1 Greener Oconomowoc’s 2010 Annual Report

Greener Oconomowoc 2010 Annual Report

Community Service:

Greener Oconomowoc (GO) is unique in that it is a local environmental group that focuses on the Oconomowoc area. Using international environmental principles known as The Natural Step, GO provides education for the community through monthly public informational meetings, sponsors free multi-week discussion groups, and works with other community groups to carry out activities that promote sound environmental practices. The GO community service action projects include:

Sponsoring an Earth Day Resource Fair Event in Oconomowoc each year since 2007. (The 2011 Fair is planned for May 1.) The 2010 Earth Day Resource Fair at the Oconomowoc High School included 32 booths by local businesses and organizations that were promoting eco-friendly products and/or services. There was an Alternative Vehicle display in the parking lot that included over 15 vehicles that were electric/hybrid or ran on alternative energy sources. Local businesses and organizations relating to alternative vehicles/modes of transportation were featured in this area, as well. Locally produced dairy and bakery items were featured with GO working with Oconomowoc High School to provide a locally sourced lunch. About 1,000 people attended the 2010 Earth Day & Resource Fair.

With the Oconomowoc Area Chamber of Commerce, working in the capacity as the 2010 Farmer Market Monitor, every Saturday May – October.

Co-coordinating and managing a NEW pilot Winter Farmers’ Market once a month (Nov – March) with the Oconomowoc Chamber of Commerce.

Establishing and managing, with the UCC Church, community gardens on the church property. GO is currently working with the City of Oconomowoc/Oconomowoc Utilities to implement a community garden in 2011 on Oconomowoc Utilities property.

Working with local citizens’ groups to promote and establish bike and pedestrian paths throughout the city.

GO provides a recycling drop-off for #5 plastics, at a specially marked container located at Fresh and Green Market, 650 E. Wisconsin Ave., Oconomowoc, WI. This is a great opportunity to “make a difference” for our beautiful Lake Country area, as currently #5 plastics cannot be included with recyclable waste in local garbage pickup, due to a very limited market for this material. This helps our environment by recycling and keeping this material out of the landfills.

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The GO community service educational activities include:

Sponsoring monthly public meetings at which speakers address environmental topics, such as rain barrels and gardens, geothermal energy, local green businesses, etc. (Since 2007)

Facilitating free multi-week discussion groups based on the book “The Natural Step for Communities.” (Since 2006)

Working with local newspapers to share events, activities and information with the public. (Since Spring 2007)

Giving educational presentations to community groups since 2007. (Examples of groups include: Lions Club, Oconomowoc Rotary, AARP, Retired Educators, Berkshire Group, Kiwanis and Oconomowoc High School classes, churches, etc.)

Forging strategic partnerships the City of Oconomowoc governmental departments -the Oconomowoc Utilities Lead by Example Team, City Planner and Economic Development Director’s office to share information and to publicly support city efforts on behalf of “greener” measures. GO has helped to promote the Oconomowoc Utilities Lead by Example Team and their community wide projects while doing community presentations. (Since 2007)

Partnering with other environmental organizations in order to further education individuals at the county and regional level. GO has developed strategic partnerships with Sustain Jefferson (county level), Waukesha County Environmental Action League (county level), Rock River Coalition (watershed level), Tall Pines Conservancy (local level) and The Town and Country Resource, Conservation and Development Council (regional level). Greener Oconomowoc has sent volunteers to events hosted by these other groups and/or collaborated with members of these other organizations on different environmental issues.

Involvement with Education:

GO has made several Natural Step presentations to high school classes, including a recent presentation by GO members to agriculture classes at Oconomowoc High School. GO’s monthly meeting provide an educational opportunity for area youth and adults on many environmental and green subject matters. (Interacting with specific teachers and the FFA program since 2008).

In fall of 2010 – several members of Greener Oconomowoc’s board of directors meet with Dr. Patricia Neudecker to find additional opportunities for Greener Oconomowoc and the Oconomowoc Area School District (OASD) to work together to jointly promote authentic “environmental education and programming.” OASD and Greener Oconomowoc are in

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the process of finding ways to further enhance the 2011 Earth Day Resource Fair – showcasing students work, teachers and building wide environmental, sustainable and “green” initiatives.

The Earth Day Resource Fair was moved to Oconomowoc HS in 2010 and also plans to use their facility for 2011. We encourage participation with the High School Ecology Club members (along with all students) and have recruited student volunteers to work the Fair. We provide a Kids Corner with hands-on environmental activities for the younger children.

At the 2010 Greener Oconomowoc Earth Day Resource Fair – Greener Oconomowoc felt it was very important to promote the high school lunch program. Some time in the recent past (2009) the high school lunch program began offering students an option to purchase locally sourced and/or organic food items for lunch. GO worked with the District’s foodservice provider to help the high school further promote to the community at Earth Day, examples of a healthy delicious local school lunch. The food was a success and some of the lunch items even sold out!

GO serves the Greater Oconomowoc area as a local resource of green information through its website and monthly e-mail blasts.

