~Mom said: Connie called, when I was at the Legion supper, asking how much she owes me for the needles and oil. I will call her in the a.m and tell her that is my contribution to the newborn kits.~

Connie is so cute, she phoned me last night as well concerned about getting reimbursement to you and the money to me. I'm going to drop in on their regular meeting on Tuesday at 2pm.

~Mom said: Any news about getting the shipping container dragged to Saltspring? The rain worries me and was wondering if we can make arrangements to use the Farmers' Institute for sorting and packing. Could park the containers at the big double doors. We could also use the kitchen to make coffee etc. for the volunteers.~

I got approval to transfer the shipping funds to Ray at the SOLID meeting on Wednesday. I talked to Ray yesterday morning and as soon as the $$$s hit his account he'll get the ball rolling and he said everything should happen within two weeks. I'll keep you posted. EXCELLENT!!! idea for the Farmer's Institute. Would be a great place to do it. I'll follow that up. Thanks mom.

Not quite SOLID news but noteworthy.

I'd like to congratulate my brother for winning the Chamber of Commerce "Best Home Based Business Award" this year. I'm sure he'd like to thank ummm, well ME! for keeping his books in order for the past 16 years. hmmm, okay ... maybe he wouldn't say it but I'm sure he's thinking it!!! ; )

Other SaltSpring news this week.

SaltSpring earns green award

A field of environmentally friendly local government initiatives has earned Salt Spring Island one of seven provincial Green City Awards. Premier Gordon Campbell made the presentation at the Union of B.C. Municipalities convention in Vancouver last Wednesday.

“This award belongs to the whole community, which has a longstanding and active commitment to sustainability,” said Gary Holman, Salt Spring’s director on the Capital Regional District (CRD) board, in a press release. “It also demonstrates that our unique form of governance on Salt Spring can meet the challenges of growth while respecting the fragile environment of the island.”

Full story

Congratulations Anna!!! We just received word that she won the Pharmacy Practice’s Commitment to Care award in the charitable work category which recognizes exceptional volunteer work, contributions to charitable organizations, creation of a charity program, performance of a humanitarian deed or overall commitment to charity work.

Way to go SOLID Poster Girl : )

Shucks...thanks Meron! So excited about the potential for the national media campaign!!!!! Will do my best SOLID sell job ever. May have to give up my full-time job soon....good thing this volunteer stuff pays so well! Just kidding...of course the personal value is immeasurable.....Thanks to the rest of the team for all their hard work also.

HI MERON, GOOD LUCK WITH SOLID!

Do you think Ray might have a thread on here like "Unbelievable Donation"? What he, Jackie and you do on all that is so inspiring.

:-)

Thanks Michael!

I had that very conversation with Ray just the other day. He's very busy doing "unbelievable" things and I suggested to him that he needs to keep us all up to date on his goings on. He said he's been having some difficulty getting connected on <ned> and hasn't had enough spare time to figure out why. I'll keep buggin' him :D

Yee-haa!! That is wonderful news, Anna. Take lots of pictures. Who are you taking with you..hmmm? Margery

Wonderful to see you here Margery. By way of introduction Margery is the Executive Director and one of the founders of I-SEA, Institute for Sustainability, Education and Action, and also one of SOLID's newer board members.

Hello all

We are all so pleased and proud of the attention that Anna and Beth's contribution has gained. The recognition has given Anna several oportunities to talk about some of the issues in Sub Saharan Africa and about the work that SOLID does on the ground in Africa and here in Canada. She has audience with people in position to bring out the big bucks and there is no shortage of need for that.

On the topic of big bucks, I am buisy organizing for the live and silent auction that will take place here on Salt Spring Island on November 16th. So far we have donations of coffee from a local cofee house, a team of talented bakers to sweeten up the event goers and an ever growing list of goods and services to be auctioned off.

