APPLICATION FOR GREEN
SANCTUARY CANDIDACY
UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST
FELLOWSHIP OF THE EASTERN SLOPES
Tamworth NH
August 7, 2007
The original Unitarian Fellowship of the Eastern Slopes met in members’ homes around North Conway NH through the 1960s but then ceased. The Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of the Eastern Slopes (UUFES, pronounced you’-fess) was formed on June 22, 1980. This small group met biweekly for some years in the Conway Congregational Church under the leadership of extension minister Rev. Chandler Newton and lay leader Rod Forsman. In 1991 UUFES moved to Runnell’s Hall in Chocorua NH. Membership grew, and in 1998 Dr. F. David Fisher was welcomed as Acting Minister and services became weekly. Rev. Fisher served for two years and was ordained by UUFES in 1999. In 2000 Daniel Schatz was called as a half-time minister and was ordained in 2001. UUFES called Rev. Mary Giles Edes to be its part-time minister in 2003. In 2005 UUFES purchased and renovated a building in Tamworth Village for its permanent home. At the UUA General Assembly in 2006, UUFES was named a Breakthrough Congregation. Membership in 2007 exceeds 100 and the congregation has just voted full-time status for Rev. Edes.
.
In October 2006
the UUFES Governing Board voted to begin the process of earning Green Sanctuary
status. An ad hoc committee to begin the process was formed in January 2007
with Tony Federer as Chair. At the UUFES Annual Meeting on May 20, 2007, the
congregation voted to amend the Bylaws to add a Green Sanctuary Committee as a
Standing Committee of the Fellowship. On July 19, 2007, the Board approved this
Application for Green Sanctuary Candidacy, including the following purposes of
the Green Sanctuary committee:
1) to build awareness of sustainability, environmental, and
ecojustice issues within the congregation and the community;
2) to encourage the Fellowship to utilize "green"
practices and products in its building and grounds;
3) to generate commitment to personal lifestyle changes that
reduce adverse impacts on the earth;
4) to develop ecospirituality in worship and religious education;
5) to lead the congregation in the process of gaining
accreditation as a Green Sanctuary.
This document
contains an Action Plan, a Communications Plan, and an Environmental Audit in
that order. The Environmental Audit shows the status and prior actions of UUFES
as of May 6, 2007. The Action Plan covers activities since then. This document
constitutes an application for candidacy as a Green Sanctuary for the Unitarian
Universalist Fellowship of the Eastern Slopes.
************************** ACTION PLAN **************************
PROJECT W1 - INCORPORATE SUSTAINABLE AND
EARTH-CENTERED PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICES INTO REGULAR WORSHIP
Leader: Mary Edes
Recruit members and Friends of UUFES to
form a Writers' group for the purpose of creating Earth-centered writings for
regular use on Sunday morning: chalice lightings, meditations, opening words,
songs, etc.
Timeline: September 2007 begin some green
focus on third Sunday of every month; November 2007 group formed; January 2007
group output used in services; Continuing indefinitely.
PROJECT W2 - PLAN AND CONDUCT FOUR GREEN
SUNDAY SERVICES PER YEAR
Leader: Ingrid Albee
UUFES conducts green services on a regular
basis. This May 27 we are dedicating a service in honor of Rachel Carson.
Another ecumenical Earth Day service is planned. The
religious education year will be kicked off with a service by Connie Barlow
presenting "The Great Story". In addition we do a yearly Water
Communion. The Green Sanctuary Committee will work with the Minister to arrange
outside speakers for at least 2 Sunday services a year on environmental and
ecojustice topics, including but not limited to the UU Service Committee. We
anticipate further integration of Green Sanctuary concepts into each worship
service as well as continuing entire services dedicated toward these
principles.
Timeline: May 2007 Sunday service on
Rachel Carson; Sept 2007 Sunday service on the Universe Story by Connie Barlow;
continuing indefinitely.
