OCTOBER

West Seattle CoolMom 10/7/09 Meeting Minutes

Leader: Laura Efline
Speaker: Michael Mann

Speaker: Michael Mann, Acting Director of the City of Seattle Office of Sustainability discussed a new Carbon Calculator tool that will be available online soon. He reminded us that after the Kyoto protocol was signed by >120 countries in 2005 (not including the U.S.), Mayor Greg Nichols committed Seattle to decrease its carbon emissions by 683,000 metric tons by 2012. That is roughly equivalent to 40 large container ships FILLED with containers of CO2. With about 600,000 people in Seattle, that means 1 ton per person to be lowered by 2012. Climate Action Now will implement the "ONE TON CHALLENGE". . Their challenge agrees to pay $20.00 to the nonprofit organization of your choice (COOLMOM!) for each person who fills out the carbon calculator program and pledges to cut down on their emissions by ways listed in their Action Plan. He has asked CoolMom, along with two other environmental groups, to be one of the test groups to try out this new software before it goes mainstream. Within 1-3 months their website will be linked with your public utility companies, so you will only have to have your account numbers and the program will access your usages, making completion even easier.

CoolMom Events:
October 11: Eat Local Now Dinner?has sold out!--we look forward to seeing you!

October 24: 350 International Day of Action :
Start off the day joining CoolMom, C&P Coffee House, Urban Land Army and Sustainable West Seattle are partnering to create 4 large (3'x6' - interior dimensions) edible garden beds  in the back yard of C&P Coffee.

One of these 4 beds will be built on October 24th 10 am to 1pm, with the plan of creating the other 3 on a quarterly basis until the whole project is completed in Summer 2010.

The beds will grow vegetables and edible flowers to be consumed by the public and including the West Seattle Food Bank. We are also looking for sponsorship by several gardening facilities to help supply the cement blocks and cedar cap that is needed to build the bed. We are getting the soil and compost donated by Cedar Grove. 

The purpose of this community project is to provide and ongoing community edible garden and to highlight the very important number of 350, the number scientists believe to be the safe upper limit of Carbon Dioxide in the atmosphere, in parts per million. Our current level in the atmosphere is 385, so you can see we really need all communities participating in reducing our carbon footprint. These edible gardens can contribute to reducing our carbon footprint in several ways:
*growing locally grown vegetables to be distributed to families and a possible local food bank. 
*creating a community garden for teaching purposes, i.e. "how tos" on creating your own garden, by having these gardens built throughout the year, we will highlight how to grow your own local home grown vegetables for those new to gardening. Each bed will highlight what can be grown each season. We are envisioning garden parties of some sort (more planning is taking place around this idea).
THEN: Join CoolMom, SCALLOPS, Green Schools, City of Seattle, and many others in educating and speaking up about climate change.
On October 24th at Seattle Center Fountain environmental groups, citizens, and public officials will gather and form a "three", "five" and "zero" to represent this important and critical number for our planet. A photo will be taken to represent Seattle's involvement in this International Day of Action and be streamed onto the 350.org webpage for the world to see.
Please join us from 2pm to 5pm to make your pledge to take action on behalf of climate change.
Day's Details:?2 to 3pm Exhibitors (located in Alki Room, just West of the Fountain), speakers, live video on screen ?3 to 4pm Formation of 350, speakers, entertainment on stage on Fountain lawn-podium, photo taken (all exhibitors are encouraged to be part of the number formation)?4 to 5pm Exhibitors continued, live feed continued?5pm Closing speaker
Event Details & RSVP?-
What: 350 International Day of Action
Who: CoolMom Org?West Seattle CoolMom?Yakima CoolMom Group
When: Sat Oct 24, 2009, 2-5 pm PDT
Where: Seattle Center?305 Harrison Street, Seattle, WA 98109
RSVP: http://www.bigtent.com/home/calendar/event/24669544

November 6, 6:30-8:30pm: Movie Night at Camp Long. Magic School Bus Holiday Special episode is showing (focuses on recycling) plus other special features.

