VCS Progress Report to Potential Investors & Community Members:


We want to update Backbone supporters, fellow Vashon Islanders and potential investors on our proposed Vashon Community Solar (VCS) project at the King County Transfer Station on Vashon.

Since late October we have been working with a multi-departmental team at the County. We’ve identified an empty expanse of land north of the Vashon recycling centre as ideal: excellent solar exposure, easy access to the main panel, reasonable security, and no conflicting plans for other usage. The site is large enough to permit installation of the largest size solar array permitted under the legislation, generating up to 75 kW, and thus will have good economies of scale.

VCS is far along in working through legal, financial and accounting issues and will be poised to sign up investors quickly when we get the green light from the County, thereby maximizing the remaining production incentive period. We still plan on offering investment units in multiples of $1,000 (with $1,000 as the minimum).

The County have a mandate to increase their use of renewable energy but they have advised that they will only put the effort into installing community solar if it has the potential to be a large-scale, multi-site program. They are in the process of identifying likely sites and devising template agreements that can:

1. be executed as quickly (because of the fixed-term incentive period) as County procedures permit, and
2. apply at every site.

The County must obtain approval for each specific site. The discussions are taking rather longer than we would wish, but the excellent site and the ground-breaking nature of the project keep ‘our eyes on the prize’.
Vashon’s project is the furthest along, and has been a helpful prototype to the County for fleshing out various issues. We’re excited at the idea of this positive, public-private partnership and are striving to install the array in time for the long sunny days of summer. Your support will be essential in bringing the project to reality. We thank the hundred-plus people who have taken the VCS survey and encourage everyone else to do so, at www.vashoncommunitysolar.org

Stay tuned!


with gratitude,

Carol Eggen & Bill Moyer
Vashon Community Solar
(A project of the Backbone Campaign)

Occupy the Courts, Washington, DC
Jan. 20, 2012 11:45 AM-1 PM
US Capitol Lawn (East side) across from US Supreme Court

Greetings,

My name is Bill Moyer and I direct the Backbone Campaign, an ally of the Move to Amend Coalition. Last year, the Backbone Campaign and our partners at the Coffee Party hosted the first anniversary rally and strategy summit. This year, Move to Amend and others are taking the lead. They asked Backbone to provide creative support for this year's rally and potential* nonviolent civil disobedience action immediately following the rally.

This second anniversary event will escalate our demands for a Constitutional remedy for the offensive doctrine of corporate personhood and the corrosive equation of money (property) with political speech. And we will do so with beauty, humor, and a love for democracy we know is possible. We will have a giant 28th Amendment, the sign on the right, and a song and dance group "The Supremes" performing some of your favorite tunes (slightly modified).

Here's the Scenario:
11:45 Feeder marches arrive from DC Occupations
11:45 - "Preshow" entertainment by the Supremes
12:00 - Speakers hosted by David Cobb of Move to Amend will include Thom Hartmann and others.
12:30 - Potential nonviolent civil disobedience action
1:30 head to Methodist building for 2-5 PM strategy meeting (Across street from Rally and US Supreme Court)


We need your help to make this rally and action as powerful as it deserves to be. Some needs:

• 9 Black Graduation Gowns & White wigs (I know - US Justices don't wear wigs)
• Song and Dance people who can rehearse on the 18th and 19th.
  
• Videographers and photographers who can can document this action
• People to spread the word and promote in the DC area
• Someone who can help with sewing
• A van and crew for setting up stage
• A crew of 8 plus backup for giant signs (see to the right)
• A crew of 10 for the new giant 28th Amendment scroll that will debut on 1/20/12
• *Please contact me ASAP if you are interested in training for and participating in an orchestrated, arrestable nonviolent creative action. seek We are ing for 20 or more people for this. Support people also needed.
  
  

Please contact me at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or c.206-356-9980 to let me know what you can bring to this important collaboration.

In collaboration and solidarity,

Bill Moyer
Backbone Campaign
206-356-9980

Map of Capitol. Our rally location marked in red: (click for larger version)

• Genghis John (An intro to Col. John R. Boyd who deeply influenced Chuck.)
• How Obama Won (An exploration of the "Motherhood and Mismatch" concept.)
• The Domestic Roots of Perpetual War (A landmark piece on the Military-Industrial-Congressional Complex.)

• Evolutionary Epistemology is Chucks reworking of Boyd's Destruction and Creation
  

Boyd's Discourse on Winning and Losing

1. Introduction and Conceptual Spiral
2. Patterns of Conflict
3. Organic Design for Command and Control
4. Strategic Game

We are excited to share with you this podcast and resource page built from the information gained and resources assembled for our recent interview:

Student Debt Jubilee & Why Higher Education Ought to be Free.

On this, the 84th podcast in our Conversations with the Cabinet series, we learned from expert organizers about effectively challenging the unjust phenomenon of student loan debt, as well as why free higher education for all at our two- and four-year public universities is a common-sense, fair and affordable alternative.

Quality public higher education is a right and yet this basic right has been violated for 36 million Americans who have student loan debt. In 2010, average student debt upon college graduation was $24,000 (see Huffington Post article). This year, unpaid college student loans exceeded $1 trillion for the first time, and student loan debt is now higher than credit card debt. (see USA Today article). Thus, our country is creating an entire generation of indentured servants, while offering unprecedented wealth to predatory and unregulated private lenders such as Sallie Mae (related Mother Jones and Counterpunch articles).

