What are the economic signs of the times?” facilitator Debbie Mytels asks. The room erupts with a familiar narrative. Small, local businesses are closing, and we’re seeing more empty storefronts. So many people don’t have health insurance, and six of them here in the circle. Adult children are living at home with their parents. Business people are running our education system. Worker productivity has increased over 40 years, but wages are stagnant. America has become an auctioning block of deep online discounts. Sailboats are going for a bargain at $2500. People who still have jobs are doing the work of three or more people. Employees of huge global enterprises are anxious, stressed, isolated, crying at their desks, and taking large doses of antidepressants.

The list goes on. A Stanford professor asked a student to lecture on dumpster diving. A technical writer with a PhD in English from Stanford couldn’t get a three-year supplemental employee contract renewed at a global software company. Another PhD had to go to Korea to find a job. People we know are internalizing the pain and blaming themselves, taking unhealthy solace in spectacle, illusion, and fast food. When the anesthesia wears off, the pain returns.

After an outburst of insights like these, the reading for Facing Economic Change simply cements in what’s already been said. Tough times lie ahead, and we are in a stage of fundamental transition. We won’t have more debt-fueled economic growth, and our economic model is not ecologically sustainable. A resilience circle is a place to support one another and prepare. The choir in the room wants to burst into song, but first the facilitators want to discuss cultural messages about the economy.

As more voices contribute to the circle, the burgeoning energy of the narrative takes on a life of its own. The media glorifies the wealthy and sets impossible standards, too many of us taking comfort in the hope that we’ll become “one of them.” Pundits foment fear. Talking heads scapegoat the poor, immigrants, feminists, gays, academics, the “elite liberal establishment”—anyone we don’t know well enough to hear their story. “You’re on your own.” “Be afraid.” “The world is divided into winners and losers, and losers shouldn’t get anything.” “The private sector and the invisible hand of the free market will fix everything.” “Go shopping.” “It’s your own damn fault.”

People are ready to talk about themselves, and the agenda opens the floodgates. The group breaks into pairs for a discussion question. “What are one or two ways that the economic crisis is touching you, or someone you love?” After ten minutes the group reconvenes to share back, and facilitator Thomas Atwood can’t write fast enough on his easel pad.

It starts with everyday frustrations, such as the distractions of an interrupt-driven lifestyle, hidden fees and penalties from banks, and 40 minutes on the phone trying to cancel a DSL service. It gets worse. Six people in the room have no health insurance, and one gave up in frustration trying to get through the process of comparing plans. A brother in law was laid off at age 65 just as he was asking for time off for surgery. One participant attributes a huge rent increase to a landlord trying to recoup his stock market losses. Another person had a 53% rent increase in January. A sister with a ten-year-old daughter has been homeless for three years, making her way through the shelter system and relying on the generosity of friends. Another woman volunteers for a rotating shelter at her church. After a series of job losses, a sister who started out as an Executive Director of a San Francisco non profit has given up on having a professional life in the US, and is now working in Afghanistan. A friend is living in a truck in the parking lot where someone works. Financial stress is forcing one woman to sell her house, which she characterizes as “her paradise.”

Mytels handles the logistics of next steps with a deftness born of years of experience as a community organizer. The group will take the seven-session curriculum from the national Resilience Circle Network together and finish by Thanksgiving. After working out the details, the group closes by standing in a circle and reading an excerpt from the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King’s 1964 Nobel Peace Prize acceptance speech: “… I am not yet discouraged about the future. Granted that the easygoing optimism of yesterday is impossible.”

As if leaving is difficult, many linger in the room for conversation and debriefing. By 3:41 AM, Bart Anderson (a Transition Palo Alto organizer) has set up a Yahoo Group for the new resilience circle, saying that “I was keyed up after the great meeting of the Resilience Circle, so I thought I would use some of that energy productively.”

“It goes on one at a time,
it starts when you care
to act, it starts when you do
it again after they said no,
it starts when you say We
and know who you mean, and each
day you mean one more.”

From The Moon Is Always Female, by Marge Piercy

“Author Thomas Atwood greeting people at Palo Alto's first Resilience Circle.”

