Soundings (9/02/08)

Tonja Myers announced the first meeting of Grape & Gourmet at 5:30pm at Big Fat Fish next Monday!

District Golf event last week raised $135K for polio!

Bucks in the Bay
Steve Brummel for something
Stephanie Sadler for start of school
Jogn Sleeth $ for 43 wedding anniversary
Lynn Templeton heading up work parties for G&G this year;
Art Runestradt $ for 59 year wedding anniversary! Thanks to Rob Slater (article in Herald), grandson Pete at university in Mobile, AL, grandson Mike was in Bejing?
Stan $5 for football games
Tonja Myers for son starting middle school, go see "Reptile Man" Saturday, older sister visiting!
Bryant Engerbretson for road trip wine tasting, thanks for start of school!

Sergeant at Arms by Ron Hardesty
Bad day for Washington football teams, Ron Hardesty biography trivia.

Program
Bill Gorman introduced Michelle Long of Sustainable Connections. SC is a non-profit membership organization of 650+ NW Washington business and community leaders working to transform an economy built on sustainable practices. SC envisions business practices that lead to Strong Community, Healthy Environment, Meaningful Employment, and Buying Local First as commonplace in our region and a model for the rest of the world.

SC is only 6 years old, and is run by a local advisory board. SC provides:
1) techical assistance;
2) workshops;
3) connections

Some SC programs:
Green Building
Sustainable Food and Farming
Renewables
Think Local First
Sustainable Business Development

There are already many examples of companies and organizations with zero waste.

Green Building and Smart Growth program is growing rapidly. Smart Growth Conference is taking place this Thursday at Fairhaven Cruise Terminal.

Sustainable Food and Farming program brings together local farmers and food buyers. Next week is Eat Local week.

What's next? We're in a different place, environmentalism is now framed around investment, author Paul Hawken. Launching a new program around energy efficiency and renewable power: Imagine an energy-independent Whatcom County that creates jobs.

Problem: Ag lands being paved over with development, fewer younger people into farming profession. SC has created a new program called Whatcom Farm Incubator Project, which has already generated 20 new farmers.

Could Whatcom County commit to a 5-year plan to become the most impactful and recognized center of excellence for sustainability in the country?

Respectfully submitted,
Stowe Talbot