2017 RE-AMP Network Annual Meeting

RE-AMP 2017 Annual Meeting: Empowering the Midwest Climate Movement

- July 11, 12 and 13, 2017 -

Loyola University, Water Tower Campus
111 E Pearson Street
Chicago, IL 60611

Goals

• Discuss a path forward for the Midwest climate movement
• Help to develop and shape the systems understanding and Action Teams that will shape the future collaboration of the RE-AMP Network
• Build skills and learn
• Network with old friends and make new connections

Stay tuned to the Annual Meetings page on the Commons for the latest details!

Agenda

Tuesday, July 11 - 10:30 am - 5:00 pm

What do we know today?

The RE-AMP Network is grounded in systems thinking. In fact, our original 2004 shared analysis helped shaped everything from our identity to the way we were structured. A lot has changed since then so we'll spend the first day of the Annual Meeting gaining an understanding of our updated shared analysis and what it means for our 2050 goals.

10:30 – 12:00 Opening Plenary

Join Interim Chief Network Officer, Melissa Gavin, who will set the stage for the conversations and agenda over the coming days, including how you can give input on some decisions for the Network. We'll also be celebrating our achievements from the past year so you definitely don't want to miss it!

12:00 - 1:00 Lunch

12:00 - 1:00 Network Orientation

Does the Commons mystify or frustrate you? Are you new to the Network? Would you like to understand more about it? If you answered yes to any of these questions join Sarah Shanahan,Community Manager, over lunch for a Network Orientation. Lunch presentations can be brutal but I promise this one will be worth it!

1:00 – 3:00 Our Shared Analysis: An Equitable Deep Decarbonization Framework

In this session, we will be discussing our Network's ongoing journey to pursue equitable decarbonization and achieve our Network goal of 80% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. A presentation built on the research of the US Deep Decarbonization Project and our Network's preliminary Environmental Justice Assessment, as well as other sources, will kick off the conversation. We will then hold smaller conversations to help turn analysis into action.

3:30 – 5:00 Concurrent Strategy Sessions

Now that we've had a chance to ground ourselves in our Network analysis we'll dig into some topics that are critical for reaching our North Star goal. Some of these topics Network members are already engaged in and some are topics that we know are important to discuss how to advance. Dig in with fellow RE-AMPers in these strategy conversations.

1. Building Democracy and Power in Our Rural Areas

In this session we will discuss why it is important to build democracy and power in our rural areas in order to meet our Network goal; learn about the types of messages that work with conservatives living in rural areas; share topics that are possible entry points with rural constituencies; and discuss next steps for action.

2. Electricity Balancing in High Renewables Scenarios

Wind and solar now make up the majority of new electricity generation globally and are front-runners in the race to reduce the emissions rate of the U.S. power grid by 30x, as is required for deep decarbonization. However, in the push towards a high renewables scenario, technical and institutional challenges arise that we must anticipate and overcome. In this breakout we will discuss problems such as seasonal energy imbalance and the value of flexible load, energy storage, and new transmission.

3. Advanced Grid

Grid modernization is needed to realize the benefits of energy efficiency, demand response, electric vehicles, energy storage, distributed generation, and other low-pollution energy solutions. Learn about the scope of the opportunity and ongoing work, as well as what else is needed.

4. Distributed Generation

In this session we will provide context for distributed generation within each of the states in the Network: where are we now, what is the maximum potential for DG in each state, what is the gap that we need to fill? How can we leverage DG to get utilities to do more? We will also discuss some of the components of a DG campaign: legislative, administrative, and constituency identification and engagement

5. Effective Interventions in the Most Polluting Sector: Transportation

Few things are more fundamental to our well-being as individuals and communities than transportation. But right now, carbon-heavy options predominate. From electric vehicles to smart growth to investments in transit, interventions in transportation can have tremendous impact on carbon reductions, broaden the climate movement, and promote equity and inclusiveness. You will come away understanding various leverage points where you can engage in this critical aspect of equitable decarbonization, even if you are new to this topic.

