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Meeting Minutes First Unitarian Universalist Society of Marietta Green Sanctuary Committee Meeting 12 p.m.., Sunday, February 17, 2008 FUUSM RE Building Parlor   Attending: Ralph Olander, Dan Harrison, Roger Kalter, Bob and Caroline Putnam, Jim Grecni and Debra Miller, Elin Jones, Shari Miller, and Mike and Adeline Bailey.   Mike Bailey chaired the meeting.   Old Business Building and grounds: As was already reported the attic insulation has been completed. Air leaks around the windows in the RE building also have been addressed by the small projects committee. B&G says utility bills are down. To further document improvements, Mike and Gary Hamilton plan to use Ernie Novak’s thermal meter to recheck readings around the RE building windows. It was noted that the doors to the narthex and bride’s room need wider weather-stripping. There was also discussion about potential heat loss from uncovering the large window in the choir loft. Glazing and stained glass were raised as possible insulating methods.   Recycling. Aluminum: The committee expressed concerns for John Brewer, whose health has prevented his continuing with this project for now. Several members will try to contact him about helping with whatever he might need. In the interim, Brad Bond will pick up the cans brought to the church, and Mike will sell them to a metal recycling company and record income. Mike said he would appreciate help crushing the cans. Shari plans to look into purchasing a crusher for the committee. Paper: Roger Kalter said he is collecting rolled newspapers for the Humane Society. The RE program is also collecting papers for a project. Cell Phones/Electronics: Seven more jars are ready to go to keep cell phones and other electronics out of the land fill. Any phones collected will be sold to a recycler or, if working phones, given to the EVE shelter program. Caroline Putnam will put a phone recycle jar at the county recycle center. Mike said he will take many electronic items and said that he would create a list of places to recycle things he doesn’t take.   Local political activism FLMR: Green Sanctuary now has a non profit membership in the Friends of Lower Muskingum River. The committee plans to ask the board about joining FLMR or other local “environmental” groups as a congregation, as it has been suggested that a congregational membership would have more impact on the groups and on the congregation. Roger Kalter said we should start early on trying to get recycling for business and apartment complexes through city contracts.   Congregational activities: Mike recommended working with the Worship Committee to get some GS speakers lined up for lay-led services, perhaps in the summer. Dan Harrison (green building), Marilyn Ortt (home use of solar energy in Marietta, Ohio) and Sarah Landers (green city planning) were some of the speakers/topics suggested.   2008 Budget requests for GS Mike reported that the budget request for the committee was cut to $300, because the income raised through aluminum recycling would cover most of the upcoming expenses.   Presentation on US Green Building Council convention. Dan Harrison reported on the conference held in Chicago in 2007. Attendance at the conference in 2006 was 11,000; in 2007 it was 19,000. Dan said this shows the increased awareness of the need for green building. “Lead” accreditation through the group is now worldwide instead of limited to the U.S., and the accreditation is moving into home building as well as commercial building. Dan said the speakers were “inspirational.” Success stories about green buildings improving the health of occupants as well as improving energy use were shared. Speakers emphasized that job opportunities are growing in the area of greening for new and existing structures, and Dan pointed out that these jobs can’t be shipped overseas, so greening will help the economy as well as the environment. Dan said that improving the environment and addressing concerns about global warming are “humanitarian issues” that are recognized by liberals and conservatives alike. He will be sharing his enthusiasm for the topic with several Marietta community groups in the weeks ahead.   The next meeting was set for Sunday, March 16, after the worship service. The meeting was adjourned.   Respectfully submitted, Adeline Bailey