· Green Sanctuary topic introduced November 2001

· Green Sanctuary Subcommittee formed Spring 2002

· Green Corner started in newsletter Spring 2002 (March?)

· Fair Trade booth at Earth Day Expo at Midland Mall Spring 2002

· Energy Audit conducted Spring 2002

· Initiated networking with Environmental Education Association (EEA), Chippewa Nature Center, and the Midland Volunteers for Recycling (Recycling Center) 2002

· Social Justice committee recommended candidacy Annual Meeting 2002

· Congregation voted unanimously for candidacy Annual Meeting 2002

· Letter seeking candidacy submitted January 2003

· Candidacy recognized Spring 2003

· Update on status presented Annual Meeting 2003

· Green Scout program initiated Nov 2003

· Social Justice Committee moved to submit for accreditation and recommend "Yes" vote.

· Vote to occur Annual Meeting 2004

ENERGY AUDIT (Date: 2002)

An energy audit was conducted in 2002 Three main changes came out of this audit: #1 The replacement of an old furnace with a newer, more efficient furnace, #2 The re-sealing or replacement of windows and siding, and #3 The replacement of all lightbulbs with fluorescent bulbs. These changes have been made. Increased efforts to turn off lights, computers, printers, and other equipment when not in use have also been made.

PROGRAMMING:

Sunday services: We committed to having at least two environment related services each year, and to incorporate environmental themes into our programs. In practice, this has proven the easiest goal to achieve, since we exceed it without even trying. The following is a list of programs which either have environment-related topics or have links to nature-based spirituality or themes: TBA

Hot Topic Discussions: Each Sunday an hour before the service we hold a discussion group on various topics. We have included environmental topics in the mix. The following are some examples: TBA

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION:

Adult programs: Voluntary Simplicity 2001; Deep Ecology 2003; Self-led video programs added to the library 2004 (Affluenza, etc)

Children’s programs: Stories and activities with an environmental theme; Green Resolutions project (poster with the children’s resolutions listed on them, posted in sanctuary for additions by adults); commitment by DRE to include lesson plans around environmentalism. Youth Group: Adopt-A-Highway program.

INFORMATIONAL EFFORTS:

Newsletter: We have included a "Green Corner" in monthly newsletter since March 2002

Green Scout: This project was started in November 2003 in response to some members indicating they really did not know much about what "Green Sanctuary" was or what we were doing in regard to this program. The Green Scout has a monthly theme chosen by various members recruited from the general congregation. We had a large, distinctive green hat for the scout to wear (optional), and a different theme each month. The themes have ranged from information on the Green Sanctuary program to what to feed wildlife to the Global Warming Study/Action proposal. As a special feature of the Green Scout program, one month the Girl Scout Troop volunteered to be the Green Scout. As their Green Scout effort, they installed recycling bins for use by the RE classrooms and kitchen.

ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE:

· Networking: UUFOM has networked with Environmental Education Alliance (EEA), Chippewa Nature Center, and Recycling Center for projects over the course of the last two years.

Projects taken on with UUFOM involvement:

Hazardous Waste Collection Days

River Clean-ups

Recycling efforts, locally and within fellowship

Outcome of yearlong involvement:

EEA itself has disbanded, but several members have committed to expanding on an Energy Expo event from 2004 to make it an even broader Earth Day event in 2005 (Chippewa Nature Center, UUFOM, League of Women Voters).

UUFOM will continue involvement with recycling projects through the Recycling Center. Jean Treadway will be serving on their board and will act as UUFOM’s contact.

· Fair Trade products: In 2002, Fair Trade Coffee was voted by acclamation for use during coffee hour. Fair trade chocolate, soup beans, and other products have been made available since. (both a socio-justice and environmental-justice benefit).

· Additional work: In May-June, 2004 the committee held a congregational vote on the continuation, modification or addition of an Environmental Justice Issue. Recycling & Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs) tied. Committee decision was to continue recycling efforts within church and to pursue further involvement in the local community through our involvement with the Recycling Center. Educational efforts should be taken in regard to CAFOs with the possibility of action in the future.

DAY-TO-DAY GREEN FELLOWSHIP ACTIVITIES:

· Energy Audit (see above).

· Recycling at the church: paper products, cardboard, etc. Bins have been placed in the coat room, office, and now the Children’s RE rooms.

· Kitchen: Use of washable dishes where possible through coordination with the kitchen committee, recycled and recyclable materials when not possible.

· Adopt-A-Highway: Youth Group (See section on Children’s RE)

· Inkbank project: We are encourage recycling of ink cartridges through the Inkbank project.

· Future: Landscaping changes that are environmental friendly (on-going and under development): Examples: planting of a tree screen to eventually replace the fence at the end of the parking lot; memorial garden (as opposed to a non-living memorial); etc.

Back to UUFOM Green Sanctuary Page

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