5:30-7:00 Cash Bar

6:00 – 8:00 Group Dinner with Keynote Speaker Keya Chatterjee, USCAN

Despite a difficult political context, there are bright spots to move forward on climate policy. How can the RE-AMP Network play a role both in the Midwest and the national climate space? We'll hear from the Executive Director of the US Climate Action Network, Keya Chatterjee, over a group dinner.

Wednesday, July 12 - 8:30 am - 5:00 pm

What are the Opportunities to Move Forward Together?

While Day 1 is aimed at getting a shared understanding of the big picture, Day 2 will be space for us to discuss what is needed in the coming two to four years for equitable deep decarbonization by 2050. There will be significant time for open space discussions where Action Teams may form.

7:30 – 8:30 Breakfast

7:30 – 8:30 Michigan State Table Meeting

Michigan state table members gather for a networking breakfast. Contact Kathryn Savoie for any questions or check out the Michigan page on the Commons.

8:30 – 9:00 Reflections from Day 1

What key insights emerged from yesterday's conversation? Are there any lingering questions from that the group might be able to answer? Are there themes that we should be mindful of during the rest of our time together?

9:00-10:15 Introduction of Action Teams and Open Space

How does open space work? Plus we'll describe ideas for open space topics (quick primer on action teams. What is their purpose?)

10:45-11:45 Action Team Open Space Session One: Exploring Ideas for Cross-state Collaboration

Do you have a great clean energy or climate solution idea that you’d like to discuss, collaborate and build on with your colleagues in the RE-AMP Network? Maybe it’s an idea for a budding policy campaign, toolkit, or multi-state project? Or are you looking to get inspired by new ideas from your colleagues? In this session, you’ll have an opportunity to explore topics that excite and inspire your work that may lead to new Action Teams. This first open space session will give you an opportunity to explore or dive into a topic of your interest and, together with colleagues from around the region, gauge whether there is energy to move the idea into the realm of a RE-AMP Action Team.

11:45 - 12:30 Lunch

12:30 – 1:30 Action Teams Report Back

1:30 - 2:30 State Table Fishbowl

Following the first round of open space for action teams, we'll check in with the state tables. What are reactions to what we've heard so far? Does any of it align with table's priorities? Any of it conflict? Are there topics that might benefit from a deeper dive in the next round of open space?

2:30 Group Photo

3:00 - 4:00 Action Team Open Space Session Two: Moving from Ideas to Action

In this session, you’ll have the opportunity to dive deeper into your topic of interest from the morning’s Action Team Open Space session, or if that topic didn’t resonate with you, to explore a different topic of interest. Building on conversations from the morning’s Action Team Open Space session, this session will explore topics more deeply and provide space for participants to move from an exploratory conversation to an Action Team. Participants are encouraged to discuss the pieces of work an Action Team might form around and how it relates to Equitable Deep Decarbonization.

4:15 - 5:15 Action Team Report Back

6:00 – 7:00 Reception

Grab a beverage at the cash bar and meet up with your group dinner members!

7:00 - ? Networking Dinners

Thursday, July 13 - 8:00 am - 12:00 pm

Launching into Action

With the assistance of the Organizing Hub we'll prepare members to launch into action and provide some workshops for you to sharpen your own skills. Sessions include communications and online organizing strategies, campaign planning, and administering an equitable analysis. We will also learn about work between social scientists and advocates via the Organizing Hub’s Peer Learning Circle with the support of the Climate Advocacy Lab.

7:00 – 8:00 Breakfast

8:00 - 8:30 Reflections from Day Two

What has gotten you really excited over the last couple of days? Anything that made you worry? What are going to do with what you learned after you get back home?

8:30 - 9:30 RE-AMP Business Meeting

Elections! Elections! Hear all about them. Plus, we'll check in on the votes for hosting next year's Annual Meeting.

9:00 - 10:00 Let's Test It!

How can we leverage the latest in social science research to improve our advocacy? Hear more about this and what the Organizing Hub's Peer Learning Circle is doing on this topic.

10:30 - 12:00 Skills Building Workshops

1. Communications Strategy
2. Online Organizing
3. Social Science Insights to Support Your Organizing

12:00 Adjourn

Registration

Register for the meeting under the appropriate ticket at the top of this page.

