In past months we wrote of various aspects of environmental care. Now two important meetings are behind us. The ecotheology meeting in Crete was more academic and the European ecumenical meeting close to Milan more practical as a grassroots exchange. Both dimensions of course are necessary and fortunately churches and other faith organizations are increasingly dedicating themselves to understanding environmental issues and to problem solving. The assembly here in Italy designated Casa Cares as the beneficiary of its carbon compensation fund (voluntary donations from those travelling by plane to the meeting). We are investing the money in more olive trees and possibly other fruits.
The “ecolabel” of Legambiente is working well. Legambiente is the largest national environmental organization. Being recognized as meriting the “ecolabel” has not brought us an obvious increase is guests, but that was not our main purpose. Rather it was to be recognized as one of a growing number of guest facilities interested in caring for the environment and to benefit from the consequent contacts. We have not yet been able to complete this year’s big photovoltaic project, but we hope soon to go forward. The public financing for such projects would permit us to put electrical energy into the national grid.
At this point in the year our statistics are clear about guest overnights, and for us the news is not so good. There are various reasons but at the top of the list seem to be a general decrease in the hospitality business in Tuscany and our inability to get the message about Casa Cares to that niche of clients to whom our center probably would be most attractive: school, church, art, music, nature and therapy groups. This decrease in work combined with rising costs have put us in a financial crunch, but we are trying to improve our promotions and we do have some good reservations already for 2009. Of course we always are thankful when friends recommend us to others, so….
In October we had the opportunity to consult with our colleagues from the other Waldensian guesthouses strewn across Italy, because we hosted the coordination’s annual meeting. We are quite different among us ranging from the hotel in Rome and the other urban facilities down through various levels of accommodation, but we share the commitment to provide affordable hospitality in settings that may offer spiritual renewal. Also, all of our centers in some way are involved in social service. One can find more information at www.foresterievaldesi.it.
The “ecolabel” of Legambiente is working well. Legambiente is the largest national environmental organization. Being recognized as meriting the “ecolabel” has not brought us an obvious increase is guests, but that was not our main purpose. Rather it was to be recognized as one of a growing number of guest facilities interested in caring for the environment and to benefit from the consequent contacts. We have not yet been able to complete this year’s big photovoltaic project, but we hope soon to go forward. The public financing for such projects would permit us to put electrical energy into the national grid.
At this point in the year our statistics are clear about guest overnights, and for us the news is not so good. There are various reasons but at the top of the list seem to be a general decrease in the hospitality business in Tuscany and our inability to get the message about Casa Cares to that niche of clients to whom our center probably would be most attractive: school, church, art, music, nature and therapy groups. This decrease in work combined with rising costs have put us in a financial crunch, but we are trying to improve our promotions and we do have some good reservations already for 2009. Of course we always are thankful when friends recommend us to others, so….
In October we had the opportunity to consult with our colleagues from the other Waldensian guesthouses strewn across Italy, because we hosted the coordination’s annual meeting. We are quite different among us ranging from the hotel in Rome and the other urban facilities down through various levels of accommodation, but we share the commitment to provide affordable hospitality in settings that may offer spiritual renewal. Also, all of our centers in some way are involved in social service. One can find more information at www.foresterievaldesi.it.
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