Friday, August 21, 2009

Our Clean Energy Future- Aug 18- Edina High School

Welcome Bill!!!!!

How do you promote a movement on a gorgeous summer evening? Will people show up on a Tuesday in mid-August to hear about Climate Change Action?

500 people answered yes to that question on Aug 18th at Edina High School in Edina MN to hear Minnesota's own polar explorer Will Steger and 350's founder Bill McKibben to engage the attendees in an multi-faceted evening of conversation, education, entertainment and celebration on growing the awareness and urgency of creating "Our Clean Energy Future."

The Edina Dialogue event sponsored by the Edina Community Foundation, the Edina Energy and Environment Commission, the Will Steger Foundation, Cool Planet and 5 other local sponsors was linked with the Will
Steger Summer Institute for Educators the following day at the U of MN. Both events were planned to help spread the message of 350.org and to align the planet's focus on the number 350 and what communities can do to continue the process of making the number 350 the place to be ASAP.

With 20 local organizations hosting information tables for 2 hours before the presentations by Will and Bill and a book signing, organic local food reception and local music provided byEdina High School students after the talks, the buzz of energy and networking was tangible as Edina citizens and folks from all over the Twin Cities continued their plans to make October 24 a day the world will remember for a long time.

The next evening at the Edina Energy and Environment Commission meeting the number 350 was mentioned many times as the reality of having a tangible goal to shoot for was translated to "how doesEdina cut 3% of our energy use in the next year?"

Thank you to Bill, Will and all the staff and volunteer's who made this wonderful evening in August another step on the path to a new world of sustainability, responsive governmental action and friendly, engaged communities.

The 350 message is being heard in Minnesota and we're taking action!!!!