Inaugural Meeting of Get the Train group

'Get the Train' held its Inaugural Meeting in Waitati on 23rd October 08. The
members discussed promotion, a submission to next year's ORC 10 yearly
Plan, whether we need to set up a legal entity and how to go about a
feasibility study.

The Group is seeking expertise for its campaign on the following matters:

* Global Position – climate change, peak oil
* History of train travel in the areas around Dunedin
* Specifics of road vs rail
* Accounting that includes environment, society and health
* Practicalities of trains to ensure long term success
* Potential economic benefits
* Establishing terms of reference for a feasibility study

We have 1300 signatures thus far on our Petition and more rolling in
all the time. Members will go to Oamaru Victorian Heritage
celebrations with petitions. If anyone knows of fairs or community
events to take petitions to please get in touch with us.

The ODT article on 23rd Oct highlighted behaviour of ORC employees and
the damningness of their response.

The Otago Regional Council is just one of many targets for a campaign.
If all else fails we'll sell a few raffles, sizzle a few sausages and
buy a railcar!

It was noted that Trudy Hutchison is organising a campaign in Mosgiel,
while Jean Park of the Business Professional Women's network is
pushing for the Southerner. There is a rail campaign in Hampden as
well. It is quite possible that many of these campaigns will come together.

The Name of our Group was chosen to be "Get The Train" and the group
now has a website:

getthetrain.blogspot.com

The next meeting will be on 27th November, 7pm at Dell's, 5 View St,
Orokonui. (This is a change from the date discussed in the meeting.)

(edited from the full Minutes which are available to members by
emailing getthetrain @ gmail.com)