Meetings > Meeting Notes > February 15, 2009
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February 15, 2009
THE REAL WEALTH OF PORTLAND.
We began our meeting by exploring our community group direction by choosing OH cards with a question intended for our group. The words and pictures chosen showed both profundity and humor, and opened the discussion that was to follow: Barbara Gerke's presentation on David Korten's book Agenda for a New Economy: From Phantom Wealth to Real Wealth and how to use Community as a resource.
Barbara began by pointing out that the health and well being of family and community is available without a reliance on the old "rich is better" values. We can have The Real Wealth of Portland, she said, by showing active interest in family, schools, health care, earth care. She defined a "caring economy" by way of a caring community where we use our collective and individual voices to speak about the shift we want to occur. ("What a society values in terms of dollars is a decision"... not a fact. Also, "BE the media," Barbara said, "rather than watch and listen to others' sound bites and talking heads.
She urged us to use the conference website to listen to Korten's speech on this subject. (See also www.solari.com, which is Catherine Austin Fitts's website. Fitts will be a presenter at the 13th IONS International Conference, by the way. June 17 - 21, 2009 in Tucson. (Mary is gathering names (and before March 18, checks) from those members who want to attend and desire a discount to the conference. Please call 503.635.3961 for details.)
Discussion was lively with all ten attendees participating. Here are some of the ideas presented:
- You needn't support big corporations through your bank. Ask (your bank) "What do you do with my money?" Local banks are known for not supporting corporations: It takes courage to put your savings in a local bank or credit union.
- How do you share your skills with others who wish to share theirs? March 16 at First Unitarian Church (7:00 - 9:30) will focus on "Ideas into Action: Skill Sharing and Exchange within Community." Questions? info@realwealthpdx.org
- Transformation is a paradigm shift, not merely an ordinary change. When we stop looking at our lives through the lenses of scarcity and instead accept and intend abundance, we will begin to be in that paradigm shift.
- Finally, here are some resources for you readers:
getrichslowly.org (a blog by a local fellow)
slowmoneyalliance.org Woody Tasch
aroundthesunblog.com (another blog)
Finally, we shared the wisdom of the line, "you shouldn't have to EARN a living!" Then everyone chose two more OH cards for personal intentions. We ended with a few laughs and insights.