"Each One Will Teach One"

I picked this bike out of my neighbor's garbage yesterday. Here's why. I have a book called Material World: A Global Family Portrait, wherein photographer Peter Menzel travels the world and takes photos of all the earthly possessions of 30 statistically-average families. In the photos of the poorer families, one thing stands out to me--the presence of a bicycle amidst their meager belongings. When asked what is their most valued possession, these families name the bicycle. That's because the bike gives them access to markets, jobs, schools and more to which they could not travel without it. In short, bicycles change lives. Yet, here in the United States, we often throw them out.

I called Maggie at Performance Bicycle and asked her if she knew of a program in Atlanta that repairs and donates bikes to those in need right here in Atlanta. Sure enough, an organization named Sopo Bike Cooperative creates equitable access to cycling by providing affordable bicycle maintenance, services and education. It provides a central forum for sharing equipment, materials, and expertise, and facilitates affordable, practical, hands-on support for cyclists of all ages and skill levels. And so, this weekend, that's where the bike and I will go.

But, in the meantime, I was moved by a line on the Sopo Bike Cooperative website that said "each one will teach one." Each one will teach one. And I got to thinking--together, like the spokes of the bike wheel that work together to support the bike, we will power each other.

Just then, as luck or serendipity or simply the way the stars aligned last night would have it, I received an email from Connie Weathers at Sustainable Norcross. Turns out yesterday the following resolution was adopted by the City of Norcross, naming an official Sustainable City Commission:

Resolution Creating a Sustainable City Commission for the City of Norcross

WHEREAS, the City of Norcross is a progressive, forward thinking and innovative municipal government; and

WHEREAS, the City of Norcross has adopted its 2030 Comprehensive Plan which incorporates the 15 Quality Community Objectives of the Georgia Department of Community Affairs and the City strives to continually improve its ratings on the Atlanta Regional Commission Green Government Certification Survey; and

WHEREAS, the goals of these programs embraced by the city include Green Building, Energy Conservation, Environmental Protection for a clean, healthy city environment, Water Conservation, Trees and Green Space, Transportation and Air Quality, Recycling and Waste Reduction, Responsible and informed Land Use, Education and Volunteerism with the underlying concepts of innovation and intergovernmental and community cooperation; and

WHEREAS, the issues in these areas that come before the City’s elected leaders are complex and constantly changing; and

WHEREAS, in the City of Norcross there are citizen volunteers with expertise in the environmental and sustainability practices in each of these areas that are willing to lend their expertise to the city by dedicating their time and efforts; and

WHEREAS, the City of Norcross desires to utilize these citizen volunteers to assist in the city’s efforts to deliver high quality services with low impact and to lead by example with the city’s own actions and decisions; and

WHEREAS, the City of Norcross believes that the formation of a volunteer advisory Sustainable Norcross Commission will serve the community in a positive way.

NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED by the Governing Body of the City of Norcross, meeting in Regular Session,

1.
That a 5 member Sustainable Norcross Commission be appointed by the Mayor and City Council of the City of Norcross.

2.
That the purpose of Sustainable Norcross Commission is to advise the Mayor and City Council regarding sustainability and environmental matters through development of a measured sustainable city plan and regular communication

ADOPTED this 3rd day of November, 2008

BY:

Bucky Johnson, Mayor

ATTEST:

Susan Wuerzner, City Clerk

Each one will teach one. And perhaps, Norcross will teach us.

This seems an appropriate time and place to say welcome to former Norcross City Manager, Warren Hutmacher, who has just been announced officially as the new City Manager of Dunwoody.