[Pil-pc-oceania] National Permaculture Day

[Graeme George]

Dear Colleagues

Debate on this issue has stopped, so it seems time to take stock. Of  
the 19 people who have posted their preferences on this list (I hope I  
haven't missed anyone) -

Steve, Virginia, Ian, Graeme, Tamara, Fern, Deb, Petra and Sue have  
either favoured the Spring Equinox or the Sunday closest, or would be  
happy with that. Permaculture Melbourne also favours that date and  
Andrew seems to (that's 10 individuals and 1 organisation).

Robyn and Hannah are OK with either the Spring or Autumn Equinox (2)

Penny favours 1st May and Sue is also OK with that as an alternative  
to the Spring Equinox (2)

Janet, Michelle and Tanya want the 4th May, Bill's birthday. Janet is  
also OK with other dates. (3)  Several have voiced outright opposition  
to this date.

Pat, Kerry, Janet favour, or are OK with, the 1st September. (3).

Russ and Linda prefer the Autumn Equinox.  (2)

John has commented on the history, purposes and processes of a  
national day, but hasn't indicated a preferred date.

The most popular (or least contentious) date for a NPD is the Spring  
Equinox, with 12 individuals and 1 organisation, preferring, or happy  
to go along with, that date. For practical purposes this means the  
Sunday closest. This year it would be Sunday 21st September, so  
there's no need for argument about whether the equinox is on the 21st,  
22nd or 23rd.

Petra has suggested we vote on the options and maybe use Survey Monkey  
as a tool to do this. I don't see how we determine who is eligible to  
vote on this. Presumably those with an opinion have posted to the list  
already and that silence from everyone else indicates assent or   
willingness to go along with the majority. As for who makes the  
decision, the only entity representing the Australian Permaculture  
community is PIL and I feel it should be the PIL Board that declares  
the National Permaculture Day on our behalf.

A further argument in favour of the Spring Equinox this year is that  
it gives us a chance to publicly acknowledge the 30th anniversary of  
Permaculture, which hasn't been done yet to my knowledge. Organising  
anything for a May date this year was always a tad optimistic and  
we'll miss the opportunity to commemorate 30 years of Pc if we wait  
till May 2009.

Four Local Groups of Permaculture Melbourne have now agreed to run  
events on the 21st September. We can do this either as part of a NPD  
or just as a regional celebration of 30 years of Pc. We would prefer  
to run it as part of a National day. And we need to start promoting  
ASAP.

Our recommendation is for the PIL Board to declare Sunday 21st  
September as the National Permaculture Day for 2008.

Regards

Graeme
For the following Local Groups of Permaculture Melbourne Inc who will  
be running the individual events -
Yarra Valley Permaculture Group
Mountain Districts PG
South Eastern Suburbs PG
North East Ranges PG