From Thomas’s bio:

I believe that the role of the magician in society was more interesting in antiquity, and I occasionally revive the “trickster” role in the persona of my magician alter ego, Alfonzo the Conjuring Fool. Alfonzo is crazy about the Faithful Fools Street Ministry in San Francisco (See http://www.faithfulfools.org). HIs magic tends to surprise him as much as it does anyone else, fostering awareness of mystery and of the real-world misdirection and shell games going on all around us.

Speaking of foolishness, I earn my living as a technical writer in Silicon Valley. My poetry envisions relationships among spiritual, psychological, and scientific perspectives on the human condition.

I am learning to be a community organizer, because local and regional relationships have the best chance of surviving the coming collapse of an unsustainable industrial civilization powered by cheap oil. So I work with friends to organize resilience circles and build hope for a soft landing.

New book group Wed Sept 14 – the best way to learn about Transition

Posted on September 11, 2011 by bart

Curious about what all the excitement is about Transition?

The best way to find out more is through a book group reading “The Transition Handbook.” A group of about 6-12 people reads and discusses the book chapter-by-chapter in a friendly, no-pressure way. Many people like the connections they make in the group. Several book groups have continued to meet for many months after they finished the book, becoming friends and working on projects together. This is the sixth book group we’ve had in Palo Alto.

Book groups are free and there’s no obligation.

Book group leader Barbara Weinstein writes:

Transition Handbook Book Group 6 will be starting Wednesday September 14 and run every other Wednesday over the next few months (meet and greet at 6:30pm, meeting 7-9pm).

William Mutch, Eitan Fenson, and I will be facilitiating, and the first meeting will be held at my house in Los Altos.

There’s more general information about Transition book groups here:
https://transitionpaloalto.org/learn/learning-together/

Please pass the word along to anyone who might be interested! For more information and directions, people can contact William (permifree AT yahoo DOT com), Eitan (eitan AT fenson DOT com), or me (barbara AT ontrk DOT com)

[UPDATE Sept 12: William Mutch writes: “The dates are 9/14, 9/28, 10/12, 10/26, 11/9, 11/16, 11/30. So, every other week for two months, then an odd schedule in November, to avoid the holidays.”]

An introduction to Resilience Circles – Sept 15

Posted on September 6, 2011 by bart

We’re in this Together!

An Introduction to Resilience Circles
September 15, 2011

The Great Recession is a scary time. Debt, foreclosure, unemployment, anxious employment, evaporating savings, rising costs, job insecurity, and environmental uncertainties.

Resilience circles are a positive way forward. A resilience circle is a small group of people that comes together to:

Face economic and ecological challenges
Learn about root causes
Discover non-financial resources
Build relationships that strengthen security
Take steps for mutual aid and shared action
Learn about helpful community projects
Rediscover what we have and the prospect of a brighter future
Become part of a larger effort to create a fair, healthy, sustainable economy for all

For those already involved in local Transition activities, resilience circles are a natural way to tie in our concerns about peak oil and climate change with the real economic and personal challenges that we face. It’s all part of the same picture!

Join us for an introduction to Resilience Circles

We’ll learn about the resilience circle movement and how resilience circles are helping people turn hardship into strengthened relationships and mutual support. We’ll also plan follow-on sessions for those who want to get involved.

September 15
6:30 meet and greet
7:00-9:00 Intro to Resilience Circles
World Centric
2121 Staunton Court
Palo Alto, CA 94306

Hosted by Transition Palo Alto book group 4

For more information about the event write to, thomas@thomasatwood.net or dmytels@batnet.com

For more information about the Resilience Circle movement, see http://localcircles.org/

Newsletter – September 1, 2011

Posted on September 5, 2011 by bart

TRANSITION PALO ALTO
Newsletter
September 1, 2011

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UPCOMING EVENTS
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FILM SERIES – FOOD CONNECTIONS

Film series Films of Vision and Hope: Free Film Series – Food Connections! World Centric 2121 Staunton Ct. Time: Fridays 7:30 – 9:30 PM

* September 2 – Rebecca’s Wild Farm: Wildlife filmmaker Rebecca Hosking shows how she transformed her family’s farm in Devon into a lowenergy farm for the future, discovering that nature holds the key.

