Berkshire Co-Act

Community Organizing for Action

September 1, 2011
by Janet Henderson
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Concert Fundraiser for Co-Act Sunday, Sept. 18th in Housatonic

Join in the celebration and fun with 9 bands on Sunday, September 18th, from 1 to 8 pm…beautiful setting…at 48 High Street, Housatonic! Check out DebFest.com for all the info.

Bands Playing

who

when

Tom Norton

1:00 – 1:30

Rock Steady Rockers

1:30 – 2:30

Harpo Jenkins Johnson

2:30 – 3:00

Last Chance Band

3:00 – 4:00

Steff Brandenburg

4:00 – 4:30

Paul from CO-ACT

4:30 – 4:45

8 Foot River

5:00 – 6:00

Berkshire Mtn. Rambler

6:00 – 6:30

Bell Engine

6:30 – 7:30

Glenn Geiger

7:30 – 8:00

We supply the music, and you supply the food, drinks, chairs, blanket, umbrella, etc. No smoking at this event, please.

$10 donation to Co-Act is much appreciated!

If you’d like to come, please let us know by sending an RSVP to Paul Deslauriers at paul@co-act.org or use our Contact Form!

September 13, 2011
by Bob Connors
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Berkshire Timebank Newsletter Sept. 2011

This issue will expand the reach of Berkshire Timebank by presenting opportunities for members to improve their lives as well as those of other members.

This September newsletter details a member work project, member meetings, a local music festival and a member marketplace. Read on and tell me what you think of adding these new categories to the Berkshire Timebank Newsletter and how Berkshire Timebank can become a bigger part of your life.

Sincerely,

Bob Connors
Co-coordinator Continue Reading →

August 20, 2011
by Paul Deslauriers
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September 20, 2011 Co-Act Monthly Meeting

Growing Nutrition Dense Foods and Self-Sufficiency

6:30 - 7:30 PM potluck; 7:30 - 9:30 meeting at 55 Fenn St., Pittsfield, MA

Potluck begins at 6:30

Along with the potluck, we will have a showing of “Dirt”, an informative documentary on soil nutrition.

Presentation begins at 7:30

With the economy as it is, we have a timely topic for this evening: David Yarrow, who has been a food and farm activist for 35 years, will discuss the process of creating soil balance for optimum plant growth. He will use four of Co-Act Food Net’s gardens as examples. We will also discuss food storage and preparedness for self-sufficiency. Continue Reading →

August 19, 2011
by Bob Connors
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Berkshire TimeBank Newsletter August 2011

Dear Friends,
As we end our vacations and the kids go back to school, let’s start to think more about our community and our long-term interests.

  • Do you think your federal, state or local governments will improve your life in the next year?
  • Do you think these entities have the resources or ability to do so?
  • Do you think that your life will improve economically in the next year?
  • Do you think that you can improve your neighbor’s life in the next year?
  • Do you think your neighbors can improve your life in the next year?

I’ve answered with three straight “No’s” and two straight “Yes’s.” How about you? Continue Reading →

August 19, 2011
by Paul Deslauriers
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The Local Emergency Food Net

The Food Net is a local food support system that delivered 6,000 pounds of fresh organic produce in 2009 and 11,000 pounds in 2010 to fourteen meal sites in central and southern Berkshire County. In 2010 alone, the Food Net contributed fresh produce and protein for 88,400 meals. 2011 deliveries are exceeding the previous record. Continue Reading →

August 15, 2011
by Becky Meier
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Common Good Finance: There IS a better way

Something in the world is not right. There must be a better way.

By Becky Meier

Millions of people are starving around the world and there is enough food to feed them all. Something is not right. There must be a better way.

Education should help to develop the potential in every child and yet we use it to test and sort children. We are degrading our natural world and yet we aren’t pursuing greener policies or forbidding known practices of destruction. We elect good decent people to positions of power and they end up enforcing the status quo. Millions of people are sick (and some die) from preventable illnesses and yet we can’t find a way to guarantee health care to everyone. Something is not right. There must be a better way. Continue Reading →

August 8, 2011
by Janet Henderson
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Common Good Economy Meeting August 11, 2011

The Campaign for a Common Good Economy will be having a presentation in Pittsfield this Thursday, August 11. This will be a very special event, since Common Good Finance Founder and President, William Spademan, will be speaking and leading the games. If you would like to find out about the Common Good Economy concept, here’s your chance to get the whole deal, in a nutshell. And have some fun, at the same time.