Registration Period

Online registration opens Monday, May 1 and closes Wednesday, May 31 at 11:30 pm.

Lodging

The RE-AMP Network has a block of rooms on hold at Baumhart Hall at Loyola for meeting attendees at a special reduced group rate. This room block will be available for attendees to make reservations until May 28. We encourage attendees to take advantage of the guaranteed room availability and special rate provided by the room block.

UPDATE – The deadline for booking lodging at Baumhart Hall at Loyola has been extended until Wednesday, June 7. For those who have tried booking lodging and not been successful, please email Loyola directly at loyolalodging@luc.edu. They have been experiencing technical difficulties with their online booking system and will be able to assist you.

Please note: there are only approximately 75 rooms available - this is a combination of single, doubles, and grad rooms.

Meeting attendees are responsible for their own lodging arrangements. To avoid last-minute drama and to make the most of your available options, we encourage you to make lodging arrangements as early as possible.

To reserve your room, please follow these instructions. If the reservation does not go through, contact Loyola directly - loyolalodging@luc.edu

Baumhart Hall at Loyola

25 E Pearson St, Chicago, IL 60611

Nights: July 10 -13

• Rate: $158.49/night (before tax)
• Phone: 312.915.6178 (Ask about the “RE-AMP Network” room block; promo code: reamp)
• Online: http://lodging.luc.edu/
• Promo code: reamp
• Parking information

If you have additional questions about lodging, please email loyolalodging@luc.edu

View a map of additional lodging near Loyola.

Travel/Lodging Assistance Policy

A limited budget is available to provide travel and/or lodging assistance for meeting attendees. Network members may apply for assistance by answering a special set of questions on their meeting registration form. In order to apply for travel/lodging assistance, you must register for the meeting via Eventbrite by May 31, 2017. Applicants will be notified of assistance decisions by June 7.

Our goal is to distribute assistance funds strategically, in a way that provides the greatest possible benefit to the Network.

Applicants will be considered for assistance based on the following criteria:

• Highest priority
  • Identifiable financial barriers to attendance
• Additional priorities:
  • Full Member organizations
  • Inclusion of diverse Network members
  • Member organization capacity
  • Lower cost requests

Please note these additional details of the RE-AMP Network travel/lodging assistance policy:

• Assistance recipients will be reimbursed for eligible travel and/or lodging expenses up to $250, except in special cases of significant financial hardship.
• Assistance recipients may elect to have their lodging billed directly to the Network instead of receiving a $250 reimbursement stipend, if requested. (Recipients who request this option must make lodging reservations within the RE-AMP Network block at the meeting’s designated lodging facility.)
• Reimbursements will be made through organizations. The RE-AMP Network is not able to issue payments to individuals.
• Reimbursement recipients will be provided with a reimbursement form and asked to submit a list of expenses and associated receipts.
• Reimbursable travel expenses: Transit fare, Rental car fees/fuel, Personal car mileage, Transit from airport, Parking, Travel meals
• Non-reimbursable travel expenses: Rental car mileage, Personal car fuel
• Reimbursable lodging expenses: Lodging for meeting attendees
• Non-reimbursable lodging expenses: Lodging for non-Network members

Please see the Annual Meeting page on the Commons for more information!

Guidebook

We have a mobile program for you to use on Guidebook. Through Guidebook, you are able to build your personal schedule and to-do list, connect directly with other attendees, learn about speakers, access presentations and handouts, share event photos, stay in the know about last-minute changes, find your way around with interactive maps of event locations, and share your feedback -- all through your mobile device or computer.

Get the guide here: https://guidebook.com/g/reampannualmeeting

Android and iOS users:

• Tap the "Download" button to download the free Guidebook app
• Open Guidebook and you can find our "2017 RE-AMP Network Annual Meeting" guide
• Tap "Enter passphrase" and enter climate to download our guide - Unless someone else is registering for the conference, please do not share the passphrase.

Please see the Annual Meetings page on the Commons for more information about Guidebook's features and how to access the 2017 Annual Meeting Guide.