Congratulations Otway Region Climate Action! (are we ORCAdians)

It looks like we have a strong name in ORCA although I’m in awe of Matt’s name-crafting.

The domain name orca is not available (Olympic Range Carden Academy – a Christian school in Washington USA).

However, I’m registering http://orcaction.org as a compromise. In a couple of days we’ll have a site up and running as a repository for your ideas etc.

In the meantime I’ve pasted a slightly edited summary of all your comments and suggestions below. Clearly there is positive energy and commitment. Thanks to everyone who has contributed.

Thanks Fiona for the Hepburn inspiration
Thanks Vanessa & Dianne for the transition town inspiration
Thanks Cate for your enthusiasm and prompt responses
Thanks Anna for putting your hand up as Treasurer

Can someone pass this message on to Lee Anne Koenig and Peter Fillmore (bounced emails)?

Human Sign: The power of the Surf Coast Energy Group’s (SCEG) August 20th human sign would be increased if we were to do something on the same day. I have asked Graeme Stockton what arrangements have been made for the plane in case this something we might do as well. Cate
has expressed interest in rising to this challenge.

Political lobbying: For those keen on political lobbying, you might be interested in attending a meeting in Melbourne about Environment Victoria’s Campaign Plan for the next 12 months: 10.30am-12.30pm
Saturday 26th July, 2008 Hayden Raysmith Room, 4th Floor Ross House 247 Flinders Lane, Melbourne.

Environment Victoria’s, Victoria McKenzie-McHargis says that EV is keen to support us in any way they can.

This is a great start to our 2nd week!

Best wishes Simon

Summary:
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11 July, 2008, Fiona

Hepburn Wind is launching its share offer on 25 July 2008. To view
your invitation to the share offer launch for Australia’s first
community owned wind farm follow the link below.
www.hepburnwind.com.au/launch

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11 July, 2008, Matt
Hi all,

pretty hard to beat ‘ORCA’ but I love a challenge, so here goes.

‘FORGE’ – Freeze Otway Ranges (Region) Greenhouse Emissions

‘FOREST’ – Freeze Otway Region Emissions thru Sustainable Technology

‘SEA’ – Sustainable Energy Action

‘OCEAN’ – Otways Coalition for Energy Action Now or Otways Climate
and Energy Action Now

‘OCHRE’ – Otways Coalition for Halting Regional Emissions

‘CARBON’ – Climate Action Required By the Otways Now

Gotta go

Cheers Matt

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11 July, 2008, Vanessa & Dianne

Hi Simon and all,

In response to your questions:

a) ORCA is definitely the most evocative of the options; Di & I agree
with Cate that Otway Region is more inclusive. The only name I could
come up with was Otway Region Sustainability Action Network
(ORSAN),with a mind to encompassing issues which will impact on our
environment and quality of life. Let’s face it – ORCA is catchier!

b) Also have no financial skills to offer; thanks Anna for stepping
up; support Lee Anne as secretary.

c) When Di & I return from our ‘hols, we are happy to participate in
the ‘human sign’ project; I have passed on our apologies to Matt for
the next two meetings.

I am happy to communicate by Email, I check ours fairly frequently,
but while we’re away this will be less often.

Work (non-desk) and other commitments mean I can take a little while
to respond, but am always mulling things over.

I have attached a PDF from the Sunshine coast Energy Action Centre in
an attempt to clarify what Tony and myself were refering to at the
meeting on Monday. S.E.A.C have a website with plenty of other info
also.

Thanks & all the best Vanessa & Dianne
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10 July, 2008, Magaer

Simon,

I didn’t get your original email, so am only responding now. Also I am
only responding to your address so I don’t flood everyone else.

I like email as a means of communication but I can’t check my emails
daily as I am not connected at home and have to use the neighbourhood
house computer.

1. I like Otway Region Climate Action – ORCA

I will nominate for treasurer, until the forum, if noone else has done
so already. I have been treasurer for other groups – nothing very
complicated though.

I think the human sign is a great idea – especially as other groups
will be doing something that day. I can help with that too.

Looking forward to the next meeting Magaer
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10 July, 2008, Rob

Simon

I think the name ORCA is perfect. I am happy to put my hand up for a
position, I was going to suggest treasurer, but I see that has gone.
Let me know who you are still looking for.
Rob

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10 July, 2008, Simon

Apart from Cate, Anna and Denise there has been silence.

Is this because email is not a good means of communication?
Is this because you would prefer not to participate?
Is there some other reason?

When it comes to climate change, there a too many people who simply
don’t want to know about it or would prefer to deny that it is
happening. There are too many people would prefer to leave any form
response to others. They often say they are too busy or even justify
their inaction by saying that whatever they could do wouldn’t make any
difference.

Then there are those optimists – like this group who (for whatever
reason) decide that they will do something, no matter how small,
because they believe that we can make a difference. That, regardless
of climate and human impact, there are better ways to live.

Taking action is not just an idea. We can act in isolation as
individuals or we can act together as a group. A single simple step
for such a group is to organise a public forum so that the group might
grow into something bigger.

Please participate. There will be no group if you don’t.

Best wishes Simon

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10 July, 2008, Anna

Hi Simon

I think the forum would be a more appropriate time to do the human
sign as there will likely be more people there. I think it would be
ideal to do the sign on the beach and relate it to something about
losing our coasts with climate change – to give it local significance

Cheers Anna O’Brien

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9 July, 2008, Anna

Thanks Cate and Anna (Treasurer)

We are waiting for others to respond with their views. Have a look at

http://coalitionzero.org/blog/2008/07/10/how-to-make-a-human-sign/

and let the Group know your thoughts.