PROJECT R1 - ARRANGE ENVIRONMENTAL FIELD
TRIPS FOR ALL AGES
Leader: Joy Maidment
It is our intention to go outside with the
children at least once seasonally during the Religious Exploration hour to
experience our immediate environment and the seasonal changes to that
environment in order to foster a love of the outdoors and a sense of place.
Other trips and outdoor services will be designed for both children and adults.
Timeline:
Continuing indefinitely.
PROJECT R2- GREENING THE RE
CURRICULUM
Leader: Joy Maidment
The focus of our children’s' Religious
Exploration program for the coming year 2007/2008 will be twofold, we will be
learning about the Unitarian Universalist Principles and The Great Story. These choices reflect the desire to connect
who we are with were we came from. Our
Principles will be experienced through the SpiritPlay model with a special
emphasis not only on the Seventh Principle but also on the connectedness of
ourselves, our principles and our planet.
The Great Story will be experienced through various means including but
not limited to SpiritPlay, The Kids Book of Awesome Stuff, and The Great Story
web site.
Timeline:
September 2007 - June 2008
PROJECT R3 - ARRANGE STUDY GROUPS AND/OR
PUBLIC TALKS
Leader: Suzanne Federer
Work in conjunction with the RE Director
to arrange study groups for adults in the Fellowship, and to extend this
opportunity to others in the community, at least one study group in UUFES and
one in the community each year. Sponsor or Co-sponsor public talks on environmental/ecojustice
issues to be held at UUFES, at least one per year.
Timeline: Sept 2007 workshop on the
Universe story by Michael Dowd; Fall 2007 NWEI study group Healthy Children
Healthy Planet; Fall 2007 NWEI study group Sense of Place; April 2008 Food for
Thought potluck with speaker from Sustainable Harvest International; Continuing
indefinitely.
PROJECT J2 - DEVELOP UUFES AND ADJACENT
GROUNDS AS GREEN SPACE FOR VARIOUS PURPOSES
Leaders: Claes and Vikki Thelemark
This project will lead the whole
congregation in open discussion and planning of future uses for the “back yard” of the fellowship property.
The project will make recommendations to be approved by the Buildings and Grounds
Committee, the Board, and the congregation before any work begins. Some
possible uses include an area for meditation, a natural area for children to
play and learn in the outdoors, an organic garden and compost bins, plantings
of native species, a yurt for small meetings, and bird houses, as well as
expansion of our building and the parking lot.
Timeline: A plan will b developed over the
next few months with the goal of bringing it to a Fellowship vote at the Annual
Meeting in May 2008.
PROJECT J3 - SPONSOR TALKS, INDIVIDUAL,
AND COMMUNITY ACTION ON RESPONSIBLE INVESTING
Leaders: Martha Chandler and Ellen
Schwindt
We will seek to make current (limited) and
future UUFES investments socially-responsible. We will develop an email list of
members and friends interested in socially-responsible investing and will
arrange speakers and discussion groups both within the Fellowship and in the
community.
Timeline: December 2007 list of interested
people; Winter and Spring 2008 speakers and discussion groups.
PROJECT J4 - COOPERATE WITH AND SUPPORT
COMMUNITY EFFORTS
Leaders: John and Cathy Mersfelder
This project will seek out ways to
interact with the larger community. Several examples are already in the works.
UUFES will host the Tamworth farmers’ market this summer. We will help with
fundraising to purchase a conservation easement on the Birches Intervale Farm
in Wonalancet. UUFES already has members who are involved with Sustainable
Tamworth, which concentrates on locally-grown food, and other
environmentally-based community organizations: conservation commissions, land
trusts, and outdoor groups. Other possible organizations to cooperate with
include Tin Mountain Conservation Center in Albany and Global Awareness Local
Action in Wolfeboro.
Timeline: July 2008 special Sunday
collection for conservation easement on the Steele farm in Tamworth; Summer
2008 host Farmers Market in parking lot every Saturday; June 2008 develop at
least two more cooperative projects.
