Making a Difference
Social Action Forum: Sustainability Wildflower-Style
The August 17 Social Action Forum will highlight the experiences of several
"locally growing" Wildflower members who make sustainable living
choices a part of their daily lives. Come see what else you might be able to do
to reduce your ecological footprint. Talk with Gary Lichtenstein about solar
energy options and conservation. Hear Alex Nelson and Laurie Willis talk about
how their garbage bin goes out to the curb almost empty most weeks. And if
those topics aren't compelling enough, Jeff Hampton will provide spooky
information about "phantom loads"!
Super Cooler Update
It’s not too late to participate
if you haven’t already done the Super Cooler Program! You can sign up over the
next year and be recognized next Earth Day in April 2009. Just stop by the
Sustainability Table on Social Action Sunday, August 17 to pick up the pledge
sheet. A "Super Duper Cooler" program is also being developed for
those who participated last year
.
Sustainabilty Tip – Reducing Junk Mail
If you’d like to reduce the
junk mail you receive, contact the Direct Marketing Association (DMA) and
register with their Mail Preference. The DMA provides their Mail Preference
Service to most direct mail marketers for the sole purpose of removing
consumer’s names and addresses from their mailing lists. To add your name to
the do-not-mail list, register online at
www.dmachoice.org and click on the Choice option.
Note that mail addressed to "resident" or "occupant" cannot
be stopped through the DMA.
Social Action Sunday
August 17 is Social Action Sunday. You can do one, or many, or all of the
following:
1.) Bring food items and printer cartridges to donate to the local Food
Bank.
2)Bring used batteries to be
recycled.
3)Bring used compact
fluorescent light bulbs to be disposed of safely.
4)Bring toiletry items you pick up
at hotels to donate to ARCH.
5) Bring old eyeglasses to go to the South Austin Lion’s Club.
6) Bring cell phones to provide deployed military men and women free
phone calls home through a program called Cell Phones for Soldiers.
7) Donate to the Second Offering which
will go to Meals on Wheels. This program
is also in need of volunteers, so please consider visiting their website to see
what volunteer opportunities are available.
8) Come to the Social Action Forum.
Hear fellow Wildflower members talk about Sustainability
Wildflower-Style!
Doug Greco from Austin Interfaith will be speaking
at the Forum again in September. We are
looking into
Here’s how Austin Interfaith describes themselves: "Austin Interfaith is a
multi-ethnic, multi-issue coalition of 30 religious congregations, public
schools, and unions who work together to address public issues that affect the
well being of families and neighborhoods in our community.
We are a broad based citizens'
organization committed to promoting justice and democratic values. We work to
develop leaders and to provide opportunities for member institutions to
negotiate effectively through the political process with local government and
community leaders around issues of common concern. Austin Interfaith is
strictly non-partisan."
Please come listen to this man share his experience and views at the September
Forum. We will be making this decision
as a touchstone for our future and as an example of the kind of future
Wildflower is looking for.