We’re at the Global Green Expo 2008 today in Liberty State Park, just across the Hudson from the former World Trade Center – – the New York area is buzzing green this whole weekend with the Go Green Expo downtown and the Global Green 2008 today and tomorrow. There are thousands walking the aisles out here on a perfect Spring day in New York, taking the ferry across to the park, couldn’t help but salute ol' Liberty and reflect on that first sight for so many as they came into Ellis Island....

I won’t expand too much on this, we are very proud (and relieved!) to get our first major Corporate Citizenship Report out to the public – – it was truly a labor of love, though, and we thank every customer, partner, vendor, and donation recipient, because it is truly a product of all their efforts that we are able to reflect all the programs, data and goals stated in the report....

Another inaugural GreenFest in the rear view mirror and what a wonderful host Seattle played – kudos to the Global Exchange/Coop America/Seven Star team for putting on another flawless event, hard to imagine a better team out there, and we’re just lucky that they all love to put on Green Fesitvals....

With a couple week hitaus in the rearview mirror, lots of blogging coming in the coming days – out in Seattle (actually blogging from the Bainbridge Island Ferry, love technology) for the first Seattle GreenFest, some great meetings with BGI, Teragren, egg and others – our 2007 Corporate Citizenship report just issued a few days ago, so lots of entries coming in the next few days for sure....

Over the past couple of years, we have adopted a section of the George Washington Memorial Parkway (www.nps.gov/gwmp) just outside of Washington, D.C. & have been clearing invasive species on a regular basis to keep the forest along the Parkway healthy. In partnership with The Nature Conservancy (www.nature.org), what began as an insurmountable task, turning around non-native growth over acres and acres of beautiful, urban old growth forestland is now showing great signs of progress....

Late last week (yes I’m behind on my blogging) – I had the GREAT fortune to take the commuter ferry from Seattle into a beautiful sunset out to Bainbridge Island for a dinner and panel discussion at the Bainbridge Graduate Institute (BGI).  BGI, started just 5 years ago by Libba and Gifford Pinchot (current President), Jill Bamburg, and Dr....

As active members of the Northern Virginia Technology Council (NVTC), we try to play an active role in the promotion and discussion around technology companies in our National Capitol Region. This morning, Bill Gates was the featured speaker at the ongoing Titans Breakfast Series – haven’t seen Bill in person before, but almost a 1,000 of us were hanging on his every word....

Late last week, I had the great fortune to return back to REI’s corporate HQ (just south of Seattle in Kent, WA), again I walked away in awe at how such a large and successful organization has been able to keep sustainability at the forefront of all decision making, seemingly across the board....

Earlier this week we were fortunate to attend a ground breaking Eco-Concert at Carnegie Hall, sponsored by BetterWorld customer Honest Tea, TerraCycle, Inc Magazine, Fast Company Magazine, and Rice Restaurant to benefit Inner City Music. World-renowned pianist Soyeon Lee (picture above), performed a solo recital entitled “Re!nvented,” featuring works that have been reused, transcribed, or wholly revisited....

Long entry here, but lots to say: A few days ago, I was fortunate to attend my first WorldBlu Council, hosted by the folks at Linden Lab/Second Life in San Francisco. From tools for implementing organizational democracy to quantum physics, the two days of amazine discussions provided many “ah has” for me and the group....

Today we had the fortune to visit with two great organizations in idyllic, wintry Western Mass – EnlightenNext (What is Enlightenment? Magazine) and the Orion Society/Orion Magazine. Located about 1/2 hour apart, these two non-profit organizations are major influencers in our national and international social justice and environmental dialogue, through their respective magazines (What is Enlightenment?...

Based at Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business, the Center for the Advancement of Social Entrepreneurship (CASE) promotes the entrepreneurial pursuit of social impact through the thoughtful adaptation of business expertise. Led by Prof. Greg Dees, the academic pioneer of the field of social entrepreneurship, CASE engages in research and educational activities that provide individuals and organizations with the knowledge and skills they need to pursue social impact entrepreneurially....

