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Today we have two guests with us, Dom Gautrau and Boris Sigal.    Boris works to make sure the Community Purchasing Alliance (CPA) has the capacity to provide a great experience for member institutions and vendors alike. That includes building out operational systems to accommodate an increasing number of members and service offerings, benchmarks that maintain financial strength, and strategies to continue to grow cooperative purchasing and social impact opportunities.   Dom is a long-time member of St. Francis in Stamford. Dom has served several terms as vestryman at St Francis. He currently sits on the diocesan Property Committee. Five years ago he started a fuel buying program called Faith Fuel Initiative for 4 parishes in Fairfield County that has saved them thousands of dollars annually.   Alli asks how both Boris and Dom got involved in the Community Purchasing Alliance and this initiative here in Connecticut. Boris shares that he began this work in DC with several non-profits joining together to make a group purchase to lower their electricity bill. His thinking was “what can we do together that we cannot do alone,” and a CPA was a result of those informal conversations.    Dom tells his story of getting involved in a CPA in Connecticut, which he felt was a natural extension from his 2015 Faith Fuel Initiative to include other non-profits nearby on a group purchase. A few weeks ago, 36 organizations - including 21 ECCT parishes, mosques, schools, and temples -  have purchased electricity together.  Alli asks how parishes have reacted to this opportunity. Dom says the 21 parishes have been very excited to participate, particularly about the saving potentials with a group purchase. There is another opportunity in September for parishes who did not get in on the first way of community utility purchasing, Dom hopes this will be enticing for other parishes facing financial difficulties and looking for a chance to save on utility bills.    Boris shares that this also offers an opportunity for collaboration between multiple faith-based organizations and non-profits. CPA offers stepping stones, Boris says, and this allows for organizations to open up to working closer together on other topics as well. Dom adds that the positivity and encouragement in the conversations between the organization is hopeful for the future.    Alli asks Boris and Dom to walk through the steps for a parish to get involved. Boris shares that the first step is to send a copy of the parish’s or organization’s utility bill, right now CPA is working on heating bills. Next there will be a conference call for the organizations to ask questions, share what is important, and solidify a commitment. Next a steering committee is formed organically in the group.    So the next steps for parishes is to submit parish and non-profits fuel bills to CPA to begin the process. You can send those latest utility bill and recent contract to: boris@CPA.coop. For heating, send the heating tank size and how many, and other information. Dom shares that folks can reach out to him personally as well.    Alli asks if this is something communities and neighborhoods could do. Boris shares that while it would be possible, the size of the purchase is important to negotiating a lower cost. Boris says that this coop and working together is an opportunity to protect individuals and non-profit organizations who are not laser focused on the details of their bills.    To wrap up, Alli asks Dom and Boris how this work has been for them, spiritually. Dom says that watching parishes working together joyfully has been spiritually fulfilling. Boris says that this is very spiritual for him, as an immigrant/religious refugee, this work that focuses on working together is the American dream, for him.    To get involved in this collaborative community utility purchasing alliance, send the latest utility bill to Boris@CPA.coop by the end of April. There’s no commitment until contracts are signed.