06-2SG Global Awareness Local Action
Grant Round:
2006 September
Grant Program:
Small Grants
Grant Type:
Other Grants
Grant amount requested:
2,500.00
Grant amount awarded:
$1,500.00
Please provide a brief description of the project for which you seek funding.
Chairperson of the Wolfeboro Planning Board, David Booth, has asked G.A.L.A. Center to conduct a Wolfeboro Sustainability Assessment in order to integrate sustainability into each chapter of the Wolfeboro Master Plan. The G.A.L.A. Center will present the Board with a detailed proposal of the Sustainability Assessment prior to March of 2007, when the review period of the Master Plan is closed. The proposal will outline the purpose of the assessment, the methodology, a list of cross-regional partners, a sustainability index with appropriate goals, and a plan of implementation with a timeline for achieving those goals. Although the number of people committed to G.A.L.A. has grown from eight people to thirty people, we recognize the gravity of this project and will need considerable community support to conduct a successful Sustainability Assessment. Therefore, the first phase of this project will be our own capacity building and community outreach. The second phase of this project will be developing a sustainability index. This phase demands a lot of research and town involvement. By including all members of the community to participate, we will determine the current index score as compared to other towns with similar demographics and environment. We will establish the most appropriate sustainability audit for a home/land-owner, a show-owner, and other community facilities such as churches and schools. We will review the audits and consequently determine the goals for increasing sustainability (i.e. decreasing greenhouse gas emissions, waste accumulation, resource consumption, etc.). This sustainability index phase will include the creation of a timeline to meet our goals. The third phase of this project will be developing a plan of action towards achieving the goals laid out by the sustainability index. This phase will develop according to our capacity building, research and audit results. Regardless, this phase will be multifaceted and include continued education and outreach within the community and beyond, lobbying for town resolutions that encourage sustainability development, and developing resource/service-sharing mechanisms that help bring community together and reduce overall consumption.
Project Summary
G.A.L.A. received a grant in 2006 to conduct a Sustainability Assessment of Wolfeboro. The chapters of the Wolfeboro Master Plan - Land/Resource Use, Community Facilities, Downtown, Infrastructure, Milfoil, Recreation, Economic Base, Housing, Impact Fees, Population - serve as the guidelines for the Sustainability Assessment. The three phases of this project include: a) education on "sustainability" in the community with regional success stories and best practices; b) creation of a "sustainability index" to establish attainable goals; c) development and implementation of a plan to reach these goals and secure further benchmark studies.
Primary Issue Area:
Living Economies
Please break-down/categorize the program expenses:
| Proposed Item | Estimated $ Amount | Would grant funds be used for this item? |
|---|---|---|
| G.A.L.A. webpage (domain $20/yr, design $2,000, hosting fee $15/mo) | $2,200.00 | Yes |
| G.A.L.A. Quarterly newsletter (logo design $500, Typesetting $300 + $25/hr, Printing $1,200) | $2,150.00 | Yes |
| Other Printing Expenses (brochure $60, Sustainability 101 packet $300, Sust. Agreement Prop. $230) | $590.00 | Yes |
| Postage 140 * .39cents * 3 mailings | $164.00 | Yes |
| Farmers Market Presence (Booth fee $120, Display Board $300) | $420.00 | Yes |
| Non-profit status (State of NH filing $25, Trade Name reg $50, 501(c)(3) ?) | $75.00 |
Whom does your group need to make this project happen?
Please explain how your group will engage members from your community in this project.
Because sustainability is often a difficult concept to grasp, key figures will be invited to a forum with the Town Planning Board and Selectmen to articulate what sustainability means on a local level. A community-wide G.A.L.A. Film and Workshop Series will compliment these forums addressing sustainability on the local level. This initial phase also includes improving our website and publishing a quarterly newsletter.
If your group receives a NEGEF Grow grant, how do you plan to pay for remaining expenses?
| $ Amount | Source |
|---|---|
| $2,500.00 | NEGEF Grant |
| $400.00 | G.A.L.A. Board Donation |
| $1,500.00 | G.A.L.A. Membership fee total (?) |
Please list these materials or services
| $ Amount | Item |
|---|---|
| $1,000.00 | Webpage design |
| $350.00 | Logo Design |
| $1,200.00 | Newsletter Printing |
| $300.00 | Farmers Market Display Board |
| Workshop Series Volunteer labor |
Please describe what changes will occur in your community and its environment when your group's project is successful.
Our success will be determined by the amount of town participation in developing the sustainability index, the wording we integrate into the Master Plan, and the willingness of the community members and town representatives to transform their way of lifestyle, or way of doing business, to meet the identified sustainability goals. Our success will make Wolfeboro more sustainable by diverting 'waste' from the landfill, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, protecting watershed from harmful chemicals, increasing civic participation, and providing healthy alternatives to processed and GM foods. Our success will reflect the multifaceted nature of sustainability. The rough timeline of all three phases of this project us as follows: Sept 17th - G.A.L.A. meeting - capacity building and strategic planning Sept 24th - Public forum on Global Warming - community education Sept 25th - Oct 1st - G.A.L.A. "Sustainability Assessment" Committee prepares 'Sustainability 101' packet Oct 2nd - Lakes Region Public Planning Agenda meeting - plan progress with Global Warming Town Resolution Oct 3rd - Town Planning Board Meeting - distribute 'Sustainability 101' packet Oct 4th - Town Selectperson Meeting - distribute 'Sustainability 101' packet Oct 14-15th - Green Festival, Washington, CD - G.A.L.A. members attend for education and team building Oct 18th - Town Selectperson Meeting - answer questions, ask for feedback concerning sustainability packet Oct 19th - "Clean Energy Celebration Day" at Youth Center - education/outreach Oct 21st - G.A.L.A. board meeting Oct 22nd - G.A.L.A. Potluck open to public - will split into working groups Oct 28-29th - G.A.L.A. Yard Sale - Fun-draiser Oct 29-Nov 6th - Campaign for most environmentally responsible candidates Nov 13th - First publication of quarterly newsletter - G.A.L.A. Gazette - outreach Nov 15th - Town Selectperson Meeting - G.A.L.A. provides outline of Sustainability Assessment proposal Nov 19th - G.A.L.A. Potluck open to public - committee updates and planning Nov 19-Dec 5th - G.A.L.A. Sustainability Assessment Committee completes project proposal. Dec 10-30th - Collect signatures for Global Warming Petition - support town resolution for warrant This above timeline is short in scope considering the long-term reality of a Wolfeboro Sustainability Assessment. Because of pending schedules, film and workshop series have been omitted, but are certain to take place. January-March will be used for the development of an index.
What relevant skills does the group need (but does not currently have access to) to help move the initiative forward?
The G.A.L.A. group needs to strengthen our communication skills/networks within the organization, throughout the community, and beyond. We need to better understand sustainability so we can articulate the need, and plan of action, to our local and state representatives.