Transition US Newsletter // June 2010

The big highlight this month is of course the Transition Network 2010 Conference. Patricia Benson, TUS board member recounts her experience there:

Close your eyes and envision a very large extended family, all ages, all excited, all talking. Observe the enthusiastic hugs and introductions of those new to the clan since the last gathering.  Picture multiple branches  who have migrated to different countries, speak different languages, live embedded in different cultures, but who all share a foundational family culture and history of common experiences.  That is what the Transition Network conference was like.  Not the usual keynotes and powerpoints, but rather a gathering of the Transition family to share stories and experiences of the last few years.  A catching up on each other’s Transition lives, and personal lives.  The conversations in the bar were just as insightful, informative, and inspirational as the workshops.  

I came away from the conference realizing it is all about relationship, a common thread running through workshops on regional hubs, diversity, heart & soul, and even connected to Stoneleigh’s presentation on the economy. Healthy relationships form a foundational base upon which everything else is constructed. 

I can’t do this justice in a paragraph so join us for further live conversation on July 1st!  Many of the conference workshops have been recorded; all have been scribed, and soon should be available on the TN website.  Highly recommend it!

More on the conference below.
 

Transition Initiatives

Transition Initiatives are continuing to emerge in communities around the world. Browse the initiatives map and learn more about becoming an Official Transition Initiative. This month, we welcome five official Transition Initiatives, bringing the total to 72 in the US:

• Transition San Fernando Valley in California
• Transition San Lorenzo Valley in California
• Transition Town Charlotte in Vermont
• Transition Northfield in Massachusetts
• Pelham Transition in Massachusetts

A June Round-up of What’s Happening out in the World of Transition
Some highlights of what's keeping Transition Initiatives busy across the country and around the world...(more)

Transition Ann Arbor meets with State Representative
Initiating team member Nathan Ayers was recently interviewed by State Representative Pam Byrnes...(more)

Richmond Grows Seed Lending Library
The Richmond Rivets Transition Initiative in California has launched a seed lending library featuring seed catalogues, education...(more)

Transition Cotati Launches a Time Bank
An update from Judith Newton of Transition Cotati in California on the recent launch of their Time Bank pilot project....(more)

Film Series Strengthens Transition Group
An update from Lindsay Curren of Transition Staunton Augusta in Virginia on their recent 'Local Motion Film Series'...(more)

Transition Network 2010 Conference Recap

(June 12-14, Seale-Hayne, UK) - This year’s conference featured a dazzling smorgasbord of open space and inspiring workshops, including some longer in-depth sessions, skill shares, project shares, networking, entertainment, and much more.

If you have a couple of hours and want to grasp the “bold headlines”, we suggest a visit to the summaries on Transition Network blog and Transition Culture to check out a recording of Rob Hopkins workshop on Transition as Pattern Language, definitely a central piece to this event, offering both premise and praxis. Ed Mitchell, web-coordinator, provided a workshop Transition Network revised website, which offers a tremendous capacity for connecting and sharing among initiatives.

Stoneleigh’s presentation (about 90 minutes long, economy as driver) had a significant impact on the gathering, but viewing should be coupled with the short video response by Rob and Peter Lipman, who provide a Transition context.

> > Read, watch, listen to more ideas and insights from the conference

Photo and top banner image by Ed Mitchell at the 2010 Transition Network Conference (see original).

Transition Network News

• Reflections on the 2010 Transition Network conference
• The Art of Rapid Transition, a new publication from nef
• A Remote Talk to Helsinki
• Exclusive to Transition Culture: an Interview with Chris Martenson: Part Two
• Notes from a Co-Creating Earth Based Communities Workshop: by Sophy Banks (photo above)
• Rethinking Transition as a Pattern Language: an introduction
  

If you're interested in receiving updates from the Transition Network in the UK, where it all began, you can sign up for their newsletter here.

Partner Update: Post Carbon Institute

Visit www.postcarbon.org for more articles, reports and news

This month PCI released the first 2 articles from our forthcoming publication The Post Carbon Reader. Check out WATER: Adapting to a New Normal, by Sandra Postel, and CITIES: The Death of Sprawl by Warren Karlenzig.

The Post Carbon Reader features essays by some of the world’s most provocative thinkers on the key issues shaping our new century, from renewable energy and urban agriculture to social justice and community resilience. Take advantage of a special 20% discount offered to 'friends of PCI' by entering coupon code 10M9071 at www.ucpress.edu/9780970950062. Look out for further releases in July.

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