We can't believe the beauty of this Ojai spring after the replenishing winter rains. As we appreciate the amazing and gorgeous place where we live, we at the Green Coalition are recommitting to making this the most sustainable and resilient community possible. We have a lot of work to do - to conserve our precious water, wean ourselves off oil, and become more food secure.

With your help as a paying Green Coalition member we can get there. If you are reading this, you are one of 813 community members of the Green Coalition, but maybe not one of the 153 who are paying members. It doesn't take much. Just $25 a year gets you in. If you can, a monthly membership starting at $10, makes a real difference. The point is to give so together we can do the critical work for our community and our earth.

If you can send your membership contribution by May 31st you can help us reach our goal of increasing paying membership by 50%, taking us to 230.

What will that provide?

• Our continued creek riparian habitat restoration work and other watershed projects.
• Our regular and popular educational offerings - movies, workshops, presentations.
• Allow us to work on making the Ojai Valley more pedestrian and bicycle-friendly, food and energy secure, and advocate for policies that support a sustainable and resilient community.
• And last but actually most important, we outgrew being an all-volunteer organization working out of a bedroom a long time ago. It's time to get some regular staff and we're discussing a location downtown to convert to an office and resource center! Yes . . . overhead.

Whether a supporting member or a community member, we hope you're ready to roll up your sleeves and join one of our newly formed councils or existing supporting committees - Events Planning, Communications & Publicity and Government Liaison. We have three gatherings coming up to introduce the three councils that have risen from what were once our seven action committees: watershed, food, and built environment, which focuses on social and physical infrastructure, transportation, energy and buildings. Mark your calendar and join us for the council or councils that most interest you and we'll be sending more details as we get closer to the first date. Each gathering will have food, fun, and an orientation on our new (and we hope you agree, improved) organizational structure.

April 19, 7 p.m. - Food Council

April 27, 5 p.m. - Built Environment Council

May 3, 5 p.m. - Watershed Council

Be part of our dynamic organization and invest in a green future in your own backyard. Don't delay! Send in your membership contribution today, and then join us in action.

Welcome Bill Haff and Linda Harmon  

as New Communications & Publicity Chairs

Welcome to new OVGC Communications & Publicity Chairs Bill Haff and Linda Harmon! They came on board as chairs last month. Bill is new to the OVGC while Linda is returning to her co-chair position after a stint in the earlier days of the organization.

Bill and his wife Helen moved to Ojai in 2009 from Easton, Massachusetts. Their home was part of the OVGC Green Home & Building Tour last year. A graduate of Massachusetts College of Art, Bill currently works as a freelance graphic designer, after a successful 25-year career in graphic design in the Boston area, and an earlier 8-year career as a fine artist (and cabdriver!) in Boston and New York City. Bill was a community and peace organizer in Massachusetts, and brings this enthusiasm for citizen involvement to his new post as co-chair of the Communications and Publicity Committee. Fairly new to the area, he is looking forward to building strong connections to the OVGC and meeting new people who care about Ojai.

Linda graduated from Michigan State University with a B.A. in Journalism. She is now a freelance writer and artist.  Moving to Ojai 21 years ago, Linda first became active in the community at the Ojai Center for the Arts. She has been on the Board at the Art Center, California's oldest nonprofit art center, for nearly twenty years, and is currently the Public Relations Chair. She is also serving her second term as member of the City of Ojai Arts Commission and sits on the board of Ojai Trees. Linda is married to Len Klaif, another familiar face in the Ojai community. Together they have five children and two grandchildren. Linda says three things made her an ardent environmentalist: her love of the natural world, her belief that everything and everyone is connected, and her belief that it is everyone's responsibility to contribute to the whole. Joining the OVGC after their 2007 presentation featuring Hunter Lovins, she credits the OVGC with giving her a place to become an activist. She is thrilled to be once again a serving committee chair.

To Our Eco-Business Members - Bring New Customers to Your Business! Hurry Though; Deadline is April 8, 2011!

The Ventura County Air Pollution Control District is sponsoring a public awareness campaign called Sky Savers to encourage consumers to make choices that are good for everyone, good for their wallet and good for the air. Sky Savers coupons offer discounts and specials at qualifying, participating green businesses throughout Ventura County.

The Sky Savers program, free to participating businesses, introduces your eco-friendly product or service to customers interested in making smart environmental choices. Let this free program bring new customers to your business, build loyalty with your existing customers, and improve our county's air quality

Click here to see how you can qualify.