Author: ariverworthriding

  • Energy and Climate Action Alert

    Once again time is of the essence!!  This coming Tuesday Feb. 1, 2011 testimony will be heard on  a bill relating to Alternative Energy Wheeling.  I will be submitting testimony by email and cannot be there personally on Tuesday.  Anyone who is interested in making official appearance as designee, please let me know by e-mailing me at hinanorey@gmail.com

    Lisa Hinano Rey

    Chair, Energy and Climate Subcommittee

    The committee(s) on ENE has scheduled a public hearing on 02-01-11 3:30PM in conference room 225.

    http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session2011/lists/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=SB&billnumber=703

    RELATING TO ENERGY.
    Report Title: Governmental Wheeling; Inter and Intra; Public Utilities; Transmission and Distribution Fee
    Description: Requires the public utilities commission to adopt rules and issue orders relating to intra-governmental wheeling and inter-governmental wheeling that enable renewable energy producers operating on public lands to sell electricity directly to governmental entities located on the same island. Authorizes public utilities to charge a transmission and distribution fee for both intra-governmental wheeling and inter-governmental wheeling.

  • “Lessons from the Ledge” a series of articles by Gary Hooser

    The other day, I overheard Gary Hooser likening the Legislative Process to “trying to drink water from a fire hose.” The accuracy of that image still gets me smiling.

    Those of you who have been coming to our meetings know how lucky our Caucus is to have someone with Gary’s experience as our Environmental Chair. He has lived and worked that process for years. And now, he has written a wonderfully informative series of articles designed demystify that process. I would like to recommend that everyone check them out on his blog, beginning with this one:
    The Players, The Process, The Rules

  • Steering Committee Meeting Reminder and Proposed Agenda

    Our next Steering Committee Meeting is January 26, 2011
    Location on Oahu: Democratic Headquarters in Ward Warehouse
    Neighbor Islands: Please contact our Committee Vice Chair if you would like to arrange for either Skype or Teleconference.

    5:50 Open meeting room at Democratic State Headquarters in Ward Warehouse
    6:00 Chair calls meeting to order followed by:

    1. Treasurer and Fund Raising report
      1. Amount in Account
      2. We need to send out a few Thank You Cards
        1. Recommend Bill be our official Thank You Card sender
      3. We will have a Coffee/Malasada booth at World Wetland’s Day–thank you Juanita and Shannon
        1. Can we afford to print the Trifold in time for World Wetland’s Day?
        2. We need three to four more volunteers to man the booth.
      4. Fundraising e-mail nearly ready to go, just waiting to add a PayPal link before sending
        1. Tony working with PayPal to set up official status, so we can place a donation button on the website and add one to our e-mails
    2. Secretary’s Report
      1. Accept minutes from last meeting
    3. Chair Report:
      1. We need to design a policy regarding “Official Caucus Testimony”
        1. Gary will propose a policy, followed by general discussion and confirmation
    4. Vice Chair and Communications Report:
      1. Propose changing the name of the Food Security and Sustainability Subcommittee to include the word farm or Ag
      2. Draft of letter to “New Interested Members” available for those who want it
      3. We need a location for our next General Caucus Meeting on February 23.
        1. Propose a Meeting and Movie Night
      4. February 12 State Central Committee Meeting–we are on the agenda to finalize official Caucus Status with Democratic Party
        1. Lynn, Juanita, and Alan have agreed to attend. Do we need anyone else to attend?

    6:30 Subcommittee Reports:
    Do we have specific bills that we need to start tracking?

    7:00 Robert Harris and Scott Glenn from the Sierra Club’s “Capitol Watch” have agreed to join us and preview their website, including a section of the site that monitors/lists EVERY SINGLE BILL THAT IS PROPOSED by subject matter – Agriculture, Energy etc.  It promises be a valuable tool for our members.

    7:30 Meeting officially adjourns followed by an extended general discussion for those who desire one.

    Looking forward to seeing you all at the meeting,

    Lynn

  • Important EIS meeting about “Big Wind” Projects

    State and the Department of Energy will hold a meeting to determine the scope of the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the proposed “Big Wind” project. These are important meetings, allowing the impacted communities to help shape the content of the coming EIS. Please try to attend and voice whatever questions you may have about this project.

    Meeting Information: Feb 1, 2011, at  5:30 at McKinley High School

  • Hawai’i 2011 Legislative Session Calendar

    The Hawai’i State Legislature has announced its 2011 Calendar. We thought you might want to see it. To view a larger PDF version of this calendar in closer detail, click on the following link: 2011 Session calendar-1

    Mahalo

  • An Invitation to a free-public update on Invasive Species

    2011 Silent Invasion Update
    Presentation by the Coordinating Group on Alien Pest Species

    If you’re on Oahu on Tuesday January 25, 2011, please join a free public update about hot-topic invasive species issues.  Learn about the impacts of the proposed Guam build-up on Hawaii, the future of biocontrol, and what we need to do to better protect Hawaii from invasive species.

