The Southwest Organization
for Sustainability (SOS) was formed in February
2006 by a group of environmentally concerned citizens
in Archuleta county. The founder and Chair, Denise
Rue-Pastin is an environmental professional who
decided to take action by forming the group after
repeated “What
can we do?” inquiries.
The
mission of SOS is to promote a sustainable community—one which balances the needs of
the economy, society and environment. The United
Nations defines sustainability as that which “meets
the needs of the present without compromising the
ability of future generations to meet their own
needs.”
The SOS is a charter member of the Sustainability
Alliance of Southwest Colorado (SASCO). SASCO is
a 501c(3) nonprofit organization based in Durango.
For more information on SASCO visit their website at sustainableswcolorado.org. Similar to SASCO,
SOS goals include:
Communicate with and educate the public and elected
officials about choices that affect sustainability;
Undertake and support specific projects that foster
sustainability;
Offer coordination and synergistic connections
for diverse individuals and groups working to fulfill
community needs;
Research best practices adopted elsewhere to foster
sustainable communities;
Investigate funding options to support local sustainability
efforts;
and
Coordinate sustainability efforts on a regional
and bioregional scale in the Four Corners area.
The SOS is overseen by a Steering Committee that
meets the first Monday of each month from 11:30-1:00
at the Pagosa Springs Chamber of Commerce. They meet to discuss organizational
business and to coordinate activities and events.
Steering Committee meetings are open to the public
and topic suggestions are welcome and encouraged.
The SOS sponsors a quarterly environmental series
of events around member and/or pubic identified
areas of interest. Unless it falls before a holiday
weekend, these events are conducted the fourth
Friday of each month at 7:00 pm at the UU Hall.
Generally, the series is launched with an environmental
film, followed the next month with a speaker with
that area of expertise. The quarterly series is
concluded with a forum or work session related
to the topic, with an emphasis on “what can
be done locally.” Sample activities and events
to-date include:
“End of Suburbia” environmental cinema
showing (over 20 in attendance);
LPEA energy speaker talking about their “Green
Power Program;”
“Running Dry” environmental cinema
showing (over 30 in attendance);
Sustainability expert/speaker talking about "Localizing
for the Future;"
“An Inconvenient Truth” environmental
cinema showing (over 100 in attendance, plus more
than 100 signatures on petitions urging local government
to support the Mayors Climate Protection Initiative);
“The Great Warming” environmental cinema
showing (over 40 in attendance);
Global warming expert/speaker talking about “What
can be done about climate change locally;”
“The Real Dirt on Farmer John” environmental
cinema showing (over 30 in attendance);
Consumer supported agriculture (CSA) speaker talking
about “What can be done locally to support
CSA;”
Drafting and submittal of a “Global Warming
Statement of Conscience;”
Lester Brown’s Plan B.2 book review club;
and
Participation in a county work session related
at alternatives to the traditional use of pesticides;
also a letter to the editor supporting non-toxic
alternatives.
In addition to the above-referenced activities
and events, SOS: had a representative (Rue-Pastin)
elected to the SASCO Board of Directors; launched
this website; houses an
extensive environmental clipping service; developed
an organizational logo and flyer; and purchased
promotional bags.
Tentative topics for the future
include: energy conservation/efficiency; water
issues; and solid waste-related (i.e., reduce/reuse/recycle).
Future plans include: more policy dialogue with
elected officials; outreach and coordination with
other organizations; writing articles for news
sources; increase membership; and increase Board
participation.
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