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February 2005
Notes from NEGEF's Executive Director
Grantee Success Stories
NEGEF Annual Retreat
NEGEF's Bits & Pieces
NEGEF Grantmaking
NEGEF Contact Information
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NOTES
FROM
DIRECTOR
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COMMUNITY: BUILDING BRIDGES NOT TRENCHES
I had an "ah ha" moment recently while I was participating in local government dynamics. The national buzz about our divided country, a nation of two cultures, tried to play itself out in our town, too. The left and right mantras were on the table. The fur was flying.
But something else happened on the way to City Hall, opening a portal into community and possibility that I had not seen before. Community leaders started saying: "We don't do things this way here. Local politics are non-partisan. It's not easy to stay out of the national fray, but if we are going to solve Montpelier's problems, we need to honor all voices, and we need a community leadership team that guides us all in advancing the common good."
NEGEF firmly holds to the principal that citizens engaged in local affairs are in training. We are learning and practicing the fundaments of democracy - the art of dialogue, debate and decision-making.
NEGEF grantees have a great opportunity to build social bridges, not dig more trenches. How can we move from single issue, backyard debates to positive, inclusive, constructive dialogues that lead to lasting community solutions? Here are a couple of ideas to ponder.
First, have you ever stopped to think about what makes a leader? The
following list, simple and straight forward, defines a leader.
A leader is someone who:
¨ Presents to the public in such a way that they trust you
¨ Knows who they are; they are comfortable in themselves
¨ Has a clear vision and strong ideas and knows where they want to go and why
¨ LISTENS TO OTHERS AND RESPECTS WHAT THEY HAVE TO SAY.
Life is not right and wrong, black or white. A strong leader can move a community from conflict to consensus. There are two fine books I'd also like to recommend that give you more insight and inspiration about leadership.
Don't Think of an Elephant: Know Your Values and Frame the Debate - the Essential Guide for Progressives by George Lakoff speaks to the issue of the clash of America's values creating two very different governance worldviews. Wherever you sit on the political spectrum, reading this book will help community leaders use language in ways all can hear.
The second book is Malcolm Gladwell's The Tipping Point. Any community problem-solving team needs leaders who are some or all of Gladwell's characters - Mavens, Networkers and Salespersons. A maven is one steeped in knowledge and detailed minutia…the information resource person. A networker is one who knows…who knows who. Networkers know opinion leaders; they are the connectors. Salespeople are those who are over-endowed with enthusiasm; they have the art of convincing. All three are leaders.
Whether your issue is toxics, smart growth, energy/climate change or traditional natural resource and land conservation, as you guide your neighborhoods and municipalities through local problem-solving challenges, practice dialogue with those who don't share your vision. Listen and frame knowledge in ways most will understand. Respect and engage. Democracy depends on it. It's fun. Enjoy.
No matter what your issue, it needs community leaders - mavens, connectors and salespersons. In an "Afterword" found in the most recent printing of The Tipping Point, Malcolm Gladwell wrote:
"Whenever I look at an un-opened bar of Ivory bath soap, I flip it over and burst out laughing. In the midst of all the product information, there is a line that says: "Questions? Comments? Call 1-800-395-9960." In fact, who on earth would ever have a question about Ivory soap so important that they felt compelled to call the company right away? The answer, of course, is that while most of us would never dial that number, a small percentage of profoundly weird people feel compelled from time to time to call in with a question. These are people who feel passionate about soap. They are the soap Mavens, and if you are in the soap business you had better treat those soap Mavens well because they are the ones to whom all their friends turn for advice about soap."
This entertaining quote speaks only to the mavens, but it is inspiration for all NEGEF grantees and their work.
Ø Local groups and committees are 1-800-MYTOWN action numbers.
Ø Committee members are the local Mavens, Connectors and Salespersons to whom the rest of the community will turn for help.
To move any of your issues forward, we need more community folks who know what government, small businesses, schools and local residents are doing or could be doing to reduce green house gasses, for example, or sparking the growth of community gardens. They are our catalysts and inspirations that spark many of the things that are not now happening at the roots. We applaud you. You're doing great work!