Toy Swap 'N Sale: November 14, Fauntleroy Church. Collection bins will be set out next week, - more info on the calendar

Monthly Challenge Answer: What is our current atmospheric concentration of carbon dioxide: Our current level in the atmosphere is 390 parts per million. Our goal is <350 (the safe upper limit).

CoolMom Challenge for October: Choose three of the ten CoolMom tips to focus on this month.

1. Advocate for Change
Be a good citizen. Spread the word and make sure your voice is heard.
2 Drive Less
It's healthy for the planet and your family. Walk or bike instead. Live close to work
and school. Carpool or take mass transit.
3. Adjust Your Thermostat
Move your thermostat up two degrees in summer and down two degrees in winter.
You could save about 2,000 lbs of carbon dioxide with this easy adjustment.
4. Buy Locally
Buying locally produced goods saves on transportation and oil, and leads to less
sprawl and traffic congestion.
5. Eat Sensibly
Count your food miles. Buy locally grown organic foods. Teach your kids where
their food is from.
6. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
Do you really need it? How long will you use it? Where will it go after? Recycle
and buy used or recyclable products. Recycling just half your garbage will save 2,400
lbs of carbon dioxide!
7. Buy Minimally Packaged Goods
Less packaging can reduce your garbage by about 10%. Save 1,200 lbs of carbon
dioxide per year.
8. Change A Light Bulb
Compact florescent light bulbs use 60% less energy. If every US family switched
bulbs, we'd reduce carbon dioxide by more than 90 billion pounds!
9. Use Less Hot Water
Heating water uses a lot of energy. Take shorter showers under a low-flow
showerhead and set your water heater no higher than 120 F.
10. Turn It Off
Turning off electronics and lights you aren't using will save thousands of pounds of
carbon dioxide yearly.

Next meeting: Wednesday, November 4, 2009

SEPTEMBER

West Seattle Cool Mom Meeting Minutes, Wed., Sept. 2, 2009

Leader: Laura Efline
Speaker: Jen Cole from Feet First (www.feetfirst.info)

Question of the Month: How much can you lower your carbon output if you drive two fewer days per month?
a.    900 pounds per year
b.    1600 pounds per year
c.    5000 pounds per year
d.    10,000 pounds per year
(answer is b. http://www.epa.gov/earthday/tips-saveenergy.htm)

Speaker of the Month Jen Cole from Feet First reminded us that walking to school IS an option. We drive to school much more than families did a generation ago. With budget cuts even school buses may become obsolete. Starting to find another mode of transportation, LIKE WALKING, just one time per week can benefit the environment, your health and you might even get to know your neighbors better. Repeatedly walking is the best way to get children familiar with the rules of the road, for when they are old enough to venture on their own.

Around 78% or our children’s trips/travel are spent in the car.
Jen stated that 20-25% of our traffic is due to parents and children commuting to school. This includes local traffic, arterials and highways.

The City of Seattle Dept. of Transportation has developed a Safe Walks To School program, to help get schools and parents improved walkways around their school. See their website for more info, or more info may be available from your PTA. Grants are available, contact feetfirst.info for more info.
http://www.cityofseattle.net/transportation/saferoutes.htm
Walking School Bus is an organized way for children and parents to walk to school. One parent leads and one trails, with several children in the middle, all walking to school. This enables parents to take turns, so that they don’t have to walk daily, and also lets parents/children sign up for certain days of the week to participate. For more information go to: http://coolmom.org/actionofthemonth/walking_schoolbus.html or www.walkingschoolbus.org.

October 7, 2009 is International Walk to School Day. Go to www.Iwalktoschool.org for more info.

CoolMom Challenge for the month of September:
Walk/Bike/Bus/Carpool to school instead of driving.

