February 1, 2010 Discovering Sustainability This Friday, February 5, we will be meeting at Aquinas College for our second Discovering Sustainability: A West Michigan Conversation. This free meeting, from 8-11:30 am at the Wege Center, will be a continuation of the meeting held last October. We will be expanding the conversation to integrate our efforts with those of the Southwest Michigan Sustainable Business Forum and create a more complete picture of the greater West Michigan region. If you are interested in attending this event, please fill out this short survey to provide some basic information to be used in Aquinas College's Center for Sustainability asset mapping project. Completion of the survey will serve as registration. If you have already filled out the survey previously, please email me at kyle@wmsbf.org This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it to register. Even if you are unable to attend, your completion of the survey will assist us in creating as complete a picture as possible. Feel free to pass this information on to your contacts. All are welcome and encouraged to participate in whatever capacity they can! February meeting On February 8, we will be meeting at Grand Rapids Community College’s Applied Technology Center downtown. Kevin Wisselink from The Rapid will be discussing their services including vanpooling and ridesharing. Lisa Locke will be giving an update on the West Michigan Clean Cities Coalition and their work promoting petroleum reduction strategies. We will also be discussing the upcoming year. The WMSBF on Twitter and Facebook We are now on Twitter (@wmsbf) on Facebook (West Michigan Sustainable Business Forum) and updating regularly with meeting information, member news, and general sustainability news. Follow or friend to remain in the loop! WMSBF Meeting Hosts needed There are still opportunities to host or sponsor (partially or in whole) one of our monthly meetings in 2010. Please contact me for open dates or for more information. As always, feel free to email me if you have any questions of concerns.
Kyle Ten Broeke
MONTHLY MEMBERSHIP MEETINGS Grand Rapids Community College :: 151 Fountain NE Grand Rapids (map) February 8, 2009 :: 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm Kevin Wisselink of The Rapid will discuss their services including vanpooling and ride-sharing. Lisa Locke will be giving an update on the West Michigan Clean Cities Coalition and their work promoting petroleum reduction strategies. We will also be discussing the upcoming year. Space is limited. If you would like to attend this meeting, you must register by email at info@wmsbf.org by Wednesday, February 3. Cost of attending is $10. There is a $10 arrangement fee, payable by cash or check at the event. Credit card payments may be made prior to the event through PayPal (no PayPal account is necessary) here. A $1 additional processing charge is included for credit card payments.
SUSTAINABILITY EVENTS If you are sponsoring or hosting an upcoming event, please email me to include in our upcoming newsletters and calendar! Sustainability Issues in Global Packaging Operations Wednesday, February 3 :: Hyatt Place The evolution of the environmental movement dates back to the 70’s and the pursuit for sustainability is strong today. This seminar will review the history of this evolution and site examples of significant industry activities in the area of sustainable packaging and life cycle processes. The program will offer a discussion of definitions and metrics as well as the role of packaging performance in sustainable design. Individuals involved with shipping & packaging operations should attend. Dates: Wednesday, February 3, 2010 Hyatt Place 2150 Metro Lane, Wyoming, MI Thursday, February 4, 2010 Engineering Society of Detroit 20700 Civic Center Drive, Suite 450, Southfield, MI Time: 9:00 am - 11:30 am Registration: $30 per person includes continental breakfast Discovering Sustainability: A Second West Michigan Conversation Friday, February 5 :: Aquinas College The WMSBF, along with a growing number of co-conveners, will be hosting the second part of this continuing discussion regarding a sustainable West Michigan. At this meeting, we will be: · Continuing to cascade our asset mapping survey for inclusion in the Aquinas’ Center for Sustainability Mapping Project · Connecting our conversation to the work on regional indicators already underway by the SWMSBF and Southwest Covenant group including the Kalamazoo and Battle Creek areas. · Continue developing the depth and breadth of our collaborative connections More information will become available in the coming weeks. If you are not receiving email updates, please contact Kyle Ten Broeke at kyle@wmsbf.org to be added to the distribution list. State of Green Business Forum 2010 Tuesday, February 9, 2010 :: Holiday Inn Chicago Mart Plaza This one-day, information-packed event