PROJECT S1 - UTILIZE GREEN PURCHASING AND
PRODUCTS THROUGHOUT THE FELLOWSHIP
Project Leader: Kim McCabe
The scope of this project will strive to
balance environmental and fiscal responsibilities in making green purchasing
decisions. We will purchase products with the highest percentage recycled
content available provided that the products meet acceptable use and
performance standards. In addition, UUFES will strive to purchase materials
that are:
· Durable, as opposed to single use or
disposable items
· Non-toxic or minimally toxic, preferably
biodegradable
· Highly energy-efficient
· Recyclable, but if not recyclable, may
be disposed of safely
· Made from raw materials that have been
obtained in an environmentally sound, sustainable manner
· Manufactured in an environmentally sound
manner
· Locally-produced
· Causing minimal or no environmental
damage during normal use or maintenance
· Shipped with minimal packaging
(consistent with care of the product), preferably made of recycled and or
recyclable materials.
Timeline: February 2008 develop purchasing
procedure in conjunction with other relevant committees/individuals; July 2008
procedures in place and evaluation; improvement in practices to continue
indefinitely.
PROJECT S2 - MINIMIZE ENERGY CONSUMPTION
IN THE FELLOWSHIP
Leader: Russ Maidment
The scope of this project is to identify
and implement ways to reduce energy consumption. All aspects of electricity usage, building heating and domestic
hot water consumption will be looked at.
Means of reduction will include the mundane (i.e. signs to shut off
lights) to capital improvements (i.e.
on demand domestic hot water system).
Comparisons of past usage will be charted against present usage.
Timeline: Completion by June 2008.
PROJECT S4 - CHALLENGE UUFES CONGREGANTS
TO MAKE INDIVIDUAL CHANGES AT HOME
Leader: Tony Federer
At least bi-monthly this project will
invite the congregation to focus on a single issue that hopefully will lead to
more permanent changes. Possible
issues/activities include but are not limited to sharing garden surpluses,
alternative gift-giving, Buy Nothing Day, book and magazine swaps, bulk
purchasing including coffee and light bulbs, carpooling to church, a mentoring
program, a monthly sustainability meeting, and production and sale of canvas
grocery bags with logo as a UUFES fundraiser. Encourage congregants to read the
leader’s web site at www.ecoshift.net.
Timeline: September 2007 first newsletter
column;. bi-monthly or monthly through June 2008 newsletter column and associated activities. January 2008 leader
to finish the ecoshift web site; June 2008
evaluation of whether to continue project.
PROJECT S5 - MAXIMIZE EFFICIENCY OF
BUILDING HEAT/COOLING PARAMETERS
Leader: Bill Lotz
The scope of this project will be to
identify and implement ways to retain
the heating and cooling systems of the Meetinghouse. A thorough and complete analysis of the
insulating qualities will be conducted. Insulation R-values, roofing materials pertaining to heat
reflection and use of passive solar heating as well as insulating shades are
some of the items to be investigated.
Timeline: September 2007 analysis and
recommendations completed. Timing of implementation will depend on approval and
funding priorities.
PROJECT S6 - DEVELOP PROCEDURES FOR REUSE
AND RECYCLING IN THE FELLOWSHIP
Leader: Margaret Rieser and
Dick Cary
Procedures for reuse and recycling need to
be developed, written, and overseen. Paper use will be reduced by changes in
the Order of Service, encouraging email distribution of Inclinations, and a
“backside” pile. Collection bins need to be placed for recycling of paper,
cans, glass, plastic, and cardboard, with someone responsible for processing
them.
Timeline: October 2007 completion of
procedures plan; February 2008 completion of implementation.
**************** COMMUNICATION PLAN ************************
Leader: Eleanor Jenkins
UUFES currently has seven methods for
communication:
Inclinations
– a monthly email and hard-copy newsletter
Friday
MailPouch – a weekly email newsletter
www.uufes.org - a web site
Order
of Service
Announcements during service
Flyers
distributed on several tables
Bulletin
boards both in the sanctuary and downstairs.