Eco-friendly lunch ideas: It is estimated that there are 67 pounds of lunch waste per year per child in the U.S. There are many reusable lunch box and packaging options than ever before. Some examples are seen at www.goodbyn.com. www.laptoplunches.com. www.reusies.com.

CoolMom News and Events

Eat Local Now Dinner: October 11, 5pm at Alki Masonic Hall. Will include silent auction. Tickets $25 each, although for children 10yo and under only $10. Go to www.eatlocalnow.org for more info or buy tickets at http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/73073

October 24—International Day of Action – celebration at Seattle Center but want to do a local activitiy. Any volunteers/ideas?

October 1 & 2—Mayors Conference—we may be able to present info about CoolMom there, to help spread the word about CoolMom to other cities.

November 6—Family Movie Night at Camp Long—Magic School Bus Holiday Episode (recycling is the topic)

November 14—Toy Swap ‘N Sale—Fauntleroy Church—start saving your toys to donate

CoolMom is selling the 2010 Chinook books as a fund raiser. $20 retail price – ½ of which comes back to CoolMom. They are available now. Help us sell, buy some for yourself, your friends/family!

Please donate. We don't have mandatory dues, but to continue to serve our membership and improve our offerings (including a more interactive website) CoolMom needs CASH.

October 7, 7pm, next CoolMom meeting at C&P Coffee.

AUGUST

Our West Seattle CoolMom Monthly meeting will instead be a family potluck this month! Come play and eat with us at Lincoln Park! All family members are welcome.

Location Details: Shelter 1 at the South end of Lincoln Park, directly above the play structure and next to the zip line. Park in south parking lot in Lincoln Park, closest to the ferry or walk/ride your bike.

What: Potluck (so bring a dish to share) & Play in the park

Event Details
----------------------
What: August Potluck
Who: West Seattle CoolMom
When: Wed Aug 5, 2009, 6-9 pm PDT
Where: Lincoln Park - Shelter 1

Link: http://www.bigtent.com/home/calendar/event/20293653

JUNE

Monthly Meeting: Wed, July 1, 7-8:30pm @ C&P Coffee. Keeping in theme with alternate transportation... David Allen from the the City of Seattle's Climate Action Now (CAN) program (and a West Seattle dad) will be chatting to us about how to easily go car-less with your kids. He'll focus on the practical things and the quality life benefits as well as provide tips on good trails, routes, and such.
August 5 we'll talk more about alternate transportation and how to motivate your kids - toddler and teens alike!

* OTHER NEWS * May has been a busy month!

Unplug and Campout was great fun! Ten families spent the night but another three joined for the potluck and games. Photos and More

Some of your West Seattle CoolMom peeps were found with their children at Jim McDermott's office expressing hope that he will vote for the latest Climate Change bill. West Seattle Blog was there to cover it, check it out here.

CoolMom now has a face - on Facebook that is. Join us and show all your Facebook peeps just how Cool[a]Mom you are!

* EVENTS * Lots is happening today forward in West Seattle and nearby. Here's a smattering of the activities:

June 27, 10:30-1:30, 21 Acres Sustainable Farm Tour (EOS Alliance)

June 28 10-2, WS Farmer's Market 10th Anniversary - learn more

June 28 Summer Streets at Magnuson Park

June 29, 5:30-7:30pm, Green Bag Campaign Fundraiser at Western Bridge Gallery(3412 4th Ave S) in SODO featuring Chris Jordon -  whose work of waste at all scales has been exhibited internationally as part of the Green Movement. Pay What You Can Donation. Includes dinner.

July 6  Community kayak tours of the Duwamish River - learn more

July 10 (Time TBD), CoolMom Pumpkin Planting at Longfellow Creek Garden. Email Abby or check BigTent if you're interested in the final details.

