I really like the word unleashing. One might think I would associate the word more with phrases like “unleashing the power of the atom” or “gasoline unleashing the power of your engine,” but in reality I think more of what I assume to be its origin: unleashing dogs. I imagine dogs straining at their leash, muscles tensed, rear paws digging in, front legs off the ground, ready to surge forward at the release, the very picture of potential energy. And then at the moment of unleashing, that energy becomes kinetic and the dogs are off.
There is a lot of talk about unleashing in Transition. One of the original 12 steps or ingredients of Transition is the “Great Unleashing,” where a Transition Initiative makes its presence known in the community. I understand that now many communities decide to bypass the Great Unleashing, and indeed that may turn out to be our course for the Transition Houston Hub.
Right now, though, the unleashing that interests me is “unleashing the collective genius of our communities.” I saw that in action this last weekend, as members of communities from Austin, Dallas, and our greater Houston area came together for a Training for Transition class. The creative energy that was released was phenomenal! I think we will see the shock waves of the unleashed creative energy reverberate in our communities for some time to come.
Come to our March Transition Houston meeting and hear about what was learned at the Training, and also about the many opportunities coming up to unleash our collective genius.
Transition Houston Hub general meeting, Tuesday, March 1
Please note the new Day and Location for our Transition Houston general meetings! We are now meeting on the first Tuesday of each month, at Christ the King Lutheran Church at the corner of Greenbriar and Rice Blvd. (near Rice Village). If you can, come at 6:30 on this first meeting so that we can look at how we can install native and/or food plantings in the Church green space in exchange for the use of the meeting space.
The neighborhood initiatives are ramping up, and we will hear what has been accomplished as well as what is coming up. We will also recap the Training for Transition experience, hear what was done at the February Permablitz, and find out what is planned for the March ‘Blitz.
As is our tradition, the business program will end at 8:30, and the time for refreshments, conversation, and community will begin.
Transition Houston March Meeting
Tuesday, March 1
7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Christ the King Lutheran Church
2353 Rice Blvd, Houston, TX 77005
For more information and RSVP see our event listing on Ning
Neighborhood Initiative Meetings
Our Neighborhood Transition Initiatives are really taking off! Here are currently-scheduled monthly meetings, for three very active Initiatives. If you have meetings scheduled for your neighborhood initiative, or if you would like to start up regular meetings, please contact Mark at mjuedeman@gmail.com or 832-655-5104.
Transition Midtown Dinner meeting
Wednesday, February 23
7:00pm
$3 contribution
Transition Midtown Regular meetings
Third Wednesdays of the month
12:00pm to 1:30 pm
transitionhouston@gmail.com for details
Clear Lake Transition Initiative
Thursday, March 3
6:30pm to 8:00pm
Coffee Oasis
4650 Nasa Road 1 (at Kirby)
Seabrook, TX
For more information: clearlaketransition@gmail.com or 281.705.4307
Transition Old Sixth Ward
Sunday, March 13 (2nd Sunday of the month)
6:00pm
transitionhouston@gmail.com for details
Roy Zimmerman House Concert, Friday, February 25
Friends from KPFT remind us that there will be a house concert in support of the local public radio station on Friday, February 25.
Bob and Nancy Hentschel are hosting a house concert with Roy Zimmerman on February 25th. He is a brilliant comedian/singer/songwriter who writes and performs “Funny Songs About Ignorance, War and Greed.” For additional information and to listen to some of his music you can go to his website at http://www.royzimmerman.com/. Reservations are required, and there is a suggested honorarium of $18 in advance, $20 at the door. All contributions go to the performer and KPFT Public Radio (which, by the way, has been very supportive of Transition Houston).
Roy Zimmerman House Concert
Friday, Feb. 25th
Concert at 8:00 pm; 7:00 pm – potluck dinner and wine
Home of Bob and Nancy Hentschel
6610 Kendall Creek Drive, Sugar Land, TX 77479
To purchase tickets or make reservations call Nancy Hentschel 832-228-7642
Focus The Nation, Monday, February 28
The University of St. Thomas (UST) was very kind to let us screen In Transition 1.0 (the Transition movie) and hold an excellent panel discussion in one of their classrooms last Thursday. Now there is an opportunity for us to attend a Focus the Nation event at the University of St. Thomas, and join them and the greater community to navigate the challenges and solutions to a clean energy economy and sustainable transportation. UST is holding a Focus the Nation Clean Energy Forum to educate the public on the innovative approaches our community is taking to make Houston a more sustainable place to live.
