August 16, 2010

Inthis Newsletter:

• Go Green! Golf Outing
• September Meeting
• A Fond Farewell

2010Go green Golf Outing

Thank you to everyone that participated at our fifth annualGo Green Golf Outing!  Though the daystarted with a rain delay, over seventy golfers had a chance to play thebeautiful Quail Ridge golf course (and even get a glimpse of the sun now andthen).  Most importantly, we are able toraise over $5000 for next year’s Sustainability Scholarship which will go to alocal college student to support their studies of sustainability.

New this year was the golf outing being carbon neutralthanks to a generous donation of carbon offsets by The CarbonNeutral Company!

Of course, none of this would have been possible without thesupport of our many sponsors including:

Herman Miller (Platinum)

Amway (Gold)

Cascade Engineering (Gold)

Varnum (Gold)

American Seating (Silver)

BISSELL (Silver)

Crystal Flash (Silver)

DSM (Silver)

ERM (Silver)

Padnos (Silver)

Warner Norcross and Judd (Silver)

The CarbonNeutral Company

Sustainable Research Group

Thomas J. Newhouse Design

Anne Saliers

SeptemberMeeting

In September, we will be meeting at Amway World Headquartersto follow up July's Cradle to Cradle discussion with a more in depthexploration of Life Cycle Assessments.  Stay tuned to the website andnewsletters for information to come!

AFond Farewell

As I announced last month, I am moving on from the WMSBF – as such,this will be my last newsletter.  It hasbeen a pleasure meeting so many sustainability-minded people and assisting thisorganization set off on a new, exciting course.   I wish the best for the WMSBF and all of youas you travel the road towards sustainability.

Please welcome Lisa Locke with all the warmth andappreciation that you showed to me.  Withyears of experience in the field (as well as years administrating the WMSBFwhen it was part of WMEAC), she will be a fantastic administrator.  I know that she is eager to assist in takingthe WMSBF to the next level.

If you have any question, comments, or concerns, feel freeto email Lisa at llocke@wmsbf.org or call616-439-0525.

Best Regards,

Kyle Ten Broeke

MONTHLYMEMBERSHIP MEETINGS   

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

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

At our September meeting, we willbe meeting at Amway in Adato explore Life Cycle Assessment.  Stay tuned for more details in the nextmonth.

Spaceis limited. If you would like to attend this meeting, you mustregister by email at info@wmsbf.org byWednesday, September 6. Cost of attending is $10.

There is a$10 fee, payable by cash or check at the event. Credit card payments may bemade prior to the event through Google here.A $1 additional processing charge is included for credit card payments. 

SUSTAINABILITYEVENTS

If you are sponsoring or hosting an upcoming event, please email me to include in ourupcoming 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 togrow, we have the perfect opportunity to prove the benefits and showcase greenbuilding design as a region.  Grand Rapidsis a leader, fourth in the nation with LEED certified buildings, and yet wefind very few of those building owners sharing their story in an organized wayto attract tours and visitors and as an economic development tool for ourregion.  We are assisting those building owners to pull their case studiestogether, measuring the results of their green building choices, and toorganize tours of these buildings to highlight the features.  Thediversity in the types of buildings that have been certified will provide atour in each of the following market segments:  office, commercial, healthcare, education, homes, hospitality, and non-profit.

Tourswill be September 10th & 11th 2010 for the building tour event sponsored bythe USGBC West Michigan Chapter.

Cost of Tours:

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

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

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

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

For more information andregistration, visit the USGBC-WM website. 

TheWMSBF on Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook

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