[Summit] Snow Shoveling Meeting At 5:30 On 1/18

Tue Jan 10 13:17:31 UTC 2012

I just wanted to mention that I'll be attending the meeting below (5:30 at Hope Artiste Village on 1/18) to discuss a snow shoveling program.  I'm grateful to Sue, becuase I think this can help create a structure that will make it easy for volunteers to help their neighbors.  We still need support from residents who can help us organize (this isn't a big time commitment, but it's crucial), so please join us next Wednesday!

- Jesse 

=-=-=

> > Several leaders from other neighborhood associations
> have responded that this is an important issue, and that
> people have been talking about this around the city. But we
> should do something specific to make progress.
> > 
> > Perhaps representatives of the neighborhood
> associations could be convened to discuss this issue? Would
> this be possible for Summit leadership (or a representative)
> to attend if it were set up in the next two weeks? I have a
> volunteer facilitator for such a meeting, and I could do the
> busywork of sending emails for setting a time and place. The
> more citizens do and figure out on our own, the more
> solutions we have to present to the mayor, the more
> affordable and practical the effort, and the better chance
> of improved safe mobility after snow storms.
> > 
> >    Place to meet?
> >    Date?
> >    Time to meet? Assume it would be
> evening.... 
> > 
> > At the risk of provoking a snow storm on this date, I
> propose meeting at Hope Artiste Village on Wednesday Jan 18
> during the Farmers' Market (4pm to 7pm).  The 11th may
> be too soon to bring people together, but it doesn't (yet)
> look like it will be snowing next Wednesday....?
> > 
> > Convene at 5:30?
> > 
> > The Downtown Improvement District has a snow removal
> plan that is coordinated through the Clean Team and
> businesses in the area. Perhaps their plan can be a model
> for other parts of the city?
> > 
> > And perhaps Serve RI could be helpful? They already
> have a volunteer matching system, but it might not be geared
> for this type of weather-related issue -- See Providence
> Journal op ed today (Friday, Jan 6) by Bernie Beaudreau on
> the Human Kind Experiment for inspiration. http://serverhodeisland.org/NewsEvents/ViewArticle/tabid/164/smid/605/ArticleID/63/reftab/36/t/ProJo-Editorial-Highlights-New-Volunteer-Initiative/Default.aspx
> > 
> > I am sure success with shoveling out the sidewalks
> will depend on constructive, voluntary community involvement
> rather than fines. We're all supposed to be conducting
> ourselves as responsible contributing members of society and
> the key is to make clearing sidewalks the cool and normal
> thing to do. Then fines can be imposed on the [we hope few]
> remaining scofflaws.
> > 
> > Perhaps Providence will be able to adapt or copy
> Chicago's "Snow Corps" -- or perhaps other cities have
> already set up a computerized system. Let's find out what
> other cities have done and figure out how to minimize the
> work of matching volunteers with those requesting help. The
> coordinating power of community groups to get the word out
> and to encourage participation will be essential, I think.
> > 
> > This is also possible to organize with a TlmeBank. See
> http://timebanks.org/about for background on the
> TimeBank idea and watch the video: http://vimeo.com/timebanksusa/timebankingchanginglives.
> I also wrote about TimeBanking on the Providential Gardener:
> http://providentialgardener.typepad.com/providential_gardener/2011/08/time-banking-comes-to-rhode-island.html
> > 
> > In Rhode Island we have one of the TimeBanks USA
> leaders, Lisa Conlan-Lewis. lisaconlan2 at aol.com,
> who would be glad to explain the potential uses of TimeBanks
> to anyone interested. The RI TimeBanks website is here: http://www.ritimebanks.org/.  Early uses of the
> new (in 2011) system are for eldercare, but TimeBanks can be
> used for accomplishing exchanges of all sorts of work. The
> membership page (http://www.ritimebanks.org/membership.html) seems
> daunting, but then there are important issues of safety for
> at-risk folks. It is possible for individual neighborhood
> organizations to use the TimeBanks software to set up their
> own mini-timebanks. Membership could be limited to members
> of the neighborhood association, and if the purpose was
> specifically for outdoor shoveling, security issues might be
> less of a concern. I think that TimeBanks may still appear
> to be awfully involved, but I think some groups should try
> this out and see if it can be implemented without driving
> people crazy. I just signed up at the RI TimeBanks site so I
> can experience it for myself. 
> > 
> > As far as the problem of lack of computer access for
> those most needing help, leaflets distributed through social
> service and community organizations should reach many of
> those folks. 
> > 
> > To be continued....
> > 
> > Sue
> > 
> >>> 
> >>> Sue
> >>> 
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