As Local As Possible Meeting #2 Recap

We are an informal group of Northern Michigan citizens seeking to have more local impact and connectedness with our money.  We gather once a month for a potluck and to meet local entrepreneurs and learn about their projects.  During our meetings, we also share ideas for how we might keep more of our money locally and invested for triple-bottom-line returns (financial, social, and environmental). This is an experiment of sorts with exciting offshoot possibilities, including the spawning of a more formal local investing club.  For now, though, those interested in pursuing local investments with other group members or presenting entrepreneurs may do so independently of this ALAP group.  Our meetings are open to any individual, although we request that you RSVP so that we can assure sufficient meeting space.

A BIG thanks to all who played a part in our second monthly As Local As Possible (ALAP) meeting!  We took a first stab at our new format at Michigan Land Use Institute HQ (thank you MLUI!) with several fresh faces in attendance.  Our meeting kicked off with an opening hour of networking and potluck yumminess after which we heard presentations from two local entrepreneurs.

Up first was group member Bruce Odom of Odom Re-Use.  Bruce provided us with a snapshot of his successful reusable building materials business based in Grawn (www.odomreuse.com).  He described possibilities that he is framing for local investors interested in 1-year promissory notes where interest would be partially (or fully) payable in the regional currency Bay Bucks.   Those with an interest in learning more should contact Bruce directly (reusebruce@charter.net, 231 276-6330).

Following Bruce was Susan Shields of Good Harbor Farm.  Susan discussed a variety of ideas she is considering for her beautiful operation in the heart of the Sleep Bear Dunes National Park.  She is particularly excited about expanding a successful day camp there (www.explorerdaycamp.com) and is interested in bartering for legal work (501c3 formation), and other supplies that would allow her to serve a greater number of campers in 2012.   For those who would like to follow up with Susan, she can be reached at GoodHarborFarm@gmail.com or 231-866-1079.

During our final hour, the group decided that for our next meeting on January 12, we will revise our agenda to feature one “main event” entrepreneur-presenter preceded by a ten-minute window for folks interested in making a 2-3 minute “burst” pitch on a project or business idea they are working on.  The first hour will remain potluck/networking time with the third hour allotted for group discussion of the entrepreneur presentation and planning for the next meetings.  During this planning time we will prioritize the review and selection of future entrepreneur-speakers.   

A revised entrepreneur-presenter submission form is attached with the hope that anyone with a prospective presenter in mind can have the forms filled and submitted to Bruce or Zach for redistribution to the group.  The goal is that we will have several such submissions to review during our January meeting. 

Thanks again to MLUI, to Barb for moderating last night, to each of the potluck-chefs, to our entrepreneur presenters and to all who joined and have an interest in ALAP.  The momentum underway is terrific!

First connection introduced by ALAP between a lender and borrower

The first connection between a lender and borrower who were introduced at an ALAP potluck meeting has happened.
On December 8th ALAP meeting held at the Michigan Land Use Institute offices Odom RE-USE Co. requested one or more small loans, for one year, paying 5% interest quarterly.
The next day, one of the attendees to the meeting called me to express a desire to loan up to the maximum dollar amount we were seeking, and after some consideration, offered to take all their interest payments in Bay Bucks.
The dollar amounts are not large - 2 promissory notes of $5,000 each.  But the wheels are turning! And incorporating local currency into the deal makes it all the better.

BALLE Biz Conference Tix Selling Fast

The Business Alliance for Local Living Economies (BALLE) will hold its 2012 Balle Business Conference in Grand Rapids May 15-18.  Ticket prices are sliding up as they are sold and the current "block" is @ $400 (regular price will be $600). For those interested, check out this link.

Reminder: ALAP Potluck Thursday December 8

Reminder:  Our next potluck/networking meeting is Thursday, December 8 from 6-9pm at Michigan Land Use Institute Headquarters (MLUI) (148 E Front St).

Potluck starts at 6pm with Susan Shields (Good Harbor Farm) and Bruce Odom (Odom RE-USE) our guest speakers for the 7-8pm hour.  Our final hour will be group discussion time during which we will discuss the draft presenter submission form (to be filled out by a prospective business/individual/organization wishing to present to our club) and ideas for future presenters among other things.