* September 9 – Establishing a Food Forest: Back by popular demand! In this fascinating film, famed permaculturist Geoff Lawton shows how to turn even the most unpromising ecosystems into thriving, productive food forests.

* September 16 – Locavore: Today, the average conventionally grown vegetable travels more than 1500 miles and is over-processed, stale, and without nutrition. Learn how the Locavore movement is changing all of that.

* September 23 – 100 Mile Potluck: It’s harvest season, and the autumnal equinox! Come to share food, conversation, and ideas.
========================================================================
TRANSITION POTLUCK – September 5, Sunnyvale, 5pm

Come to share the bounty of the season! Bring a dish with local, seasonal ingredients, if you can (tomatoes, eggplant, squash, seasonal fruit, local meats, or other). We’ll share where our ingredients came from and how the dishes were prepared. We’ll also talk about what’s happening with Transition-related activities for the coming year, including a new series of monthly potlucks that will focus on different themes. Friends and family of all ages are welcome!

Victoria Armigo’s house, 776 Henderson Ave, Sunnyvale, CA 94086, Tel 408 296-6605
RSVP (if you can) to peterruddock@yahoo.com, varmigo@earthlink.net, or barbara@ontrk.com
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QUAKEVILLE 2011 – September 10-11, Briones and Rinconada Parks

Quakeville 2011: IT’s BACK…if you missed last year’s Quakeville event, here’s your opportunity to participate. demos and a camp-out. The Weekly did a complete article, see http://www.paloaltoonline.com/weekly/story.php?story_id=15409
Link to flyer at http://www.paneighborhoods.org/ep. For more, or to camp in Rinconada Park contact, Annette at epvolunteers@paneighborhoods.org
========================================================================
10 YEARS AND COUNTING – September 11 – October 7

Sept 11 – Oct 7, 2011 will mark the ten year anniversary of our nation continuously at war. 10 Years + Counting invites artists and others to take this historic moment as inspiration and use the power of creativity to illustrate the costs of war and imagine a more peaceful world. For visit or start an event in your area:

http://www.10yearsandcounting.com
========================================================================
TALK: INGREDIENTS FOR TRANSITION (ROB HOPKINS) – September 12, 8-9:15am

In July Rob joined us to discuss what was new in the Transition Movement. Join this follow up conversation where we expect to go deeper into what he is now referring to as the “ingredients” of Transition. September 12, 8am-9:15am online/by phone. Register online at:
http://www.transitionus.org
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TALK: MOVE TO AMEND – First Baptist Church of Palo Alto, September 12, 7-9pm

David Cobb is an organizer and rousing speaker for Move to Amend (and a former Green Party Presidential Candidate). Come see him speak about corporate personhood and how to end it. There will be a lengthy Q & A. Free and open to the public.

7-9pm, First Baptist Church of Palo Alto, 305 North California Avenue @ Bryant, Palo Alto, CA 94301
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AL GORE’S CLIMATE REALITY PROJECT – September 14-15

The Climate Reality Project is bringing the facts about the climate crisis into the mainstream and engaging the public in conversation about how to solve it. Founded and chaired by Al Gore, Nobel Laureate and former Vice President of the United States, The Climate Reality Project is 24 hours of real truth about climate change, at various locations around the world. For more information and to watch the video:

http://www.climaterealityproject.org
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GRAN FONDO – September 17

Includes 3 events: Echelon challenge to walk, run, or bike multiple short laps for charity, Echelon Gran Fondo to cycle 60, 80, or 95 miles, and A Taste of Palo Alto – a taste of 15 fine Palo Alto restaurants. Taste of Palo Alto and festival free with each entry. Fundraising not required.
$25 public/$15 children http://www.echelongranfondo.org/palo_alto
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COASTAL CLEANUP DAY – September 17, 9am-noon