July 10-12 West Seattle Summer Festival

July 11 City Chicken Coop tour

July 11 Summer Streets at University District

July 16 Mater Matrix Mother and Medium installation at Camp Long - learn more

July 20 Sustainable West Seattle Monthly Meeting

July 26 Summer Streets + Fruit Festival at Pike Place Market

Aug 1 West Seattle Edible Garden Tour

Aug 8, 12-5 Duwamish River Festival (contact@duwamishcleanup.org)

More great events listed @ WSBlog and Sustainable West Seattle, EOS Alliance

* VOLUNTEERISM *
"Mirror, mirror on the wall who's the coolest mom of them all?" West Seattle CoolMoms of course! Though being the largest and probably the most active neighborhood chapter takes some work. If you have a few hours a month and would like to donate your time for a specific type of task, please contact Laura Elfline, laura@mosaicsolutions.net, 206-715-0893.

Eat Local Now! Planning for the West Seattle dinner is underway. We're gathering momentum and volunteers to help with the day of event Oct 11.Next Planning Meeting July 8. If you can't attend meetings but want to help,contact Laura Elfline, laura@mosaicsolutions.net, 206-715-0893.

Plastic Bag Fee Campaign is ramped up and taking on the chemical companies! Join the effort in a smattering of ways. Contact, Heather Trim, htrim@pugetsound.org for volunteer opportunities. Additionally, the Bag Campaign needs volunteers for speakers to attend community group meetings to speak on behalf of the Bag Fee; they also need volunteers for phone banking. Last meeting will be July 28th, Spitfire Grill on 4th Ave. 7pm Please contact Terri at terri@coolmom.org if you would like to attend the meeting. The critical vote for the bag fee is coming up soon, August 18th. Please mark your calendars.  Seattle needs to show the nation that we can pass this referendum. Let's make this happen!

Monthly Meeting, Wed, June 3, 7-8:30pm @ C&P Coffee. Stu Hennessey, owner of Alki Bike and Board, will be with us to talk about family friendly biking and routes close to home as well as other bike related items. Stu is awesome and has a lifetime of experience with this fabulous transportation option. We'll also talk about the Unplug and Campout event at Camp Long and how to measure your energy intake (or lack thereof when you unplug).

Have opinions or interest about steering our chapter in the right direction? Meet with Laura Elfline and others after the general meeting (location TBD day of).

In July (8th to be precise) we'll talk more about alternate transportation and how to motivate your kids - toddler and teens alike!

* OTHER NEWS * May has been a busy month!

Climate Change Rally recap: The energy was ecstatic. The Rally started off with CoolMom kids & moms and a large gathering of kids up from Portland on stage chanting out rally cries to the masses. Thanks goes out to all the CoolMoms and their CoolKids who attended the Rally.  A big shout out to Casey O’Roarty who made the trip all the way from Monroe!  Way to go all you CoolMoms! See pictures and read more...

And lots of tabling: Sustainable West Seattle's Festival and the WS Edible Garden Fair had great turn outs. We've discovered the beauty of face-painting - not only do kids love it, but parents become a captive audience to learn about our great organization!

CoolMom now has a face - on Facebook that is. Join us and show all your Facebook peeps just how Cool[a]Mom you are!

* EVENTS * Lots is happening today forward in West Seattle and nearby. Here's a smattering of the activities:

Sat, May 30, 11am-4pm, The Shibaguyz Heirloom Tomato Plant Sale, 9029A 18th Ave SW, WSea. Details or 206-579-0599.

Sat, May 30, 11am-5pm, Delridge Day Celebration @ Youngstown Cultural Center. 

Sat, May 30, 1-3pm: Carry5 Walk for Water @ Seward Park. While this event isn't in WSea, there does seem to be a direct link between climate change and access to safe water around the globe. Water 1st (the host of this event) strives to make the access, well, more accessible. Laura Elfline will be walking with Team Mighty and welcomes all who want to join the fun.

