Commission for a Greener Tomorrow
I went last night [on Monday] and sat in on the steering team meeting for the Commission for a Greener Tomorrow. This is a citizen led group that is focused on promoting sustainable living in central Wisconsin.
Last night was essentially an organizational meeting as the people gathered there to discuss how the group should be structured. As it stands there are nine committees (I’m now on the recycling and waste management committee). Each committee is focused on a different aspect of sustainability (water, transportation, education, etc.). Each committee will come up with it’s own goals and it seems that they will almost be a semi-autonomous group. When actions are to be taken then the entire group will come together to get things accomplished. At least that’s how it looks like it’s going to work to me (I was the new kid on the block and the group is really just getting started).
There was a lot of discussion at the meeting last night about the desire for this to be a regional organization not a Wausau organization. While mayor Tipple has bought into the vision of the group and has pledged Wausau’s help, the end goal is for each of the 6 municipalities in the metro area to have a representative on the steering committee. So if you live outside of Wausau’s borders I would encourage you to let your elected representative know that you want your city/village/town to support the commission.
I’m excited about the potential for this group to make a lasting and important contribution to the quality of life in central Wisconsin. Sustainability is about so many things, social, economic and environmental and living in such a way that we do not abuse the resources at our disposal ultimately makes life better for everyone.
Keep an eye on this group, and if you are interested in sustainable living (everyone really should be) then you might want to get involved. I found out last night that the commission is really an open group. You are definitely welcome to participate.
Dino Corvino said:
I cannot say this with more passion, but we here firmly believe that Wausau has a responsibility to develop strong environmental practices and standards. It is a stewardship opportunity for a small city to take true leadership, and to show itself as a progressive partner for the planet.
It is without question that a long term environmental plan for things such as recycling, alternative fuels, groundwater etc, is essential. It provides a city direction.
I, personally, feel that our city is in a position now to put requirement on developments within this city. To expect large scale landlords to have recycling plans in place, and to act on them. That large developments need to have environmental engineering plans be part of all public documents submitted for approval.
We are the northwoods, and we need to protect the Earth. Not in a new age way, but in a conservative way, of finding cheaper less impact-ful ways of doing things for the long run.
Thanks Kevin.
January 9th, 2008 at 10:29 am #
Kevin Rector said:
Dino, I agree. One of the reasons I wanted to get involved is that this organization has the potential to be the springboard from which effective sustainability solutions can be implemented in our community. I really would encourage everyone to get involved (oh I think I already said that in the post).
January 9th, 2008 at 11:34 am #
Barry Liss said:
Green grassroots organizing is the way. Dino, if you keep this up…people are going to ask YOU to run for mayor…
Barry
January 9th, 2008 at 12:07 pm #
Marcus Nelson said:
Sustainability.
When I think of efforts by the city to set ground rules for businesses, landlords and developers - we have to also address the long term sustainability of the efforts.
All too often, city-sponsored initiatives catalize interest in issues, but on-down-the-line it becomes ineffective as passion, distraction and enforcement finds other “battles to fight.” As such, long-term practices rarely work well in “top-down” Government or Business.
The great news about Wausau is that it’s already happening here. Not as a Civic-sponsored project (though we know of at least one City Council Member whose all for it), but by citizens. I’m excited to see this kind of progress happening - and, as Barry puts it, “grassroots organizing!”
How can we play a part? Is there a website with information & meeting times? If not, should we start a page here?
January 9th, 2008 at 12:49 pm #
Dino Corvino said:
Marcus,
The largest city in America manages to have a clear Green mandate. NYC has a building code that incorporates sustainablity.
Chicago also does as well. Actually going so far as to declare O’Hare to be a experiment, a progressive experiment in sustainability.
I do not understand your apparent hesitancy to embrace something like this. As your second paragraph clearly does.
January 9th, 2008 at 12:59 pm #
Dino Corvino said:
I think that as cities grow, that arguing over this is essentially like arguing about so many other things, posturing. Businesses will consistently take the tact that, WE DO NOT WANT REGULATION. Well sure they don’t.
But without regulation we end up with environmental problems like China, or Mexico City.
Businesses will always claim to not want regulation, but at the end of the day it seems that if they want to do business they will do business.
I think hearing that a city is embracing the future, with an eye on sustainability and clear guidelines and policies to support businesses who embrace them as well will lead to MORE COMPANIES coming to Wausau, and not less.
It is a short sighted reactionary, and dare I say old school republican idea, that industry should not be limited. For what we are talking about is not a limit in business practice, but rather a guideline in building practice.
These buildings affect all of us, and will be here long after us. It is important that we effectively build now, with the information that we have to ensure a safer tomorrow for children.
January 9th, 2008 at 1:05 pm #
Tom Neal said:
Marcus … you state: “long-term practices rarely work well in “top-down” Government or Business.”
I’d say that in my lifetime, I’ve seen incredible turnarounds that have been sustained. Lake Erie was dead; but a long-term effort has been sustained for decades and that lake is not dead today. The return of the bald eagle, river and stream pollution abatement, wildlife/fish-stock reintroduction, clean-air initiatives, tree planting, forest/timber management, public green spaces, national park system. Lots of things have happened and continue to be sustained. Naturally, there’s a ton more that needs to be done. But new government regulations are a must to do the large-scale things … trick is getting government to do the right thing. Public pressure can make that happen.
January 9th, 2008 at 2:17 pm #
Kevin Rector said:
Marcus, the communications committee is hard at work on a website which should be up very soon.
January 9th, 2008 at 4:41 pm #
Dino Corvino said:
Way to go Kevin.
When is the next meeting, I so totally want in.
January 9th, 2008 at 8:57 pm #
Kevin Rector said:
The next meeting that I know of is the steering team meeting Feb. 4th, probably around 5:30 but I’m not sure about the time exactly. I would hope the website would be live by then.
Kevin Korpela (forgive me if I spelled your last name wrong Kevin) is on the steering team and might be able to give you more definitive information on meeting times and places if you happen to know how to contact him. Jim Rosenberg is also involved as I understand it.
January 9th, 2008 at 11:33 pm #
Billie said:
Well said Dino, and thank you Kevin for the post and follow up.
I may be out of the metro area, but am in when it comes to sustainabile living on our part of the earth.
January 13th, 2008 at 2:35 pm #
Jim Rosenberg said:
There are a number of people outside of the City of Wausau who are working on the sustainability effort. While the city is the municipal government sponsor now, I think the future could well be toward a regional, collaborative effort that extends beyond Wausau. That will be up to the players. Michelle Ostrowski (Dist. 7) is a prime mover on this effort, but it is very much citizen-driven. It’s great to see the positive response from people so far and it’s obvious they’re not just there to TALK, but to produce tangible results going forward.
January 13th, 2008 at 7:51 pm #
Dino Corvino said:
So, in response to Billie…I will just say…I rule!
January 13th, 2008 at 9:37 pm #
Barry Liss said:
Did you folks see the new windmill design that was in the paper on Sunday? It seems like the first real change to the Dutch Windmill in the last several centuries. It’s amazing.
Barry
January 14th, 2008 at 7:33 am #
Tom Neal said:
That windmill … what an intuitive design. It almost looks like a kid’s science project made out of milk jugs, but so much more effective than the usual blade turbine, and safer for birds. He’s sunk his total worth into the project; I hope he gets solid backing to pursue this on a large scale.
January 14th, 2008 at 8:02 am #
Barry Liss said:
That dude will be a gazzillionaire!
January 14th, 2008 at 8:43 am #