We are aiming for between 30-40 items for each the live and the silent auction. Our community here on Salt Spring is so generous that we are already comming close to the target numbers. With the right advertizing and an artical about my upcomming trip and SOLID's work we should attract a good number of auction goers as well. This auction is for anyone, not just people who live here, so if you want a good excuse to come to our lovely Island you are most welcome. Off season rates at the local B&B's and hotels, and posibly a free stay with friends if you know any of us.

The auction is primarily a SOLID fund raiser, but it will also be a fund raiser for my up comming trip to Swaziland and Lesotho. The things for my fund raiser will be either made, or suplied by me, with all other donations going to SOLID including a basket woven by me.

Wish us luck on this up comming event!

Upcoming SaltSpring event from Phil Vernon (We Continue Forward)

Gulf Islands Treaty Conflict Subject of Talk

A public talk on October 18th will cover the conflict emerging from the recent signing of the Tsawwassen Treaty, including a court challenge on the grounds it encroaches on local First Nation’s traditional territory. Entitled “Troubled Waters: Conflicting Treaties in the Gulf Islands,” the Lions Hall event will feature Eric Pelkey of the Sencot’en C’A,I, Newel and Douglas Harris of the UBC Faculty of Law. Both will discuss the background and challenge to the recent agreement, ratified by Tsawwassen First Nation but yet to be approved by the Provincial Legislature.

Sencot’en C’A,I, Newel (meaning Sencoten People Working Together) is an alliance of First Nations on the Saanich Peninsula including Tsawout First Nation, owner of the Reserve land at Fulford Harbour, as well as Semiahmoo First Nation near White Rock. According to Eric Pelkey, Sencot’en territorial rights, enshrined by treaty with Governor James Douglas in 1852, have been ignored by both the federal and provincial governments under the BC Treaty process.

In particular, Pelkey says his people were never consulted regarding Tsawwassen claims to harvesting sites in the Southern Gulf Islands. As “Saltwater People” with no major rivers in their territories, marine food harvesting among the islands has always been crucial to the Sencot’en culture and economy.

In return opening up land for settlement, the Douglas Treaty gave protection of Sencot’en rights to hunt over unoccupied land and to fish as formerly. Pelkey notes the 1852 treaty referred only to the Saanich Peninsula, and that his people never ceded their territorial rights to the lands and waters of the Southern Gulf Islands -- rights they say are still protected by treaty.

Douglas Harris will address the legal and historical context of fishing rights in the area. As an associate professor of Law at the University of BC, Harris is well placed to contribute his views. The author of Fish, Law, and Colonialism: The Legal Capture of Salmon in British Columbia, Harris has also written articles on legal relations between settler society, government and indigenous peoples in British Columbia. Currently he is completing the manuscript for a second book entitled Landing Aboriginal Fisheries: Indian Reserves and Rights to Fish in British Columbia, 1849-1925.

Next Thursday's event promises to be an insightful and timely event for anyone wishing to better understand our changing islands!

Doors open at 6:30, speakers begin 7:00. Admission is by donation, hosted by SS Islanders for Justice and Reconciliation.

Hallo to Meron and all i must say that am very much impressed with what the work you are doing in Salt spring towards the pandemic that is ravaging Sub Saharan Africa. I would wish to join this thread as i come from a community in the Western part of Kenya where it Aids has destroyed livelihoods. The Nation of Kenya can say that there is a general decline in the pevalance rates but the reality on the ground is not the same. My community lack or have limited access to VCT services to begin with the stigma that surrounds those infected is all time high. Access to ARVs is still wanting,the UNGASS declaration might not be realised by us uless drastic measures are taken now. This was just a preview to confirm that indeed Aids is wiping us and i always say that if our Youth and Children aren't given the right facts,prevention messages don't reach them then a whole generation might be wiped out from the face of the planet. Thank you all for the good work you are doing. Ronald

Thanks Ronald, happy to have you join us here. We look forward to your contributions.

Another upcoming event, this time from Margery.

