OUR LADY OF GOOD COUNSEL
GREEN CHURCH COMMITTEE
Minutes – Thursday, February 16, 2023

Present – Fr. Paul Conway, Chris Shoust, Mary Trevisan, Wanda Taillefer, Suzanne Shoust
Present at the beginning only - Salvatore Marchese, Katie Charette
Regrets –John Plecash, Betty Boisonneau, Karen Gionette, Rose-Marie Valade
Opening Prayer
Approval of the Agenda – Motion: Fr. Paul, Second: Wanda - Approved
Approval of the Minutes of the January 4, 2023 Meeting – Motion: Mary, Second: Wanda
– Approved
Business Arising:
1. Clean North Update (church pollinator) – Salvatore provided a brief update; he was in contact with Clean North, he reported that it went better than the first time. Upcoming Clean North projects: invasive species removal and cleanup, and tree planting at the withdrawal centre. Clean North is happy to do a cleanup together, as a joint effort. Current idea of a Church Pollinator: Clean North would show us how to build it. Something that would attract bees. Or, Chris suggested an option to make or get bee houses. Concerns would be that these projects would need to be out of the way as to avoid bees around parishioners Pollinators help with the survival of bees, however, we are worried about people in the area with allergies, we don't want a lot of bees around people on the property. We should rethink this or suggest other ideas that won't affect everyday church activities. We could provide an education session to parishioners, to give them a choice to make their own pollinators at home. Ask Salvatore at our next meeting for more information, more about the particulars.

Note: We could provide education sessions to the church members, with videos, how- to instructional sessions, on different green activities. Have guest speakers, invitenanyone from the parish to learn more, open it up to others.
2. Adopt a Street – Salvatore talked to the city. We would be required to have a 1 million dollar insurance policy. The city also needs to me named on the policy. He received a letter from the legal department and passed it along to Fr. Paul who will talk to the diocese about this. If we are able to do this project, we can choose any street we want.
Update from Rose-Marie: She spoke with Darlene, re: Adopt A Highway. Told her that we would no longer be participating in this program and that our spring clean-up would be our last.
3. Strategic Committee Candidates – Chris suggested a sub-committee to work on a strategic plan to go over the over arching goals for the group. A group to go back to the beginning to review all that we have done to-date, looking at future goals for the group, looking at what we can do to get others involved. We discussed this idea and we think that we should instead dedicate one of our regular group meetings to focus on vision, mission, goals, strengths and weaknesses. We can set 2-3 hours for the meeting to just focus on these specific areas. Mary suggested we also discuss what attracted us to the group, why we joined, accomplishments, what we are doing.

4. Clothing Swap Report – Mary and Katie emailed their reports to the committee. Mary discussed about how it was a learning experience, how it was more of a donation exercise. Mary and Katie will edit their emailed reports and Chris will add it to the website.
5. Website Update – Nothing at this time.

New Business:
1. Key Chains – New project idea Chris is working on to up-cycle corks. Something simple and easily doable idea.
2. Letter to Council from 2020 – Chris found the letter, he saw that it didn't make it to council but it was listed in a file with correspondence filed with the city.
3. Environmental Sustainability Committee information and update – Emily Cormier sent some information to Chris and Salvatore, more about the church building a business. We are trying to stay away from big ventures. Chris found she didn't fully understand our group and he found it kind of disparaging. Message seems to be getting lost.
4. List of non-traditional places to recycle – We should compile a list of places and businesses that take non-traditional material for recycling. We can add to this list as we come across new places. Update as we go with any changes and new places. Share information with parishioners

Next meeting – Thursday, March 23 at 7:00 pm. Salvatore to chair. Bishop will be in attendance.