July 19, 2010

In this Newsletter:

• Go Green! Golf Outing
• An announcement from Kyle

July Meeting

Many thanks to Renae Hesselink and Nichols for hosting last week’s meeting as well as our panel participants Rick Post of Padnos, Michael Taylor of Steelcase,  Eric VanDellen of Alticor, and Gabe Wing of Herman Miller.

2010 Go green Golf Outing

The “Go Green” golf outing is a scholarship fund raising event designed to raise $5,000 in support of our annual Sustainability Scholarship.  The purpose of this scholarship is to encourage students to integrate sustainability into their particular discipline and seek ways in which it may be infused into their institution’s curriculum. 

The event is a best ball scramble will be held at a Quail Ridge Golf Course located in Ada, Michigan.  A member of the Turf Grass Association, this course is environmentally friendly and will help stimulate some great green walking and talking as we look to support a worthwhile cause…supporting sustainability education. 

The cost of participating is $75 per golfer or $300 for teams of four.  Sponsorship opportunities at each of the holes are available ranging from $250 (which includes one golfer) to $1000 (which includes two golfers and sponsorship of the driving range). 

We are also looking for donations of door prizes to give away to our golfers.  In the past, these have included everything from golf balls to office chairs – feel free to include branded merchandise to share your sustainability efforts.

More information is available on the WMSBF website or you may contact Gabe Wing at Gabe_Wing@hermanmiller.com or 616-654-7324 or Kyle Ten Broeke at kyle@wmsbf.org or 616-439-0525.

Download 2010 Golf Outing Sponsorship forms here!

Download 2010 Golfer Registration Forms here!

An Announcement from Kyle

It has been two years since I was hired as Administrator for West Michigan Sustainable Business Forum.  In those two years, we parted ways with WMEAC, launched an online version of the Self-Assessment Guide, and gained our 501c3 tax status from the IRS.  The time has come for another change.  I have accepted a position with the State of Michigan and will be leaving the WMSBF at the end of August. 

It has been a great pleasure to meet and work with so many wonderful people working together to improve the sustainability of their businesses and the region as a whole.  I hope to see many of you at the Golf Outing!

As always, I am happy to hear your questions, comments, or concerns.  Email me at kyle@wmsbf.org or call at 616-439-0525.

Best Regards,

Kyle Ten Broeke

MONTHLY MEMBERSHIP MEETINGS   

Go Green Golf Outing :: 8375 36th St SE  Ada, MI  49301 (map)

Monday, August 9 :: 8:00 am to 2:00 pm

In lieu of our regular monthly meeting, consider joining us on the links in support of our annual Go Green! Golf Outing, the single fund-raising event for our annual Sustainability Scholarship.  Cost of participation is $75 per golfer which includes a round of golf, lunch, and entrance into our drawing for door prizes.

Sponsorship opportunities also exist.  Visit wmsbf.org for more information.

Amway:: 7575 East Fulton SE, Ada  (map)

Monday, September 13 :: 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm

At our September meeting, we will be meeting at Amway in Ada to explore Life Cycle Assessment.  Stay tuned for more details in the next month.

SUSTAINABILITY EVENTS

If you are sponsoring or hosting an upcoming event, please email me to include in our upcoming newsletters and calendar! 

Green Buildings of West Michigan Showcase Tour

September 10-11, 2010 :: Kickoff Breakfast at Eberhard Center, September 10

With over 120 LEED certified buildings in West Michigan, and that number continues to grow, we have the perfect opportunity to prove the benefits and showcase green building design as a region.  Grand Rapids is a leader, fourth in the nation with LEED certified buildings, and yet we find very few of those building owners sharing their story in an organized way to attract tours and visitors and as an economic development tool for our region.  We are assisting those building owners to pull their case studies together, measuring the results of their green building choices, and to organize tours of these buildings to highlight the features.  The diversity in the types of buildings that have been certified will provide a tour in each of the following market segments:  office, commercial, health care, education, homes, hospitality, and non-profit.

Tours will be September 10th & 11th 2010 for the building tour event sponsored by the USGBC West Michigan Chapter.

Cost of Tours:

·         Friday Only - $60.00; register by August 15th and cost is $50.00

·         Saturday Only - $60.00; register by August 15th and cost is $50.00

·         Both Friday and Saturday - $100.00; register by August 15th and cost is $90.00

·         Add breakfast (a joint breakfast with Greentown participants/keynote address by Mayor George Heartwell) an additional $20.00

For more information and registration, visit the USGBC-WM website. 

The WMSBF on Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook

We are now on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn.  We are using these media to update meeting information, member news, and general sustainability news. Follow or friend to remain in the loop!