Dear Backbone Members,

The Backbone Community Solar Project (“Backbone CSP”) is a local laboratory project of the Backbone Campaign. Today, we are deeply proud to announce that the Backbone Community Solar Project is ready for investors! Here is a bit of the story of the journey we have taken and basic information on the project. For downloadable investor information visit VashonCommunitySolar.org.

In gratitude & Collaboration,

Bill, Carol, Cathy and Team Backbone
[Psst... Currently, Backbone Campaign could really use your appreciation in the form of renewed membership so please visit BackboneCampaign.org/donate today.]

The Backbone CSP Journey

For the last two years a small and changing group of dedicated and skilled community members have moved community solar from dream to reality. Through a journey and process of our own education, a community survey, countless meetings, site visits, legal and financial consultations, document preparation and regulatory reviews... we are now ready to come to you with a solid
opportunity to make community solar a reality on Vashon Island and utilize the generous incentive provided through the Washington State Renewable energy system cost recovery legislation!

Finding a Public Host
Washington law requires the community solar system to be hosted on a public property. Because we feel this is a project that demonstrates our commitment to and an opportunity to educate the next generation, we spent about a year exploring possibilities with the Vashon School District. Though VISD was a willing partner, the engineering on existing buildings and timing of new construction made it impossible at this time.

So, last fall we began a
negotiation process with King County. We proposed a site at the retired landfill and transfer station on Vashon. Despite the complexity of the challenge, our shared desire to forge a path forward resulted in an excellent win/win agreement that is in its final stage of approval with the KC Council. We are also proud that though this is not the first community solar project in King County, it will be the first on King County property. As such, the lease agreement and much of the related work can serve as a model for others in the County and likely elsewhere.

A Regulatory Hurdle
The last and perhaps most challenging process has been with the Washington State DFI (Department of Financial Institutions). Shares in the system are considered a security. After months of honing documents with the help of a securities lawyer, on August 7, our Nonprofit Notification of Claim of Exemption was acknowledged "without further comment" by DFI. This allows us to offer shares of the Backbone CSP to Backbone Campaign's members without them needing to be accredited investors. Organizing the Community Solar System under the umbrella of Backbone Campaign's 501(c)(3) nonprofit status has other benefits as well that are made clear in our investor Questions & Answers document and investor presentation.

Basic information about the project:
Investors in the CSP will directly fund a grid-tied solar photovoltaic array that provides power for a local public facility. In this case, the array will be installed at the Vashon Recycling and Transfer Station. The installed system will be rated at approximately 50 kW to 66 kW, depending on the amount of investment raised. Investors will own the array and be able to take advantage of Cost Recovery Incentives provided by Washington State.

VERY IMPORTANT: Investors must meet certain requirements:

• Be a Puget Sound Energy (“PSE”) account holder;
• Have their primary residence in Washington State;
• And, prior to solicitation, have been a contributor, volunteer, or participant in a BC sponsored event or educational program, or be a relative of such a person. (See our Questions and Answers document in the sidebar for more on this requirement.)

Investors may purchase units of the CSP at $1,000 per unit up to a maximum investment of $30,000.

For more information about this exciting project, including how to become an investor, see our detailed Questions & Answers document document at VashonCommuintySolar.org

Upcoming Presentations:
You are not required to attend a presentation in order to invest; the Questions and Answersdocument and the Application to Invest are all you need to begin the investment process. However, if you would like to attend one of our informative sessions, choose between the below:

• Wednesday, August 22 5-6:15pm Sheffield Bldg. Conference Rm., (map)  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.  required
• Friday, August 24 12-1:15pm Sheffield Bldg. Conference Rm., (map)  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.  required
• Thursday, August 30 7-8:30pm Vashon Land Trust building,  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.  suggestedthe next Vashon Land Trust Building, 10014 Southwest Bank Road. (map)

In order to attend, you must meet the investor requirements listed above. Please call 206-408-8058 to reserve a seat.

Need more information?
If, after reading the Questions and Answers document, you would like more information, please call the Backbone Campaign office at 206-408-8058.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Bill Moyer, Executive Director, Backbone Campaign 206-356-9980, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

February 7, 2013

The Backbone Campaign and Allies Applaud Re-Launch of ‘Declaration For Democracy’ Campaign to Overturn Citizens United

2,000 Public Officials Have Already Expressed Support for Constitutional Amendment

WASHINGTON – This week The Backbone Campaign and ally organizations applauded the re-launch of the “Declaration For Democracy” campaign. Public officials signing the declaration are proclaiming their support for amending the constitution to limit the influence of money in our democracy and to restore the rights of the American people in the wake of the Supreme Court’s 2010 decision in Citizens United v. FEC. Representatives Donna Edwards (D-MD), Ted Deutch (D-FL), Keith Ellison (D-MN), James P. McGovern (D-MA), and John Yarmuth (D-KY) circulated a “Dear Colleague” letter today urging their colleagues to sign the declaration.

By the end of the 112^th Congress, 2,000 public officials had expressed their support for a constitutional amendment, including President Obama, 102 Members of the House, and 29 Senators (list visible at http://united4thepeople.org).