Call Bruce (231 313 5224) or Zach (231 649 4511) with any questions.  See you Thursday!

As Local As Possible Meeting Recap

Bruce and Cathy Odom hosted a wonderful potluck and planning meeting for the refresh of As Local As Possible (ALAP).  Around a dozen of us discussed a new, community investing orientation for the ALAP group and shared a variety of ideas on how we can structure future meetings.  We agreed to keep things simple at this stage with a discussion and networking format that can be launched right away.  Many in the room seemed quite interested in eventually evolving into a true investment club (which involves a degree of legal and structural work), but for now our efforts will revolve around building a forum where local entrepreneurs and those interested in making local investments can meet and discuss local business projects.

So far, we agreed to stick with our general intro statement as follows: 

We are an informal group of Northern Michigan citizens seeking to have more local impact and connectedness with our money.  We gather once a month for a potluck and to meet local entrepreneurs and learn about their projects.  During our meetings, we also share ideas for how we might keep more of our money locally and invested for triple-bottom-line returns (financial, social, and environmental). This is an experiment of sorts with exciting offshoot possibilities, including the spawning of a more formal local investing club.  For now, though, those interested in pursuing local investments with other group members or presenting entrepreneurs may do so independently of this ALAP group.  Our meetings are open to any individual, although we request that you RSVP so that we can assure sufficient meeting space.

We also agreed to try a once a month meeting frequency, with our next three hour session slated for Thursday, December 8.  The structure for this meeting will be along the lines of:

6:00-7:00 Potluck and Social Time

7:00-7:30 Invited Entrepreneur #1 Discussion Time (Short presentation plus Q&A period)

7:30-8:00 Invited Entrepreneur #2 Discussion Time (Short presentation plus Q&A period)

8:00-9:00 Group Business (Selection of next meetings speakers, format changes, feedback for presenting entrepreneurs, etc)

To-Do’s

Cathy is checking out possible venues for the Dec 8 meeting.  Possibilities mentioned include The Good Work Collective, MLUI HQ, and the GT Commons meeting room. 

Zach and Bruce will create a short “Investing Opportunity” submission form that group members can use with prospective entrepreneurs who would like to speak to our group. 

All are encouraged to introduce the group to friends who have an interest in community investing and to also help find sustainability-focused entrepreneurs seeking alternative, community funding sources.  Interests among group members tonight were broad including areas such as local sustainable farming/food, alternative energy, healthcare, eco-tourism, clean transportation, green building, and education.

For those seeking more information about community investing in general and a group like ours that has formed in Washington, see the following links:

http://www.l2020.org/index.php?page=investing-opportunities

http://www.slowmoney.org/

http://www.livingeconomies.org/node/616

This promises to be an exciting new adventure!  Thanks to all who attended and especially to Bruce and Cathy for welcoming us into their home!

ALAP Meets Tomorrow (11/17)!

Looking forward to seeing you tomorrow 11/17 for the restart of As Local As Possible

Time:  Potluck from 6pm, Meeting 7-8:30 pm

Place: The Odom Residence (Bruce and Cathy), 3838 Manchester (English Woods Sub-division)

Directions from Downtown Traverse City :

East on US 31 to Holiday Hills Rd. (East Bay township)
right on Holiday 1/2 mile to Five Mile Rd.
right on Five Mile Rd., approx. 2.5 miles to Prouty Rd.(hanging
street light over intersection)
left on Prouty 1 mile to English Woods
left on English Woods 1 block to Manchester
left on Manchester 5th house, on the left.

Questions:  Bruce Odom @ 231-922-9952, Zach Liggett @ 231-649-4511

Meeting Agenda:

6-7:00 Chow time/social time

7-7:10 Quick around the room intros

7:10-7:30  Intro to the general concept of the ALAP money group

Draft Intro Statement:  We are an informal group of Northern Michigan citizens seeking to have more local impact and connectedness with our money.  We gather once a month for a potluck and to meet local entrepreneurs and learn about their projects.  During our meetings, we also share ideas for how we might keep more of our money locally and invested for triple-bottom-line returns (financial, social, and environmental). This is an experiment of sorts with exciting offshoot possibilities, including the spawning of a more formal local investing club.  For now, though, those interested in pursuing local investments with other group members or presenting entrepreneurs may do so independently of this ALAP group.  Our meetings are open to any individual, although we request that you RSVP so that we can assure sufficient meeting space.

