…Anonymous
(the book) Affluenza: The All Consuming Epidemic,
by DeGraff, Wann, Naylor

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Mike, Lenny, Vicki, Don, Ross, Pam, Bob, Linda, Jill, Dave, Jenni, Kathy, Lisa, Jon, Gina, Micky, Julie, Laura, Woodie, Colin and Kim welcomed Phyllis to her first meeting.

During introductions, Vicki noted this meeting marked the one year anniversary of step into the path of simplicity. In that time, she has been able to reduce her debt by 50% and she continues to make steady progress. The group then posted six discussion topics, arranging them into three time slots. A brief recap of each discussion follows:

VS Chicago IntRAnet Group Revised and Revamped...
Through the gracious and tremendous efforts of Woodie, VS Chicago now has a new and greatly improved intRAnet site. THANK-YOU WOODIE!!! Via a "VS Chicago Group Brochure", Woodie explained the new tool:

• Current VS Chicago IntRAnet participants
• Woodie has moved all current VS Chicago IntRAnet participants to the new system, and will send an e-mail announcement shortly.
• List Server...
• what a way to send/receive e-mail! You no longer have to sign onto the intranet site to send e-mail. Simply e-mail your message to intranet e-mail address, and it will automatically be sent to all participants. On the receiving end, you can select to receive an e-mail digest of the day's e-mails, or receive each e-mail individually (Mike has been a member/user of the FIA List Server for three years using the digest format, and has found it extremely helpful in asking questions, sharing information, meeting new folks...). Got an event or simplicity item to share? Simply send it to the list server and all those "signed on" will receive it. Shortly, Mike will be posting the VS Meetings notes to the list server (a tremendous time saver for Mike).
• Calendar...
• the calendar feature is still available and is improved over the previous version
• Links to other sites...
• via bookmarks, links to other simplicity related sites are a click away
• Archiving...
• e-mails will be archived so you can review communications on a various topics (Mike used the FIA list server to research funeral alternatives -- FIA does not have achieving, but if it had this capability, anyone signed on as a participant could review the initial question, and then click on subsequent responses). What a powerful tool!
• Links to VS Chicago Web Site...

Interested in "signing" on? contact Woodie at: v_s_chicago_webmaster@yahoo.com

Thanks again Woodie!!!

Marketing Simplicity...
Pam led a discussion of some interesting marketing newsletter materials she recently received. Seems some folks have "figured out" how to market stuff to us. Seems they think they know how to get us to buy more stuff. As Pam read from the newsletters, everyone in attendance saw immediately through the rhetoric. Well the marketers aren't really after us -- they're after those uninformed/misinformed about simplicity. Listed in the newsletters were ways to market to the "Simplifiers" vers., the "Essentials", and notations of who has been successful in "... reaching the Simplifier market". The group talked about how manufacturers could better meet our needs by producing better (longer lasting) stuff and cleaner products (Honda motorcars' Civic and recent TV advertisement about their new hybrid/high efficiency/low polluting car). We also talked about increased efforts to disassociate us from the realities and true costs of spending money -- McDonald's soon to feature "speedpass" so you don't have to have any money anymore, just drive in and your credit card will automatically be debited (recent government statistics show consumer debt at $8,300 per household, up from a little over $7,000 in 1999 -- how much further will the speedpass concept drive up this stat?) Pam also read from Krones Magazine -- a German production equipment manufacturer. Krones listed us simplifiers as, "Neo-Hippies". How about that for a new one!

The Tipping Point...
Lisa led a discussion on a new book of the same title. The book includes examples of how little things can make a big difference and become "tipping points" for change. Were you aware that support by just a 4% of a population is enough to create a "tipping point"? Let's keep on meeting -- collectively across the nation, we're bound to hit 4% in the near future.

Chicago Carshare Program...
Building on a "Flexicar" brochure Linda and Mike picked up in Seattle, Lisa mentioned a car share program available in Chicago. While we didn't get to this topic in length, do an internet search for "Carshsares" and/or "Flexicar.com".

Home Energy Maintenance Cost Savings...
Julie lead this discussion, which included ideas for energy efficient appliances and lighting, environmental control devices (heating and air conditioning), and environmentally friendly pest control. Stopping leaks and reflecting intense sun were also discussed.

After reconvening and a brief recap...
The meeting adjourned at 12:20pm. Conversation spilled over and continued onto Monroe avenue. Folks had places to move on to, so no picnicking occurred (perhaps next month!)
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(Reported by Mike Lenich)