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GRANTEE
SUCCESS
STORIES
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Residents Opposing Quarry in Neighborhood - Graniteville, Vermont
Residents Opposing Quarry in Neighborhood (ROQIN) is opposing an application to excavate a 90-acre quarry in a residential neighborhood on the border between Barre Town and Williamstown, Vermont. Pike Industries, an asphalt paving company, applied for a Vermont Act 250 environmental permit "that would destroy prime farmland," according to ROQIN member Joe Cafarelli. "This proposal, once they're done with it, is going to leave one big hole in the mountainside. The quarry does not conform to the town plan and should be rejected to protect local residents," he added.
ROQIN members have raised a number of environmental concerns about the proposed quarry. Silica dust released by the blasting from this operation would aggravate respiratory conditions such as asthma and emphysema; several families in the neighborhood have members with existing respiratory health problems. There is a potential threat of water contamination of three nearby wells that could be filled with silt, and there are other wells at risk of running dry. There is concern about increased traffic from heavily loaded diesel trucks making as many as 334 one-way truck trips on a daily basis at two high accident intersections, in addition to the noise pollution from these trucks to nearby homes.
ROQIN recently won a major battle after an almost 2-year legal fight. In June 2004 the Vermont Act 250 Board denied Pike Industries a permit for their proposed operation. Pike appealed the decision, however, and the neighborhood group, an all-volunteer organization, is now faced with a continuing legal fight to protect their neighborhood from the environmental hazards of this mining operation.
Graniteville is not the only community in the region facing this extraction issue. In Vermont alone NEGEF has funded groups in four other communities, including Concerned Cavendish Citizens (Cavendish), Lower Mad River Neighborhood Association (Moretown), Smart Growth for Bristol (Bristol), and Residents Concerned About Omya (Brandon). Four groups in Maine have also received grants for their work to protect their communities from extensive gravel extraction - Sabattus Hill Huggers (Sabattus), Committee to Keep Waterboro from Becoming the Pits Waterboro), Lamoine Alliance for Water (Lamoine) and the Grand View Neighborhood Group (Augusta).
The Toxics Action Center, who publicly recognized ROQIN with its Citizen Action Award at its Vermont 2004 conference, held a one-day meeting last spring for grassroots groups from around New England who have been working on mining issues over the past year. These groups, who often face the challenges of high legal and technical expert costs in these mining cases, shared some of their strategies for raising money and finding the help that they need.
ROQIN members are committed to seeing their issue through to the end. According to their spokesperson, the group's plan for preserving the sanctity of their natural environment and the health of their citizens is timeless. Suzie Willette observed that "through this environmental challenge ROQIN members have learned that we can make a difference if we work together and see that our message is heard. You don't realize how important something is until you are about to lose it. "
UPCOMING NEGEF TRAININGS
"The Care & Feeding of Your Organization's Volunteers and Leaders"
Saturday, March 12th
Doyle Conservation Center
Leominster, MA
*Working with Volunteers: Recruiting, Engagine, Sustaining, Dismissing
*Strengthening Your Decision-Making Group: Enhancing its Performance
"Fundraising 101: Diversifying Your Funding"
Saturday, May 7th
United South End Settlements' Harriet Tubman House
Boston, MA
*Pros & Cons of Chasing Grants
*Pieces of a Grant Proposal
*Identifying Your Prospects
*Major Donor Solicitation
*Board and Volunteer Roles in Fundraising
NEGEF Trainings are open to all community members.
The fee is $15 for NEGEF Grantees and $25 for non-grantees.
Go to the Trainings Page for more information and to register.
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NEGEF
ANNUAL
RETREAT
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"ORGANIZING AND THE POWER OF IDEAS"
NEGEF's Seventh Annual Grantees' Retreat was held in Eliot, Maine last October. Over 120 grantees/activists joined us for two days of workshops, field trips, yoga classes and extensive networking.
