4/7/2001 VS Chicago Meeting Notes
"Before you consult your fancy, consult your purse."
…Benjamin Franklin
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Notes from April 7, 2001 VS Chicago Simplicity Meeting
Don, Linda, Laura, Todd, Dave, Jenni, Dave, Mike, Ross, Dick, Gina, Susan, Bob, Lew, Woodie, Colin, Pam, Mike, Elizabeth, Jim, Jill, Bob, Gerri and Micky, welcomed Sandy, Wayne, Jayne, Heather, Linda, Douglas, Mary, and Ann to their first meeting.
Mike opened the space and meeting promptly at 9:00am with the meeting theme (Simple Living) and a brief explanation of the open space format.
Those in attendance began building an agenda for the meeting by posting topics (questions…) related to meeting theme into a matrix -- a "3 by 3" square containing nine opportunities for discussion. For clarity and understanding, as each topic was posted, those making a posting read their topic aloud to the group. Posters of topics became hosts for those topics. As similar topics surfaced, hosts discussed combining like subjects, and adjusted meeting times to best accommodate all postings.
When all topics were posted and adjusted, folks "signed on" to discussions they wished to attend. By 9:30am, the "agenda" was complete with six discussion items (two time intervals, each containing with three concurrent discussions). Here are some highlights from the six open space discussions…
(First Time Interval)
Discussion included veganism and vegetarianism; the negative effects of hydrogenated and canola oils on our health; processed foods (yikes!); genetically engineered foods; problems with non-organic meat; juicing & sprouting; benefits of raw meat, fish & eggs to create balance; make healthful dietary changes slowly; vegetarianism is not necessarily for everyone.
VSCHICAGO INTRANET.COM -- or other types of intranet site for building extended community (co-hosted by Woodie)
FINDING TALENT TO HIRE WITHIN VS ADVOCATES (co-hosted by Laura)
Woodie has joined Lisa as co-coordinator of our VS Chicago Intranet page. In working to increase site usage and make it the best possible, Woodie and Lisa have been polling VS Chicago participants about likes/dislikes about the current layout, and about possible alternatives. Some items discovered include a general lack of knowing by VS participants the site is out there, password entry difficulties, and personal information requested by the site for sign-up. Woodie and Lisa are also looking into the possibility of making the site a launch location for VS Meeting notices and Meeting notes. Those who would like to receive notices and notes might be able to sign directly onto the Intranet site and thus automatically receive them (relieving Mike of the work of maintaining lists and sending e-mails).
Laura is looking at finding talent within VS Chicago to meet hiring requirements of her human resources work. Possible use of the Intranet site was discussed, but such usage is not in the immediate future as issues of content and technology are currently being addressed.
ECOLOGICAL AND SIMPLE LIFE EPIPHANIES FROM BACKPACKING IN THE DESERT
(hosted & noted by Mike)After 22 years of talking about doing it someday, Mike and his long time work buddy Andy loaded their sacks and backpacked for five days and four nights in the Superstition Wilderness, eighty miles east of Phoenix, AZ. The adventure, loaded with many wonders, lead Mike to several simple life and ecological realizations. Nothing like living simply when all you can have with you is what is packed on your back -- no space for extra items, or items serving less than multiple use. And of course there was no car, no phone, no TV, no computer… just the wonders of the night sky and a pristine desert nearing full spring bloom. For transportation, Mike figured it would be cheaper to rent a car than drive his own. Taking in all the current costs of his car (purchase, maintenance, insurance, gas…) minus its current resale value, divided by total miles, Mike found a good estimate to use for cost per mile -- about 22 cents or $900 for the anticipated 4000 mile trip. A coupon in the mail from a national agency led them to renting a midsize car for $25 (including tax) per day. A 12 day rental, split two ways, was $150+$100 for gas. Mike also has a newfound appreciation for: (1) clean water -- 48 pumps of the filter produced a quart of pure water -- "Do we really need to wash dishes? Why do we have dishes?? Why did we carry dishes???" (2) the luxury of a garbage can -- throw something in the can and someone else hauls it away for you => "Why do we have things to throw away? How willing would we be to throw things away if we had to carry them on our backs for a week??" (3) a lot less food -- with no cabinet to go to, there is not much around -- a handful of soy nuts, raisins, soy granola and hot tea was plenty for breakfast (4) Nature -- it takes only what it needs and passes along the rest.
(Second Time Interval)
Jayne (Hinsdale area) would like to convene a suburban group to continue focus and discussion on the topic of raising children in our current materialistic world. Anyone interested in doing so contact Mike at VSChicago@juno.com. Child and adult peer pressures were discussed. How will children learn to handle peer pressure if their adults do not learn how to handle the spending and keeping up pressures from their peers? What do children really want… things or real attention?? Time for children to just be children -- creative, simple playtime -- was also discussed.
DELIBERATE ABOUT WHAI IS ENOUGH … IN YOUR LIFE. SOCRATES. TH0UGHTS ONLIVING A CONSCIOUS, DELIBERATE LIFE.
(hosted by Ross, noted by Todd)The group noted lifestyle changes are made slowly, one thing at a time. Real consciousness is good. Socrates asked/pondered, "How much is enough? Tune into your enough -- what is enough for you? The group also wondered… could Ross be Socrates?? J
SHOULD YOU ACCESS YOUR IRA'S TO ACHIEVE F.I. (financial independence)?
(hosted and noted by Dave)IRA Publication 590, addresses rolling over an IRA account. As a way to provide FI cash, IRA assets can be withdrawn or used without incurring a penalty before reaching age 59 1/2, if distributions are received in the form of an annuity (equal pay outs, based on life expectancy). Discussion also included being aware of possible relaxation of IRA penalties in the future, as a means to help stimulate the economy. Don noted the recently passed income tax cut legislation is an example of this, ie Government's way inducing us to spend more money. The way things have been the past 10-20 years (IRA restrictions, savings…) may possibly change as inducements to keep the economic bubble floating by inducing us to spend, spend, spend… evolve. Conclusions reached included don't be too quick to cash our IRA's for FI access without thorough consideration.
We closed the space and meeting at 12:00
(Recorded by: Mike Lenich)
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