October 2013

October turned out to be a more relaxing month for me than for Scott.  I had a much needed break after all the extra hours involved in the Cosy Homes Workshop.  When in the BRCT office I have been busy finishing off reports about the outcomes from the Cosy Homes Workshop, the Climate Change Action Planning work we did for the DCC and preparing for the upcoming Otago Energy Research Centre symposium (see the Abstract Booklet by clicking on the inset image). I also look after the BRCT office, write the financial forecast for our monthly Trustee meetings, get my head around the dreaded GST Returns and update Thankyou Payroll (a free, online payroll service – it really does make paying employees a much simpler task, check out www.thankyoupayroll.co.nz for more details).

Scott’s month was much busier than mine with work on the wind cluster (see more here), preparing for the OERC symposium, writing a submission to the DCC on the 2014 Petroleum Block Offer (about fossil fuel exploration off our coast) and catalysing a Blueskin Savings Pool. Savings Pools function as simple ways for individuals to band together to pool funds to make things happen in their community.  BRCT imagines that a Savings Pool will function as a tool for households to participate in building cosy homes, solar installations, insulation retrofits (and any repairs that are discovered in the process), and for community businesses to access funds for development, all without the heavy cost of debt.  Scott also visited Mt Stuart wind farm to talk with Rob Hewett, the Mt Stuart landowner, about his experience and love of renewable electricity generation and had a productive meeting at the Chamber of Commerce to talk about raising the profile of Green Growth in Dunedin.

We would also like to thank the organisers of October’s Grass Roots Gig for giving BRCT the opportunity to hold an extremely successful fund raising auction.  Huge thanks goes to Kay Row, Doug Wright and Leonie Rousselot, to Rue De Remarque and the Oxo Cubans, and of course to our auctioneer extraordinaire, Antony Deaker.  BRCT is deeply indebted to the generosity of our community for donating such a wide variety of goodies for our auction.  So more thanks goes to Smart Energy Solutions (40metres of wall insulation); Mr Stephen Packer (vasectomy); Karen Jacquard Massage Therapy (Massage), Hunting & Fishing (butchers block); Jenna Packer (limited edition etching); Li’l Monster clothing (kids designer clothes); Ethical Power Consulting (Home Energy Audit); Karl Veint (trailer of firewood); Oxo Cubans (Oxo Cubans CD); and the Blueskin Bugler (early morning wake up call).  These bighearted businesses and individuals, aided by supportive bidders, ensured we raised a valuable $1700 for BRCT, and successful bidders went home happy. This money comes at a crucial time of the year for us and will help towards all our overheads (rent, electricity, telecommunications, etc).