7:30-7:45  Discuss types of investment projects interested in (for example, organic ag/food, alt energy, education, generally anything local, health care,etc)

7:45-  Discuss frequency/meeting space/communication/ground rules/etc

Some questions to consider for the meeting:

1)      What types of projects are you interested in investing in or learning more about?

2)       Do you know of a venue that could accommodate a group of this sort going forward (preferably food and drink-friendly)?

3)      What type of ground rules do you believe would be important to a group like this?

4)       Here is a possible structure for future meetings.  What do you think?

Future Meeting Structure:

6-6:30 Potluck/social time

6:30-6:45 Quick introductions of new faces

6:45-7:15 Group sharing time of various ALAP topics (events, possible guest speakers, etc)

7:15-8:00 Invited entrepreneur presentation/Q&A time

Legalizing Local Investment

Picked up this post from Michael Shuman @ energybulletin.net where he points out another 99% that could use some attention:  the 99% of Americans essentially prohibited from investing locally. Shuman points out that the House recently passed HR 2930 which promises to liberalize things a bit for the crowd-funding set and shares some links for those interested in showing support for the pending legislation.  From Shuman:

If we could overhaul securities laws that we enacted during the early Jurassic Period, local businesses could be fabulous investments. They are the most important job producers in the economy. They account for more than half of private sector jobs. They are increasingly competitive—so much so that their their share of the national workforce actually growing. Stunningly, sole proprietorships are three times as profitable as C-corporations. 

For the first time in decades, reform is finally possible. A remarkable coalition has emerged bringing together leaders of the Tea Party and the Obama Administration. They agree that investment apartheid should be abolished. Republican Representative Patrick McHenry of North Carolina is leading the charge in the House to legalize small businesses raising money through large numbers of small investments (aka “crowdfunding”), with minimal paperwork, for companies raising less than $1 million. Recent changes in his bill (HR 2930, The Entrepreneur Access to Capital Act) actually make it very similar to reforms President Obama proposed in his jobs package in September. 

On November 3, HR 2930 passed the House with overwhelming support (407-17). But passage of crowdfunding legislation is still uncertain. Senate Republicans may be afraid to support anything that Obama has proposed as part of his jobs package. And many Democrats are defending the status quo, because they are understandably afraid of deregulating the financial industry. What Dems don’t appreciate, however, is that the key to Wall Street reform is to ratchet up regulation at the top and loosen things a bit for the 99% at the bottom. 

The Occupy Wall Street protestors could make a critical difference here. They – and we – should occupy Congress until they legalize local investment. Once that occurs, we’ll see thousands of small companies owned by their customers. We’ll see the emergence of local stock exchanges that will provide investors with liquidity. We’ll see mutual funds with local securities (none exist today), and local pension funds.

Check Out The 3/50 Project

Recently came across this project: http://www.the350project.net/home.html

They also have their own LookLocal app:
http://www.the350project.net/iphone_look_local_home.html

Reminded me of MLUI's Spend 10. From the 3/50 project site:

3: What three independently owned business world you miss if they
disappeared? Stop in. Say hello. Pick up something that brings a smile. Your
purchases are what keeps those businesses around.

50: If half the employed population spent $50 each month in locally owned
independent businesses, it would generate more than $42.6 billion in revenue.
Imagine the positive impact if 3/4 the employed population did that.

68: For every $100 spent in locally owned independent stores, $68 returns to
the community through taxes, payroll, and other expenditures. If you spend that
in a national chain, only $43 stays here. Spend it online and nothing comes home.

1: The number of people it takes to start the trend... you.
Pick 3. Spend 50. Save your local economy.

Bioneers update

A workshop held at Great Lakes Bioneers summarized the accomplishments of our group for the past year.  We also outlined how other investing platforms now available work, in particular small club type groups like "No Small Potatoes" of Maine and "LION", a project of L2020 of Washington state.

The business directory is a great future project, but for now it is of interest to get rolling with bringing our money closer to home.