We were joined by Alan Collinge of Student Loan Justice StudentLoanJustice.org and author of book Student Loan Scam. We also heard from Serge Bakalian, of Default, the Student Loan Documentary, as well as Kyle McCarthy, Default distributor and co founder of Occupy Student Debt and Studentdebt.me.

The second half of our Conversation featured Bob Samuels, President of the University Council, AFT in California, author of Why All Higher Public Education Should Be Free and blogger at Changing Universities , as well as Samir Sonti, graduate student in government, free higher education expert.

Listen to the podcast, then check out our resource list to see how you can help end student debt and bring about free higher education for all in 2012!

Diane Wittner
Co-Producer and Host
Conversations with the Cabinet
Backbone Campaign

Listen to the Podcast:
Student Debt Jubilee & Why All Higher Education Ought to be Free

Quotes from our Guests:

Alan Collinge:
"The cost of tuition has risen at double or triple the rate of inflation. At the same time, a very dirty and predatory lending instrument has been thrust upon students."

"The Department of Education needs to return money back to students in some way, shape or form."

"We must take steps now. There is a very active collection industry poised to do even more terrible things to students."

"Amendments to the Higher Education Act removed basic consumer protections. Defaulted loans are more lucrative than non-defaulted loans. Congress turned its back on the citizens on this issue."

"The Department of Education is a revolving door. The Office of Federal Student Aid is run by such executives as former Sallie Mae employees. This is a captured agency."

"Some predatory lenders also own collections agencies: "

We are excited to share with you this podcast and resource page built from the information gained and resources assembled for our recent interview:

Student Debt Jubilee & Why Higher Education Ought to be Free.

On this, the 84th podcast in our Conversations with the Cabinet series, we learned from expert organizers about effectively challenging the unjust phenomenon of student loan debt, as well as why free higher education for all at our two- and four-year public universities is a common-sense, fair and affordable alternative.

Quality public higher education is a right and yet this basic right has been violated for 36 million Americans who have student loan debt. In 2010, average student debt upon college graduation was $24,000 (see Huffington Post article). This year, unpaid college student loans exceeded $1 trillion for the first time, and student loan debt is now higher than credit card debt. (see USA Today article). Thus, our country is creating an entire generation of indentured servants, while offering unprecedented wealth to predatory and unregulated private lenders such as Sallie Mae (related Mother Jones and Counterpunch articles).

We were joined by Alan Collinge of Student Loan Justice StudentLoanJustice.org and author of book Student Loan Scam. We also heard from Serge Bakalian, of Default, the Student Loan Documentary, as well as Kyle McCarthy, Default distributor and co founder of Occupy Student Debt and Studentdebt.me.

The second half of our Conversation featured Bob Samuels, President of the University Council, AFT in California, author of Why All Higher Public Education Should Be Free and blogger at Changing Universities , as well as Samir Sonti, graduate student in government, free higher education expert.

Listen to the podcast, then check out our resource list to see how you can help end student debt and bring about free higher education for all in 2012!

Diane Wittner
Co-Producer and Host
Conversations with the Cabinet
Backbone Campaign

Listen to the Podcast:
Student Debt Jubilee & Why All Higher Education Ought to be Free

Quotes from our Guests:

Alan Collinge:
"The cost of tuition has risen at double or triple the rate of inflation. At the same time, a very dirty and predatory lending instrument has been thrust upon students."

"The Department of Education needs to return money back to students in some way, shape or form."

"We must take steps now. There is a very active collection industry poised to do even more terrible things to students."

"Amendments to the Higher Education Act removed basic consumer protections. Defaulted loans are more lucrative than non-defaulted loans. Congress turned its back on the citizens on this issue."

"The Department of Education is a revolving door. The Office of Federal Student Aid is run by such executives as former Sallie Mae employees. This is a captured agency."

"Some predatory lenders also own collections agencies: "

VCS Progress Report to Potential Investors & Community Members:


We want to update Backbone supporters, fellow Vashon Islanders and potential investors on our proposed Vashon Community Solar (VCS) project at the King County Transfer Station on Vashon.

Since late October we have been working with a multi-departmental team at the County. We’ve identified an empty expanse of land north of the Vashon recycling centre as ideal: excellent solar exposure, easy access to the main panel, reasonable security, and no conflicting plans for other usage. The site is large enough to permit installation of the largest size solar array permitted under the legislation, generating up to 75 kW, and thus will have good economies of scale.

VCS is far along in working through legal, financial and accounting issues and will be poised to sign up investors quickly when we get the green light from the County, thereby maximizing the remaining production incentive period. We still plan on offering investment units in multiples of $1,000 (with $1,000 as the minimum).

The County have a mandate to increase their use of renewable energy but they have advised that they will only put the effort into installing community solar if it has the potential to be a large-scale, multi-site program. They are in the process of identifying likely sites and devising template agreements that can:

1. be executed as quickly (because of the fixed-term incentive period) as County procedures permit, and
2. apply at every site.

The County must obtain approval for each specific site. The discussions are taking rather longer than we would wish, but the excellent site and the ground-breaking nature of the project keep ‘our eyes on the prize’.
Vashon’s project is the furthest along, and has been a helpful prototype to the County for fleshing out various issues. We’re excited at the idea of this positive, public-private partnership and are striving to install the array in time for the long sunny days of summer. Your support will be essential in bringing the project to reality. We thank the hundred-plus people who have taken the VCS survey and encourage everyone else to do so, at www.vashoncommunitysolar.org

Stay tuned!


with gratitude,

Carol Eggen & Bill Moyer
Vashon Community Solar
(A project of the Backbone Campaign)