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I’d like to begin with a special note of thanks to Carol Head, who took over from Nick Lanyon as President of BREAZE in March 2009 and was an energetic and decisive President until her cheerful semi-retirement to Apollo Bay earlier in the year.
Over recent months, the Committee has been very pleased to welcome Patrice Braun and Jennifer Hildebrand to the group. As well as redressing a gender imbalance in the Committee, they’ve brought new skills, experience and perspectives to the group. We have an excellent Committee, who come from a diverse range of backgrounds and combine to work together very well. Some members were part of the founding Committee and bring valuable historical perspective. Others have ‘arrived’ more recently and their ‘fresh eyes’ enable them to ask penetrating questions about why we do what we do! It’s a great mix, but we still have room for a couple of additional Committee members, so please consider whether you might be able to be involved. BREAZE members are welcome to attend Committee meetings, so if you want to come along to check it out, please let me know.
After having had the BREAZE strategic plan endorsed by members at our February Planning Day, our current Committee priority is setting up the best structures and systems to achieve our goals. The ‘big picture’ priorities for BREAZE remain the same, but we’ve realised that we’ve outgrown some of our ways of operating. We need to position BREAZE for increased effectiveness and future growth through refining existing governance structures. We have already set up subcommittees to deal with Governance, Finance and Human Resources. Several committee members have attended governance training events and we’ve sought external advice on the best structures for BREAZE in the future. As options are explored, we’ll bring you more news on this in future months.
While this solid Committee work is going on in the background, the more visible projects continue; BREAZE is leading the consortium setting up the EcoLiving Ballarat Learning Network, information evenings continue to attract crowds, volunteers are giving talks at meetings or running stalls at events several times a week, action groups are meeting regularly, installations of solar hot water systems and photovoltaic systems continue and the resurgence in home food growing is gaining momentum. Whether through high profile projects or the actions of individual members, BREAZE is making a difference.
It’s a good thing that we are making a difference, because recent events in Canberra suggest that we can’t rely on either of the major parties to provide the urgent climate change solutions we need. For all the rhetoric from the government, their decision to effectively dump climate change as an election issue reminded me of one BREAZE member‘s comment that the government would only follow where we lead. Political pressure and advocacy remain important for us, but let’s also keep getting on with our own practical things on the ground (and sometimes without needing a rebate!)
Please remember that you can donate to the BREAZE Fund and receive a tax deduction. With the end of financial year approaching, perhaps you are reviewing your donations to charity? If every member donated $100, that would be a great boost to our coffers and the combined impact of putting that money to work will keep BREAZE at the forefront of the climate change movement.
warm regards,
Steve Burns |