We are ready to connect investors that have a small amount of money to lend, any amount, with businesses needing  from $1,000 up to $5,000.  We do not intend to provide any investment recommendations or advice of any type to prospective investors - we just want to introduce people.

No investing is planned on during this meeting, just discussion and hearing business plans and ideas. You could certainly connect with a business you meet afterwards on you own.

We intend to work out details of how our networking group operates, and wether we all feel a need to have a legal entity immediately or not. We could, as suggested at the workshop, just be a group of people that meet - a club. Eventually it is likely we will form either an LLC, or a version of LLC with Co-op like features.

Opportunity will be available for a few businesses to describe their projects. Please contact aslocalaspossible@gmail.com  if you would like to do this so we are not overwhelmed.

Next meeting is at home of Bruce and Cathy Odom 3838 Manchester, English Woods Sub-division:
     Thursday Nov 17th
      Potluck 6:00
      Meeting 7:00 - 8:30 
                        Directions from Downtown Traverse City :

                        East on US 31 to Holiday Hills Rd. (East Bay township)
                         right on Holiday 1/2 mile to Five Mile Rd.
                         right on Five Mile Rd., approx. 2.5 miles to Prouty Rd.(hanging
                          street light over intersection)
                         left on Prouty 1 mile to English Woods
                         left on English Woods 1 block to Manchester
                         left on Manchester 5th house, on the left.
                                             call 922-9952 for directions

Criteria being defined for "local business"

Shauna Fite,  Andy Gale, Rolf VonWalthausen and I met to par down the definition of "local business" recently at MLUI's Traverse City offices.  Parallel metrics of green and local are being used to come up with a description that fills the bill.

The localness could be measured partly  in % of raw materials procured within a given range,  300 miles is the suggestion. Also what % of employees live within that range, what % of services used by the business are in that range, and what % of business is owned by a resident with 10 county area - a stricter requirement for ownership.  You can be considered local if you make the minimum percentages, probably 51%, still being discussed.  There are different levels of localness, so to include, not exclude prospective colleagues.  Listing local merchants adjacent to their competitors who are scoring a higher local mark may provide incentive to review their practices.  It was noted that twice in the past month small local businesses have paid to be listed in a business directory published by the local paper.  There is indeed a demand for marketing local companies compiled in a directory, distinct from the phone book.  Something that "stands out" as more unique.

the Green factor has a broader range of metrics: Full spectrum of recycling, reduction/reuse of packaging, water conservation, energy conservation and steps being implemented to enhance these issues, non-toxic, low toxic contents in product, having a program in place to promote walking, biking, bus, or carpooling to work, etc.

I have noticed this blog is being viewed in 9 different countries, in particular many times in Germany, England and Russia.  It would be most interesting to hear where they may be on the local discussion.

Next meeting May 4th     5:30 to 7:00 pm      at MLUI offices on Front St. in Traverse City.

Who issues your credit cards..... Chase and the other GIANTS, or a local bank?

This article from the Huffington Post from over a year ago outlines the effect of non-local financial institutions controlling your credit card fees.  It's a quick read, check it out.

http://www.newrules.org/banking/article/move-your-borrowing-along-your-money

A well kept secret :  merchants, not the credit card company, pay for the points on cards that reward you for using them.  Merchants eventually add this cost onto their products, so you end up paying for those points yourself, spread out with the other shoppers who may be using cash or check.

Stranger yet, merchants are charged a fee, in a small business around 2.25%, for accessing YOUR cash in your checking account whenever you use a debit card. Certainly it is a conveniece, but at a cost, again added to the cost of the product over time.

On top of that, some cards, called "non-qualified" by the merchant services providers - the folks who provide the service to businesses, come with a hefty $1.49 swipe fee on top of their other fees for any size purchase, even as small as a dollar item.  So when this happens the small business could be paying the credit card company over $1.50 to sell a $1 item. How many points does that get you with your favorite merchant?  

Directory of Local Business has a big supporter!

NW Mich Council of governments has given initial indication they will discuss the idea and lend staff time to creating a directory of local owned/operated business in our region, and possibly take on as an in house project.  This, coupled with the recent news that TCLP would like to hear from ratepayers if they would like to spend Baybucks in paying their light bill, gives tangible momentum to focus on localism.

