PHLUSH News Updates

PHLUSH News Updates
In like a lamb, March went out like a lion, leaving PHLUSHers with a number of new projects.
World Water Day Celebration  Recode Oregon threw a great event at SEA Change Gallery on March 22   Great talk by Rep Ben Cannon who sponsored the gray water legislation in Salem. David Osborn showed the film of backyard graywater systems at currently undisclosed locations. Lasun Unger mobilized fine cuisine and Molly Danielsson made this great poster!   In another decade or two it will be unthinkable to flush a toilet with precious drinking water!
In the Neighborhood  Change starts with awareness and folks are talking on the yucky issue of [cross-class, cross gender] public urination.  Howard Weiner’s  Livability committee has been great forum for the discussion so consider joining their next meeting on Apr 11 at 11:30 at 232 NW 6th. Stay tuned for  announcement of an innovative step toward a solution.
World Toilet Summit Portland?  Thanks to Christopher Yarrow,  WTO leaders received packets inviting them to consider PDX for 2011.  Evidently they are.  Now Christopher is bringing together specialists who will evaluate feasibility and funding.  It would be so cool to finally get some local training in closed loop ecological sanitation techniques as we move away from the endless cycle of fouling our drinking water and then cleaning it up again.
Restroom Location Sign Project   Lan Nguyen did such a good job lunching the project that everybody now want signs telling where neighborhood public restroom are.  PHLUSH has a grant proposal for Phase II into the Bureau of Planning and Sustainability and fingers crossed.
Collaboration with the International Code Council A team conveniently located on five continents is drafting international guidelines for public toilet design to be present at the next World Toilet Summit. Carol McCreary is coordinating sub-groups on General Provisions and Potty Parity (or Why are their such long lines at the women’s restroom?)
Help us build capacity?   We’re starting to get inquiries from all over.
Folks who want to know about plumbing codes.  Folks who want bumper stickers. The recent Alaska Library Association conference featured 5 PHLUSH-T-shirt-wearing librarians passed out our brochures and business cards. Berkley park activists called to inquire about better restrooms for homeless people, including the Loo.  The American Restroom Association even    refers people to us.
So we don’t become overwhelmed as we reach in new directions, we need to build capacity.  We welcome volunteers with ideas and diverse skills, including technical, scientific research, advocacy, and non-profit management.  Join us at our next regular meeting  Monday, April 19 at 5:30 pm at Orchid Salon, 203 NW Second Ave.
Celebrate GraywaterWorld Water Day Celebration Recode Oregon threw a great event at SEA Change Gallery on March 22   Great talk by Rep Ben Cannon who sponsored the gray water legislation in Salem. David Osborn showed the film of backyard graywater systems at currently undisclosed locations. Lasun Unger mobilized fine cuisine and Molly Danielsson made this great poster!   In another decade or two it will be unthinkable to flush a toilet with precious drinking water! Helping out the Neighborhood Change starts with awareness and folks are finally talking about the yucky issue of [cross-class, cross gender] public urination.  Howard Weiner’s  Livability Committee has been great forum for the Old Town Chinatown Neighborhood Association to discuss the issue.  Consider joining the next meeting on Apr 11 at 11:30 at 232 NW 6th. Stay tuned for  announcement of an innovative step toward a solution. World Toilet Summit in Portland? Thanks to Christopher Yarrow,  WTO leaders received packets inviting them to consider PDX for 2011.  And they are.  Now Christopher is bringing together specialists who will evaluate feasibility and funding.  It would be so cool to finally get some local training in closed loop ecological sanitation techniques as we move away from the endless cycle of fouling our drinking water and then cleaning it up again. Restroom Location Sign Project Lan Nguyen did such a good job lunching the project that everybody now want signs telling where neighborhood public restroom are.  PHLUSH has a grant proposal for Phase II into the Bureau of Planning and Sustainability and fingers crossed. Design Work The International Code Council has a team drafting international guidelines for public toilet design to be presented at the next World Toilet Summit. Carol McCreary is working with toilet design experts on five continents to prepare sections on General Provisions and Potty Parity (in other words Why are their such long lines at the women’s restroom?) Help us build capacity? We’re starting to get inquiries from all over.  Folks who want to know about plumbing codes.  Folks who want bumper stickers. The recent Alaska Library Association conference featured five PHLUSH-T-shirt-wearing librarians passed out our brochures and business cards. Berkeley park activists called to inquire about better restrooms for homeless people, including the Loo.  The American Restroom Association even  refers people to us. Join us! So we don’t become overwhelmed as we reach in new directions, we need to build capacity.  We welcome volunteers with ideas and diverse skills, including technical, scientific research, communications, advocacy, and non-profit management.  Join us at our next regular meeting  Monday, April 19 at 5:30 pm at Orchid Salon, 203 NW Second Ave.  Questions?