Recycled Electrons

August 2004        previous issues are here

 

In this issue:

	Cool Events
	Soul Sourcing
	Wise Choices
	Trail Blazers
	August Eco-Events

        and more...

 

Cool Events!

Support Magdalena's, Recovery, and Fun!
I'm helping organize an open mike/fun-raiser at Magdalena's Tea House on August 11 from 8-11pm.  Magdalena's will donate 50% of donations to the Addiction Relief and Supported Recovery, which you may have read about recently in the paper.  The Tea House is right across from the Green Door at 2006 E. Michigan Ave.  It's a cozy spot with great coffee (typically fair trade/organic) and tea.  If you're a musician, sign up for the Open Mike or just come listen and schmooze.  I'll be playin' a tune or two too, but don't let that scare you away; - )

Click here for a list of Aug. events at the Tea House.

 

 

Help develop ecologically mindful learning/living experiences for MSU students at the MSU 8th Annual Colloquy on Teaching and Learning.

August 25-26  at Hannah Community Center in E. Lansing.  www.ecofoot.msu.edu/images/click.here.pdf.gif

 

"Yes-And" Communication Philosophy

Tom Munnecke writes, "I am trying to track down a conversational technique I have heard about... it involves the participants in a dialog starting their replies with "yes, but" for the first half of their conversation, then switching to "yes, and."  There is a remarkable switch in the tone of the discussion, which creates and "aha" for the group."

All Second City student programs are built around our "Yes-And" communication philosophy:
 

	We can listen to, appreciate, and act on another person’s thoughts and feelings.
	We can add to, collaborate with, and stay OPEN.
	We do learn to listen, to focus, and to be part of a team.
	We do not have to be funny.
	We can learn not to block another person or perspective.
	We encourage a sense of self-esteem, teamwork, and fun.
	We do improve student communication skills.
	We do create a team environment that levels barriers among members of this age group. more at http://www.secondcity.com/creative/yes/yes.asp

Soul Sourcing

In attempts to create a job that I like, I've been supporting conversations among an open network of creative consultants.  Some of our skills include facilitation, creative group processes, coaching, teaching, writing, and learning.  We are interested in working and learning with/for businesses, community groups, nonprofits, local governments, and others.  Several of us have interests in community building, healthy communities, walkability, and sustainable design. 

If you'd like to join the conversation, suggest a project, or get help from us, please visit:  www.re-news.net or attend our next "creative conversation" on August 11.  For more info, give me a call at 336-7840 or send me an e-mail.

 

 

Wise choices

-submitted by "C.B."

Decisions that could make a huge difference in the future: According to the Union of Concerned Scientists, the two things Americans can change as individuals that have the greatest effect on the environment are    1) What we eat and  2) How we transport ourselves.  I'd say the biggest things we could do are:

	Stop eating meat
	Support mass transit

Do you agree?  What do you think are the best things we can do to help the environment?  I'll post your ideas in a future issue of RE.

 

 

Environmental trailblazers

http://www.isdesignet.com/Magazine/2004/jul/cover.html

Thanks to Lisa Locke of WMEAC, Dave Rinard of Steelcase, and Maggie Fields.

 

 

Social Entrepreneurs

Interesting book mentioned by Rob Curtner:

How to Change the World: Social Entrepreneurs and the Power of New Ideas 
 

Quote

Each one of you sends out signals that are either in harmonic accord or in discord with the center of the Cosmos, the Heart of Hearts.  -Thoth

 

Wise Crowds

 - from The Wisdom of Crowds  by James Surowiecki

The four conditions that characterize wise crowds:

1.      Diversity of opinion (each person should have some private information, even if its just an eccentric interpretation of the known facts)

2.      Independence (people’s opinions are not determined by the opinions of those around them)

3.      Decentralization (people are able to specialize and draw on local knowledge)

4.      Aggregation (some mechanism exists for turning private judgments into a collective decision.)

 

 

August Environmental Activities

- from Mid-Michigan Environmental Action Council (Mid-MEAC) and  Tim Bogar

Sustainable Community Dialogue – Saturday, August 7.  An open discussion for people who want to live in a sustainable community. Topics cover all areas of interest. 10:00 a.m.-noon at Urban Options, 405 Grove Street, East Lansing. For info, call Urban Options, 517-337-0422 (or visit: www.re-news.net/dialogue)

Trail Survey Volunteers - Ongoing. From July through September, Mid-MEAC is working with volunteers to survey users of the Lansing River Trail. Data will be used in applications for trail expansion and improvement. For data integrity, we are asking volunteers to sign up for three two-hour time slots. (Of course you can do it with a friend!) Contact Mid-MEAC intern Melissa Lott at 517-485-9001 or email wall2ma@cmich.edu

Mid-Michigan Trails and Greenways Maps are available! Thanks to support from Rails to Trails Conservancy-Michigan Field Office, League of Michigan Bicyclists, and Mid-MEAC volunteers, we are able to offer this high-quality, full-color map showing all of the trails, widened shoulders, and widened sidewalks in the Greater Lansing area. This map is a product of input from participants in the January, 2003 Mid-MEAC member activity night, who brainstormed all the places that they would like to be able to walk and bike to in the area. We are able to offer these maps free of charge, but do encourage you to make a donation to help with a reprint scheduled for later this year. Call us or stop by.

Electronics Recycling – Now to Sept. 6. If you’ve ever taken electronic items to the recycling days in Lansing, you know that there can be quite a wait in a long line of cars. Now, Hewlett Packard and Office Depot are working together to recycle electronic products at no charge to consumers. It’s free, and they accept most items. But you can only bring in one item a day. More details are at http://www.officedepot.com/recycle. (Thanks to Kate Neese for passing on this info.) 

Recycle Your Athletic Shoes – Ongoing. Lansing was one of the first communities to get in on this program, recently profiled on NPR. Shoes will be ground up to make new sport surfaces, like running tracks. Athletic shoes only, no metal, not wet or muddy, and don’t tie them together. You can drop them off in the containers at Foster, Letts and Gier Community Centers, at Playmakers, Oak Park YMCA, and various city halls and schools. Call 483-4400 for more info and locations.