What are your thoughts?


Steering committee meets this Tues, March 1st at 6:00 p.m. at the second flr. conf. room at the building 50 annex at the Commons-(above Cuppa Joe's)
Please comment below if you are interested in attending, with your contact information, in the event of any last minute venue change - like if we all want to get dinner out, for example.

An accounting for the "cost of nature consumed"

The steering committee for As Local As Possible group met this evening and made the first attempt as a group to define a mission.  I offered a draft mission statement as folllows:

"Advocacy for and awareness building of the power of local owned businesses. These businesses create the most jobs, help to build a resilient community, and provide a model of commerce which accounts for the cost of nature consumed in the process.
Promote spending and investing as locally as possible to further this mission"

Although this did not satisfy everyone's view, there was quite a bit of support for a Green Directory modeled after the Green Pages online. A tangible goal of mine is a directory of local owned and operated business, whether it be printed or online or both.

Bay Bucks collaboration was again mentioned, and the offer from TCLP to consider accepting Bay Bucks in payment of your light bill was an opportunity to build upon.  Charlie Wunsch agreed to pen a letter offering just such support which could be posted on social media - thanks Charlie.

Janice Benson commented that education wove together with advocacy, and is a very slow process in the case of Taste a Local Difference - how even after 8 years and a successful outcome some people don't quite get the mission of TLD.  She also suggested that the Chamber of Commerce should be encouraged to work together with us on this.  I assured her their continued participation would be most welcomed, as Tino Breithapt from the Chamber attended the workshop back in October.

Zack Liggett made a suggestion for a networking group that would draw together all similar mission organizations as a type of coalition, combining a speaker program and socializing time with those working on similar issues.  Getting an opportunity to hear what others are doing, and hear the back story could be interesting and inspiring, as well as seek advice from specialists on a range of topics.
 
Conversation followed that pointed out the limitation of "local" and advocated for a more "triple bottom line" value basis, collectively considering the societal, economic and environmental impact.

Inserting the word "sustainable" next to local could be easily done.

This is hard stuff to do, and apparently limitless in the scope - as was evident in the meeting.  Participants were invited to write up their interests in the way of a Mission Statement before the next meeting.

The steering committee next meets March 1st from 1:00 to 2:30 again at the Commons conference room second floor of the annex above Cuppa Joe's restaurant.  Please feel free to join us, and if this will be your first meeting- let us know if you will be joining us on that date by commenting below, or emailing to  aslocalaspossible@gmail.com

Light & Power considers Bay Bucks

Traverse City Light & Power needs to hear from its rate payers if you want to see Bay Bucks taken in payment for electricity.  If you are a customer of TCLP, just put a note in with your next power bill payment expressing your interest in Bay Bucks being accepted at Light and Power.  No promises are made by the utility, and one would expect only a portion of your bill could be paid with BB, but the potential here is nevertheless fantastic.

Tell your neighbor. Build local economy resilience with your power bill payment ! Jot off a quick letter to the editor, he would love some mail. Spread the word.

If Light and Power takes BB, they could partially pay willing employees with them, who in turn would spend them at neighborhood shops and for local services, food etc.  This would be just the jump start Bay Bucks needs.

How does resilience tie into As Local As Possible?

I am coming fresh from a taping of an Up North TV program* with host Dave Barrons, and drawing together the threads of connection between issues, thinking of what I should have said - as one is apt to do at the end of very good conversations.  Dave has hosted over 40 shows  focusing on personal and community resilience in the face of future shifts in our culture as our world matures into its next phase of development.  He was asking how local economy ties into resilience.  Resilient here meaning being able to withstand many fold increases in energy costs, or going without things that come from very far away due to transportation costs, or even how to stay warm and fed when energy and food are a bit harder to come by.