Attendees were inspired by our Keynote Speaker, Tom Andrews, a grassroots organizer for a variety of constituents. A former two-term Maine Congressman, Andrews is currently the national director of Win Without War, a coalition of organiza-tions advocating for international cooperation and enforceable inter-national law.
Workshops included Coalition Building, Avoiding Burnout, Fund-raising, Public Speaking De-mystified, Working with the Media, a day-long Mediation Training and a variety of other valuable skills trainings.
In addition, hikers and bikers took some time to enjoy the beautiful fall foliage of Maine, and yoga classes helped others learn how to de-stress their daily lives.
The wonderful new facility at the Green Acre Baha'i Center was perfect for the event, and everyone raved about the good food, the friendly staff, and the camaraderie of the weekend.
NEW BOSTON GRANT PROGRAM CONTINUES
The Boston Grants Initiative (BGI) provides grassroots grants to groups that are working on environmental health and justice issues, and increasing and improving green space in the city. The Initiative supports groups in Boston, Chelsea, Somerville and Cambridge that have large numbers of volunteers involved in concrete actions to improve the quality of life in their neighborhoods and communities. Grant awards range from $2,500 to $10,000. Applications are accepted anytime with the following 2005 deadlines:
**February 15th for an April decision
**August 15th for an October decision
The Boston Grants Initiative began in 2004 to better address the needs of greater Boston groups that are too big to fit NEGEF's small grants category but still too small to receive larger foundation funding. Most projects come from small and emerging neighborhood groups, but some may be part of a larger organization that has specific budgets for smaller projects.
Contact Ginny Callan here at NEGEF for more information:
callan@grassrootsfund.org
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NEGEF'S
BITS&
PIECES
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WINTER IS STILL HERE!
Cold weather is here again and it is time to tighten up your home. About three quarters of energy used in New England homes is for heating and the greatest heat loss, by far, is from infiltration or air leakage. Here are a number of free or low-cost tips for saving energy and money this winter.
$$ The largest infiltration takes place at high and low leaky points due to the stack effect. Warm air rises and flows out of openings high in the house, pulling cold air in at leaks low in the house. These high and low leaks are easiest to find on cold days. To find low leaks, feel for cool drafts coming in. To find high leaks, move something that smokes along potential openings and look for smoke being sucked out. Seal all high and low openings with spray foam or caulk. NOTE: Homes do require a certain amount of fresh air to keep occupants healthy. Molds or back drafting of flu gases can occur in tight houses without adequate ventilation. Fresh air is best supplied in a controlled manner through powered and programmed fresh air vents.
$$ Install all storm windows and doors; close & latch them tightly.
$$ Caulk closed all leaky windows and exterior doors that you never open.
$$ Cover leaky windows that you do want to open in the spring with an interior plastic "storm" product, like Tyz-All, available at Energy Federation Inc. (800-876-0660, www.efi.org). Tyz-All can be removed in the spring and reused next winter. It costs about $5/window which you should save in one winter on each leaky window covered.
$$ Weather-strip ALL exterior doors, including attic hatch, bulkhead door and doors to cold cellars and crawl spaces. Check and replace weather stripping when worn.
$$ If your exterior door jiggles when closed, move the striker/latch plate closer to the door stop so the door closes snuggly against the stop or add new weather stripping that snugs up against the door.
$$ Make sure all fan-driver exterior vents (dryer, stove, bathroom, etc.) have an exterior flap that closes, and clear vent flaps of lint and other debris so they close tightly when the fan is off.
$$ Close chimney and fireplace dampers when not in use.
$$ Close interior doors and turn off the heat to any rooms that are unused during the winter.
$$ If you can feel heat coming off your domestic hot water tank, install a hot water tank insulating jacket, available through Energy Federation Inc. (800-876-0660, www.efi.org).
$$ Feel the pipes coming off your hot water tank. If you can feel any warmth from the pipes, insulate them with foam pipe insulation available at your local hardware store.
$$ Turn your hot water on and let it run for a couple of minutes. If it is then too hot to hold your hand under the water, turn the thermostat on your hot water tank down to 125 degrees.
$$ Setting your thermostat back at night and while you are gone during the day will save you about 1% on your heating use for each degree set back. Using a programmable thermostat will allow you to bring the heat back up to a comfortable range before you get up in the morning or return home.
