The Earth Charter Community Summits are held on the second Saturday of October.  A Summit is the initial step to creating community-based awareness and actions to address climate change and its effects environmentally, socially and economically. It offers a way to connect to other communities globally via the web in order to maintain momentum and to stimulate effective approaches through collective sharing and experiences. Keynote speakers from different city summits can be webstreamed and archived at www.earthcharterus.org so other cities can download them if are interested. Cities also participate in a brief web round-robin on Summit Day.

1.     Assure that the Summit is inclusive.

• Use a space open to the public—community centers, recreational venues like museums, schools and other educational venues.
• Include people from different backgrounds, experiences and sectors of community in planning.

2.     Think In-Kind donations in a BIG way! 

• Universities and community colleges have donated space, security and lots of help to cities for past Summits.  Earth Charter U.S. has initiated an effort to collaborate with American Association Community Colleges to facilitate their in-kind involvement.
• Be invitational to others to have them join.  Volunteers are a huge resource.  Listen to them and engage them in creating ways to be helpful.
• Speakers, even those with widespread recognition, are motivated by making a contribution and participation in the international gathering that the webcast offers. Use local folks when possible but others will often come for travel/accommodation costs.
• Promotional materials can sometimes be obtained in exchange for donor recognition.

3.     Make the Summit meaningful and fun.

• Educate speakers/panelists/artists about Earth Charter’s comprehensive approach to climate change so discussions include and go beyond carbon footprint solutions. Paper on Earth Charter as Framework for Climate Change.
• www.earthcharterus.org will have materials from Citizens’ Network for Sustainable Development and other organizations that will help guide discussions and actions.
• Create Task Forces appropriate for your community to continue the strategic planning and actions begun at the Summit, i.e., business, education, government and community initiatives.  
• Include cultural arts in the program.
• Break bread and sip a beverage of choice at meetings to increase sense of connection among planners.
• Make time at Summits for participants to connect and network.

4.     Join the Global Web Community

You only need: A computer running a Web Browser.  Both FireFox and Internet Explorer have worked well; An internet connection that is at least DSL speeds; To project to your audience you will need a video projector and audio equipment hat will work on your computer and a big wall or screen.  For more information, contact George Sherman This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .

5.     For more information, please contact Jan Roberts at Earth Charter U.S. This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it 813-254-8454

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