What I wished I'd talked about was one proposal from Zach Liggett of Goldeneye Asset Management to invest pooled money of several investors into a project he has called Real Impact, transforming a neglected piece of farmland into a productive organic market garden/farm.  This would provide a precious opportunity to young enthusiastic farmers ready to dive into just such a challenge.  Here is just one example of how a main goal of As Local As Possible -  invest locally  - ties back into being just a little better able to fed ourselves with healthful non-genetically modified food. Ties back into job creation, and nurturing or enabling the next generation of farmers.  Ties back into community resilience, by fostering a sense of belonging to a place when you know where your food comes from, who grew it, and what was on the land prior to this happening, etc. etc.  The ties ins are everywhere.
*http://ir.nrec.org/node

Michigan Green Consortium and Clean Up Green Up fever.

The Michigan Green Consortium is a good sized group (40?) businesses and non-profits that was formed about 2 years ago with a goal of attracting green businesses and promoting green practices.  I am a proud member, and have participated in the last 2 Clean Up Green Up's - their signature event-  held at the Farmers Market parking lot in T.C.  This is a hectic and extremely popular event, held on Spring equinox (observed by MGC Sunday, March 13th this year) and Fall equinox.  They way to remember the event is the day when you reset your clocks, always on a Sunday, semi-annually.

There is considerable common interest in these two groups, yet a distinction in where the criteria is drawn for what businesses they want to attract.  They are embracing Home Depot and Best Buy for example, and that would be ruled out with Local anything.

Nevertheless, I encourage you to become acquainted with their (our) work.     http://www.cleanupgreenup.com/

There were 800 vehicles that came thru the line last fall, and people were excited, gracious and mostly proud to be recycling their 75 year old washing machines or their old t.v.'s (Best Buy took them - they were still loading up 2 hrs. after the event ended).
 I brought back a beauticians chair, doors, lights, etc. The business next to me, Evergreen Bottle Company, accepted a variety of used wine and select other bottles.  Bay Area Recycling was a hero with their accepting Styrofoam packing materials and thousands of plastic plant pots, well -  plastic everything really.

The intersection of green living practices/local owned operated business/local money is not on many maps.  All of the pieces are here.  Can we figure out how to put them together, and have as much fun doing it as the seniors going thru the line last November with their ancient appliances, their carefully folded scraps of plastic sheeting they have had under the staircase for 12 years - just in case?  Some people were giddy with joy over the fact we were taking their stuff.  I just hope it was happiness, not laughing AT us for being crazy enough to take it.  There is a lot to say in admiration for Best Buy taking the TVs, and Home Depot taking the light bulbs and tool batteries.
How to weave together an identity of a new group, and yet not ignore the good that is going on now, already.  That will be a big challenge.  MGC should be in on this.

Jan 14th notes cont'd - setting the bar high - a directory....

This is the second half of the Jan. 14th meeting notes, see below for first half.

"Setting the bar high" for defining what businesses we want to promote was one suggestion that stood out from several folks in the evening.  The over use of the word "local" renders it diluted, a weak standard.  By defining the criteria for all that could be encompassed in a local campaign, a local philosophy, we have a rare opportunity to pull together a lot of otherwise disparate issues under one tent.

If we as a group want to truly stand out and compete for attention, we could hammer out a definition of our values that are roused by the combination of eating local food, circulating local script, practicing lifestyles with respect for our own health, and our fellow man, and in turn our home Earth.  Or as Bill McKibben now spells it: Eaarth.  He maintains it is no longer the same place, so it needs a new moniker.  Should local become Locaal?

A tangible goal: directory of businesses.  If we take the time to make a directory of local business, we could incorporate all local owned and operated business with the autonomy to make their decisions on how they staff, supply, fund, insure, advertise and manage their business, PLUS we can put a spotlight on a business that constantly pushes the barriers of what can be done to create a cleaner world to leave to our grandchildren, like Bay Area Recycling.  Or a business that creates new opportunities for more to grow and sell organic food, like Oryana and Food for Thought.

This should be done in a manner that encourages more joined efforts from our colleagues as opposed to being superior about it.  I am far from a purist, but I like idealism.

6 people of the 15 present agreed to be on a steering committee to, I anticipate, write a mission statement and perhaps take a first stab at defining the criteria of what we mean by local  - .  reporting this back to the full group in a month.  Andy Gale suggested, and I concur, that waiting a month for the steering committee to first meet would be too long, two weeks might be good. Those six are Andy, Zach Liggett, Charie Wunsch/ Barb Folan, Jeremy Truog, Chelsea Bay Wills and myself.

