Quality of Life
QUALITY OF LIFE Key Performance Area
Cover Statement: While all Clear Vision Eau Claire KPA's work to enhance the quality of life in EC County, the Quality of Life KPA focuses more specifically on the Priority Issues of diversity, quality cultural and recreational activities, sustainability, and economic success for ourselves and future generations.
QUALITY CULTURAL AND RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES An eighteen member Clear Vision Eau Claire Activities Council was established in May/June of 2009. So far it has focused on the two issues identified below.
A. ADVENTURE PASS: Working with L. E. Phillips Memorial Public Library ( LEPMPL) the Clear Vision Activities Council established an "Adventure Pass" initiative which enables area residents to explore, free or at reduced cost, the many cultural activities available in EC County.
An "Adventure Book" with information on participating venues and events is available in the LEPMPL Youth Services and online at the library website ( http://www.ecpubliclibrary.info/images/media/webmaster/pdf/tickets.pdf ) It can also be accessed directly from the home page.
When the initiative became active in October of 2010, participating organizations included Beaver Creek Reserve, Children's Museum of Eau Claire, Chippewa Valley Museum, Chippea Valley Symphony, Chippewa Valley Theater Guild, Master Singers, Paul Bunyon Logging Camp and Museum, and UW-EC's Artists Series and the Forum.
B. EVENTS CALENDAR: The council worked on an Events Calendar, which would promote long-range communication/information about Eau Claire County activities and events through a "Calendar of Calendars" website. Our goal was a single site from which to access all event lists and to which groups could submit event information at one rather than multiple sites.
Although there is as yet no "auto fill" in place, the library's Community Events site( http://www.ecpubliclibrary.info/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=186&Itemid=269) allows easy access to five events calendars: Visit EC, ECRAC, UW-EC, Leader Telegram Community Calendar, and Volume One.
Contact: Mary Mickel, 715-832-9705, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
SUSTAINABILITY
Established in late October, 2008, the Clear Vision Eau Claire Sustainability Task Force's mission is to promote activities which educate and motivate the larger community on sustainability issues.
Active Task Force members include local, county, and regional planners; the UWEC Sustainability Fellow; local business people; representatives of local sustainability groups such as JONAH ( an interfaith group), Sustainable Eau Claire, and Wisconsin League of Conservation Voters; UW Extension experts in horticulture and natural resource education, as well as a county board member and other concerned citizens. Through this diverse membership we have been led to partner with a number of groups.
I. Eco-community initiative: Believing that all levels of government within Eau Claire County should address issues of sustainability in all aspects of their work, we began meeting with Eau Claire County governmental bodies (13 towns, 2 villages, 3 cities, and the County Board) to promote interest in becoming official sustainable communities and adopting The Natural Step framework for sustainability. Although ten meetings have been held so far, only the Eau Claire City Council has passed a resolution making it an official eco-community. Further movement on this initiative will depend upon securing local town members to assist our effort.
II. EcoTeam initiative: Recognizing that sustainability depends upon individuals and businesses as well as government, we worked with Eau Claire Extension, JONAH, and Sustainable EC on an EcoTeam initiative. The goal was to involve local residents and businesses in adopting more sustainable lifestyles, using the EcoTeam program developed by David Gershon of The Empowerment Institute.
An EcoTeam can be a group of friends, neighbors, co-workers, students, or members of a faith community or civic group. The team meets seven times and uses a workbook to take a critical look at their actions in six areas: garbage, water, energy, transportation, eco-wise consumption, and empowering others. By recording before and after behaviors, they can chart their progress.
In 2010 task force members were very active in searching out participants and establishing neighborhood and church EcoTeams. At present we assist groups or individuals who approach us to help establish a new EcoTeam.
III. Partnering/ connecting: (A) We worked with UWEC on a public presentation by Terry Gips and with the UWEC Conservation Club to organize events before and during the Copenhagen Climate Conference. We also have participated twice in the UWEC campus earth month.
(B) Task force members who were also EC Chamber of Commerce members encouraged the establishment of a Green Sustainable Initiative for chamber member businesses to be identified as "green" businesses. While this is entirely a chamber project, we are pleased that two Clear Vision Eau Claire STF members worked on the chamber committee to develop the criteria for identifying local "green" businesses.
(C) Task force members began meeting in spring, 2011 with EC Board of Education curriculum coordinators and teachers as they work to revise and update their social studies curriculum. Our goal is the inclusion of more sustainability material in the social studies curriculum.
(D) Winter semester (2011)Task force members worked with Flynn School to offer students an after school sustainability education program using Journey for the Planet, an EcoTeam book for elementary grades. A second group worked from the EC Unitarian Fellowship.
Contact Mary Mickel, 715-832-9705, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Performance Initiative: Meet basic needs of county residents who are low income.
Situation: County poverty is significant and increasing. One out of four county residents is low income.
Vision: Thriving communities ensure that all their members have the opportunity for basic needs, as well as recreational and cultural opportunities.
Accomplishments Over the Past Year:
Hunger Prevention Coalition Sponsored ChangeMakers Poverty Summits:
-August 15, 2008 in Eau Claire, Number attending 80
-September 30, 2008 in Augusta, Number attending 5
-Top Local Solutions: Household supporting wages, transportation, healthcare
Quality of Life Key Performance Area:
Performance Initiative: Meet basic needs of county residents who are low income.
Situation: County poverty is significant and increasing. One out of four county residents is low income.
Vision: Thriving communities ensure that all their members have the opportunity for basic needs, as well as recreational and cultural opportunities.
Accomplishments Over the Past Year:
- Hunger Prevention Coalition Sponsored ChangeMakers Poverty Summits:
-August 15, 2008 in Eau Claire, Number attending 80
-September 30, 2008 in Augusta, Number attending 50
-Top Local Solutions: Household supporting wages, transportation, healthcare
- Creation of the Clear Vision Jobs Work Group:
-Research of ECC Employment and Education Services and Resources
-Development of an Employability Road Map
-Meeting times and locations as determined by group
-Contact: Paul Savides, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it and Stan Carpenter, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
- Hunger Prevention Coalition
-Development of a Food Assistance Road Map
-Revising and expanding Community Resource Directory
-Program to assist St Francis Food Pantry Patrons to Access FoodShare (food stamps)
-Continuing to increase community awareness of food insecurity and poverty through events and presentations
-Meeting times and locations as determined by group. Meet 5 -6 times per year. Most of work completed by subcommittees.
-Contact: Nancy Coffey, 715/839-4712, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
-Next Meeting, December 2, ECC Extension Office, 227 1st Street West, Altoona
Challenges:
- Poverty is very complex. Lots of varied efforts needed.
- Difficult to make sure that all ECC agencies and organizations have a unified effort.
- Lack of sufficient funding
Challenges:
Poverty is very complex. Lots of varied efforts needed.Difficult to make sure that all ECC agencies and organizations have a unified effort.Lack of sufficient funding