The Fellowship has a Communications
Committee that oversees these and suggests modifications. The Green Sanctuary
Committee will have a representative on the Communications Committee.
The Green Sanctuary Committee will submit
at least one item for each issue of Inclinations that is connected to one or
more projects. The Committee will find someone else to take over the non-UUFES
environmental information that editor David Emerson has been including in the
Friday MailPouch. The Committee will create and modify a Green Sanctuary page
on the web site, and will produce a “green” bulletin board.
These forms of communication with the
congregation will include information about the Green Sanctuary process and its
projects, about changing personal habits and life styles, and about local and
regional green events and issues. However, we must be careful not to overload
the congregation to the point where they tune out.
May 6, 2007
Tony Federer, Chair 603-356-6769
compassbrook@rcn.com
Ingrid Albee 603-323-7969 ingridjalbee@yahoo.com
John Chandler 603-524-3987 mwchandler@aol.com
Martha Chandler 603-524-3987 mwchandler@aol.com
Mary Edes 603-367-9420 revmge@mac.com
Suzanne Federer 603-356-6769 compassbrook@rcn.com
Diana Libby 603-539-3444 tibbettsfarm@aol.com
Bill Lotz 207-636-2625 lotz@gwi.net
Joy Maidment 207-935-7712 terrapin@fairpoint.net
Russ Maidment 207-935-7712 russpainting@fairpoint.net
Kim McCabe 603-447-1260 bahrdog@yahoo.com
Cathy Mersfelder 603-323-7793 cathy@mackhillfarm.org
John Mersfelder 603-323-7793 mhfarm@ncia.net
David Ludlow 603-323-8810 davidludlow@mindspring.com
Ellen Schwindt 603-447-2898 goshen@ncia.net
Dick Cary 603-569-4654 cary@worldpath.net
Debby Cary 603-569-4654
cary@worldpath.net
Claes Thelemark 603-323-3369 telemark@ncia.net
Vikki Thelemark 603-323-3369 telemark@ncia.net
Lyn Slanetz
603-367-4689 slanetzl@hotmail.com
The
building is used generally for Sunday Services, Tuesdays for innkeeper service
or choir practice and Wednesdays for MTM Seth Austin Group. Building used on
sporadic occasions otherwise.
Energy Consumption by Location
Sanctuary
Space
Nine light fixtures @ 3 bulbs each @
100 W each.
Pulpit 8 bulbs @ 100 W each
Double pane windows with blinds
Electric hot water heater - under
counter type
Ceiling well insulated, walls
unknown
Thermostats turned to 60 degrees
when space not in use
Stairway
Twenty one 16 W bulbs
Two 100 W bulbs
Double pane windows without shades
Insulation unknown
First
Floor
Four 60 W bulbs
2X4 fluorescent lighting in
Acoustical ceiling
Double pane glass with no window
treatments
Temperature kept at 68 degrees when
space not in use
Basement/Utilities
New boiler Buderas hot water propane
fired - 85% efficiency
Domestic hot water - tank type,
propane fired. 13 years old
One wall has R-11 insulation. Other
fieldstone walls have no insulation
Four 100 W bulbs. Main lighting is
fluorescent
Air exchange handler. Runs 35 hours
a week.
Exterior
Lighting
Four 75 W bulbs
Four 150 W flood light bulbs
Fluorescent lighting on fire exit.
Date Done Action
Comments
2005 Installed 85% propane hot water boiler
Procedures in place for turning off electricity for:
3/2007 Lights in sanctuary To OFF in service close-up
list
3/2007 Computers Always off
3/2007 Copier Energy
saver mode
Printer Always
on
3/2007 Coffee machines To OFF in service
close-up list
3/2007 Temperature
regulators on boiler
3/2007 Thermostat
settings to 60F when not in use In
opening and closing list
3/2007 Install
quilted thermal shades in sanctuary
3/2007 Preliminary
energy audit
Date Done Action
Comments
2005 Installed
aerators on faucets in all sinks
Date Done Action
Comments
2006 Mugs
and dishes instead of disposable cups/plates at coffee hour
3/2007 Use
of toilet tissue with 100% recycled content Seventh Generation
3/2007 Use
of cloth or recycled unbleached napkins Seventh Generation
3/2007 Use
of cloth or recycled unbleached paper towels Seventh Generation
UUFES
has been using traditional cleaning supplies purchased at a local supermarket.