coincides with the release of GreenBiz.com's "State of Green Business 2010," the acclaimed annual status report on corporate environmental trends and progress. Hosted by Joel Makower, Executive Editor of GreenBiz.com and featuring senior contributor Marc Gunther, the report will be brought to life with dozens of compelling speakers and panels focusing on key business trends and issues. Among the topics we'll cover: · Carbon Management After Copenhagen: Learn how leadership companies are approaching a post-Copenhagen world. · Green Marketing in the Age of Radical Transparency: Discover how the rules are changing in a world where consumers have unparalleled access to data about products and companies. · Can IT Solve the World's Problems? Beyond energy-efficient data centers, a new generation of information technology that is greening company operations as never before. · The Green Economy Meets the Great Lakes: How the Great Lakes region is seizing the opportunities of the growing green economy. Registration is $399. More information can be found here. Sustainable Business Practice Forum Thursday and Friday, February 11-12, 2010 :: Cascade Engineering and Davenport University Corp! Magazine has partnered with Cascade Engineering and Davenport University to bring to you a two day Sustainable Business Practices Forum titled “Building Business Value and Enhancing Our Community via Sustainable Business Practices". On Thursday, February 11, 2010 from 12:30 pm - 5:00 pm we will be hosting a workshop “Starting a Sustainable Business Focus” and will feature a tour of Cascade Engineering. On Friday, February 12, 2010 from 7:30 am - 5:00 pm we will feature an all day forum. Attendees will be given the choice of two educational workshops to attend, these workshops are designed to fit any level of interested in Sustainable Business Practices. There will also be two keynote speakers that day. Fred Keller, CEO of Cascade Engineering will be speaking about Enhancing Our Communities and Economy via Sustainable Business Practices. We will also hear from Dr. Stuart Hart, from Cornell University regarding Building Business Value via Sustainable Business Practices. Dr. Hart will also give us a case study on Creating a Culture of Innovation. More information, including registration (which ends February 8), can be found here. Green Facilities Conference Tuesday, March 23 :: Calvin College In its fifth year the Nichols Green Facilities Conference will offer a full day of education about features, benefits and cost management of green buildings. Participants can expect a keynote speaker and a variety of workshop topics including Lean 5s in facilities management and case studies of LEED buildings (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design.) Keynote speaker Alan Bigger, retired facilities director from Earlham College and Notre Dame University and author of the book “Frugalisms: Creative Ideas on Leadership in Facilities and Housekeeping Operations” will bring a front line message to conference participants. Date: Tuesday, March 23, 2010 Location: Prince Conference Center at Calvin College 1800 East Beltline Ave SE, Grand Rapids, MI Time: 7:30am – 4:00 pm Registration: $80 per person includes continental breakfast and lunch. Watch for more information at www.enichols.com/greenconference. Questions can be directed to Marcie Palmer at marcie.palmer@enichols.com. Ad Fair 2010 February 23-25, 2010 :: Dominican Center, Grand Rapids The American Advertising Federation of WM (AAF WM formerly Ad Club www.aafwmi.org) is putting on a workshop on advertising for small business, non profits etc. See the attached flyer. There will be various activities and presenters for anyone who needs a primer on advertising. Local First: Designing Sustainable Communities Through Business April 28, 2010 :: Aquinas College Save the date for Local First's annual conference on local business and sustainability. More information will be forthcoming. Michigan Sustainable Business Forum Conference and Expo April 28-30, 2010 :: Grand Traverse Resort and Spa Save the date for this biannual meeting of the various sustainable business forums throughout the state. More information will be forthcoming here. Contact Patty O'Donnell at pattyodonnell@nwm.cog.mi.us or 231-929-5039 for information about the event. 8th Annual BALLE Business Conference May 21-23, 2010 :: Charleston, SC Join hundreds of entrepreneurs and business owners, BALLE network leaders, economic developers, local government representatives and community connectors, as we explore innovative best practices in growing community wealth and opportunities for your community to step forward as a leader in the new economy.
Group rates are available for parties of 6+ or 10+ registrants. Please inquire with Event Manager Todd Mills for details.
You may also contact Elissa Sangalli Hillary at Local First for additional information. Register Now! | 