Transition Town Poole
Meeting Tues 13th July 2010
Meant to be Coffee, Cake and Candy, but closed again, so decanted to the Lord Wimborne

Andy facilitating, 9 members

Andy suggested consider what was good from Grooves on the Green, and what could be done better another time.

Good
Half a dozen new people made contact and gave details
A good target group, though very few wandered our way
Social event for us
Gary’s goosberry crumble to share
Someone in the team knew the topics that people wanted to discuss

Better
More at the front of the stall, so people didn’t have to feel trapped
Need a tag line to tempt people in
More giveaways – cakes, mors bags, plants
Getting and giving away samples – free homemade beer
Didn’t have a plan and a clear message – need to be more joined up
Drawing people in – a slide show or films
perhaps projector powered by a bike -> John has some of the stuff, this could be an energy group project
highlight how hard it is to match the energy from oil.
Think TT Bridport have a ‘rig’. May be worthwhile to put a call out for ideas/kit to borrow.

Perhaps the venue didn’t suit
Big green fortnight – people are already connected with the ideals
Dorset Food week/bite the light

Andy then asked “how would you get a message about Transition or one of the Transition concepts over in a few sentences ?”

Discussion around gauging the person – age – older people – how things used to be. younger about what you want from life or for children.
Pedal car grand prix – local TV and papers – an innovative idea gets press coverage, link to TT topics.
If you could save the planet, would you ?
Margaret head quote – big change takes individual people
Einstein quote – wont solve problems using the set of thinking that got us there.
What sort of future do you want ?
Specific about location – do you know about the plans for this park – what would you prefer ?
We don’t tend to know or value what we’ve got until it is gone
What would you miss ? – perhaps picking items. Tony mentioned good consultation using lego bricks for budget topics.
What do we get for free -air, open space, rain
Consumer items – dependancy on availability of other things, ultimately Gaia
Bees -pollenation – perhaps a diagram showing the inputs to food and travel – back to the commons.

Tony talked about a carbon trading card. Gwyn suggested this would only work if a sliding reducing allowance. A feeling that the wealthy could buy their way to not change habits, though effectively a ration would be something of a leveller.
Comparing modes of travel and impact.

What do you think your fair share of the world’s resources is ?

If we lived to the 1 planet resource limit, what would life in Poole look like ? Gary suggested that this exercise was done by George Mombiet, and the answer is very significantly less than most people have now.

Change is coming – adapt or die !

Andy asked what other topics people would like to talk about
Harriet mentioned NI 186 – Carbon reduction for entire Borough. This is very congruent with Energy Descent Action Plan.
Vantage Point software, which models carbon emmissions.
Transition Taunton got together with the council – also Bristol
Steering group will learn more this week
Abundance – need to get on with identifying trees etc Andy had printed a few forms – return to Cherry
Transition Together
Dorset food Week – October – Harriet to find out what is on, whether Bite the Light or otherwise. Suggestion that we could invite the Southampton project of one couple sourcing food locally for a month to come and do a talk. They are attempting to live on food from a 15 mile radius.

Big Lunch. Tony mentioned that Neighbourhood Managers are supporting. Andy and Ian both suggested this hasn’t happened given we are two of the 3 advertised venues. Discussion about poverty of community spirit not just being in the most deprived parts of town. Perhaps worth considering for next year how Big Lunches could be supported around the whole borough – making it easy to close roads or use public space. Tony will discuss.

Harriet is producing a leaflet for local food – Gwyn to approach businesses to look for reciprocal links. Oxford Bakery and “The Green” were mentioned.

Community supported agriculture and fisheries was mentioned. Andy suggested for Fisheries, Greenslades on Hamworthy quay – down towards the Ferry Port sells lots of fish caught locally.

Gwyn mentioned an event at Ashley Cross tomorrow night – The Green – free cheese and wine tasting. He is also exploring getting together with them on delivery of Essential Trading orders – should be able to get a bigger discount, and perhaps collaboration on other purchases.

Transition groups get together and picnic Saturday 31st July – Upton Country Park -> ask if Walled Garden will be available – Andy to check.
Dorset Groups – Andy to invite
New Forest – Harriet to invite

Transition together
DEAC team as first pilot
potentially church groups, WI, PCSV – newsletter for Autumn – need to write content soon.

Suggestion of the next meeting at Purbeck larder- re-opened where Goldy’s used to be, out beyond Bakers Arms on the way to Bere Regis.

Sunday 8th August – pm so people could cycle out there.

Gwyn to facilitate, and to check booking.