Monday morning I posted "Harmonize your expectations with your aspirations!" on Facebook. It was Martin Luther King Jr. Day and the day of President Obama's second Inaugural Address. Our giant Backbone puppet marched through DC streets with a primarily anti-drone, Inauguration day demonstration.

We participated on the principle that the generally sympathetic President Obama should be held no less accountable for his failures and violations of law as the despicable figurehead G. W. Bush. And it was MLK Day, a day to stand up for our highest aspirations and deepest principles. So, while our giant spine was protesting moral and policy failures in DC, our We the People and inflatable Earth celebrated Dr. King, social movement, and our place in journey along the the arc of justice in a Seattle parade.

After a very long day, I finally got a chance to sit down and listen to the inaugural address. I replayed it a number of times with competing emotions of skepticism and admiration. I am clearly no apologist for the Obama administration, nor a person who invested my hope for change in his presidency. Yet, as valid as the many critiques of President Obama are, i.e. his support of NDAA, counter -productive, illegal drone assassinations, the TPP, a general allegiance to Wall St., (the list goes on), I was still very impressed by his speech, his use of language, and the construction of his arguments.

Join Veteran Strategists and Expert Action Trainers for a Weekend of Action-Oriented Workshops, Skills Trainings, and Strategizing in Bellingham, WA June 14th-16th. 

REGISTER TODAY!

TPP: Corporate Greed vs. Human Needs? - You Decide...

The Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) will impact every one of us in the Pacific NW; as eaters, as workers and as people who care about healthy communities. It is a super-sized version of NAFTA, and after 20 years of corporate gains on the backs of workers and communities-we can't afford more of the same.

TPP Action Camp offers a unique opportunity to come together, just before the TPP enters into its 18th Round of negotiations in July. A weekend to collectively strategize on how to best educate and activate our communities, as well as build the necessary skills. TPP resisters throughout the NW will emerge from TPP Action camp energized and inspired to lead the movement that will bring down the TPP! Join us!

TPP Action Camp is jointly organized by Occupy Bellingham, Oregon Fair Trade Campaign, TPPxBorder, the Washington Fair Trade Coalition, Backbone Campaign, with in-kind support from Laborers 276, and Mary Mullen.

Trainings and Workshops Offered (descriptions linked)

• Grand Strategy
• Non-Violent Direct Action
• Creative Tactics For Visibility and Building Power
• Strategic Campaign Planning & Avoiding Burn Out
• Strategy Session to Stop the TPP
• Action Planning
• Introduction to Blockades
• Giant Overpass Banner and Overpass Light Brigade Building

Cost: Sliding Scale $100-$150 (No one turned away because of lack of funds).

Make Organizing a Sustainable endeavor: The best organizers mobilize their community to invest in their work. If we really want to dethrone the corporate coup, we'll need to honor our vocation and regard our work as valuable. One way of doing this is to muster the financial resources to support our collective work commensurate with the opposition we face and the efforts that it will take to bring into reality our vision for a more just world. Our costs are $100 - $150 per person. Please pitch in as much as you can afford. No one will be turned away for lack of funds. Get creative with funding your participation and check out our tips for crowd funding HERE

If you have the means, PLEASE consider increasing your contribution to $200 or more in order to help us cover the cost of scholarships. Contact the Backbone office if you have questions at 206-408-8058.

[READ - Natalia & Kyle's 8/15/12 article on Huffington Post, America's Student Loan Debt]

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

PART II, July 17, 2012
Prezi - visual accompaniment by co-host Glenn Daniels Jr.
PART I, Dec. 22, 2012

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

[READ - Natalia & Kyle's 8/15/12 article on Huffington Post, America's Student Loan Debt]

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

PART II, July 17, 2012
Prezi - visual accompaniment by co-host Glenn Daniels Jr.
PART I, Dec. 22, 2012

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

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Backbone Campaign Lumbar Club Cookout & Sing-along
At the Annual Localize This! Action Camp
Wednesday August 1, 6:30-10PM
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Vashon AYH Ranch Hostel
12119 SW Cove Road

Help us grow by

• Joining the Lumbar Club
• Renewing Your Lumbar Club Membership
• Increasing your monthly Lumbar pledge

(Lumbar Club members make the artful activism of Backbone Campaign possible through automated, recurring monthly donations)

Order of Fun:
1. Grilled Salmon or Portobellos and Vashon-grown sides.
2. Presentations from Bill Moyer, allies and activists
3. S'MORES!
4. Sing-along and skits 'round the campfire
5. More S'mores!

Dinner is $20, but...

• Increase your monthly pledge by $10 = Get $10 off one ticket
• Increase your monthly pledge by $20 = Get one in free
• Increase by $40 a month = Get 2 free dinner tickets!

Space and food limited - please RSVP by July 21.
Click here to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. ">RSVP
In your message, please give your full name and indicate your entree choice (salmon or Portobello) and number of folks in your party (up to two per Lumbar Club membership).
Your tickets will be at the door and we'll settle up there-no need to pay in advance.

If you can't join us, please click here to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. ">DECLINE
In your message, please give your full name.

For more information, call 206-408-8058 or email Yve at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

For information about Localize This! Action Camp go to www.localizethis.org