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Connections Newsletter - Newsletter of the Green Business Network and the Social Investment Forum

Business Network News

December 7, 2005

Business Division Director Meets
Dalai Lama

Denise Hamler, in her role as a board member of Rugmark USA board, had the honor of meeting privately with His Holiness, the Dalai Lama during his visit to Washington, DC on Saturday, November 12th. After learning about Rugmark's mission and work over the last decade, His Holiness responded enthusiastically, calling Rugmark's humanitarian model "wise." His Holiness also said it is imperative for Tibetan rug companies to join Rugmark to be part of a broader effort to address root causes of child labor and poverty. The Tibetan leader also urged Rugmark to consider geographic expansion in Asia. To view images of this meeting, please visit www.rugmark.org.


Denise Hamler holding hands with the Dalai Lama.

 

Green America's Green Business Network™ Launches NEW Web Site

Green America’s Green Business Network™ has launched a new web site for Green America Business Members. The site, located at www.GreenAmericaToday.org/cabn, features information about annual Green Business Conference and Green Festivals, tools and resources like job boards and green office tips, information about member benefits and ad rates for Green America publications, a members-only green business e-mail discussion group, easy online membership renewal, and more. Check out our re-vamped Web site today!

Green Business Conference—A Sold-Out Green Affair

This year’s Green Business Conference held in San Francisco before the Green Festival was an event that garnered wild praise and press. Featured as a front page story in the San Francisco Chronicle business section, the story profiled business leaders Michael Crooke of Patagonia, Dominique Conseil of AVEDA, and Margot Fraser of Birkenstock fame. Over 300 green businesses were represented and over 50 business leaders spoke in three days of inspiration, learning and networking.


Kavita Ramdas, President/CEO of Global Fund for Women delivers an inspiring keynote.


A sold-out conference provided inspiration and networking opportunities to the 300 green business leaders.

Conference attendees praised the event. From Christopher Swanner at Clif Bar, “The Green Business Conference is a must-attend for any current or would-be green’trepreneur.”

John Abrams founder of South Mountain Company said to us in an e-mail, “You have evolved an outstanding conference and built a splendid community…I am impressed and hugely admiring of the wonderful work of Green America's Green Business Network™…and I enjoyed the conference immensely.”

And from Autumn White-Weeks at Choice Organic Teas, “The speakers were all fantastic and valuable…the food delicious…and I came away excited and ready to take on the new challenges that come my way.”

Mark your calendars now for 2006 dates:Nov 7-10 in San Francisco.

For complete highlights of the conference. Read more »


Paul Ray, author of Cultural Creatives, spoke about the importance of authenticity in building a brand and communicating that to customers.

 

2005 Green Festivals Grow the Green Economy

The fourth annual Green Festival season has come and gone, with more than 47,000 people attending this year’s celebrations of the green economy in Washington, DC and San Francisco. A joint project of Green America and Global Exchange, the Green Festival has quickly built a reputation as the authority and trend-setter for helping consumers understand and enjoy the benefits of a greener lifestyle. This year’s festivals included more than 500 diverse local and national green businesses displaying and selling eco-friendly, Fair Trade, and sustainable products, as well as over 250 environmentally and socially conscious speakers appearing before standing-room-only crowds.

What’s more, as is customary, the Green Festival models sustainable behavior for attendees by recycling and composting waste, offering discounts for bicycle commuters, and off-setting more than 1,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions associated with the festival by purchasing green tags through TerraPass. Working towards the continued goal of operating a Zero Waste event, an extraordinary 85% of total show waste was recovered, recycled or composted by Green Festival staff and diverted from landfills.

2006 San Francisco Festival will be November 11 and 12.

Green America Sponsors Three Green Business Awards

Green Business Leadership Award

At the Green Business Conference in San Francisco November, Green America was proud to present the Green Business Leadership Award to green hotel Habitat Suites of Austin, Texas.
The 2004 Green Business Leadership recipient, T.S. Designs, presented Habitat Suites with their 2005 award. Among the many sustainable steps, Habitat Suites maintains its grounds by using nontoxic fertilizers and pesticides, uses only recycled paper products and biodegradable cleaners, and was a charter member of the U.S. Green Hotel Association. For more information, visit www.habitatsuites.com


Brandi Clark accepts the Green Business Leadership Award for Habitat Suites from last year’s winner T.S. Designs staff-member Cristie Holland.

People’s Choice Award

Actress and environmental activist Daryl Hannah presented Green America’s inaugural People’s Choice Award to Fair Trade retailer Ten Thousand Villages at the Green Festival Benefit Party in San Francisco. Ten Thousand Villages is one of the oldest and largest Fair Trade organizations in the world, and a pioneer among Fair Trade businesses in the United States. For more information, visit www.tenthousandvillages.com.


Actress and activist Daryl Hannah presented the People’s Choice award to Doug Dirkson of Ten Thousand Villages.

Thousands of people across the country cast their vote for this first-ever award where consumers nominate and vote for green businesses making a difference for people and the planet. Businesses that placed in the top 10 were: Wildlife Works, It’s Only Natural, Mama’s Earth: The Environmental General Store, Twisted Limb Paperworks, EarthTones- Environmental Telephone & Internet, Honest Tea, Seventh Generation, Better World Club Bicycle Roadside Assistance, and Equal Exchange.

Aveda Environmental Award

Co-created by Aveda and Green America the first-ever magazine environmental awards were presented in three categories at a magazine industry trade show in New York City in November. CABN member Utne won in the category of Long-time Environmental Leader, while the magazines Natural Health and Sustainable Industries Journal received honors in the New Environmental Commitment and New Launch categories respectively.

 

Green America Sponsors Green Holiday Catalog

This year, Green America makes it easier for consumers to find great green gift values – and easier for CABN members to connect with conscious consumers. Green America's Green Gift Catalog features gift items from CABN members who are offering special discounts between now and January 5, 2006. To check out this year’s catalog, visit www.GreenAmericaToday.org/pubs/holidaygifts/.

Green America Members Pledge: No Wal-Mart for the Holidays

With the new film "Wal-Mart: The High Cost of Low Prices" making headlines across the country, Green America members are doing their part by pledging to avoid Wal-Mart for their holiday purchasing. To sign the pledge, visit www.GreenAmericaToday.org/takeaction/walmart/.