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Our Local ECO-net:

ECO-nets are a Puget Sound Partnership (PSP) sponsored program.  Each county around Puget Sound has one.  It is made up of people who do environmental-type Education/Communication/Outreach - supposed to spread the Puget Sound Partnership Action Agenda message.  We have about 30 or so members - individuals and/or groups.  Been going for about 5 or 6 years.

We had a "Spot Light" potluck - Dec, 2013.  Quite a few people showed.  Good networking and sharing of what we are up to.  I think that was valuable.

Other meetings during the year (we are to have 4 or so) have low attendance: 6 to 10 usually. Little in them to provide value.  Mostly rehash of mission, goals, plans etc. which are pretty broad and rarely result in actions.

We almost never talk about or do anything with PSP info.  There isn't much of it, and the group is not very aware or even supportive.  They feel our area is too unique - I think most ECO-nets feel that way.

There is an opportunity for our ECO-net to apply for a $10,000 grant from the PSP.  It is for a campaign to promote the PSP Puget Sound Starts Here message and is to be a collaborative effort of many of us   Proposal due by Jan 24.  So far there are no broadly supported ideas.  I fear we will not get one done.

I think it is very difficult for such an organization to succeed.  It would take a big effort by a small group to organize and manage it so that most members saw value and purpose in participating,