Is there consensus about ORCA?

Best wishes Simon
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9 July, 2008, Cate

Hi Simon

Answers to questions.

1. I prefer ORCA though think Otway Region Climate Action is possibly
more apt than Otway Ranges C.A. I like it because it is short and
easy to remember. It also has name recognition which is associated
with the ocean, which didn’t really get a mention at the meeting, but
is of vital importance to the health of communities living along the
coast.
2. I support Lee Ann as secretary but have no financial skills to
offer as treasurer. I will support whoever is chosen.
3. I would be happy to help with a human sign especially if it said
something short and sharp like ACT NOW! The photos could be featured
at the forum and the activity itself could be a good way of putting
the issue of climate change in the local public arena.

Cheers, Cate
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9 July, 2008, Denise

Hi Simon and Matt

I think it would also be valuable to include a 4th Action and that is
to investigate what our community- people/organisations are already
doing about climate change or aspire to do be doing so that we have
something to build on- the forum could showcase this as well. (Eg. the
Board of Otway Health value the environment- instead of 176 page
meeting notes coming out we have a electronic portal that all board
members go to- most board members now only print a 4 page agenda. I
think this is an example other organisations could take on board- it
is small but significant.) This could be presented as a challenge in
the Apollo Bay News Sheet and the Otway Light (Lavers Hill area) with
information coming into a site that I think you were going to
establish for the Group.

A 5th Action is to research and explicitly state what the implications
of climate change could be for this region. By identifying what is
known
at the moment we develop a base on which to build the forum. Eg. as a
farmer I have a keen interest to develop a better understanding about
how I can plan and manage a commercial farm- there will certainly be
implications for farming.

I am unable to attend the July 21st meeting and so just wanted to drop
these few thoughts into the melting pot.

Many thanks

Kind regards Denise
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8 July, 2008, Anna

ORCAG is certainly not my preference, I think we need to ditch the “g”
it doesn’t sound good at the end of anything. And ORCA is correct name
for a
Killer Whale – could that be associated to the group in some way?

Anna

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8 July, 2008, Cate

Dear active members

It will be important for us to maintain the momentum that we saw last
night. There are 3 actions outlined below that deserve your immediate
attention. Please act on them now!

1. Name: You have now had time to think about a name. Here’s a short list.

Otway Climate Action (OCA)
Otway Climate Change Action (OCCA)
Otway Ranges Climate Action (ORCA)
Otway Climate Change Action Group (OCCAG)
Otway Community Action Group (OCAG)
Otway Positive (CP)
Carbon Positive Otways (CPO)
Otway Negative (ON)
Negative Otways (NO)
Otway Zero (OZ)

Please post any extra suggestions or preferences. Consensus will rule.

2. Interim structure:

On reflection, we should probably have set up the formal Action Group
structure (Treasurer and Secretary etc) – but it’s not too late to do
this. I’m expecting to work closely with Matt as a partner planner and
it would make sense to have one of us at Apollo Bay as I’m mainly in
Melbourne. Therefore, I would nominate Matt as a Co-Chair he has
agreed.

A governance structure will be needed for us to take on funds,
insurance etc for the event.

I would like to nominate Lee Anne Koenig as Secretary are there any
other nominations?

Will someone put up their hand for Treasurer?

At this stage our primary goal is to stage the public forum on October
11th. Office bearer positions will be then be open.It will be a short
but intense period of action. So please step forward.

3. I have received the following message form Graeme Stockton from
Surf Coast Energy Group:
……………………………..
On August 20, SCEG and a number of Community based ‘Energy’ groups
from around Victoria will be creating a series of ‘Human Signs’ across
Victoria to emphasize the importance of tackling climate change to our
politicians. A suggestion for the project is the theme “Creating a
Bettter Future”. Each human sign will be photographed from the air and
a montage of images from across the State will be given to the print
and televised media networks.

Within the Surf Coast Shire we are going to invite all the schools
within the district to participate. We aim to have a series of signs
at key recognizable locations (eg. Bells Beach, Lorne, etc). At last
Saturday’s meeting a sub-committee was formed that will work together
to co-ordinate the operation. Anyone else who is interested in
assisting should contact Fran Woodruff.
…………………………………………………….

3. Is there any interest in forming a similar sub-committee to
co-ordinate a human sign in Apollo Bay?

Best wishes Simon

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Jul 8, 2008 Vanessa

Hi Matt,

Thanks for the (enviably swift) minutes. It was an exciting meeting
and we are looking forward to being involved in whatever way we can.

Having said that, I may as well put in apologies for the next couple
of meetings now, as Di & I will be away for the next month – but we’ll
still be information gathering…

Thanks again Vanessa W
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Jul 8, 2008 Matt

Hi all,

thanks for your energy last night. had plenty of calls to say ‘sorry
I couldn’t make it’. so there is plenty of support out there, Pls find
attached the minutes see you in a fortnight
Cheers matt A

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1 July, 2008 Matt

Hi there all,

Concerned about global warming? want to see more action? Ready to
contribute your ideas?

Why you? Because of a conversation you had with either Simon Pockley
or myself recently about your concerns re: climate change.

Simon and I have resolved to get some local action happening and we
are looking for your help.

The Neighbourhood house has been booked for :

7.30 pm
Monday Evening
7th July 2008 (next Monday)

The evening will see the creation of a group committed to making
Apollo Bay carbon positive. You will be able to hear about other
groups well on the way to achieving the same goal for their
communities.

I apologise if the time or evening is inconvenient – we can change it
when we know peoples constraints.

Looking forward to the energy on the night

Cheers

Matt Armstrong
5237 1007
0418 370 276