10/14/00 VS Chicago Meeting Notes

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Ron, Dave, Jill, Don, Karen, Bob, Micky, Kim, Ken, Linda, Bob, Lew, Woodie, Ross and Mike, welcomed Susan, Martha, Ava and Karen to their first meeting.

After a brief round of introductions and explanation of the meeting format, the group listed items for open space discussion:

Chat Time -- "What is new with you?"
YMOYL On-Line Study Guide Groups -- Info and update
The Election -- do you vote Green or vote for a Winnable Party closer to your values?
Celebrating the holidays with spending less without offending other family members?
What significant thing or things are you doing now that you have attended theses meetings? Any changes with your life?? Any improvements or positive results???

The group reviewed and arranged the items, deciding to discuss each topic as a whole group rather than creating two/more separate discussion groups. Here are some highlights from the five open space discussions…

YMOYL ON-LINE STUDY GUIDE GROUPS (OLSG)...

Mike relayed information on a pilot program initiated by the Simple Living Network (SLNet) (www.simpleliving.net). SLNet has taken the "Your Money Or Your Life Study Guide for Groups" workbook and created an on-line interactive program. Mike volunteered to host one of two pilot groups. Mike's group consists of 25 folks from around the globe (Sweden-1, Austrilia-2, Canada-3, USA-19). A fee is charged to cover expenses, based on a participant's income level. The pilot groups have been successful and new groups are currently forming. Having been involved with six study guide groups from VS-Chicago, Mike was surprised the on-line groups achieved similar interactions and insights, and seem overall to be making stronger and quicker progress. As an example, one participant commented they had tried since the first of the year to pay an extra $50 towards their credit card debt. The money was hard to find, plus they got to thinking what difference would $50 make anyway. In the first month of participating in the OLSG, they wrote to say they had "painlessly" found $600 to pay toward their debt and that they anticipated finding more the following month. For details and sign-up information, see http://www.newroadmap.org/study_groups/how_it_works.htm.

CELEBRATING THE HOLIDAYS...

Always a great topic, relating also to gift giving in general. The group shared many ideas and insights. The Center For a New American Dream (CNAD) is currently hosting a month long conversation on simplifying the holidays featuring guest facilitator Gerald Iversen of "Alternatives for Simple Living" (http://www.newdream.org/holiday/index.html). Bill McKibben has written a book entitled, "The $100 Holiday". Mr. McKibben recently hosted a live chat at the CNAD, where folks could find out "...everything you've ever wanted to know about combating the commercialization of the holidays".

Ideas that surfaced during our discussion also included...

Talking openly with relatives and friends about your views/concerns with holiday gift giving. Talk up-front about alternative gift giving and finding more meaningful ways to celebrate spirit and tradition.

Revive or start new traditions. From a VS Chicago Simplifying the Holidays discussion in 1998 (see https://www.angelfire.com/biz/VSChicago/112198.html), one participant was confronted with buying gifts for very large number of nieces and nephews. While being in itself expensive, his major concern was a lack of real meaning in giving the gifts -- the gifts just seemed to be one more in a pile of others. Could there be another way of giving that would provide more meaning? After some discussion, he found his answer with the idea of starting a new tradition. He decided his gift would be to gather up the entire family for a yearly event -- a holiday hay/sled ride.

It may take time. Having others begin to see and hear your concerns and ideas may need time to slowly evolve. One step in a new direction is at least one step. Take it as it comes.

WHAT'S NEW/WHAT SIGNIFICANT THINGS ARE YOU DOING NOW THAT YOU HAVE ATTENDED THESE MEETINGS...

New awarenesses have resulted in real actions. Don mentioned he had been aware of the environment, but from those who attend the VS Meetings, he has learned how his actions are of a direct impact. Don has taken many steps to lighten his load on our planet's ecosystem. Mike mentioned most folks who attend the VS Meetings have interests in either financial, spiritual or environmental concerns. While attending from a financial perspective, Mike too has learned from others about environmental choices and impacts, and about reviving spiritual connections. Others have gained support from the meetings to live their beliefs and values while surrounded by pressures to do otherwise.

VOTING GREEN OR FOR A WINABLE PARTY...
(Note from Mike L: political topics have always been avoided -- this topic centered on environmental concerns, one of three common discussion areas)

Does one cast a vote for a party that is aligned with one's views/values, or is it best to vote for the apparently winnable party? With the presidential election rapidly approaching, some passionate views of both front runner candidates were shared. Lively discussion followed. Lew and Bob relayed their experiences with the recent Ralph Nader rally held at the University Of Chicago on October 10th, reestablishing the discussion to its origin -- how best to vote for the environment. Lew noted that Green Party members already hold offices in local governments, notably in California. With enough support, more options will become available for voters. A Green Party presidential candidate needs only 5% of the vote for the party to receive federal funding and debate access for the next election. Bob conveyed an idea floated at the Chicago rally => Illinois is currently projected to elect one of the front runner candidates. Since that candidate is likely to win, casting a vote instead for the Green Party candidate will help build support for the 2004 election.

An update on the Center For A New American Dream's (CNAD) grant status...

The CNAD has been doing some really great work in the areas of consumption and helping folks recover more of their time. CNAD is poised to receive a $250,000 grant. The grant is based on participation, measured by the number of CNAD memberships as of 10/31/00. Currently, only 216 new members are needed to meet the grant's threshold. If you have already joined, the CNAD thanks you. If you would like to lend your support, now is a good time to do so. See the CNAD at: https://secure.solarhost.com/clients/newdream/donate.html.

We closed the space and meeting at 11:55

(Posted by: Mike Lenich)

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E-mail Mike Lenich at: vschicago@juno.com

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