So Much To Be Thankful For

Got no check books, got no banks.

Still I'd like to express my thanks -

I got the sun in the morning

and the moon at night.

~Irving Berlin

News You Can Use

OK, I know...more reading. But it is all great stuff!

The Green Meeting Industry Council publishes a monthly e-newsletter for it's members. It has GMIC updates, profiles, resources and a host of helpful information. With permission, I wanted to give you a link to the latest issue to keep you abreast of the happenings.
http://www.meetingstrategiesworldwide.com/enewsletter/GMJournal101408.pdf

Also, for those of you not signed up for the quarterly Meeting Strategies Worldwide "Daily Plan-It" e-newsletter, here is a link. We feature a different topic each issue with a column/case study, "Ask the Expert" and resources.
http://www.meetingstrategiesworldwide.com/files/docs/DailyPlanIt08Nov.html

Welcome, Montreal!

Best Places to Meet Green is pleased to announce the latest addition...Montreal, Canada!

Equal parts history and hip, Canada’s second largest city is one of the hottest destinations in North America. Yet despite this diversity, an underlying homogeneity exists in this vibrant population who collectively and confidently “live and let live”—and do it well. It is a great destination for meeting planners and participants alike.

Now you can see for yourself how the meeting community scored on sustainable practices. http://www.bestplacestomeetgreen.com/destinations Looks to me like The Palais des congrès de Montréal would make a green planner's job much easier!

"Need To Know Basis"

If you are like me, you have been involved with organizations who use the "need to know basis" as a policy for keeping you out of the process until decisions are made. Decisions that directly affect you. The green meeting standards process is exactly the opposite! It is transparent and seeking your input every step of the way.

Here is your next opportunity to learn and ask questions. MeetingsNet is presenting a webinar this Thursday on "Creating Green Meeting Standards: An Industrywide Effort." Follow this link to register http://meetingsnet.com/webinars/green_meetings_standards_1008/index.html

Don't miss the opportunity to get your questions answered!

You Can Take Them To Bed With You

“A wonderful thing about a book, in contrast to a computer screen, is that you can take it to bed with you.” –Daniel J. Boorstin

Here in Oregon it is the rainy season (really, an inch of rain fell before 8:00am this morning). Time for me to abandon my garden and move indoors. Whether in front of the fire or snuggled in bed with the rain pounding on the roof, it is reading season. Among those books on my nightstand are business books--don’t get me wrong, I read books for pure “brain candy” too—but here are some intriguing books I thought I should share.

Blessed Unrest by Paul Hawken. I just finished this book and highly recommend it. Paul Hawken talks about how each one of us individually plays a role in changing our future. He weaves together the environmental and social aspects of this huge, unnamed movement working towards a better tomorrow for our planet. There are also lots of great resources included in the book. Green champions in the meeting industry can easily see how important our work is!

Strategies For The Green Economy by Joel Makower. I have known Joel for years and he has keynoted the Green Meeting Industry Council Conference. Joel is truly a thought-provoking leader, so I was eagerly awaiting this book. In his book, he talks about the central issues of greening your business and shows you how to get on a solid footing in the growing green economy. Another “must read.”

The Green Collar Economy by Van Jones. Next up for me is this book by Van Jones, a passionate, concerned citizen whose speeches over the years have made a huge difference in my life and my business. It is especially timely as he illustrates that the solution to our economic crisis and our environmental crisis are one in the same. I am looking forward diving in.

Just a few ideas for your "rainy" season!

Get A Good Night's Sleep

The green hotel industry is booming and hotels around the globe are expanding their environmental practices. Now in addition to national programs such as Green Seal or Energy Star, 13 states have programs to assess local properties. Each of the programs has their own verification process requiring a self-assessment and many require an inspection by a state-certified auditor.

Here are the links to the Green Lodging Program in those states in one easy-to-use place (thanks to the “Closing the Circle News” publication from the Office of the Federal Environmental Executive).

California

http://www.ciwmb.ca.gov/EPP/greenlodging/

Delaware

http://www.dnrec.delaware.gov/p2/Pages/GreenLodging.aspx

Florida

http://www.dep.state.fl.us/greenlodging/

Georgia

http://www.p2ad.org/documents/ci_hospitality.html

Hawaii

http://hawaii.gov/dbedt/info/energy/resource/greenbusiness

Maine

http://www.maine.gov/dep/innovation/greencert/lodging.htm

Michigan

http://www.michigan.gov/dleg/0,1607,7-154-25676_25677_37026---,00.html

New Hampshire

http://www.nhslrp.org/index.htm

North Carolina

http://www.p2pays.org/hospitality/

Rhode Island

http://www.dem.ri.gov/programs/benviron/assist/grncert/index.htm

Vermont

http://www.vtgreenhotels.org/index.html

Virginia

http://www.deq.virginia.gov/p2/lodging/homepage.html

Wisconsin

http://www.travelgreenwisconsin.com/index.htm

Today is a Brand New Day!

It is a brand new day...for the world and for our industry! Today there is a shift in audience sophistication toward the topic of green meetings. Sustainability and green meetings encompass more than the tactical strategies of recycling and conservation. They also include presenting solutions to the global concerns of corporate social responsibility, ethics in green marketing and reducing the environmental impact of the entire industry.

Green Meeting Industry Council's leadership feels a strong need to move beyond awareness of green and toward driving change within the industry. Thus the new mission statement of the GMIC, “transforming the global meetings industry through sustainability” and a new visual brand identity. The new brand and mission statement integrate GMIC’s international outreach as well as its commitment to sustainability.

According to executive director, Tamara Kennedy-Hill, “It is important to balance the growing awareness of green with making a commitment to change behavior. The GMIC is not an organization that will be satisfied with merely a checklist. We realize these are important tools and will continue to provide training and tips for best practices. However, the leaders and members of this organization feel strongly about engaging the meetings industry to embrace responsible practices today in order to leave a legacy for future generations.”

If you haven't already, join us! It is time to get involved! http://www.greenmeetings.info/

THE Most Important Thing You Can Do For The Earth!