A few hundred folks turned out last night to celebrate the work of 55 leading for-profit and non-profit organizations who all share one common bond – dedicating their efforts to make the world a better place. We had a table that included customers and partners including Coop America, the Nature Conservancy, the US Green Building Council and the Social Venture Network, which made the night even more exciting for us....

The BetterWorld team made it out this week to one of our regular volunteer stops, Food and Friends in Washington, DC. We helped prepare over 500 meals for home-bound people in the DC-area suffering from AIDS and other illnesses. Our ongoing work at Food and Friends is one of our anchors and really helps keep the team grounded in our community work – each time we work with Food and Friends, we are in awe as to what they have been able to achieve....

On a cold & dreary New England day we drove out to the far Boston suburbs to pay our first visit to the folks at Equal Exchange’s West Bridgewater HQ. We were in the capable hands of David Bates, who works in EE’s Finance Dept. – As David opened the door from the front offices and cafe into the operations center and warehouse, our jaws dropped on the ground....

We celebrate today the great achievements of our customers and friends BetterWorld Books, Seventh Generation, New Leaf Paper, Sustainability, Mercy Corps, TransFair, and Witness – – all have been highlighted in the just released Fast Company Annual Social Capitalist awards issue. This is the first year that Fast Company is recognizing for-profits as well, which added an additional 10 orgs to the usual 25....

I’ve been a big fan of Bill McKibben since the 2006 BALLE Conference in Burlington, VT – Bill inspired me to help start the now growing and successful BALLE chapter in Lowcountry South Carolina (www.lowcountrylocalfirst.org). I just heard him speak again this past week at a great day long seminar in Charleston put on by The Center for Humans and Nature (www....

Once again, hundreds of leaders from the green movement descended upon San Francisco for the annual Green Business Conference, which leads into the SF Green Festival every year. Hundreds packed the conference and dozens of esteemed leaders from all over the country spoke about best practices of growing and greening businesses....

Late last week, most of the BetterWorld DC-area team was out in the George Washington National Parway again helping the Nature Conservancy to cut back the invasive Amur bush honeysuckle, which is Asiatic (Lonicera maackii). This shrub causes numerous problems for the native plants and wildlife in Northern Virginia. It leafs out early in the spring and holds it’s leaves into winter, shading out plants underneath for a long period of time....

Greetings from Nashville – my first NetImpact Conference, in a word, wow! The Owen Graduate School of Management at Vanderbuilt is hosting the conference, what a beautiful campus. Yvonne Choinard (pictured above) led things off this AM to a packed house at the historic Ryman Auditorium in downtown Nashville, it seemed as though all 1,800 attendees at the conference were there hanging on his every word....

We are excited to report our involvement and support of Appalachian Voices Business League. The Appalachian Voices Business League is instrumental in protecting and enhancing the health of the air, water, and the natural amenities of our landscape that make the Appalachian region such a great place to live and visit....

Once again, DC showed its green stripes – tens of thousands of people streamed inside at the DC Convention center on two beautiful fall days to check out the latest in green trends, products and a great array of speakers and panels. As we are moving into ‘08, there will be four Green Festivals, with the addition of Seattle....

Let the games begin! The crowds are pouring in as the DC Green Festival opening ceremonies are held – if you’re in the DC area, come on down & stay tuned…...

Late last week the team helped take over the kitchens at Food and Friends in Northeast DC – check out Glenn above donning the apron and showing off his culinary prowess. As always, we get more from our work with F&Fs than we put in, what a truly amazing organization....

The last year and a half have been a labor of love helping to get one of the newest BALLE (Business Alliance for Local Living Economies, www.livingeconomies.org ) chapters off the ground – based in in Charleston, SC, Lowcountry Local First (LLF) had its major launch event this past weekend with over 220 people in attendendance, it is clear that the community is embracing the local first concept and the group is off to a great start....