The running of the TDN administration
There can be no better place to start than at the beginning. The start of most administrative processes (even in the 21st Century) starts with the Postman or Postwoman pushing something hefty through your slot. No, this isn’t ‘Carry On Druid’ although it can get like it sometimes!
On arrival of post for the organisation, one has to open it. Now, this may seem obvious but you need to be careful. Who knows where a cheque may be positioned inside the envelope you are so eager to tear open? Yes, I’ve learned lessons the hard way and now I use a slender paper knife to slit open the envelope. Furthermore this neat treatment of the envelope means that it could possibly be re-used and as The Druid Network believes in the three R’s (Repair, Re-use, Recycle) then this we do. We treat all post the same so that envelopes can be saved for us anew. Even those evil flyers and junk mail and direct marketing mail shots have envelopes and some even kindly give you another inside! The inserts and enclosures from these unsolicited items go with our paper recycling.
If we can’t use the envelope then one thing we do is take off the stamp, or the portion of the envelope with the stamp on it. Many charities and local concerns save ‘old’ stamps for numerous reasons and causes. The one we send our stamp ‘collection’ to is for the continuing work in the African village of Kidetok. This village has had charitable works and funds allotted to it over the years, initially for a water supply and sewage, but now other projects to help health, hygiene and education are taking place. Moreover, it isn’t just a case of giving money; it is the more useful concept of enabling the villagers to do it themselves and to acquire ownership of their efforts; they can learn new skills too and carry on using those skills for the betterment of their families and their community. For those who are interested in sending stamps in a similar fashion then please forward them (in a re-used envelope of course) to Jeff and Beryl Taylor, 9 Donyland Way, Rowhedge, Colchester, Essex, CO5 7JA.
Now, we do generate too many envelopes, even taking into account the ones we take stamps from. So what do we do with any excess? Well, anyone who has read ‘Tooth & Claw’ and the Environmental section of this website will be aware of my attachment to the conservation charity BTCV (formerly the British Trust for Conservation Volunteers). They themselves also try to work as environmentally soundly as they can and we supply our envelopes to our local office in Dudley. They use them not only for general correspondence (as we do) but they mail out their task programme to their database every two months which requires a number of envelopes, not all of which they reclaim themselves. So your envelopes to the office help more than The Druid Network, you see! Of course, any we can’t use go into the recycling box we keep.
We do get post, or enclosures, that come in polythene bags or wrappings, as does some food from supermarkets. Some of us, as we do in Dudley, find it difficult to find a plastic recycling centre. However, my wife Krys and I (and BTCV Dudley since we introduced it to them) save up our Grade 4 polythene, bundle it all together (in a Grade 4 polythene bag usually!) and send it off to Polyprint, who recycle it into (mainly) more mail shot bags. They can’t take sticky labels, sticky tape, etc, so we cut those off, and they can only take certain polythenes. Again, if you are interested in doing the same then Polyprint Ltd are at Mackintosh Road, Rackheath Industrial Estate, Rackheath, Norwich, NR13 6LJ, or perhaps call them on 01603 721807 or fax on 01603 721813.
As I sit here, the room is lit by an energy saving fluorescent lamp, and the screen of the computer has an energy saving capability on it, so if I’m called away (or meander off aimlessly) it’ll close itself down in my absence. Great for those long phone calls to Bobcat!
When we need to buy new writing and printing paper we always try to get recycled paper. Most of our stationary comes through the supplier Viking Direct, with whom I have an account . They do a good range of recycled papers, but envelopes (particularly the C5 ones used for magazine mail outs) are not available in recycled, or at least not at the price we can justify. Yes, we do consider a price to ecology balance, but believe we should take the environmental stance wherever feasible. We buy new envelopes for the magazine mail outs for two reasons. Firstly we do not generate enough second hand envelopes of that size to cover the entire print run. Furthermore the difficulty of stuffing and sealing so many magazines and envelopes is tortuous enough as it is without having to try to use reuse labels galore and/or sticky tape by the mile. I feel justified in drawing the line here purely for logistics.
If I’m going to send a letter of importance, of course I’ll use new paper, but I still might send it in a reused envelope! So yes, I go for recycled stationary where possible, but where it isn’t I look for FSC marked goods or at least some assurance that the pulp has come from a sustainable source. Did you know that the UK only produces 15% of its own requirement for paper? So why isn’t recycling part of British law? Why aren’t the amounts of magazines and newspapers regulated? How many copies of ‘The Daily Telegraph’ or ‘TV Choice’ get dumped each week?
I don’t always turn the computer on just to send small notes in the post either; I’ll hand write (or scribble) on paper to save the computer and printer's electricity and ink. We also keep a pile of ‘used on one side already’ paper for correspondence or admin paperwork that is not so necessary to be presentation perfect. We gather this from whatever source we can, not only our own mistakes on the printer (like everyone does) but even from A4 letters that come in and do not necessitate saving. We’re back to the mail shots and junk mail again. If it can be used on one side it goes in the re-use paper file; if not, then it's recycled.
We try, where possible, to re-ink printer cartridges. However, when this isn’t possible we purchase either ‘Ink Again’ or ‘Re Ink’ cartridges, both of which are recycled articles. Redundant cartridge cases are returned to one of the many collectors (like ‘Re Ink’ and ‘Ink Again’ who refill cartridges) for re-inking or other charitable use.
There is no way round having to buy stamps. But we do try to make sure that we don’t waste stamps by putting more than one mailing in an envelope to the same person, or not sending Bobcat lots of forwarded post if we’re meeting in person soon. And of course, one of the most cost effective and clean ways for day-to-day communication is the email. A wonderful invention in my opinion and one of the (arguably few) areas of technology that is good in its place. Of course, the World Wide Web is an excellent source of information and resources too, although I’m sure you’ll agree that caution should be exercised, particularly when dealing with religious, spiritual, philosophical or magical affairs that we encounter in Druidry.
We don’t jump in the car to drive to see Bobcat every couple of days either. And when it comes to gorseddau, events, rituals, talks etc, then if we are going near to Bobcat's home then we’re happy to share transport and/or costs. We recycle glass and cans too, and we like to give old clothes to charity if possible. Even if the item is past it as a garment it can still be used for coach seat stuffing, wrapping and similar, there are skips in some recycling banks for these purposes. It would be true to say also that most things I’ve mentioned here about the TDN Office apply also to Bobcat's desk. Adding to that, the TDN uses the only British bank that has an established and clear code on ethical investment: the Co Operative Bank. It's easy enough to have a look at their products and services on line at http://www.co-operativebank.co.uk. You see, we do indeed try to ‘walk our talk’ as a caring organisation.
So, to conclude, we try our best. However, if you have any ideas or alternatives then please let us know, we are only too happy to listen.
For more information, or to help convert the office your work or that your bosses run, you may wish to get a copy of ‘Green Officiency: Running a cost-effective, environmentally aware office’ from Envirowise. It is guide number GG256, and is free. Ring 0800 585794 or you can order online. The website link is:
http://www.envirowise.gov.uk/envirowisev3.nsf/key/DBRY4PHJRU.
Written by Geoff Boswell when he was office manager (2002 - 2003) and now utilized by the rest of the office staff.
The Druid Network Office:
PO Box 3533, Whichford, Shipston on Stour, Warwickshire, CV36 5YB England
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