California Coastal Cleanup Day, an annual beach and inland waterway cleanup, is the state’s largest volunteer event. In 2010, over 82,500 volunteers removed more than 1.2 million pounds of trash and recyclables from our beaches, lakes, and waterways, one of the largest volunteer events in the world. Participate at http://www.coastal.ca.gov/publiced/ccd/ccd2.html
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RESKILLING EXPO – September 24, Santa Cruz

A day-long symposium of workshops offered to the public free-of-charge and designed to impart skills that will increase food security, conserve water and build community resilience. More info at http://reskillingexpo.org/

Saturday, September 24, Museum of Art and History, 705 Front Street, Santa Cruz, 9am-5pm.
========================================================================

WORLDWIDE DAY OF PLAY – September 24

The City of Palo Alto is participating in the World Wide Day of Play, an annual event designed to encourage kids and parents to turn off the TV and play, especially out of doors. This would be a good time for neighborhood activities, group parties and exploring our open unique and glorious spaces. The new City of Palo Alto Community Services Department Fall 2011 brochure is now on line.
http://www.cityofpaloalto.org/enjoy.

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MOVING PLANET – September 24

350.org’s Bay Area “Moving Planet” Event is a global day of action. Learn more or join in on Moving Planet: A Day to Move Beyond Fossil Fuels, which promises to be the largest people-moving movement ever.
http://www.moving-planet.org/events/us/los-altos/1153

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TALK: CLIMATE ADAPTATION – September 27, Avenidas, 5:30pm

Topic: “Climate Adaptation and Resilience” Speaker: Ann Clarke, Chief, Environmental Mgmt. Div., NASA Ames Research Center Informed

Decisions: Prostate Cancer Group. Facilitated by Dr. Leon Kaseff
The group provides a forum for open discussion with expertise provided by local medical professionals. Open to the public. Meets the 4th Tuesday in Jan, Mar, May, July, Sept, & Nov. Free and open to the public. Tuesday, Sept. 27th at 5:30 PM

========================================================================
GARDENING CLASSES

Learn gardening in various classes Saturdays.
September 3: YOGA FOR GARDENERS with Patricia Becker Saturday from 10:30 – 12:30. FEE: $31.
September 10: START YOUR FALL GARDEN with Drew Harwell from 10:30 – 1:00. FEE: $35
September 17: INTRODUCTION TO GROW BIOINTENSIVE 10:30-12:30 FEE: $31, COMPOSTING 1:30-3:30 $31
September 24: TOP TEN HERBS TO GROW 10:30-12:30 FEE: $42

For more information, call Common Ground Staff at 650-493-6072 or email or visit startyourfallgarden.eventbrite.com/. Common Ground Garden Supply and Education Center, 559 College Ave., Palo Alto

Master Gardeners courses

Learn various techniques for your gardens with free classes. September 3 – Gardening in Containers. September 27 – All about Lawns. 10-11am, followed by Open Garden. For more information, call UCCE Master Gardeners of Santa Clara County at 408-282-3105 or email mgsantaclara@yahoo.com or visit mastergardeners.org/scc.html. Los Altos Library, 13 S. San Antonio Road, Los Altos

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CANOPY WALK
Sept. 10th – University South Join Canopy at their upcoming Arborist-led Tree Walks. They gather every month on the second Saturday from 10AM to Noon. To request a brochure: info@canopy.org or call 964-6110 x2.

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IN THE FUTURE

October 9 – Halloween Costume and Garden Share, Bike Palo Alto
October 11 – Stanford Food Summit
October 21-30 – United Nations Association Film Festival (Education is a Human Right)
October – October 2011 in Washington, DC
TBA – Ladies’ clothing swap
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ONGOING EVENTS

Tuesdays – Reskilling Book Group, Conversation, Community and Calling
Wednesdays – Book group 2 continuing discussion, Reskilling group, Sustainable Meditation and Action Group (through September 21)
Fridays – Film series
2nd Sunday – Garden share at Common Ground
4th Sunday – Garden share at Full Circle Farm

Visit the website at http://www.transitionpaloalto.org for details
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You can access the Calendar via:

https://transitionpaloalto.org/events-2

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Contact the Transition team transitionpaloalto@gmail.com
to get on or off the newsletter mailing list (the transitionpaloalto Yahoo Group) or to suggest events!
__._,_.___

Transition Labor Day potluck Sept 5

Posted on August 29, 2011 by bart

Calling all Transitioners, Friends, and Family

Labor Day 100 Mile Potluck
September 5, 2011, 5:00 PM

We’ll also talk about what’s happening with Transition-related activities for the coming year, including a new series of monthly potlucks that will focus on different themes.