Sat, May 30, 10-12: Life + Times of Polliwog Pond @ Camp Long. Snacks provided by CoolMom. Instructor: Dana Catts. Adults $8, Children $6. Register online or by calling 206-684-7434.

Sat, May 30, 12:30-6pm: Mother's Leading the Way to Healthcare For All @ Central District. Details.

Sun, May 31, 11am-5pm: Go Play in the Street [Alki]. Lots of great fun ON Harbor Ave as it will be closed first for the 5k Run and then for the Summer Streets fun. WS CoolMoms will be there tabling and face painting like crazy. The now famous puppet show will happen outside Coastal at 11am, and I'm sure some CoolMom kids will participate in the kid's bike parade at 1pm and again at 3pm - Cascade Bicycle has a great line up of kid and adult bike activities (details). Check out the website for a full listing of activities. More car-free Summer Streets info here.

Mon, Jun 1, 7-9pm: King Co. Exec Candidates @ Fauntleroy Church

Jun 1-2: A Sea of Change: Imagine a world without fish (climate change + ocean film with SIFF. Details.)


Jun 5-14: Seattle's True Independent Film Festival - Check out Fresh and other climate change focused films! Details.

Sat, Jun 13, 11am-6pm: Morgan Junction Community Festival. Bubble Man from 11-11:30.

Mon, Jun 15, 11am: Mater Matrix Mother and Medium  @ Camp Long. The Installation begins. Main event on July 16.

Sat, Jun 20, 4pm-10am: Unplug and Campout! @ Camp Long. Join WS CoolMom families for potluck, games, and sleepover at Camp Long. Cabins are being provided courtesy of Camp Long Advisory Council (yes, that means they are free!). RSVP to Laura, 206-715-0893

More great events listed @ WSBlog and Sustainable West Seattle, EOS Alliance

* VOLUNTEERISM *
"Mirror, mirror on the wall who's the coolest mom of them all?" West Seattle CoolMoms of course! Though being the largest and probably the most active neighborhood chapter takes some work. If you have a few hours a month and would like to donate your time for a specific type of task, please let Laura Elfline, laura@mosaicsolutions.net, 206-715-0893.

Eat Local Now! Planning for the West Seattle dinner is underway. We're gathering momentum and volunteers to help with the day of event Oct 11.

Plastic Bag Fee Campaign is ramped up and taking on the chemical companies! Join the effort in a smattering of ways: Help Create Bag Monsters at a Wednesday, 6pm meeting on June 3, 10 and 17 at the Powerhouse, 3940 Fremont Ave. The Bag Monsters will be in the Fremont Solstice Parade, June 20th at 11:30 am.  Additionally, the Bag Campaign needs volunteers for speakers to attend community group meetings to speak on behalf of the Bag Fee; they also need volunteers for phone banking.  Contact, Heather Trim, htrim@pugetsound.org for volunteer opportunities. Next meeting will be June 23, Spitfire Grill on 4th Ave. 7pm

Monthly Meeting, Wednesday, May 6, 7-8:30 pm, As part of our focus on mother earth and honoring her gifts, the West Seattle CoolMom's Monthly Meeting will host Adam Werner with Clean Air Lawn Care.  He will talk about green ways to take care of our lawn and yard.  Another special guest, TBD will be speaking on organic gardening and how we can grow and care for our organic food.

 OTHER NEWS * * * * *

 

What Do You Think?!

Please fill out our survey so we can better meet the needs and expectations of our WS CoolMom community. Click here.


Climate Day for Kids, Great Success

CoolMom had a successful Earth Day celeberation at SAM Sculpture Park last weekend! The debut of the CoolMom puppet show and the green up your ride activities were a big hit.  Check the whole story and pictures out on the CoolMom website. If you missed the puppet show last Saturday, then you’ll have a chance to catch it at this weekends Sustainable West Seattle Fair.  Puppet Show, show time 11:10 a.m. on the main stage

Earth Day Movie Night Wrap Up

An amazingly sunny, warm day kept the crowds away Apr 17, but for those that attended they saw a great flick - Arctic Tale. Plans are in the works already for a summer family movie night (hopefully outdoors!) and for the fall. Keep on the lookout!

