It’s Getting Hot In Here

State-wide and regional networks across the country provide opportunities for cross-campus and organizational partnerships, as well as large power bases available for quick mobilization. As these networks grow, they also come with growing pains. The Cascade Climate Network (CCN) hopes that by sharing our stories and models, networks can learn from each other.

Last Spring the Cascade Climate Network (CCN) worked hard on developing a communication and decision-making model while focusing on network development and building our power base. This year we are using that structure and flexing our muscles with new campaigns and projects. Most recently we enjoyed two big internal projects: our fall retreat and the release of our first internal newsletter.

I urge the interested to view our newsletter here: ccnnewsletteroctober

And, I would love to direct everyone to enjoy page 5, which includes a visual representation of our organizing model, a.k.a. “Covalent Bonding in Activist Networks”.

On October 3^rd-6^th, the Cascade Climate Network celebrated its first birthday! Thirty Oregon and Washington youth organizers met in Olympia, WA for a weekend of campaign planning, project launching, trainings and general discussion of all things green and beautiful.

The weekend kicked off Friday evening with a celebration of a year’s endeavors and victories, including a major launch at the Focus the Nation event at University of Portland in January, a successful battle in Washington lobbying against “Clean” Coal, various campaigning efforts in Oregon to support the fight against LNG, the development of the Northwest Institute for Community Energy and SPROG 2008!

Following a lively rendition of the group’s history and reconfiguration of goals, three packed days were devoted to strategizing and training. In the fashion of the CCN’s Atomic Model framework, four project groups took off adding four new electrons to the group’s orbitals: Implementation of sustainable food practices on campuses, planning of four new college campus-community energy projects, campus-administration pressure tactics for clean energy and tactics to hold corporate accountability.

Still to come; the unfolding of the Trek to Re-Energize America, Bike the Pipeline, Power Vote 2008 and the CCN November summit to Re-Energize the Northwest!

That’s whats going on over here. Whats up with y’all?