Transition Durham meeting Sept. 21 Progress!!

Transition Durham Meeting of Sept. 21

We discussed the 12 ingredients for formulating Transition Town work suggested by Rob Hopkins in his book. Our objective was to critique these and adapt them or amend them to provide guidance for structuring own Transition Durham project.

The 12 Vital Ingredients for a Transition Town Project
1. Set up a steering group
2. Start raising awareness
3. Lay the foundations
4. Organise a Great Unleashing
5. Form theme (or special interest) groups
6. Use Open Space
7. Develop visible practical manifestations of the project
8. Facilitate the Great Reskilling
9. Build a bridge to Local Government
10. Honour the elders
11. Let it go where it wants to go…
12. Create an Energy Descent Action Plan



Discussions lasting about 40 minutes were held in 5 separate groups of 4 to 5 people each.

Report backs from the groups are summarised as follows:

We think most of the 12 ingredients are really ongoing process, or philosophy, not a step that is started and stopped, never to be repeated.

The Steering Committee, which we have, has 6 members and can take 10. Four more volunteers would be welcome.

The step labelled “Foundation”, is to make connections to other groups, people, other transition town initiatives in Ontario. We think this should be an ongoing Outreach project (see below).

We suggest forming Groups for brainstorming projects, and/or working on projects.

Some possible groups:

Reskilling, including learning from and honouring elders, learning from others. Future oriented, not “past oriented”, not too much nostalgia. Start ASAP. Poll members at each meeting for skills they can share.

Let it go where it wants to go. This is an on going process value.

Arts and cultural groups as well as building and doing and learning groups.

Open space meetings, everyone welcome, Regular Tuesday with Sunday meetings to accommodate children.

Out reach Group. Plan and execute events, collect data from attendees at meetings, build and post web site, bridge to local governments, invite them, keep them informed

Aim for long range plan, Energy Shift Action Plan, or, Sustainable Community Plan, but not ready to start writing this yet.

Summary by Donato Cianci.