Green Business Network: Denise Hamler Retires After 34 Years at Green America

Scott Kitson | Oct 27, 2016

After 34 years, Green Business Network Director Denise Hamler has retired from Green America.

Whether you’ve met Denise once or have worked with her for a lifetime, you know she is a force for good and makes real change happen. Her joy for life—and bubbly laughter—always leave you energized.

Green America (then Co-op America) first opened its office on September 25, 1982, in Washington, DC. From the beginning, Denise gave 34 years to the organization, working hard to grow the green economy. She has enjoyed working with so many innovative green business leaders and change-makers over the years.

Denise tells the story of first starting at Green America, working from a shoebox full of index cards with members’ names and addresses. She adds, “I thought I was only going to have this job for 6 months!”

Three decades later, Green America engages with millions of people, from every background, who share our vision for environmental sustainability and social justice. Denise’s fearless spirit has helped lead us every step of the way.

When Green America began, Denise had a two-year-old son. Now, she has a two-year-old grandson.

View highlights from Denise’s retirement party:

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Green America’s Board of Directors invites you to make a gift in honor of Denise’s many contributions to social justice and environmental sustainability. Gifts will be placed in a special Denise Hamler Endearment Fund that will support our powerful green economy programs.

Our goal is to raise $1,000 for every year she has served our mission — $34,000! The fund will remain open until December 31, 2016. Please celebrate Denise’s extraordinary legacy by making a tax-deductible donation today.

(Source: http://www.greenbusinessnetwork.org/denise-hamler-retires-after-34-years-at-green-america/)

Green Business Network: Join us at the San Francisco Green Festival, Nov. 11-13, 2016

by Scott Kitson | Oct 27, 2016

Join us to celebrate the 15th annual San Francisco Green Festival Expo, Nov. 11-13, 2016, at a new location: Pier 35. Green Festival is excited to spread healthy and sustainable initiatives in convention centers. San Francisco presentations and mentoring sessions kick off on Friday, Nov. 11. Enjoy the vibrant green marketplace and attend programming all weekend long on green business and green living.

Get your ticket to San Francisco Green Festival Expo »

Exhibit in the Green Marketplace

Ready to exhibit and make holiday sales? Join the nation’s leading sustainability event and reach new green customers.

Exhibit at Green Festival Expos »

Green Business Network Members: Save 10% on exhibiting with your exclusive discount.

See exhibitor information »

B2B Power Seminars for your Green Business

Get the most out of Green Festival to grow your business. Sign up for a free 20 minute power session on topics critical to your success, from leading entrepreneur growth engine Expert DOJO. To register or for more information, contact Rob Butler at rbutler@greenfestivals.org.

Learn more about B2B Power Seminars »

Green Business Experts at Green Festival Expo

Learn from a wide range of experts in sustainable business and social enterprise at the San Francisco Green Festival Expo. Check out some of the weekend’s inspiring speakers:

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Plus join Green America’s featured session with President and CEO Alisa Gravitz:

Clean Energy, Agriculture & Climate Justice: The Three Essential Climate Strategies

After the hottest summer on record, we need to ramp up climate solutions. Alisa Gravitz will discuss the trends and the most effective climate strategies. We can win—if we double down now. Find out how we can do it.

See more San Francisco Green Festival Expo speakers here.

Awards

Help your favorite non-profit working to improve the bay area win $5,000. Green Festival supports inspiring organizations that educate and benefit their local communities with the Green Festival Community Award. You’ll have a chance to vote online prior to the Festival or on the show floor. The winner will be declared Sunday afternoon at the Expo.

All exhibitors are nominated for the Green Festival Brand Award. Exhibitors: invite your followers to vote for you.

We hope to see you at Pier 35! Get your ticket to San Francisco Green Festival Expo »

For lodging, directions, volunteering opportunities, and more general show info, head to the Green Festivals website.

(Source: http://www.greenbusinessnetwork.org/join-us-at-the-san-francisco-green-festival-nov-11-13-2016-pier35/)

Sustainatopia: Call for Speakers (07-10 May 2017)

(Source: http://www.sustainatopia.com/speaker-nomination)

ASBC: TAKE ACTION - Declaration on Gender Equity in Business

INCLUSIVE ECONOMY

Business and the broader economy work best when prosperity is widely shared, especially historically disadvantaged populations or those who have faced barriers to opportunity. An inclusive economy is representative of all interests in society – major and minority population groups, women and men, old and young people. Bringing about an inclusive economy requires a systems approach that brings together government, the private sector, and communities.

Women, in particular face significant obstacles to securing the same financial compensation as their male counterparts in the work world. Sign the declaration today.

