Mike reported results from the Center For A New American Dream's (CNAD) new program, Turn the Tide: Nine Actions for the Planet: in it's first month of operation, Turn the Tide members have taken personal action that will prevent the emission of almost 1/2 million pounds of carbon dioxide and save over 1 million gallons of water over the next year (see www.newdream.org). Linda also reported their junk mail dropped almost immediately after following through on one of the program's action items -- even the flap on a charge card return envelope, along with it's internal advertisements, were eliminate with one phone call. For those VS Chicago folks who have signed up for the program, CNAD on has a "VS Chicago Group", which means we can view the results of our actions collectively as VS Chicago. Lynn also reported a drop in junk mail after she contacted Equofax, and opted out of their mailings.

Your Money Or Your Life (YMOYL) -- Anyone need help with the Steps...
Linda led a round table discussion about the steps outlined in the YMOYL book. Pam and Woodie mentioned the audio tape version help kick start them on the program (tapes are available at www.soundstrue.com , full size workbooks available at www.simpleliving.net). Linda and Mike used the tapes before the book was published... and still to this day. Jenni said Dave created a mission statement before they began the Steps, identifying what's really important => faith, family... Majorie talked about her experiences with reaching a level of financial self-sustainability, calling the money one saves from doing the Steps, "Attitude Money", because having savings creates a new attitidue for you => if you don't have savings and your boss says, "... this is the way things are going to be", you generally have to go along with it, BUT if you have savings, you have a different attitude -- "I don't have to put up with this". There is all kinds of freedom with Attitude Money -- no debt, no one to owe, enough savings to live simply on, time to care for elder parents and relatives in need, time for getting involved in your community doing work that makes a direct difference in your community...

Ross asked if people couldn't make a difference in others lives by reaching out (smiling at strangers, saying "Hi" & being friendly) to those that might otherwise be isolated from community. I.E. would the guy in Lowell, IN have done what he did if he were more connected to others --if he had a "community". Someone else brought up the topic of mental health and the way society stigmatizes people with mental health conditions. Someone shared her own life experiences when her mother was diagnosed with obsessive compulsive disorder. She pointed out that too often friends will accept anothers' "odd" ways BEFORE they are given a label, but once there is a diagnosis with a name or "label", they end up loosing friends (community). Even though in this case the person with the disorder was actually happy and relieved to know why she was, the way she was.

A new participant explained how her mother, aunt, daughter, brother and sister-in-law all have a sort of "built-in" community by the co-responsible way which they have arranged to live: Two adjacent houses; family dinners together; acceptance of the worth, character and even idiosyncrasies of each person; Caregiver role; Financial support role; etc.

Someone else pointed out how sad it is that people end up becoming so disgruntled over time by many things that may have happened in their life (or happened to them such as job lose) that result is feeling disenfranchised from society and community.

Relating it to Simplicity, someone suggested that books like YMOYL encourage people to take charge of their own situation, so they are not so affected by job loss. The process of living consciously and simply also allows one to put life events into perspective, and often leads people to seek fulfillment in life through service to others such as volunteering, which also builds community. This lead some to the conclusion that they should put more effort into explaining the benefits of Simplicity to others --as a form of volunteering & building community.

Folks can also find other volunteering opportunities by going to:
www.volunteermatch.org or www.SERVnet.org

Northside Simplicity Circle Revived...
Jill is organizing a Northside circle. Contact Jill via VSChicago@juno.com

We adjourned the meeting and closed the space at 12:15pm. Pam, Linda, Majorie, Woodie, Bob, Dave and Mike enjoyed a relaxing picnic lunch and continuing conversation along the west bank of the Chicago River at Adams Street.
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(Reported by Mike Lenich)