From Sustainable Energy Resource Group, a NEGEF grantee from Thetford Center, VT. For more tips about saving energy and money, visit their website at http://serg/uvweb.org or contact them at serg@valley.net.
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NEGEF
GRANTMAKING
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NEGEF's Grantmaking Committee awarded $87,500 to 53 groups at its November meeting. The following proposals received funding:
Alliance to Save North Beaver Brook
Hollis, NH
$2,000
To protect Rocky Pond and Beaver Book wetlands from a proposed sub-division road and 18 houses, a violation of the town's Wetland Conservation Overlay Zoning laws.
Bangor Area Citizens Organized for Responsible Development
Bangor, ME
$1,500
To continue to protect the Penjajawoc Marsh by increasing citizen participation in the current revision of Bangor's Comprehensive Plan.
Berkshire Environmental Action Team
Pittsfield, MA
$1,500
To fund operating costs for the organization including directors and officers insurance, river clean-up, televising conservation commission meetings, website, and workshops and conferences.
Bethel Area Trails Committee
Bethel, ME
$1,500
To hold a community design forum to build on the trail user survey project in order to plan, design and implement a multi-village recreational trail system.
Bradford Coalition 2 Stop Pollution
Bradford, RI
$2,000
To stop air and water pollution, to breathe fresh air, and to find out the long term effects from the emission of Bradford Dyeing.
Brattleboro Climate Protection
Brattleboro, VT
$1,500
To help support Brattleboro's 10% Challenge Campaign to achieve its goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 10% by 2010.
Brunswick Pesticide Watch
Brunswick, ME
$1,500
To stop the rollback of the town's aquifer protection ordinance which would allow toxic pesticides to be sprayed on the town's fields.
Citizens Awareness Network
Shelburne Falls, MA
$1,000
To increase the awareness campaign in western Massachusetts about the Vermont Yankee plant issues.
Citizens for Responsible Growth
Storrs, CT
$1,500
To obtain a commitment from the State of Connecticut/University of Connecticut and the Town of Mansfield to use sustainable building practices in their upcoming planned large projects.
Citizens for Safe Farming
Charlotte, VT
$2,000
To develop and negotiate a safe "Master Plan" for the Bingham Brook Valley that caps the proposed dairy farm expansion at a size the land, local aquifers and already impaired streams can support.
Coalition for Responsible Siting of LNG Facilities
Fall River, MA
$2,000
To work toward responsible siting of LNG facilities by opposing placement of an LNG tank in an urban neighborhood and encouraging the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to remotely site such facilities.
Concerned Citizens of Stoughton
Stoughton, MA
$1,500
To implement Stoughton's state approved Open Space Plan and the public acquisition of the Goddard Woods.
Coonamessett River Park Coalition
Falmouth, MA
$2,000
To support the campaign to build support for restoration of natural wetlands along the Coonamessett River which is bordered by cranberry bogs whose pesticides, fertilizers and sand have decimated a once abundant herring population and eliminated the sea-run brook trout population.
East Sandwich Neighborhood Alliance
East Sandwich, MA
$2,000
To continue the legal action to stop a Dunkin' Donuts from opening in a residentially zoned sensitive area in order to protect the historic character and natural beauty of Route 6A in the oldest town on Cape Cod.
Esmond Concerned Citizens
Smithfield, RI
$2,000
To oppose the development of a 336-unit apartment complex on a 29-acre parcel that abuts Sebille Pond and wetlands in the Esmond area of Smithfield that violates the town's comprehensive plan's guidelines.
Fertile Ground
Williamsburg, MA
$2,000
To fund Sending Out Roots, Fertile Ground's programs that focus on working with the school community to create a Healthy Eating Campaign, increased collaboration with Nuestras Raices youth and partnering with CISA on workshops for teachers and community members on school gardens, school lunch and farm to school initiatives.