As you may already know, we are now calling our initiative “the revolution with a bank”, because it truly is a game-changer. To have the money to do the things we need and want to do in our local communities will make all the difference.

Here are the meeting details:

  • Thursday, August 11, from 7-9 pm at the First United Methodist Church, 55 Fenn Street, in Pittsfield.

The presentations, which are free and open to the public, will include an introduction, the Money Game, and discussion. Refreshments will be served. Everyone is welcome. We’ll start and end on time.

Be sure to bring your friends!

To learn more about Common Good Finance, go to:

www.commongoodbank.com or email info@CommonGoodBank.com

If you have questions about the presentations:

email or call Becky Meier at beckyjmeier@commongoodbank.comor 518-781-4686

or Janet Henderson at jmhenderson@commongoodbank.com or 413-347-0252.

July 11, 2011
by Paul Deslauriers
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July 21 Musical Instrument Sale

MUSICAL INSTRUMENT SALE

Fundraiser to benefit ***The Pearl Street Day Center***

JULY 21, 2011 6:00 pm
The First United Methodist Church
55 Fenn Street Pittsfield

The Pearl Street Day Center is a non-profit collaboration serving the Homeless and Unemployed in Berkshire County offering a range of services including job development, computer and internet education and use, phones, showers, service placement, and community.

MUSICAL INSTRUMENT SALE at 4:00 pm – Proceeds to support the opening of emergency overnight shelter for the most vulnerable citizens of our community. This past winter over 15 people slept outside in the cold.

YOU can help us make sure this doesn’t happen again!!
with your tax-deductible cash DONATIONS,
Used/unused INSTRUMENTS, and PURCHASES! ! !

For More Info Call:

(413) 445- 4445

July 6, 2011
by Paul Deslauriers
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August 16, 2011 Co-Act Monthly Meeting

Co-Act meetings are held monthly on the third Tuesday of the month, with varying topics, at the Pearl Street Day Center in Pittsfield. The next will be on August 16.

6:30 PM Pot Luck; Meeting 7:30 – 9:30 PM

Pearl Street Day Center at the First United Methodist Church

55 Fenn St. (use Pearl St. entrance), Pittsfield,  MA. Take the second right on North St. from the old traffic circle.

While you’re at the church, ask Paul to take a tour of the Pearl Street Day Center and learn about the various job initiatives that are on-going, or beginning, to help to increase employment opportunities for the unemployed and underemployed of central Berkshire County.

Initiatives

Berkshire Center for the Homeless and Unemployed

Help us help those in need: Volunteer on Tuesdays or Thursdays.

The Local Emergency Food System

Become part of a team to harvest and deliver fresh produce to 14 meal sites.

Call 413-232-7888 if you would like to support these projects.

July 6, 2011
by Paul Deslauriers
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July 21 Free Big Band Performance!

215th ARMY BAND
FREE BIG BAND PERFORMANCE!!!!!

Concert with other local musicians to follow!

THIRD THURSDAY

JULY 21, 2011 6:00 pm
The First United Methodist Church
55 Fenn Street Pittsfield

While you’re there, join us for:

Fundraiser to benefit

***The Pearl Street Day Center***

A non-profit collaboration serving the Homeless and Unemployed in Berkshire County
offering a range of services including job development, computer and internet education
and use, phones, showers, service placement and community.

MUSICAL INSTRUMENT SALE at 4:00 pm – Proceeds
to support the opening of emergency overnight shelter for
the most vulnerable citizens of our community. This past
winter over 15 people slept outside in the cold.

YOU can help us make sure this doesn’t happen again!!
with your tax-deductible cash DONATIONS,
Used/unused INSTRUMENTS, and PURCHASES! ! !

For More Info Call:

(413) 445- 4445