December 7, 2009 December meeting Our next monthly membership meeting will be held from 12pm to 2pm on December 14 at the Applied Technology Center at Grand Rapids Community College. The Social Responsibility committee will be presenting on the primer that they have been working on. A representative of Hortech will also be presenting on their work as a nursery for live roofs and walls. 2010 membership Renewals
Membership renewal letters went out last week, including an invoice based on previous years' membership levels. As there have been some changes to our membership levels, please notify me if your company has shifted to another level and I will send out a corrected invoice as soon as possible. New Membership Levels
The Board of Directors has voted to decrease the annual fees required from our smallest members by expanding the $150 tier and creating a new $60 tier for companies with one or two employees. The new membership fee structure is as follows: | Number of Employees | Annual Membership Fee | | 1-2 | $60 | | 3-10 | $150 | | 11-100 | $300 | | 101+ | $500 |
In addition to the $60 tier for micro-businesses, the Board of Directors is also initiating a non-voting membership level for students. Students from all local colleges and universities are welcome to join for $20. Student members will have access to all member benefits including attendance to monthly meetings, the ability to work on committees, access member only info on the WMSBF website, and more. Please spread the word to any students and contractors you know who have shown interest in the Forum but have not been able to join due to the cost of membership.
WMSBF Meeting Opportunities If you are looking for a way to become more involved with or provide greater support to the WMSBF, consider joining the Program Committee or sponsoring a monthly meeting! The Program Committee is responsible for planning WMSBF events such as the monthly membership meeting. The time commitment is minimal but your impact can be significant. We are also seeking meeting sponsors for our 2010 meeting schedule. Opportunities range from offering financial support to hosting the meeting at your facility. Sponsors are acknowledged and given the opportunity to address the group. For more information, contact me at kyle@wmsbf.org As always, feel free to email me if you have any questions of concerns.
Kyle Ten Broeke
NEW MEMBERS Spectrum Health is a not-for-profit, integrated health system based in West Michigan. Our organization includes a medical center, regional community hospitals, a dedicated children's hospital, a multispecialty medical group and a nationally recognized health plan, Priority Health. Rockford Construction has extensive experience with new and renovated LEED® certified projects. Many of our LEED certified completions are ranked globally as “firsts” of their kind. Whether a project is seeking LEED certification or simply using the LEED Rating System as a guide, Rockford’s dedicated Sustainability Manager and accredited staff offer a considerable advantage.
MONTHLY MEMBERSHIP MEETINGS Applied Technology Center @ Grand Rapids Community College (map)
151 Fountain NE Grand Rapids, MI December 14, 2009 :: 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm The Social Responsibility committee will be presenting on the primer that they have been working on. A representative of Hortech will also be presenting on their work as a nursery for live roofs and walls. Space is limited. If you would like to attend this meeting, you must register by email at info@wmsbf.org by Wednesday, December 9. 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! 8th ANNUAL BALLE BUSINESS CONFERENCE MAY 21-23, 2010 ♦ Charleston, South Carolina Charleston is world renowned for its warm hospitality, historic architecture, outstanding local food, and beautiful waterways. But did you know that the lowcountry of South Carolina and the Southeastern U.S. is also a hotbed of innovation for community economic development? Forgotten mill towns are rising anew, tobacco farmers are converting their fields to sustainable local foods, local commodities like cotton are finding fair prices among socially minded consumers, family farms are being reclaimed, local businesses are learning sustainable practices to improve their bottom line - and the ties that bind communities and citizens together are being restored in the process.
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.
Conference Rates | | General Registrants | BALLE Network Leaders | | Through December 4 | $415 | $365 | | Through January 31 | $465 | $415 | | Through April 15 | $515 | $465 | | Through May 13 | $565 | $515 | Group rates are available for parties of 6+ or 10+ registrants. Please inquire with Event Manager Todd Mills for details Register Now! | 