Re: summer vehicle clinic again?

["DAVID TROWBRIDGE" <trowbridges@attcanada.net>]

Folks, I think the exposure for CN is worthwhile as we are working very
directly on a cleaner north with the Vehicle Emission Clinic and we may get
some donations as well. Having said this I remember not being able to take
part last year because of several conflicts so would like to hear from Jack
as to degree of effort involved. Also maybe we could try to spread out the
events with some advance planning.
David
-----Original Message-----
From: Kathleen M. Brosemer <kathie@cleannorth.org>
To: officers@lists.cleannorth.org <officers@lists.cleannorth.org>
Date: Thursday, January 09, 2003 12:54 PM
Subject: summer vehicle clinic again?


>
>Hi everyone.
>
>Unfortunate timing (wish it had come in two days ago!) but I just heard
>from Patrick Cram at Environment Canada about wanting to find out which
>local hosts are interested in doing another vehicle emissions clinic this
>coming summer.  Opinions wanted...
>
>Last year it was part of a three-event grind for us (books, cars, and
>garden tour), but this year we won't be doing another book recycling
>event, given the new yellow box program.  Env. Can. is reversing their
>cross-Canada route this year but as we're mid-continent it probably won't
>affect timing for us much at all (it was early July last year).
>
>Last year much of the organizing work was done by Jack, with help from the
>Lung Association (they arranged for all the radio ads, for example).  Jack
>has already expressed some event fatigue, wanting to skip the garage sale
>this year.  No idea whether he found the emissions clinic planning to be
>onerous or would be eager to pass it on to someone else.
>
>Patrick hasn't mentioned funds, but last year there was a budget from Env.
>Can. which covered actual out-of-pocket expenses.  This would allow us to
>hire someone part-time to promote the clinic if we wanted to.  We didn't
>do that last year, we spent a little more than $2k (of the $5k that was
>available), mostly on radio advertising.  Some on posters and our shade
>tents.  There really isn't room to use the money for things that are of
>long-term value to CN apart from small equipment needs (a few hand tools,
>perhaps, or a couple of coolers might be okay).  We could probably slide
>in some "extra" duct tape and other consumables that we use for BOYD.  But
>there isn't a big $ bonus for doing this, it won't pay the rent for
>example.
>
>Given the recent interest in a Transportation Working Group, it may be
>worth our while from a visibility perspective.  Might want to use the
>exposure to carry a couple of other messages, do a petition about transit,
>join up with the Bike Workshop for a bike event, or something.  It's also
>a nice summer event to bring out the volunteers who come out to do things
>but don't organize things.
>
>My immediate feeling is "say yes, wait and see if someone comes forward to
>organize, if not, hire a student for a couple of weeks to do it".  Your
>opinion wanted...
>
>thanks
>k
>
>
>--
>
>I awake each morning torn between a desire to save the world, and a desire
>to savour the world.  This makes it hard to plan my day.
>                           -  E.B. White
>
>
>