I'd like to start compiling practical ideas on how individual chapters can begin implementing sustainable, resource based practices together with their members and potentially with people in their local communities. I've started trawling through the ZM international site and there's a lot to go through but I'll start putting up what I find and of course, there's a world of information out there on this sort of stuff. I'd like to keep it succinct so please only post ideas if they're within the following parameters;
Tried & tested - please, only post ideas which are in use or at least have been tested and proven reliable. Include references to existing examples. Eg. using car-pooling websites for transport then list some useful links
Resource Based - in keeping with our purpose, please list the necessary resources & skills needed for each idea but do not list money; there's always a non-financial alternative
Relevant - The idea is to be able to provide useful information to any chapter in the country to get it's members off the grid so please consider that each chapter will have different skills, ages, resources, time constraints, numbers of members, cultural contexts, gender weightings, etc. Make your ideas as broadly accessible as you can. Eg. Ideas relating to meeting venues should exclude licensed venues as some members are under 18
Set up & upkeep considerations - If you can, please include roughly what it takes to set up each idea initially and then what it takes to maintain it eg. To set up an arrangement with a local cafe for use of their 'back room' as a meeting venue including free meals and coffee, one or two members might work a few hours a week at the cafe for free in return for this service
Eventually I'd like to put all this together into a pdf that will obviously keep growing as the project gains momentum with ideas on how every chapter can live as far removed from cyclical consumption as possible. Who knows, we may even be able to get it published and distribute it to newsagents, cafes, etc.
