OUR LADY OF GOOD COUNSEL
GREEN CHURCH COMMITTEE
Minutes – Tuesday, November 21, 2023

Present – Rose-Marie Valade, Wanda Taillefer, Karen Gionette, Amy di Nardo, John Plecash, Katie
Marchese, Suzanne Shoust, Betty Boisonneau, Chris Shoust, Fr. Michael Omojola
Regrets – Salvatore Marchese
Opening Prayer
Approval of the Agenda – Motion: Rose-Marie, Second: Wanda – Approved
Approval of the Minutes for the August 16, 2023 Meeting – Motion: Betty, Second: Katie – Approved
Business Arising:
1. Clothing Swap – Discussed how it could be held on the 3rd Sunday of January, same time as the Friendship Meal. If around the time of the Friendship Meal additional people would have a chance to see and take some items. Agreed we should have an announcement the Sunday before Christmas. Rose-Marie to look at last year's announcement to see how it was worded. We'd like to encourage the swapping of clothes to parishioners. Event went well last year. Chris will add the information to the website. Talk of fast fashion, we should compile more information about how it ends up in landfills and possibly providing links to sustainable clothing to educate people. Adding in tips of the month and mentioning swapping Christmas gifts not used. Check in with the office regarding putting something in the bulletin and add information to the church bulletin board and make an announcement at church mass. Inform everyone that clothing could be dropped off to the church between January 6-7 and January 13-14. Katie to take lead on organizing the items. Clothing would be stored downstairs and then organized and sorted the week prior to the swap. If there is a surplus of winter clothes, Katie's office may take it. Places to donate items leftover: Helping Hands, St. Vincent Place, and/or The Dragonfly Shop. Amy suggested packaging items by size, male/female. Father agrees with us having this swap as there is so much waste today. Good way to save items from landfills.
2. The state of the adopt-street initiative – Need to send Father emails to review for information
about the process. Father would like to discuss this in person and Chris is happy to make an
appointment at the office to go over all the emails with the diocese and the process for next steps for the adopt-a-street program. Hoping to get approval to move forward, then pass to Salvatore to take to the city for next steps. Chris will setup a meeting with Father beginning of the New Year.
3. Update for metal lid collection – Chris has continued to gather the items, the collection weighs
about 100lbs. Chris mentioned wanting to update the signs on the drop-off box, making them
brighter with breakdown on what items can be dropped off.
4. Website update – Chris to update the site and ensure that the list of alternative recycling locations is current. Add a Hazardous Waste Collection section with information on what we collect and what has been collected for comparison. He will continue to update with any new information.
5. Bike rack update – Amy contacted someone at the Huron-Superior Catholic District School Board, they do not see a problem with donating a bike rack. They have asked that a letter be written and submitted. Chris will write a letter from us. They are happy to donate one that is currently unused from one of their closed school properties. Once we get official confirmation of the donation, in the spring we can discuss with Father on where we should place it on church property.

6. Green Church recycling sign for Karen's building – Karen talked of a bulletin board at her
residence. Wanting a sign to post as people are ignorant about what to recycle. Karen wrote a letter but did not hear any response back. It seems they didn't want to address it maybe because it would add cost for the building to arrange for pick up.
Additional Notes:
• GFL / City of SSM is looking at cancelling recycling in the city due to cost.
• Betty has heard about Southern Ontario recycle collections, that they collect about 2% and after that is reached the rest go in the trash.
• Rose-Marie to speak with John at GFL about arranging a tour for us.
• Father discussed having less items printed in the bulletin and instead posting on a church bulletin board available. Not wanting to overload the bulletin with repeated information. Putting items in bulletins only every couple weeks, as well as making announcements at mass for any special items so people can hear it at church. He'd prefer people to say something rather than put in the bulletin. Different methods of getting information out. As well as adding to the website.
Ongoing business:
1. Pollinator (Salvatore) Clean North may present
2. Clean North update (Salvatore) Should we partner for their cleanups?
3. Educating the parish (Salvatore)
Next meeting date – Thursday, January 11, 2024 at 7:00 p.m.
Closing Prayer