This concluded the business promotion half of meeting.

Zach Ligget of Goldeneye Asset Management next laid out some seed ideas for local investment.  In a nutshell, there are numerous scenarios with a few common ingredients:
1.  Collective or co-operative decision making by investors, all participate to some degree in decisions.
2.  Investments per person in the $10,000 to $20,000 range. (more on how to include lesser investors later)
3.  Buy real estate outright, (avoid interest expenses), with or without improvements, that are at distressed prices. Make a smart buy.  Have enough investors at start to pay for the remodel of any improvements.
4.  Plan on leaving your money invested "slowly", in the range of 8 to 12 years.
5.  Reinvigorate the asset into the best, greenest, energy efficient, sustainable property we can.
6.  Provide opportunity to involve the young, under banked to lease to own it.  Use lease income for maintenance and taxes.  Use local businesses that already practice these values in the design, remodeling, etc.
7.  Sell asset with goal of making a return equaling 6 to 9% per year. Repeat with a new project.

more tomorrow

Notes meeting Jan 14th

 The first follow up meeting of  group since October workshop was recently held at the Commons conference room in the annex of Building 50.  15 people attended, including a few first timers.

To summarize quickly, 6 good ideas were put forward in an interest to promote locally owned/operated business in our area.  I will bullet list these, then give more detailed desciptions below that:

1. Pledge $10 week to buy local
2. Wear a wrist band (Big Rapids) showing support for local - receive a discount 
3. Integrate with Grand Vision website- map of where to buy local
4. Guidebook list/how to guide of local business/how to live "green, sustainable..."
5. Game of puzzle pieces collected at local business- play to win a reward for shopping local
6. Earn a sticker to show support for local- put on your window or car bumper- desire to belong

  After a potluck dinner, we reviewed the progress made by Bay Bucks Currency - over $19,000 in circulation since 2005 - where Bay Bucks recently approached Traverse City Light and Power to accept this beautiful alternative script in payment of electric bills.  TCLP said they would consider written requests from customers to accept Bay Bucks. Where a specific number of requests was not stated, this nevertheless seems like very good news, a goal for us to work toward, and leverage with a key player in our economy.

It was recently written in a letter to the editor, and I won't quote the dollar amount as I have not verified the data, that TCLP is sitting on large amounts of cash reserves.  If this is close to accurate, they could well afford to transact in a new currency, without fear of where they have to immediately spend it, since they could save it just as they save federal dollars.  In the meantime, more businesses will be enticed to accept it if they can in turn immediately  spend it when paying their power bill.

Well done Nancy Belton, Mo Charbonneau and the Bay bucks crew!  Lets spread the word to TCLP ratepayers, write a letter to the editor, ask around at work - post a notice, here is a chance to get some local spending power momentum.  Be on the lookout for Bay Bucks directory update, probably online, listing where else you may acquire/spend Bay Bucks, in addition to Oryana Natural Food Market, Bay Area Recycling Services, Edible Grand Traverse Magazine, Pleasanton Bakery, and Odom Reusable Building Materials. Dear reader: if you accept them and I missed you, please comment below. (baybucks.org)

The Taste a Local Difference program by Michigan Land Use Institute is celebrating its 8th anniversary promoting local farms, vineyards, cider and beer makers and restaurants in a 10 county area including 250 providers.  Program manager for TLD, Janice Belton reported a recent survey indicates 85% of farms and others listed in TLD have seen an increase in business since its inception.

Not resting on their laurels, TLD recently launched a campaign asking individuals to pledge spending $10 on local food and drink.  Janice generously offered to list locally owned and operated  businesses in the back of the directory once "local" was defined in a careful manner. More very good news for localists!  Well done Janice and MLUI.

The NW Mich. Sustainable Business Forum, run by Patty O'Donnell of the NWMich, Council of Gov'ts. has been in existence for a number of years.  The forum is modeled after others in the state, and conducts educational workshops on sustainable business practices - waste reduction, green practices for the hospitality industry, energy forums, and green business practices overall.  This program covers a 10 county area also.  Patty offered to conduct follow up meetings in half day workshops if we would like.

.....Meeting notes to be continued tomorrow.