WS CoolMom Steering Committee

If you are interested in joining conversations about the direction and activities of the West Seattle CoolMom Chapter, we meet every month directly after the general meeting - location TBD that eve. You're already out and have the kids covered, why not join the conversation?!

VOLUNTEERISM * * * * *

West Seattle CoolMom Needs Your Help

Put those organizational, leadership, networking skills to work and help Laura Elfline Coordinate the West Seattle CoolMom Group.  There are lots of way you can help out, like leading discussions, scheduling fabulous programs & speakers, entering data, taking meeting notes, and more. With Terri Glaberson now in the role of CoolMom Executive Director, it leaves Laura Elfline running the West Seattle chapter. With two business and two toddlers, she doesn't have the bandwidth to maintain and lead the chapter at the level we've grown to expect and enjoy. Above are just some of the tasks that the Coordinators have traditionally shared amongst themselves. If you have the bandwidth to take on a regular task or two, or buddy up with someone to lead one of the tasks, or better yet(!) buddy up with Laura as a Co-Coordinator(!) - it would be greatly appreciated by all WS CoolMoms. Contact Laura Elfline to discuss details 206.715.0893.

Help us organize the Unplug and Campout event June 20th. Have an affiliation for games? Love organizing potlucks? Have an idea to make it an extra super fun event? Contact Laura Elfline 206.715.0893.

Eat Local Now!

The movement is just what it says. Sustainable West Seattle and BALLE are leading the charge in promoting the importance of local food within West Seattle. Learn more at a fun, family activity at the SWS Festival May 3rd – www.sustainablewestseattle.org A committee focused on educating and expanding on local food in West Seattle meets every other Wednesday - next meeting Apr 29, 7-8:30pm. Details at eatlocalnowor contact Laura Elfline 206.715.0893.

Plastic Bag Fee Campaign

The next steering committee meeting will be Tuesday, May 26.

In the meantime, the next outreach event is the Sustainable West Seattle Fair on Sunday, May 3!  Please stop by and check it out (and enjoy the event!).  The Bag Fee Campaign is also cooking up a bunch of fundraising parties and would love help co-hosting some of those.  They are going to be fun! Contact Jessica Tweedy for more information.

EVENTS * * * * *

CoolMom Sponsored Events

Longfellow Creek Garden Family Work Party, Bring your family and your favorite garden gloves and boots and dig in the soil. End of May event, TBA

May 30, Life and Times of Polliwog Pond Sponsored by CoolMom, 10-12 Explore the wonderful animal life all around us. Fascinating facts and features of animal life whether crawling, swimming, flying or walking. Come explore the life within Camp Long's changing polliwog pond. Freshwater, collecting nets, buckets, microscopes...what's not to love?! What does the pond tell us about the water quality of our local watershed? Immature salamanders, damselflies and phantom midges to name but a few aquatic friends you might find. Instructor: Dana Catts. Adults $8, Children $6. Register online or by calling  (206) 684-7434.

Other Events
 
May 9, Worm-bin Worshop & Composting 101 

May 10, Mother's Day Festival of Trees,Magnuson Park, Sunday, 10 am to 4:30 pm

May 23, WS Edible Garden Fair 

May 23, Park in the Dark It’s nighttime at the Arboretum…but the park isn’t sleeping.  On this special family adventure you will learn about animal adaptations in the dark – and see the gardens in a whole new light!  For grades K-2 and 3-6, $6 per person; Must register by May 20.  For more information and registration, call 206.685.8033.

May 26, Strategies for Sustainability: Best Practices class and May 27, Making Sustainability Stick: Tools for Change Agents 

CoolMom Updates