October 27, 2010 IN THIS NEWSLETTER: · November WMSBF Meeting · Future Membership Meetings · CORPS Green Awards Nominations · New Sustainable Business Forum Chapter · Electronic Waste Take-Back Program · Michigan Women of Wind Energy Kick-Off Meeting · Sunset Coast SBF Fall Event · 2010 Annual Environmental Conference –Air & Waste Management Association · Climate Change: Next Steps for Michigan Contact us with your questions, comments, or requests for information on membership. Lisa Locke, Administrator, info@wmsbf.org. ** Special thanks to Kent County Recycling and Education Center, and specifically Dennis Kmiecik & Doug Wood, for hosting the October meeting and offering an overview and tour of the facility. Thanks also to our presenters - Alison Waske, Metro Health Hospital, Josh Miller, Spectrum Health, and Jeff Burks, Green Key Solutions - for their informative discussion on challenges and innovations in medical recycling programs. OCTOBER MEMBERSHIP MEETING Monday, November 8, 2010 :: 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm Fountain Street Church :: 24 Fountain St. NE (across from the GR Public Library) Liz McCormick and Bill Fluharty will present on a local initiative to explore urban agriculture and regional food systems, the topic recently explored by a newly created open source community learning platform, housed at Grand Rapids Community College, called the Keller Futures Center. At the center of this platform is the belief that we can create the capacity within our community for strategic problem solving, and develop the skills within our citizens to ignite our innovation engine. Small group brainstorming sessions will follow. Our host, Fountain Street Church, has long served the community as a forum for the expression of serious thought and opinion, including the unpopular and sometimes controversial. Guest speakers have included Eleanor Roosevelt, Winston Churchill, Malcolm X, Robert Frost, Joseph Campbell, Margaret Mead, and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Their beautiful sanctuary and Keeler Lounge and art gallery will be open before and after the meeting. Space is limited. If you would like to attend this meeting, you must register by email at info@wmsbf.org by Wednesday, November 3. Cost of attending is $10, payable by cash or check at the event. Credit card payments may be made prior to the event through Google here. A $1 additional processing charge is included for credit card payments. FUTURE MEMBERSHIP MEETING December 13, 2010 :: 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. MSU Bioeconomy Institute – Holland Technology Transfer; Green Chemistry Clearinghouse January 10, 2011 :: 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. Habitat for Humanity – Wealthy Heights Collaborative approach to better neighborhoods – project update. ANNOUNCEMENTS CORPS Green Awards Nomination Corp! wishes to honor the companies and educational organizations that are leading the way in Science and Technology through innovation, research and applied science, as well as those who are using Digital Technology to promote, improve or enhance their enterprises. Honorees may be self-nominated. Nominations must be submitted by November 1. www.corpmagazine.com/forms/nomination-the-business-of-science-and-technology New Sustainable BusinessForum Chapter
The St. Joseph/Benton Harbor area has been holding educational events and Sunset Coast Green Drinks for a year and a half and is now ready to take the plunge into becoming their own Sustainable Business Forum. The St. Joseph/Benton Harbor chapter is currently in the process of forming their by-laws,board of directors, etc. and plan to be up and running for general membership at the beginning of 2011, with coverage of Berrien, Cass, and Van Buren counties. If you are interested in more information, would like to be added to the email list, or know of businesses in this area that may be interested, please contact Becky Kliss with Green Connection at: becky@greenconnectioninc.com or 269.849.6226. There is also an educational event on November 3rd on green roofs and the State of Michigan offering information on tax incentives for various energy upgrades. Electronic Waste Takeback Program The Michigan Department of Natural Resources and Environment’s Electronic Waste Takeback Program was established in 2008 as part of a law promoting electronic waste recycling. It includes specific requirements for manufacturers, retailers, and recyclers – relevant to home and business. This program represents a recycling milestone in Michigan and is bringing the State forward as a leader in the Mid-West Region regarding the issue of Product Stewardship. For more information visit http://www.michigan.gov/deq/0,1607,7-135-3585_4130_18096-208087--,00.html. SUSTAINABILITY EVENTS If you are sponsoring or hosting an upcoming event, please email me to include in our upcoming newsletters and calendar! October 27, 2010; 5:30 -7:00 p.m. :: Michigan Women of Wind Energy Kick-Off Meeting Novi Library; 45255 W. 10 Mile Rd.; Novi, MI 48375 Keynote speakers include Dawn White, Co-founder and President Accio Energy, and MariaThompson, Co-founder and President T/J Technologies. Learn about WoWE, network with other Michigan women, and find out ways to get involved in mentoring, scholarship and many other opportunities in the area of wind energy.
www.womenofwindenergy.org http://www.womenofwindenergy.org/ November 3, 2010; 11:45-1:15 :: Sunset Coast SBF Fall Event Silver Beach Center – Activity Room 333 BroadStreet, St. Joseph Luncheon costis $15.00 (pay at the door cash or check) RSVP to Becky@greenconnectioninc.com or 269.849.6226. November 9, 2010 :: 2010 Annual Environmental Conference Lansing CommunityCollege, West Campus Presented by the East and West Michigan Chapters of the Air & Waste Management Association and the State Bar of Michigan’s Environmental Law Section This annual event brings together environmental professionals from industry, government, environmental services, and the legal community to network and learn the latest issues and developments in today’s rapidly changing environmental field. For a complete program agenda and information on registration, please go to http://www.emawma.org. November 10, 2010; 7:00p.m. :: Climate Change: Next Steps for Michigan Dr. Rebecca Humphries, Director, DNRE Hope College, Graves Hall, Winants Auditorium 263 College (next to Dimnent Chapel) Dr. Humphries will sketch the statewide picture of climate change: the facts, projections, and current state responses. Sponsored by Holland Area League of Women Voters & Hope College Sustainability Committee, with support from faculty in the Hope College Departments of Physics, Biology and Religion. This program is free and open to the public. THE WMSBF ON TWITTER, LINKEDIN,AND FACE BOOK 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! | 