I received an email yesterday from the White House Council on Environmental Quality. It is an invitation to attend an event at the White House to discuss environmental stewardship and climate change. This event will bring together senior administration officials from the White House and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency with faith-based and community leaders to discuss environmental stewardship and values, and the President’s Climate Action Plan to cut carbon pollution, prepare our communities for the impacts of climate change, and take international leadership on this global challenge.
Please follow me below the fold to help me determine if and how I could attend.
I was surprised to receive this invitation. I suspect that it stems from my involvement in submitting our Unitarian Universalist fellowship facility in the EPA/DOE Energy Star Portfolio Manager.
This is up my alley, as I work in energy efficiency in the State Energy Office. I have been involved in the Energy Star program relative to public buildings across the state and also facilitate a Cool Congregations program in the UU realm.
I strive to keep up to date on energy efficiency and renewable energy issues as well as sustainability and climate change issues. While I use many resources, I find much good information on these topics here on Kos. Certainly, Beach Babe in Florida/ VLBaker's excellent diaries and many others have contributed to my understanding in these areas. In addition to being informed, I try to find ways to take action and make a difference. I believe that the meeting I've been invited to would allow me to make a meaningful contribution.
There are several impediments to my ability to attend this meeting. First is the money it would take, which is the reason I write this diary. As a humble civil servant, I pretty much live hand to mouth. I simply cannot afford the expense of a trip to DC. What I hope to accomplish with this diary is to get a feel for the feasibility of crowd sourcing the funds required, which would be in the neighbourhood of $1,500. This would include round trip airfare, lodging, local transportation and a meal or two. I would like to see if there is interest in the community for funding this trip. If not, no big deal. I'll be no worse if the support isn't there. Depending on the response to this diary, if I deem it feasible, I would also beat the bushes for funding locally, through the fellowship, facebook / family and friends, etc. Perhaps there is a Kossack in the area that would offer me a place to crash and/or help me navigate the city, etc., which would be all the better.
A second impediment is the time frame. The meeting is February 25th- less than a week away. I can get the time off from work, but I'm really not sure at this point if it's feasible to pull together the funding, make arrangements, etc., in such a short time.
I am throwing this together off the cuff and on the fly. I continue to think this through. However, what I would do, if it comes to fruition, is to ask the community for input and ideas for me to carry to Washington, which I would advance as appropriate. I would also report back to the community my experience and observations about the trip and the meeting. I do think that this is an opportunity to advance our progressive ideas in the areas of climate change and sustainability. If fundraising is successful, I would only use funds for the associated expenses. I would report funds and expenses openly, on Kos and would return or donate extra funds as deemed appropriate by the community.
I do have a paypal account, but am not too familiar with the nuts and bolts. I'm not sure if funds raised could be accessed quickly enough. I'll be looking into that as well as all of the other logistics. Again, for now, I am not asking for money. I am exploring the possibility.
Also for now, I am at work and am nearly overwhelmed with my current load, so my ability to engage in the comments will be limited until later this evening.
Also, I must apologise if I've not followed proper diary form. I've only submitted three in my time here and such things are not my strong suite.
Please let me know your thoughts. And thank you for considering my situation. Even if it all falls apart, I am still delighted to be a small part of this large community.