Friends and family of all ages are welcome!

Location:
Sunnyvale home – RSVP for details

RSVP (if you can) to peterruddock@yahoo.com, varmigo@earthlink.net, or barbara@ontrk.com

Newsletter – August 5, 2011

Posted on August 6, 2011 by bart

TRANSITION PALO ALTO
Newsletter
August 5, 2011

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UPCOMING EVENTS
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SUMMER SOLAR PROGRESSIVE PARTY – August 6, 5:00pm, Josina Ave, Palo Alto

Come to the 9th Annual Summer Solar Progressive Party – happy hour and munchies at David Coale’s cool solar-powered house 5-7pm, then at 7pm a potluck at Susan Stansbury and Cedric de La Beaujariere’s cool, solar-powered house. See the solar cooker, other solar toys, and meet sunny faces. Please bring a dish, preferably local and organic, to share with utensils to serve. Bicycles, electric cars, and other alternate modes of transportation encouraged. Sun Salutations happening all evening!

Saturday, August 6, 2011 5:00 PM – 11:30 PM Where: David (766) , Susan, Cedric’s (766)
Josina Ave Palo Alto CA 94306 RSVP to 650 815-8121 or 650-493-9121

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GARDENING CLASSES

Learn gardening in various classes Saturdays. $35. Aug 30 – Landscaping with edibles. For more information, call Common Ground Staff at 650-493-6072 or email or visit startyourfallgarden.eventbrite.com/. Common Ground Garden Supply and Education Center, 559 College Ave., Palo Alto

Master Gardeners courses

Learn various techniques for your gardens with free classes. Aug 9 – 1-2pm – Growing vegetable in the cool season, Aug 30 – 7:30-8:30pm – Cool season vegetable gardening. For more information, call UCCE Master Gardeners of Santa Clara County at 408-282-3105 or email mgsantaclara@yahoo.com or visit mastergardeners.org/scc.html. Los Altos Library, 13 S. San Antonio Road, Los Altos

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MOVIE: America the Beautiful 2 – The Thin Commandments

Darryl Robert’s sequel: “America the Beautiful 2 — The Thin Commandments (A Look at our Unhealthy Obsession with Dieting and Other Weighty Matters).” This pre-release screening is open to the public and will be immediately followed by Q&A with the director. Aug. 13, 8 p.m. $15 advance/$20 at door. Visit sizediversityandhealth.org/content.asp?id=158. Sofitel San Francisco Bay , 223 Twin Dolphin Drive, Redwood City

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IN THE FUTURE

September 14 – Al Gore’s Climate Reality Project
October 1 – Craft and Halloween costume swap, location TBA
October 9 – Bike Palo Alto
October 11 – Stanford Food Summit

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ONGOING EVENTS

Tuesdays – Conversation, Community and Calling [alternate Tuesdays)
Wednesdays – Book group 2 continuing discussion [alt. Wed], Reskilling group, Sustainable Meditation and Action Group (through September 21)
Fridays – Film series
2nd Sunday – Garden share at Common Ground
4th Sunday – Garden share at Full Circle Farm

Visit the website at http://www.transitionpaloalto.org for details
========================================================================
You can access the Calendar via:

https://transitionpaloalto.org/events-2

1) New calendar! 2) Mercury-News features Garden Share

Posted on August 5, 2011 by bart

Now appearing: a new calendar of Transition-related events

Just press the Calendar Tab for upcoming Films, classes, discussion groups, conferences, garden swaps … (Thanks Rani!)