The forum will begin with a Meet and Greet period with sponsors and other community organizations. The presentations will commence at 5:30 with talks from Kevin Conlin, Sun-Stop Solar Service Stations; Ralph Parrott, Alternative Power Solutions; Katherine Warren, Boxley Group Energy Practice. A panel discussion will follow. This discussion will focus on identifying clean energy roadblocks and solutions. Panelists include all mentioned speakers as well as other community organizations. From this discussion, we hope to become more aware of steps that can be taken to advance, promote, and implement alternative energy technologies.
Parking for the event will be available in the Moran Parking Garage (corner of W. Alabama and Graustark) for $2. Please register for the event online at www.focusthenation.org/forums. (Preregistration is not required but appreciated).
Focus the Nation
Monday, February 28
5:00 pm – 9:00 pm
University of St. Thomas
Scanlan Conference Room (Upstairs in the Jerabeck Athletic Center)
4000 Mt. Vernon
Houston, TX 77006
www.focusthenation.org/forums
Two Workshops, Saturday, March 5
We have many opportunities for workshop education coming up in the next few weeks. After seeing Dean Cook and others speak at the Soil Carbon panel discussion held last week, I am especially interested in Dean and Nell Wheeler’s upcoming workshop on making and using biochar. Doubly so, after seeing during our pre-Transition Training tours last Friday what an excellent urban homestead they have established.
During the workshop Nell and Dean will use their clean burning charcoal stove to prepare a meal while simultaneously making more charcoal. You will learn how to turn that charcoal into biochar, and how to apply it to the soil. Biochar increases the biological activity of the soil, which increases the soil’s fertility and its ability to sequester carbon from the atmosphere (in addition to sequestering the stable carbon in the biochar). There is a small fee for the workshop. For more information please contact Dean at 832-618-2032.
Biochar Workshop
Saturday, March 5
1:00pm to 4:00pm
Nell and Dean’s backyard
6181 Elbert St.
Houston, TX 77028
Space is limited – please RSVP to: nell.dean@rocketmail.com
Transition Woodlands and Greater North Houston’s Priyanka Johri is also offering a rain barrel workshop on March 5. This one is earlier in the day, so you have a chance to attend both!
A rain barrel is a container that collects otherwise potentially wasted rain water from your downspout. An average house may shed over 30,000 gallons of water a year or over 300 gallons in just one rainfall event. If allowed to run off, the water may carry with it fertilizers and pesticides which causes pollution in our water system. By harvesting the soft water from rain and using it for irrigation you not only help your plants, but you also save money on your water bill and help the environment.
Participants will construct a 55 gallon Rain Barrel from a recycled plastic food grade container, and will be able to take it home with them for immediate use.
Build a Rain Barrel Workshop
Saturday, March 5
10:00am to 11:30am
Indus Valley Sustainable Living Institute
2463 Bill Smith Rd
Conroe, TX 77384
For more information contact Priyanka at 832-277-3577
Transition Houston Permablitz #6, Saturday, March 19
Please save the date for our sixth Transition Houston Permablitz, on the morning of Saturday, March 19. This ‘Blitz will be held in the Westwood neighborhood, near Stella Link and South Loop 610. Details of work scope and learning opportunities are still being developed, so please check our event listing here for updates.
Reductions in green infrastructure investment?
Finally, I would like to bring to your attention a matter of personal concern to me, and one that I think may likewise be of concern to other members of the Houston Transition community.
Jay Crossley, of Houston Tomorrow and also Transition Midtown, shares the news that:
The H-GAC Transportation Policy Council is set to vote on a measure to cut some bike, walk, transit, and livability spending from the 2011 TIP, which would further push our region’s transportation spending out of alignment with the priorities of the citizens of the region, as expressed in studies such as the Houston Area Survey.
Projects that are slated for cutting include walkability projects the likes of which many of us have been working on for many years, such as investing in sidewalks on the East Side to provide the neighborhood better access to the coming East Side Light Rail Line, thus encouraging small, walkable businesses, healthy lifestyles, and a more vibrant quality of life. These projects would provide real quality of life, economic, and environmental benefits in ways that we have not really seen in the Houston region.
We have created a petition to enable citizens of the Houston region to show their strong support spending more of our scarce transportation funds on walkability, livability, bike infrastructure, and better transit. Please click the following link to sign the petition.
http://org2.democracyinaction.org/o/6239/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=5685
These projects are the sort that I personally believe are necessary to support our transition from oil dependency. If you likewise are concerned please take action as you see appropriate.
So, here we are, straining against our constraints. Let’s unleash, and release our collective genius!
Transition Houston 