    Tuesday, January 25, 2011
    4:00 p.m. – 5:15 p.m.
    State Capitol Auditorium

    Did we mention this presentation was free?

  • Free Advocacy Workshops at the Capitol’s Public Access Room

    Discover the Public’s Power in the Legislative Process.

    • Easy ways to add your voice & ideas to the process that determines State laws
    • Overview of the people at the Capitol, what they do, and how and when lawmaking takes place
    • Handy tips for finding the information you need
    • Assistance in writing and delivering effective testimony – at the Capitol or without leaving your home.

    The Public Access Room (the “PAR”) conducts free workshops entitled, “We the Powerful!” This 1 hour meeting is designed to demystify the State lawmaking process and will demonstrate ways that people can speak out at the legislature. All are welcome. No prior experience is required.

    PAR’s workshop is designed to be useful to both newcomers and veterans of the legislative process. Covered topics include delivering effective testimony, making sense of deadlines, and using the latest innovations on the Legislature’s website. Renewed inspiration to be part of the solution is the overriding theme.

    Schedule of workshops

    Held in room 401, State Capitol
    (415 N. Beretania St. at corner of Punchbowl St.):

    January through March, 2011 (starting 1/11/11)

    • Tuesday…………12:00 noon
    • Thursday………….5:00 p.m.
    • Saturday…………11:00 a.m.

    To make sure they have enough materials on hand, they ask that you please let them know you’re coming — call 587-0478 or email them at par@capitol.hawaii.gov.

    Live on  a neighbor Island and unable to attend? Check out the handy links below – you can walk yourself through the core of the workshop.  Just call or email PAR if you have questions!

    Workshop Material

    Download excerpts from, A Participant’s Guide to Hawaii State Legislative Process:

    We encourage all of our Caucus members to attend one of these workshops, either in person or by reading through the links above.

    Mahalo

  • Action alert from Peopleforbikes.org

    Aloha all,

    Tony Austin, our Caucus treasurer, has asked that we post the following information sent to him by Peopleforbikes.org. Since this important information goes right along with our own 2011 platform to make bike and pedestrian travel an integral transportation mode in the islands, we thought we might oblige.

    Peopleforbikes.org is asking people to sign a pledge in support of safer and better bicycling.

    They would also like people to send a short email to their U.S. Representatives, affirming the need for safe and convenient bicycling, and asking their members of Congress to support ongoing funding for bike projects and crucial programs such as Safe Routes to School.

    The organization reports that some members of Congress, particularly in the House of Representatives, want to dramatically (and disproportionally) cut the cost-effective federal investment in bicycling projects and programs, like bike paths, bike lanes, trails, and more. They simply don’t know (or overlook) these facts:

    * Bicycling and walking are essential to our communities.

    * Federal transportation investments that support these activities boost our economy, help individuals and government agencies save money, and directly address key societal challenges such as obesity and road congestion.

    * Biking and walking currently total 12% of the trips that Americans make but cost just 1.5% of our transportation spending. That’s the type of cost effectiveness we need now!

    You can find statistics and case studies backing up these key points on their website. You can also locate your representative’s e-mail, review a suggested text for you to customize, and send your note directly from their site. Click here for the link to their website.

    Finally, if you have action alerts that you feel the Caucus should post, contact lynn@navigatinglife.org with details.

    Mahalo

  • Meeting reminder and location change

    Aloha all,

    Our Wednesday 6:00 Steering Committee meeting, scheduled for January 12, is still happening, just at a different location. Rather than at Democratic Headquarters, we will be meeting next to the amphitheater on the ground floor of Ward Warehouse.

    Hope to see you there.

    Lynn

  • Your invitation to a 2011 Legislator Meet & Greet

     

    Date and Time: Tuesday January 18, 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM
    Location Abercrombie for Governor Headquarters
    1050 Ala Moana Blvd. Suite 2150
    Honolulu, HI
    Created By Hawaii Democratic GLBT Caucus
    More Info Aloha! 

    On the eve before the 2011 Legislative Session for the State of Hawai’i we hope that you are able to come out and meet the legislators along with leadership and members of the GLBT Caucus, Labor Caucus and the Young Democrats of Democratic Party of Hawai’i, plus members of the party’s other caucuses.

    This is an informal setting to get to know each other or in some cases touch bases before the hard work of the upcoming session begins.

    We are happy to announce that Governor Neil Abercrombie will be joining us.

    We will be serving light pupus and beverages.

    This event is FREE for all Legislators and members of the GLBT Caucus, Labor Caucus and the Young Democrats.

    Members of all other Caucuses of the Democratic Party of Hawai’i are invited to attend but a suggested donation of $10 is requested.

    GLBT Caucus, Labor Caucus & Young Democrats of the Democratic Party of Hawai’i

    RSVP is requested – hawaiiglbtcaucus@gmail.com

    http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/event.php?eid=182631631755162