Philanthropic Support:

GO provides some of the financial start-up costs for action projects, including those done in cooperation with other groups (such as the start-up costs for community gardens.) In previous years GO contributed financially to the “Imagination Station” playground. GO’s major contributions are in service such as offering the community free educational opportunities, monthly speakers series and Natural Step discussion groups.

Our goal as a non-profit organization is to support and encourage businesses and projects that appropriately protect our natural resources for future generations.

Service to Youth:

One of the main tenets, which GO embraces, is the importance of multi-generational educational opportunities (e.g. educational activities for persons of all ages and stages of life.) GO is working hard to form relationships with families, college and k-12 students in order to create a system of support for future generations within our community.

Youth are encouraged to participate in study discussion groups, meetings and a reduced rate for student membership is also available.

Students are encouraged by GO to promote a healthy life-style by encouraging biking and walking in the community.

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GO recommends and reviews proposed environmental projects for youth groups, such as the Girl Scouts, Earth Day activities and the Community Gardens.

GO educates youth regarding the preservation of our natural resources supporting the Future Farmers of America, along with our local farmers and sustainable agricultural practices.

International Service:

The Natural Step principles that GO infuses into the community stem from a philosophy originated in Sweden, and now used widely throughout the world. The developing nations that include the poorest people in the world will be the first victims of climate change. We will all suffer the consequences of energy cost increases and decreasing resources if we do not all learn how to conserve. Environmental & Social education and action are the building blocks of Greener Oconomowoc.

GO is working hard to share the philosophy of “The Natural Step for Communities” book with members of our local community, many of the tenets outlined in the book relate to becoming a better citizen and working together with your neighbors to create a sustainable community. In other words GO is a product of an international environmental movement focused on the principles of “The Natural Steps.”

Leadership Development:

GO members learn how to take a holistic view of both the environment and one’s community. Some members of the discussion groups become facilitators and leaders for subsequent groups; they are taught how to lead, how to ask questions that encourage people to consider many sides of difficult questions.

Participants set priorities for local action, organized into task forces that plan and undertake action. Members have thus learned how too individually, as well as collectively responsible citizens, attending appropriate government meetings and public hearings, communicating with government officials and other community leaders. For example, GO members have organized a Pabst Farms Task Force. As one of their first activities, they attended the city plan commission public hearing, urging the proposed shopping center implement a number of “green” elements. The plan commission incorporated most of these ideas into their official recommendations, which were in turn adopted by the city council. The task force continues to monitor and encourage additional measures to assure an environmentally compatible development on the Pabst farms.

In another instance one GO individual used his newly learned skills to convince the administrators of his residential complex to have the maintenance and other staff trained in environmentally sound principles through the Natural Step Circle discussions that he will facilitate.

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Still others are have used citizen action skills to work with the city in the adoption of an ordinance that would permit NEV’s (Neighborhood Electric Vehicles) within the city. This ordinance was passed in 2009 and the Utilities/City have since purchased 2 NEV’s to be used within our community.

GO members have taken a leadership role in promoting biking and walking through its biking/walking tours of Oconomowoc. Students & parents are encouraged to bike/walk to school and work. GO members worked with surrounding communities looking for opportunities to connect proposed bike paths.

In 2010 Greener Oconomowoc members have worked very closely with the Oconomowoc Area Chamber of Commerce (OACC) related to two separate initiatives. One of the GO board of Directors has joined the Chamber’s Green Business Strategy Committee, on this committee the GO Marketing/PR Director has been able to share insight with the committee about a variety of “green activities” that are occurring in our community. The Greener Oconomowoc President this past year worked closely with the chamber to further develop a pilot “Winter Farmers’ Market.” Beginning in November, Greener Oconomowoc and the OACC will jointly host a Winter Farmers’ Market- monthly for 5 months. This new market is jointly being managed by the Chamber Director and the GO President and has a working committee of 7-10 volunteers from both organizations who are establishing the rules, staffing the market and interfacing with the community. This new Market offers the GREATER Oconomowoc community an opportunity to purchase fresh, healthy food locally in the winter. The Oconomowoc Winter Farmers’ Market will be the fourth winter market to open in Wisconsin. To further promote Oconomowoc businesses the Winter Market will be held at an OACC business's facility. Local, Regional or National Recognition

GO regards the “informal” recognition it receives as helpful to carrying out its mission. This informal recognition includes:

Appointment of its members to governmental committees and boards

Queries from individuals and organizations soliciting environmental information (such as “What can I recycle? Where do I get rid of my used CFL bulbs? Where can I buy locally raised organic meat? Whom should I contact about an energy audit for my house?)

Requests by other community groups asking for GO assistance in carrying out local projects.

Solicitations for GO to present The Natural Step or other environmental programs to clubs, churches, school children, etc.

Regular contacts from the local media seeking GO’s opinions on current civic undertakings, proposed ordinances, governmental actions, etc.

Request by city officials asking for letters of support to state and federal authorities when applying for grants related to such matters as passenger rail funding, alternative energy, etc.