Foundry Watch
Easton, MA
$1,500
To improve the quality of life for Easton residents that live in a two-mile radius of Belcher Foundry.
Friends of Burlington Gardens
Burlington, VT
$1,500
To provide planning assistance, technical support, grant writing and volunteer recruitment/coordination to assist residents and resident groups in establishing and sustaining six new neighborhood gardens.
Friends of Lake Holland
Belchertown, MA
$1,000
To manage invasive, nonnative weeds in Lake Holland by contracting professional divers to pull them by hand and to educate the wider community about our project.
Friends of Lee Open Space
Lee, NH
$1,500
To raise funds for the land protection fund of the town of Lee and to sponsor gatherings to educate the community about the various ways to protect open lands and about the importance of preserving open space.
Friends of Pittsford Village
Pittsford, VT
$1,500
To appeal to the Vermont Supreme Court the Vermont Environmental Court's 2004 decision regarding moving the Pittsford post office out of the village center.
Friends of Town Farm Dairy
East Granby, CT
$1,500
To help fund the group's operating expenses while it fundraises to preserve a local dairy farm located on town land and operate it as a self-sustaining, community-based dairy farm.
GE Free Maine
Mount Desert, ME
$2,000
To create GE Free Zones across Maine through a combination of voluntary farmer pledges and town resolutions, as well as build support for efforts to protect both conventional and organic farmers from liability issues in cases of genetic cross contamination.
Grand View Neighborhood Group
Augusta, ME
$2,000
To protect the aquifer and preserve the quality of drinking water by controlling gravel pit activity and dumping of dangerous materials adjacent to the neighborhood.
Great Falls Community Gardens
Turners Falls, MA
$1,000
To fund tools, soils amendments and a small garden shed in order to accommodate more gardeners.
Green Mountain Conservation Group
Effingham, NH
$1,500
To help fund a board development and training program that focuses on defining board and staff roles, assessing leadership and communication styles, and thinking strategically to plan future goals and projects.
Griffin Park Citizens Against Toxic Stream
Bangor, ME
$2,000
To continue pressuring the city, state and federal government to clean Birch Stream, stop all releases, and clean the air and soil and water for the residents and citizens and to continue with their own testing.
Group Against Swill Plant (GASP)
Bridgewater, MA
$2,000
To inform citizens, elected and appointed officials about environmental and zoning issues dealing with waste management in regards to a proposed fertilizer plant to be sited on top of an old uncapped landfill.
Haverhill's Brightside
Haverhill, MA
$1,500
To collaborate with local residents, community leaders, police, and the city recreation and public works departments to develop and implement a revitalization plan for the Portland Street Playground.
Kestrel Trust
Amherst, MA
$1,500
To raise funds to protect a key 5.7-acre parcel which is part of a larger 165-acre piece of a historic farming area in Hadley, Massachusetts known as the Great Meadow.
Littleton Citizens Against Sludge
Littleton, ME
$2,000
To stop the sludge spraying on the Littleton Ridge by filing a legal appeal with the Bureau of Environmental Protection upon approval of the license.
Mill Cove Conservancy
Warwick, RI
$1,500
To increase the efficacy of the organization in using land trust tools to meet the objectives of converting private open space to public open space.
Mount Desert Island Water Quality Coalition
Mount Desert, ME
$1,500
To complete a Shoreline Survey of Seal Harbor Beach and Stanley Brook to find the causes of high bacteria levels and submit findings and recommendations for improvement of the water quality to the town of Mt. Desert and host a community meeting for property owners to discuss solutions and next steps.
Mount Holly Conservation Trust
Belmont, VT
$1,000
To support a membership drive and public education campaign for the creation of a Conservation Stewardship Fund for private conservation easement donations.
Neighbors for a Safe Dragon
Rockland, ME
$1,500
To educate the community about the health dangers and environmental pollution caused by Dragon Company's operations and to effect measurable changes in Dragon's operations that will insure the health and safety of the community.