Everyone
in the Fellowship has been purchasing supplies, without any centralized
purchasing process.
Landscaping
has not used any chemicals on the outside for over a year and will only use
environmentally ones in the future.
Date Done Action
Comments (on
second line)
2006 Use
fair trade, shade grown/organic coffee Equal Exchange
Use of phosphate-free, biodegradable:
3/2007 Dishwashing
detergent
Seventh Generation
3/2007 Handwashing soaps Liquid
Ivory
3/2007 Cleaning agents
vinegar and water
3/2007 Nontoxic fertilizers/pesticides/herbicides bark mulch, fish emulsion, citrus herbicide
Date Done Action
Comments
12/2006 Solstice and Winter Wheel services
12/2006
Sermon on Green Sanctuary
4/29/07 Service "The Case of Mother
earth versus World's People"
Date Done Action
Comments
4/2006 Family
hike to Big Rock Cave
9/23/06 Autumn
equinox stories and crafts
10/2006 Host
NH-VT District Meeting on The Great Story
2006 Wal-Mart
movie
2006 Arnie
Alpert on water
12/2006 Voluntary
Simplicity study group Northwest Earth Institute
1/2007 Sign at coffee hour that we are
using Fair Trade Coffee
4/28/07 Environmental Lecture Series Keith Bergman
and Dennis Vienneau - Climate Project
4/29/07 Service – “The Case of Mother
Earth vs. Worlds People”
5/6/07 Natural Treasure Hunt on
church grounds
1/25/07 Last
Child in the Woods book discussion
Spring 2007 Two
Deep Ecology study groups Northwest Earth Institute
Ongoing Green
bits in Friday MailPouch (email newsletter)
Web
Sites
Sustainable
Tamworth http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/Sustainable_Tamworth/
Focus: Tamworth http://www.focustamworth.org
Tin Mountain Conservation Center http://www.tinmtn.org
Global Awareness Local Action http://www.galacenter.org/
Northwest Earth Institute http://www.nwei.org
Granite Earth Institute http://www.graniteearth.org
Coop America http://www.coopamerica.org/
UU Ministry for earth http://uuministryforearth.org/
Ecoshift http://www.ecoshift.net
KEY
Ch=John and/or Martha Chandler
Fe= Suzanne and/or Tony Federer
Ma= Russ and/or Joy Maidment
EK= Mary Edes and Steve Kull
KM = Kim McCabe
Me = Cathy and John Mersfelder
Memberships in Local/State Environmental
Organizations
NH Audubon
Society Me, Fe, Ch,
Associated Buyers buying club Me, Ma
Coop America Fe
Appalachian Mountain Club Ch,
Ma, Fe, EK
Society for the Protection of NH Forests Me, Ch
Maine Audubon Society Ch,
Ma
Wonalancet Outdoor Club Me, Ch
Tin Mountain Conservation Center Me, Ch
Green Mountain Conservation Group Me, Ch
Lakes Region Conservation Trust Me, Ch
Granite State Voters Alliance Ch
Upper Saco Valley Land Trust Ch
Land Trust and Alliance Ch
Trust for Public Lands Ch
Wildlife Conservation Society Ch
Maine Organic Farmers GA Ma
Silver Lake Association of Madison EK
Tamworth Outing Club Me
Loon Center Me
Bearcamp Valley Garden Club Me
Tamworth Conservation Commission Me
Memberships in
National/International Environmental Organizations
Co-op
America Fe
Defenders of Wildlife Ch
World Wildlife Fund Ch
Forest Service Employees for Environmental Ethics Fe
Wildlands Project Fe
Population Communications International Fe
Negative Population Growth Fe