Mercury-News featurs Garden Share

And speaking of garden swaps. The idea was first introduced last year by TPA member Jan B. Garden swaps are now being held regularly. Neighboring communities have also picked up the idea. The San Jose Mercury News just highlighted one in Sunnyvale:

Sunnyvale: Garden share brings gardeners and their best goods full circle
SJ Mercury News
August 4, 2011

Fresh fruits, vegetables and flowers covered table after table at the first Sunnyvale Local Garden Share hosted at Full Circle Farm last month. About 30 adults and children came to the event put together by the farm, environmental education nonprofit Acterra, Sunnyvale Cool, Transition Silicon Valley and Summerwinds Nursery.

At the July 24 event, gardeners from Sunnyvale, Cupertino, Saratoga, Palo Alto and Santa Clara shared everything from apples, blueberries, plums, oranges and apricots to green beans, zucchini, herbs, peppers, tomatoes, flowers and even bread makers.

Organizers plan to host the sharing event on the fourth Sunday of every month and encourage all Silicon Valley gardeners to think of it as a “free backyard farmers market.”

“The intent of the garden share is to build community by sharing the excess from our gardens, getting to know each other and offering ideas and suggestions about edible growing,” Full Circle Farm volunteer Michelle Philips said.

(MORE)

Happiness Circle April 26 (Conversation/Community group)

Posted on April 24, 2011 by bart

One of Transition PA’s regular workshop groups is the Conversation, Community and Calling which meets every other Tuesday at World Centric from 6:45 – 8:45.

Here are our upcoming events and minutes to give you an idea of what we do. Admission is open and newcomers are welcome.

April 26 – Happiness Circles

Cecile Andrews, who developed the idea of Simplicity Circles, will give a preview of her new project: Happiness Circles. (It turns out that Happiness is a hot topic these days! See Happiness movement hits the UK

The Community Happiness Circle:
Discover how a small group of committed citizens can come together to support each other in the pursuit of happiness and social change — pursuing both personal and social wellbeing. Learn about the new research on happiness and change. Explore the three keys to happiness: connection, calling, and celebration: how to form a caring culture by building community, discovering our particular passion, and living with joie de vivre. The community happiness circle is part of a long tradition of people coming together to change their own lives and create a culture concerned about the common good.

May 10 – Bullying

William led a session on April 12, which we will be continuing with lots of discussion on May 10. We are covering:

* Interpersonal dynamics
* Latest research
* In the workplace
* Problems for activists
* Tactics
* Solutions

Possible Topics for the Future

How to use Facebook
For friendship, networking and activism

How to work with corporations – promises and pitfalls
Greenwashing and Class-B corporations
http://www.bcorporation.net/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greenwashing

What Inspired Us

We talked about bringing something creative that inspires us in our activism/engagement. In the April 12 meeting, Eitan, Barbara and Bart brought something. We may make this a regular part of our meetings. Here are the contributions for last week:

Eitan’s picks
Lova and Anarchy by Lina Wertmüller
a movie set in Mussolini’s Italy
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0070061/

The entire film is online

What is Life?
by physicist Erwin Schrödinger.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/What_Is_Life%3F

Bart’s picks

Vienen Los Pajaros (music Mikis Theodorakis, text Pablo Neruda)
Greek rhythms, surrealist imagery, a myth for Latin America

The Spanish and English for “The Coming of the Birds” appears in
https://files.nyu.edu/emf202/public/mt/CantoGeneralEN.html .

Barbara’s picks

Three Cups of Tea and the sequel, Stones Into Schools:
two books by Greg Mortenson
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greg_Mortenson

Oedipus Rex by Sophocles
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oedipus_the_King

For more schedule information, see the Transition Palo Alto calendar:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/transitionpaloalto/cal///group/transitionpaloalto/?v=2&t=1302249600

Transition Palo Alto

A network of individuals and groups in Palo Alto, California, committed to 1) building community 2) encouraging local resilience to cope with peak oil 3) reducing carbon emissions to cope with climate change

Author Archives: bart

About bart

Transition Palo Alto sponsors Introduction to Resilience Circles

New book group Wed Sept 14 – the best way to learn about Transition

An introduction to Resilience Circles – Sept 15

Transition Labor Day potluck Sept 5

1) New calendar! 2) Mercury-News features Garden Share

Happiness Circle April 26 (Conversation/Community group)