16 SG members attended the meeting.

It was reported that the proposed TTB phone line could be set up at no cost and it was agreed to go ahead.   Four SG members would be involved in the ongoing management of the facility.

Arrangements were well underway for the showing of The Age of Stupid at the Arts Centre.  

The Heart & Soul group had a successful meeting, where a DVD by Dr Stephan Harding from Schumacher College on Deep Ecology was shown.

The Rights Respecting project being organised by David Powell with the local schools would be too similar to the event “Our Town” that we had planned, so it was agreed that we would be better placed to help/support that event instead.

Three SG members had visited and met Colfox School’s Eco Club with the hope of arranging a visit to Ourganics in the near future.

The Town Council’s Climate Change Strategy had been circulated to all SG members for ideas/comments and it was suggested that an Action Day could be planned where representatives from local groups could liaise with the local councils to enable community involvement.   Some SG members were concerned about this ‘politicising’ the group, others recognised the fact that both TTB and the TC are community-caring organisations and should work together.

There had been a question regarding whether TTB was a campaigning organisation.   Discussion had taken place with TTDorchester and it was clear from those discussions that TTs should not be campaigning groups.   It was pointed out that our purpose was to flag up issues and put information out and encourage self-responsibility.

A suggestion was made that we sign up to the Transition Town Initiative and further information would be sought.

There was a discussion about the importance of businesses which are linked from the website being authentic, sustainable etc, as their credentials could reflect on our organisation.   After heated discussion it was agreed by the SG that the best solution would be for anyone who happened to find any link or material on our website which could be questionable, to alert the moderators and/or directors, who would make a decision as to how to react.   The legal position was clarified, explaining that the directors and hosting body were responsible for content and links.

The current website host was not able to accept this decision and declared he would take the website off-line as of that evening.

Another offer to host the site was given immediately.

It was agreed that the group needed to round up more people to help in general.

It was reported that TTB had now completed its legal status, with four directors (names given) and a bank account with the Cooperative Bank.

A SG member had attended DCA for a fundraising training session to gather information, not to take on the task of fundraising.  

Next meeting scheduled for 26 November.