IN THIS NEWSLETTER:

·       Board of Directors Election Ballots due May 6

·       May 9:  Annual Membership Meeting & Call for Current SR Initiatives

·       Michigan Green Chemistry Clearinghouse

·       May 6:  Grand Rapids Bicycle Summit

·       May 26:  Sustainability: Building the Business Case

·       June 7-9:  National Environmental Sustainability Summit/Green Screen for Safer Chemicals

·       Scale Up Michigan  - Credit for pilot plant and business support services. Proposals due May 23.

A sincere thank-you to Kentwood Office Furniture for their hosting of our April meeting and for helping underwrite our lunch!! And a thank-you to Steve Frazee for presenting an overview of the national TED phenomena and upcoming local TEDx Grand Rapids event, Innovate X, being held on May 12, http://www.tedxgrandrapids.org/.

Board Elections

The primary representative of each member organization should have received an email ballot to accept the slate of candidates for WMSBF Board of Directors.  If you have not received a ballot, please notify Lisa Locke, llocke@wmsbf.org. Completed ballots are due Friday, May 6. Results will be announced at our Annual Membership Meeting on May 9.

Scale Up Michigan

The Scale Up Michigan program, administered by Lakeshore Advantage and supported by Michigan State University, offers companies the ability to leverage the resources and expertise of the MSU Bioeconomy Institute to help scale-up their chemical processes. (We toured their extensive laboratory resources at our December meeting.) They will offer up to $25,000 credit for free pilot plant and business support services to up to three organizations. Proposals are being accepted through May 23, 2011.  For more details, visit www.biobusinessaccelerator.com.

Membership Meeting

Monday, May 9, 2011 :: 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm

Cascade Engineering

3400 Innovation Ct. SE, Grand Rapids

At our Annual Membership Meeting, Board election results and Golf Scholarship recipient will be announced. Our Social Responsibility Committee presents an interactive program this month. Member organizations will share examples of SR initiatives. If you would be willing to share examples of social responsibility/ engagement initiatives in which your organization is currently involved, please contact Lisa Locke, llocke@wmsbf.org. We are looking for examples in small, medium and large-sized companies to share with the larger group. Kelley Losey will offer an overview of B Corp certification.  Cascade Engineering is the first company in Michigan and the largest worldwide to receive certification, which requires meeting comprehensive and transparent social and environmental performance standards and higher legal accountability standards.  We will also get an update on Friends of Grand Rapids Parks from Steve Faber, Executive Director.

Alternate transportation strategies are encouraged. Contact Lisa Locke, llocke@wmsbf.org, if you would like help in arranging carpooling.

Space is limited. If you would like to attend this meeting, you must register by email at info@wmsbf.org by Wednesday, May 4. Cost of attending is $10, payable by cash or check at the event. Credit card payments may be made through the home page of our website, Monthly Meeting Payment on the left hand menu, http://www.wmsbf.org. A $1 additional processing chargeis included for credit card payments. 

Michigan Green Chemistry Clearinghouse

This new statewide resource is gearing up for its official launch. Aquinas Center for Sustainability, Sustainable Research Group, Blue Sphere Solutions, and Grand Valley State University are collaborators on this project. The overall goal of the Michigan Green Chemistry Clearinghouse is to accelerate green chemistry awareness, innovation and investment in the State of Michigan by creating and enabling a community of green chemistry advocates that are connected and informed. The Clearinghouse aims to be a dynamic and interactive on-line source of information, resources, databases, learning opportunities and interactive tools for citizens, business and industry professionals, educators, policy makers, entrepreneurs and others. Visit www.migreenchemistry.org.

Events

Grand Rapids Bicycle Summit:  Inspiration to Action

May 6, 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Grand Valley State University Eberhard Center, Downtown GR

Join in supporting a more bicycle-friendly community. Hosted by the Greater Grand Rapids Bicycle Coalition, the Summit is intended for all cyclists, community planners, civil engineers, elected officials, industry-related retailers, public health representatives and the general public. GR City officials will give an update about bicycle-friendly initiatives in Grand Rapids. $15 fee includes lunch. For information on keynote speakers, sponsorship opportunities, and to register, go to www.BikeGrandRapids.org.

Sustainability:  Building the Business Case

May 26, 2011

Aquinas College, Wege Ballroom

Learn from thought leaders who have integrated sustainability into their business model.  Get first-hand knowledge and local expertise on the measurable benefits of sustainable practices and how to set obtainable goals and objectives. You will learn everything from metrics and technology to the social components.  Cost is $25.00 through May 3, $30 after May 3.  Register at www.regonline.com/sustainability11 or call Bernadine Hartmann at 269.388.7015.

8^th Annual National Environmental Sustainability Summit

June 7-9, 2011

Westin Book Cadillac, 1114 Washington Blvd., Detroit

You are invited to attend the ONLY annual national gathering of environmental professionals. This year’s Summit will provide the information, resources, contacts, and tools for professionals who want to advance sustainable manufacturing, energy efficiency, green products design, pollution prevention, chemicals policy and environmental innovation. Summit co-hosts include U.S. EPA, the National Pollution Prevention Roundtable, the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, and Terrachord LLC. Sponsorship opportunities are available 

A special training will be offered in conjunction with the Summit: Green Screen for Safer Chemicals. This day-long training will be of particular interest to business experts in supply chain management, materials selection, procurement, product and process design, environmental health and safety, sustainability and regulatory affairs who need to select safer chemicals for their products. Cost is $95.00, which includes lunch. Space is limited.

Early registration is encouraged at www.environmentalsummit.org.

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