Community Conference 21 and 22nd June 2008
Sponsored by the West End Cooperative
Community Conference
Sponsored by the West End Cooperative
June 21 & 22
Three Sisters of Clallam Gallery & Healing Center
16590 Hwy 112 Clallam Bay WA 98326
Bring your innovative ideas about:
Community, sustainability, local farming and food production, organic beauty products, developing a wood pellet industry, ocean harvest, mini green house production and sale, opportunity to build of an eco-house, construction of an outdoor labyrinth, construction of a demonstration pyramid house
Food production, bee keeping, hop and mushroom growing, 'happy meat' production of buffalo, chickens lamb, beef, creative agriculture in a short growing season. Use of hoop houses and other wonderful ideas.
A health food restaurant, a 'hand-made paper' industry, and a recycling opportunity. Animal farming for fiber collection, lama or angora rabbits.
Kayak trails along the Puget Sound Coast, 'army duck' trips onto the Sound, camp ground accommodation for surf boarding and kayaking destinations.
We are also looking for a spinning and weaving teacher.
We have two venues available for ballroom dancing groups, art classes, fitness, yoga, Tai Chi, 'find yourself' workshops for self improvement and retreats in general.
Let us begin with what we have, that is, clean water, clean air, lots of land and natural resources, disability access to our buildings, beaches to process motivational ideas and a creative community backing us.
Lets move on to what we want.
Jobs and business opportunities. Production, agriculture and economy boosting with wonderful and exciting new ideas and new energy. We want to supply our own Co-op and network our distribution goods for others.
Please come play with us for all of our futures.
Outcomes of the Conference
Prior to the conference
As a result of the grant which employed Sasha Sicks as our Town Planner in February 2008, we were directed toward a grant to 'Grow Our Own Co-op'. The Co-op had already been started by a group of local people, but it was timely to gain the support to of the granting community so to further our dreams of sustainability. Thank you Sasha.
The grant came to us through the work of Dana Sarff, and the town meeting voted the Co-op to be connected to a community farm. Thank you Dana, thank you town.
Before the conference the farm/garden had already been started by a group of local men, Sasha and Autumn. They took grassed land, breaking it up, so to begin planting into a difficult season of little sun and no rain and lots of low temperatures. It is moving along nicely now. Thank you Neil, John, Al, Nick, Sasha, Autumn and Al.
Prior to the Conference, through connections with Lisa Edinger our volunteer from Salt Creek, a contact was made with spinners and weavers for the Makah Resources to be activated. Thank you Lisa.
Prior to the conference, Ron Armacost put together a summer sailing initiative which may be linked with the PA Sailing and Yacht Club, involving summer camps. Thank you Ron.
It was suggested by those present at the conference on the Sunday session , "That whatever you do with love and enthusiasm will succeed."
Because of the Conference
The Web site got up and running. Thank you Lisa and Mia, two sisters who live with love and enthusiasm.
A Co-operative arrangement was made with the Cafe Paix/A work in Progress from Forks to mutually advertise.
Land leasing for a larger community garden has been suggested through connections made.
A new volunteer with business knowledge has stepped up and is doing a great job for us all. Thank you Robert.
Results of the Conference
Agreement by those involved that we need, advertising consistency and clarity both on the building and around town, and in other towns eg Neah Bay and Forks.
Agreement by those involved that we need, an alternate power source to provide stable power supply plus a town income by selling oversupply back to PUD.
A local family have decided to put together a farm to raise chickens, eggs, a green house, pigs, beef etc. The Co-op is happy to work with them.
The grocery store (our old empty building) is to become our next Co-op home, we are working with the County to establish this resource..
True value hardware has been approached in regard to stocking half of the grocery store building.
A laundromat is to be considered in the store.
A bakery is to be established in the store.
A butchery is to be established in the store.
A leisure component is to be included.
A juice and smoothy bar is suggested.
A mini bank has been approached.
A new agreement has been set with Joseph Cowles for local organic greens at wholesale prices.
A pharmaceutical drop off point is currently being discussed with the legal authorities for the Chinook pharmacy. Thank you Mike Doherty and Chuck from the pharmacy.
A General appraisal of the workings of the conference and the Co-op group
"We are really good at enjoying each day as it comes."
We agreed with Wicopaedia that a Co-op is: "Universal access to community resources." It was agreed that we are all doing this really well. In our own opinions which is all that really matters anyway.
That our motivation is to create jobs, whilst saving gas in order to shop and produce goods locally.
Future Directions
Classes on food usage and cooking need to be offered monthly.
Lists of common foods need to be put out to community to inform them of the Co-ops potential.
Whether you cook from a recipe or intuition, there must be joy in the process. This means slowing down to smell the aromas of personal sustenance.
Philosophy of the Growing Co-op
Sue Heiny summed it up this way, "The growth of the Co-op is like raising a kid."
Donna Wilke, our Makah soloist who entertained us with enthusiasm on the Saturday, started her program with this story ""Last night my sister and I were sitting in the den and I said to her, "I never want to live in a vegetative state, dependent on some machine and fluids from a bottle to keep me alive. That would be no quality of life at all, if that ever happens, just pull the plug."
So she got up, unplugged the computer, and threw out my wine!"
Thank you Donna, for your wonderful song and your humor, it is greatly appreciated.