Hi there. Hope you all can come this Saturday for a refreshment at Fulford Inn at 5pm. Appetizers provided.

What is Green Drinks...?

Every month people who work in the environmental field meet up for a beer at informal sessions known as Green Drinks. On Salt Spring they happen every month and are organized by I-SEA (www.i-sea.org). This month we'll be discussing a SSI Green Map project and getting ideas on what that should be and look like (http://www.greenmap.org/greenhou se/). In Victoria over 1500 people belong to Green Drinks and every month about 200 get together. It's very motivating and we thought it would be fun to do here on the island.

We have usually have a lively mixture of people from NGOs, academia, government and business. It's a great way of catching up with people you know and also for making new contacts. Everyone invites someone else along, so there’s always a different crowd, making Green Drinks an organic, self-organizing network.

These events are very simple and unstructured, but many people have found employment, made friends, developed new ideas, done deals and had moments of serendipity.

PLEASE PASS THE INVITE ALONG!!!

Read more: Green Drinks

Margery, Executive Director, I-SEA

Hope to see some of you there.

Thanks a lot Meron am hoping to meet variuos wonderful people on this thread.

Welcome to this thread Ronald, we are happy to get your input and your prospective on the real issues on the ground. What part of Kenya do you live in?

Heather SOLID

I've told the "chocolate-coated one" on more than a couple of occasions that I think she is simply amazing.

Well, I've just quickly caught up on a couple of months of reading SOLID stuff and all I can say is you are all extraordinary - TRULY!.

Well done :)

Thanks Gayle. It is indeed a team effort and I'm blessed to be working along side some very amazing and wonderful people. : )

Hello Heather thanks for the compliment and the welcome. I live on the Western side of Kenya. Amm a luo who live along the shoires of Lake Victoria.

Hey Heather, I had an appointment with my 'leg lady' today and she gave me a $60.00 pedicure and manicure gift certificate so you can add that to the list for the silent auction.

Hello Meron and Heather; at least I am into Ned, even if I can't access the real time spreadsheet for the workshop additions. I've sent an email to this effect. Just to confirm, you are asking for donations to provide for breakfast and lunches for both Sat. and Sunday of the workshop , right Heather?

that someone at telus.net is me, Candace

Thanks Meron, too cool. You must be very smoooth.....

at talking that is.

What is the name of the busness, so I can put her on the list?

Wonderful to see that you made it on to <ned> Candace. You can change that someone@telus to your name by going into 'settings' on the green bar at the top and this page then edit your profile. Don't forget to click save after you make the changes. You may get the Google Spreadsheet figured out yet : )

Heather, it's "Esthetics by Penny" for your list. And yes, after a visit with Penny, I'm very smoooooth indeed ; )

Hi Candace, welcome!

Yes I am asking for donations. So far I have a commitment from Emby Bakery for Sat. morning aprox 60 pieces.

Barbs Buns for Sunday morning-Pick up Sat before close

GVM- Sandwich tray and fruit platter for Sunday

I have put an aplication into Thrifty Foods this morning asking for a donation for Sat lunch.

I have yet to talk to some one at the Roasting Co. about coffee and coffee related condiments. They are sofar just another line on my very scarry, oh so long to do list.

Only about 6 weeks before I leave for Africa and another big fund raiser to organize for 2 weeks after this workshop. I'm on a role now!

Meron I think Estetics by Penny has also donated a facial!? It is already on my list in any case. Could you please ask her if that is correct? I don't want to over burdon her, or take advantage of her generosity.

~Heather said: Meron I think Estetics by Penny has also donated a facial!? It is already on my list in any case. Could you please ask her if that is correct? I don't want to over burden her, or take advantage of her generosity.~

I think this is the same gift certificate. On my previous visit she said she'd donate a service and on this visit she gave it to me but it's a manicure & pedicure so you can just change the description on your oh so long to do list.

Poster for the Saturday night "We Continue Forward" event. Thanks Phil!