Important Announcements

Meetings are currently held on the 4th Tuesday, 6pm, at the South Waco Library, 2737 S. 18th St., Waco, TX 76706. Meetings occur most months, but each should be confirmed by an announcement on this website This website can now be reached entering the following URL: www.friendsoftheclimate.org. Free "climate crisis is here" yard signs may be obtained by emailing anorthc@aol.com. To join our email list and be informed of meetings, events, and campaigns, please email Alan at anorthc@aol.com. Scroll down to "Sixth Annual Climate Crisis Art Show Winners."

Updates For 9/10/2020

VOLUNTEER NEEDED For STYROFOAM Collection, Sept. 13, 3 pm To 5 pm

This Sunday is our next styrofoam collection day.  The event is September 13, 1 to 5 pm,  in the parking lot at the corner of Valley Mills and Waco Drives, in front of Ocean Buffet.  At our last collection we totally filled the 26 foot UHaul truck and had to cease operation 1 hour and 15 minutes early.  Unfortunately, some donors who arrived later did not see our explanatory sign and were a bit upset/salty.  So this Sunday we plan to have a volunteer stay at the site if we must close early to offer an explanation and a date for the next event.  So we ask that this volunteer arrive at 3pm and stay until 5pm.  We really need this volunteer because our other volunteers will be unloading the styrofoam at the recycling location.  If you can fill this volunteer position, please email Alan Northcutt ASAP:  anorthc@aol.com.    Many thanks!


4th ANNUAL CLIMATE CRISIS ART EXHIBIT Will be VIRTUAL

For safety reasons, and in light of the fact that the Waco Winery will not reopen until 2021, we made the decision to have a virtual show this year.  But we can assure you the virtual gallery is beautiful:  it has multiple rooms, inside and window lighting, and a 3D effect of the art on the walls.  Thus, we strongly encourage all of our members who are professional or amateur artists or students to enter the show.  Now would be a great time to work in earnest on your creation.  Since the pandemic may put a dent in our entry numbers, we again request that all enter who would like to combat the climate crisis through their artistic skills.  We would like to receive all pieces by Sept. 29th.  If your entry or entries are complete, please email me to arrange a date to deliver your work to me to be photographed:  anorthc@aol.com.


SOLAR OPEN HOUSE PARTICIPANTS: TIME TO SUBMIT YOUR VIDEO

The Solar Tour Waco has about 4 submitted videos to date and the September 28th deadline is near. We encourage everyone with photovoltaic systems, large or small, rooftop or ground array, to do a short video to encourage others to install solar.  One estimate from the Green New Deal, that to reach 100% renewable energy in the U.S., we need about 70 million new installations, or about 57% of U.S. homes.  Thus anything we can do to encourage other to join the club is worthwhile.  Making a video is fun and pretty easy.  

Here is a link to the instructions:  https://www.nationalsolartour.org/host-an-open-house/.

Feel free to email Alan with any questions:   anorthc@aol.com



MANY THANKS FOR CITY BUDGET COMMENTS

From Alan Northcutt:

After extensive study we found the proposed 2020-2021 Waco City Budget made NO mention of renewable energy, solar panels, EVs, or energy audits. The introductory Goals section of the 375 page budget gave lip service to "Supporting Sustainability and Resiliency."  However, neither term was mentioned thereafter.  Thus we excoriated the proposed budget with an audible and multiple written comments, all heard during the session.  Of course, the City proceeded to vote YEA unanimously without even a word of discussion.  We may have gotten no response during the session, but I have no doubt the pressure we apply is important.  In fact, the following day, a high level administrator with the City emailed me to say that the City would have a sustainability oriented announcement at the Sept. 15 session.   So I am hopeful our effort will yield a small victory.  Win or lose now, thanks to you all for doing the right thing.  I am very proud of our members!


HELP NEEDED:  JOIN THE SEARCH FOR A NEW VENUE

We would love to move to a venue that does NOT display the Confederate flag in any part of the restaurant.  Of course we have searched previously, but we would like to enlist everyone and hopefully we can locate a great site before our live meetings are again safe.    The criteria are:  
  • large private meeting room
  • big screen TV
  • food service with adequate VEGAN options
  • open Monday evening with compatible hours
  • NO Confederate flag  
Please email Alan Northcutt if you locate such a venue.  And since this is so important for the group, especially in these times of environmental justice emphasis, we will offer a prize to the person who finds a site that we accept.  Thanks for your efforts.





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