Sustainable Harvest International Fe
Nature Conservancy Me
Natural resources Defense Council Me
Periodicals
Resurgence Fe
AMC Outdoors Ch,
Fe, Ma, EK
Appalachia Ch
Forest Notes Me, Ch
The Nature Conservancy Journal Me, Ch
National
Geographic Ma
Ranger Rick Ma
Your Big Backyard Ma
Green Money Journal Fe
Synthesis/Regeneration Fe
On Earth Me
People, Places, and Plants Me
Retail
Catalogs
Real Goods Ma
Seventh Generation/Harmony Ma
Books
The Ascent of Man - J. Bronowski Me
Awakening Earth - Duane Elgin Fe
Better, Not Bigger - Eben Fodor Fe
Biological
Conservation - David W. Ehrenfeld Me
Born With a Bang - Morgan Fe
The Case Against Immigration - Roy Beck Fe
Clean House Clean Planet Ma
Deep Ecology for the Twenty-first Century – Sessions
et al. Fe
Desert Solitaire - Edward Abbey Me
The Dream of the Earth - Thomas Berry Fe
Earth Education: A New Beginning- Steve Van Matre Ma
Earth In the Balance: Ecology and the Human Spirit Fe
The Earth Path- Starhawk Ma
Earth Ponds Sourcebook - Tim Matson Me
Earth Prayers from Around the World - Roberts and
Amidon Fe
EarthScore – Donald Lotter Fe
The Edge of The
Sea - Rachel Carson Me
The End of Nature - Bill McKibben Me, Fe
Evolution in Action - Julian Huxley Me
50 Simple Things You Can Do To Save the Earth EK
Forest & Crag - Laura & Guy Waterman Me, Fe
From Lava to Life - Morgan Fe
The Great Turning - David Korten Fe
The Great Work - Thomas Berry Fe
The Greening of Faith – Carroll et al. Fe
Green Space Green Time - Connie Barlow EK,
Fe, Ma
The House We Live In - Blau & Rodenbeck Me
Human Heredity - Ashley Montagu Me
The Humanist Frame - Julian Huxley Me
Investing With Your Values - Brill et al. Fe
Ishmael - Daniel Quinn Fe,
Me
It's Easy Being Green: A Handbook for Earth Friendly Living KM
Keepers of the Night Ma
Keepers of the Animals Ma
Keepers of the Earth Ma
Last Child in the Woods Ma, Fe
Limits to Growth: The 30-Year Update – Meadows et
al. Fe
Living In The
Future - Isaac Asimov Me
Living The Good Life - Helen Nearing Me
Mammals Who Morph - Morgan Fe
Maybe One - Bill McKibben Fe
The Northern Forest - Dobbs & Ober Me
The Organic Cooks Bible KM
The Origin of Species - Charles Darwin Me, Fe
Our Ecological Footprint - Wackernagel and Rees Fe
Reading the
Forest Landscape - Tom Wessels Me, Fe
River Out Of Eden - Richard Dawkins Me
Sacred Spaces- Margaret Silf Ma
A Sand County Almanac - Aldo Leopold Fe, Me
Science & Survival - Barry Commoner Me
The Sea Around Us - Rachel Carson Me
Silent Spring – Rachel Carson Fe, EK, Me
Small is Beautiful - E.F. Schumacher Fe, Me
So Human An
Animal - Rene Dubois Me
So You Want to be an Environmentalist Ma
Spiral Dance- Starhawk Ma
The Strategy of Life - Clifford Grobstein Me
Thinking Like a Mountain – Seed et al. Fe
Times Arrow
& Evolution - Harold F. Blum Me
The Universe is a Green Dragon - Brian Swimme EK
The Universe Story - Brian Swimme and Thomas Berry EK, Fe
An Urchin in The Storm -Stephen J. Gould Me
Voluntary Simplicity - Duane Elgin Fe
Wilderness
& The American Mind - Roderick Nash Me
The Year of The Turtle - David M. Carroll Me
And many others, including field guides and biology
texts