CAT Conference 2017

2017 MAINE GRASSROOTS CLIMATE ACTION CONFERENCE 

More than 140 Sierra Club members and climate activists gathered at the University of Southern Maine's Lewiston campus on September 16. 2017 to share knowledge and gain the skills needed to take community-based action toward a clean energy future for Maine. "Inspiring" and "empowering" were words that could be heard as people departed at the end of the day.  Kudos to the volunteer leaders who organized this impressive event:  Joan Saxe, Lyn Sudlow, Becky Bartovics, Andy Burt, Miriam Rubin, Susan Van Alsenoy, and Norm Anderson.  Good media coverage of the event can be seen here and here. 

The conference started with a tribute to the late David Moses Bridges, a nationally-recognized Passamaquoddy artist, canoe builder, and environmental and social activist.  The keynote speaker was author and activist George Lakey who delivered a positive message on how real change is possible, even in these troubled times. Lakey emphasized that the actions of the Trump administration have served as a wake-up call, and he noted that troubled, polarized times are often the catalysts for major change.

Following Lakey's motivating words, conference participants chose from a variety of workshop options for the remainder of the day. Workshop topics included: moving toward clean energy future, grassroots organizing, transportation for livable communities, energy efficiency, water stewardship, community- based energy, creating an effective climate change message, and sustainable agriculture. Thanks to all the workshop presenters for sharing their knowledge.

Also thanks to the numerous conference co-sponsors including ReVision Energy, Goggin Energy, Lee International, Insource Renewables, Maine Organic Farmers & Gardeners Association, and Robert and Elizabeth Stoddard.

To find out more about the conference, our Climate Action Team (CAT) Program, and how to get involved or start a CAT in your community, go to sierraclub.org/maine or email maine.chapter@sierraclub.org. 

CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS (CLICK LINKS TO REVIEW AND/OR DOWNLOAD)

KEYNOTE SPEAKER: George Lakey (video)

MAINE'S CLEAN ENERGY FUTURE 
This workshop will demonstrate how clean energy technologies offer an opportunity to build an energy future that produces large consumer, economic, and climate benefits. Acadia Center's EnergyVision 2030 and GridSolar's distributed generation and non-transmission alternatives work in the Boothbay area led to policy roadmaps to create a zero-emissions energy strategy.
Presenters:
Kathleen Meil, Policy Advocate, Acadia Center 
Rich Silkman, Founding and Co-Managing Partner, GridSolar LLC

PUTTING THE "CAN DO" IN TRANSPORTATION FOR LIVABLE COMMUNITIES
Presenters:
Tony Giambro, Owner & Chief Sustainability Officer, Paris Auto Barn, Eco-Friendly Auto Service
Sarah Cushman, Principal, Cushman Transportation Consulting, LLC

WEATHERIZATION: MAKING THE MOST OF LOCAL RESOURCES TO SAVE ENERGY AND MONEY, AND REDUCE DEPENDENCE ON FOSSIL FUELS
Presenters:
Emily Mottram, Architect & Energy Specialist
Andy Meyer, Residential Program Manager, Efficiency Maine

LOCAL GRASSROOTS ORGANIZING 101: BEST PRACTICES
Presenters:
Glen Brand, Director, Sierra Club Maine
Denny Gallaudet, Chair, Cumberland Climate Action Team

STEWARDSHIP OF OUR WATERS
Presenters:
John Banks, Director,  Department of Natural Resources for the Penobscot Nation
Nickie Sekera, Founder, Community Water Justice & Trustee, Fryburg Water District

COMMUNITY ENERGY: LAYING THE GROUNDWORK FOR A CLEAN ENERGY FUTURE
Presenters:
Andrea Russell, Program Manager, College of the Atlantic Community Energy Center
Suzanne Watson, American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy 

COMMUNITY ENERGY: LOCAL POWER LOCAL BENEFITS
Information on Solar Power Purchase Agreements and how to develop a SOLARIZE YOUR TOWN effort.
Presenters:
Andrew Kahrl, ReVision Energy
Mike Wilson, Chair, Brunswick Recycling and Sustainability Committee

FUNDRAISING FUNDAMENTALS FOR CLIMATE ACTION TEAMS
Presenters:
Anne D. Burt, Creator/Coordinator, "Down to Earth Storytelling" Project
Leigh Cameron, Program Manager, New England Grassroots Environment Fund

CREATING A "CLIMATE CHANGE" MESSAGE WITH IMPACT
Presenter: Elizabeth Rogers, Senior V.P. of Marketing & Communications, Coastal Enterprises, Inc.

BUILDING COMMUNITY THROUGH SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE
A look at two very different communities and how sustainable farming and agriculture is creating ties that bind their communities together, now and into the future.
Presenters: 
Muhidin Libah, Director, Somali Bantu Community Association of Maine
Katey Branch, Alan Day Community Garden

YOUTH CLIMATE ORGANIZING
Presenters:
Gus Goodwin, Teacher, King Middle School, Portland

Chloe MaxmIn, Maine Students for Climate Justice, 350 Maine

READY FOR 100 - MOVING TOWARD A CLEAN ENERGY ECONOMY
Mobilize public support to convince our leaders of our cities, businesses, and institutions to be powered by 100% renewable clean energy by 2050. 
Presenters:
Allyson Samuel, Sierra Club's Ready for 100 Campaign
Tica Douglas and Allen Armstrong, Portland Climate Action Team

ADDRESSING CLIMATE THROUGH SMALL AND LARGER SCALE AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES
Community gardens are also a strategy to increase local food production, reduce transportation carbon footprint, increase local self-reliance and community involvement, and promote better community health.
Presenters:
Ivan J. Fernandez, Professor, School of Forest Resources, Climate Change Institute, and School of Food and Agriculture at the University of Maine
David Homa, Certified Permaculture Designer

GREAT PROJECTS TO START YOUR LOCAL CLIMATE ACTION TEAM 
Presenters:
Laura Seaton, Director of the Community Builds, Window Dressers, Inc.
Vaughn Woodruff, Insource Renewables

CREATING SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS PRACTICES
Presenters:
Luke Truman, Sustainability Coordinator, Allagash Brewery
David Levine, CEO & Cofounder, American Sustainable Business Council

CREATIVE FUNDRAISING MODELS THAT EMPOWER LOCAL COMMUNITIES
Presenters:
Anne D. Burt, Creator/Coordinator, "Down to Earth Storytelling" Project
Leigh Cameron, Program Manager, New England Grassroots Environment Fund
David Weinberger, City Partnerships Diretor, IOBY

CUTTING ENERGY USAGE & COSTS: HELP FOR LOW-INCOME FAMILIES
Reach out to low-income families to weatherize homes, and learn about Efficiency Maine's programs that benefit low-income families.
Presenters:
Cheryl Shattenberg, Western Maine Community Action
Peter Thayer, Western Maine Community Action
Andy Meyer, Residential Program Manager, Efficiency Maine

TOWN GOVERNMENT ACTION FOR A CLEAN ENERGY FUTURE
Troy Moon, Sustainability Coordinator, City of Portland
Julie Rosenbach, Sustainability Coordinator, City of South Portland

LOCAL GRASSROOTS ORGANIZING 201: POWER-MAPPING
Presenters:
Allyson Samuel, Sierra Club's Ready for 100 Campaign
Glen Brand, Director, Sierra Club Maine

PHOTOS FROM THE CONFERENCE

 

 

 

 

To find out more about past conferences, including slide presentations and other information presented on a variety of local climate action topics, click on the links below.