NOFA - MA
Barre, MA
$2,000
To help fund the "Gardening the Community" Project that provides a model for how communities can produce healthy food, become more environmentally aware, and leadership training for youth.
NOFA - NH
Concord, NH
$2,000
To encourage the use of already established principles used in organic growing for the far more prevalent lawns and landscapes that exist in New Hampshire through workshops on Organic Land Care.
North Andover Rights of Citizens
North Andover, MA
$1,500
To appeal a decision of the North Andover Zoning Board of Appeal granting a variance for the placement of a wireless service facility in the middle of a residential neighborhood.
Northwest Citizens for Responsible Growth
St. Albans, VT
$2,000
To help pay for expenses involved in the permitting process for large box stores in St. Albans and to advocate for responsible growth in the area.
Nulhegan Gateway Association
Peacham, VT
$1,500
To support outreach to landowners, sport and recreation groups and conservationists about the group's creation of a protocol for review of proposed primitive campsites on the upper Connecticut River.
Orange County Headwaters Project
Corinth, VT
$1,000
To support a community-based Natural Resource Inventory in Washington and Corinth that will involve the community of landowners, prioritize parcels proposed for conservation, and inform easement language to ensure that special areas are adequately protected.
Organized Parents Against Lead
Providence, RI
$2,500
To support efforts to organize parents of lead poisoned children for change on the lead issue in the low-income, minority communities disproportionately affected by childhood lead poisoning.
People of Ayer Concerned About the Environment
Ayer, MA
$2,000
To assess and monitor the cleanup of PCE contamination in a Zone II aquifer of Ayer, develop awareness in the community of the possibility of similar hazards and draft additional local regulations to prevent such occurrences.
Regional Environmental Council
Worcester, MA
$2,000
To help fund YouthGROW summer and after school programs that empower teenagers from low-income neighborhoods to take on environmental leadership roles in their communities through work on an urban, organic farm.
Residents Concerned About Omya
Brandon, VT
$2,000
To continue with opposition to Omya's proposed tailings dump pile to be located above Florence's town water supply.
Residents Opposing Quarry in Neighborhood
Graniteville, VT
$1,500
To protect the natural environment, quality of life and public health of the citizens of Barre Town and Williamstown by opposing the appeal of Pike Industries for a permit for a 30-acre quarry.
Rhode Island Earth Institute
Coventry, RI
$1,500
To establish the RI Earth Institute as a sister organization of the Northwest Earth Institute to support the growth and development of Sustainability Study Circles throughout Rhode Island and southern New England.
Save Ingate Land/Citizens for the Belchertown Community Plan
Belchertown, MA
$1,500
To continue the group's commitment to save as much as possible of the habitat on a 385-acre property from a proposed development of 125 high-end homes a major equestrian community in a major aquifer re-charge area with extensive wetlands.
Vermonters for a Clean Environment
Danby, VT
$1,500
To help fund mediation with Omya and/or technical experts on toxicology, geology, and odor and dust.
Watchdogs for an Environmentally Safe Town
Westminster, MA
$1,500
To protect and preserve the character and natural resources for the present and future residents of Westminster and to lend assistance to communities requiring the group's guidance and tools.
Watertown Citizens for Environmental Safety
Watertown, MA
$1,000
To distribute to every household in Watertown a Pesticide Awareness and Less Toxic Alternatives pamphlet that the organization has developed in cooperation with the Watertown Board of Health.
Windham County Genetic Engineering Action Group
Brattleboro, VT
$1,500
To help fund a student intern to assist the organization in its continued grassroots work in regulating the runaway technology of agricultural biotechnology.
Woodlands Coalition
Milford, CT
$2,000
To support legal representation before the Connecticut Siting Council regarding a proposed transmission line upgrade in southwestern CT.
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NEGEF
CONTACT
INFORMATION
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P. O. Box 1057
Montpelier, VT 05601
(802) 223-4622 (phone)
(802) 229-1734 (fax)
info@grassrootsfund.org (email)
www.grassrootsfund.org (website) |
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