Declaration on Gender Equity in Business

We the undersigned business leaders find there is a robust and growing case for moving aggressively on the gender-equity front. It is well documented that gender-diverse companies show higher profitability, while gender-balanced economies are consistently linked with peace and prosperity. Gender equality, when measured by a combination of business, environment and social impact indicators, is a win-win for companies and their communities. Seven public policy solutions have been identified to reach these goals:

1. Require a 30% or better representation of women on the boards of public companies. (In Norway and France, 34% are current comparative figures.)
2. Expand funding of federal Small Business Administration (SBA) and Small Business Innovation Research programs for women-owned small businesses, and have the SBA to be more transparent and timely in requiring gender and racial data when awarding government contracts. 
3. Raise the goal for awarding government contracts to women-owned and small, disadvantaged businesses from the current 5% figure to a modest target of 25%. Raise the current goal of 3% of spending of federal prime contract dollars on ‘Historically Underutilized Business Zones’ to at least 15%.
4. Require gender-blind hiring and promotion by all companies and institutions, and require disclosure of employee gender mix at each pay level.
5. Hold federal agencies accountable for meeting legal ‘inclusion’ quotas and requirements as set forth in the Dodd-Frank law. These are guidelines to ensure that entities that contract with federal agencies support economic opportunities for women and minorities, and provide fair wages. Encourage and watchdog implementation of Section 342 of Dodd-Frank (Minority and Women Inclusion), requiring (voluntary) disclosure on business activities and workforce composition by gender and race, to apply to financial institutions, federal contractors and their regulators. 
6. Implement federal and state legislation that addresses workplace issues such as pay equity, paid leave, and childcare; the lack of which disproportionately limits women and minorities from reaching financial independence and becoming industry leaders.
7. Decrease the barriers to entrepreneurship for disadvantaged groups through mentorship programs, crowdfunding and expanded resources that coach individuals in loan applications, in order to improve success rates for traditional financing options.

(Source: http://asbcouncil.org/inclusive#.WAQ-j-grKhc)

Green Business Network: Social Venture Network (SVN) Fall Conference, November 2-5

by Scott Kitson | Sep 26, 2016

The Social Venture Network (SVN) is hosting its Fall Conference in Philadelphia, PA from November 2-5. Attendees will learn about social entrepreneurship and hear from experts about the importance of making an impact through social ventures.For 29 years, high-impact business leaders, social entrepreneurs, and impact investors have convened at SVN conferences to have conversations with values-aligned peers. 
This unique conference experience creates a space where the true challenges of leading a mission-driven organization can be addressed, and where long-time SVN members and first-time attendees find the people, resources, and ideas they need to succeed and grow.

Hear from speakers like Seth Goldman (co-founder of Honest Tea) as he shares his story of ups and downs on his road of social entrepreneurship during the “True Confessions of Entrepreneurs” panel.

Other speakers include Meghan French Dunbar (Conscious Company), David Levine (American Sustainable Business Council), and Uri Berliner (NPR News).

View the full list of speakers here.

Registration rates are $,1299 for SVN Members and SVN Affiliates (before October 11, 2016), and $1,799 for Non-Members (before October 11, 2016). Prices will increase in the weeks leading up to the event, so register today.

Learn more about the Social Venture Network and how they empower diverse, innovative business leaders.

(Source: http://www.greenbusinessnetwork.org/social-venture-network-svn-fall-conference-november-2-5/)

Green America: Tell Smithsonian, Practice What You Print!

Smithsonian Institution is a leader in environmental education but gets a failing grade for refusing to use any recycled paper in Smithsonian Magazine. 

Forests are essential to life on our planet and are a major ally to combat the destructive impacts of climate change. However, every day, natural forests are disappearing at a rate of 20 football fields per second because of pulp and paper production. Paper production also requires an immense amount of fresh water and can pollute the air and nearby waterways.

Each ton of magazine paper made from virgin (non-recycled) fiber requires 18 trees to be cut down. This also releases sequestered carbon into our atmosphere. After it’s used once, paper is often sent to the landfill, where paper products account for 40% of all solid waste, and releases toxic methane during its decomposition. However, recovered paper can be used up to seven times, meaning that if we simply use recycled paper effectively, we can relieve a significant amount of the pressure on forests for virgin wood.

Smithsonian Magazine has the chance to be a leader in publishing by choosing recycled paper. As an institution which claims to advance sustainability, incorporating recycled paper into its magazine would be a logical step. 

Join us in calling on Smithsonian to practice what it prints and move to recycled content paper!


(Source: http://action.greenamerica.org/p/dia/action3/common/public/?action_KEY=18570&tag=homepage)