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Greetings!
Tallahassee is a lot different than most of the peninsula. The joke is the further north you go, the further south you get. Usually we enjoy a wonderful change of seasons with chilly jacket weather until spring blooms in March. But this warm winter has our camellias, Japanese magnolias and azaleas all blooming at the same time. Seems that it's not just unique to Tallahassee. A recent report indicates that the warming trend is changing gardening maps.
One season not changing is the annual Best Practice Awards season. Sustainable Florida is now calling for nominations. Read more about the awards program below. The deadline is March 23, 2012.
The new national Green Ribbon Schools program has a February 17th deadline. Florida-specific nomination details are below. Thank you for the great response regarding membership with Sustainable Florida. We will highlight new members each month. Don't forget that you can now become a member of Sustainable Florida. Whether an individual, government program, small business or large corporation, we have an affordable membership level. And now we have non-profit, student and education levels.
Member benefits include participation in regional forums, conferences and events, exclusive special briefings and updates, and networking opportunities with sustainability leaders in Florida.
Thank you for helping to ensure a sustainable Florida!
All the best, Tim Center, Esq. Executive Director P.S. Be sure to join us on Facebook and Twitter to keep up to date on the latest sustainability news in Florida and beyond. |
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Nominate Best Practices Today! | |  Program Keeps Getting Better
Sustainable Florida is now accepting nominations for the annual Best Practices Awards Program - now in its 16th year.
We want to know about the exciting work in energy, water, green building, transportation, restoration, waste, land use, agriculture, or education - or whatever else you are working on. Nominate a friend, colleague or yourself. Just do it before the March 23, 2012 deadline.
There are seven categories for nominations - Government, Non-Profit, Large Business, Small Business, Partnership, Leadership and Green Building.
This year, the Sustainable Florida Best Practice Award for Green Building is presented by Sarasota-based Willis A. Smith Construction, Inc. Willis A. Smith Construction is committed to environmentally sensitive design and construction as a long-term business philosophy. As members of the U.S. Green Building Council and the Florida Green Building Coalition, they are strong proponents of "green" building with 16 LEEDŽ Accredited Professionals on staff. Learn more about Willis A. Smith in this article. Make plans to join us for the awards program to beheld in July at the Florida Green Building Coalition's Green Trends conference. Nominate Today! P.S. Please consider sharing this call for nominations with your colleagues, association members, friends and family. Thank you in advance for helping us get the word out! |
| Sustainability on Campus | | 
Educational Alliance to meet Feb. 17th in Ocala
More colleges and universities are creating and hiring sustainability directors to help lead the administrative, facilities, curriculum and student engagement efforts to create a more sustainable campus.
The College of Central Florida is hosting the next face-to-face EASF meeting February 17. The meeting will develop a strategic plan for the next couple years and focus on best practice and problem solving. The College of Central Florida is working on a number of great practices - check them out!
Sustainable Florida is a partner with these campus-based sustainability professionals who gather monthly for a conference call to keep connected, share best practices and tackle challenges together.
If you are part of your higher education campus effort and want to join us for a monthly conference call or participate in the February meeting simply contact us at SustainableFlorida@gmail.com. We will be sure to get you connected. |
| Green Ribbon Schools | |  Feb 17th Deadline! The US Department of Education created the national Green Ribbon Schools program to recognize schools that save energy and water, reduce costs, feature environmentally sustainable learning spaces, protect health, foster wellness and offer environmental education to boost academic achievement and community engagement. The Florida Department of Education will formally nominate up to four Florida schools to compete nationally. To be eligible you must submit a nomination using this form. The deadline is February 17th. National winners will be announced during Earth Day Week in April 2012 and recognized in May 2012 during the first national U.S. DOE Green Ribbon Schools ceremony in Washington, D.C. Winning schools are anticipated to hold recognition ceremonies at the individual schools in fall 2012. Read the FLDOE Breaking News! |
| Nominate, Attend and More.... | | |
Don't miss these events
As always, we want you to know what is taking place around the state. You can always check out our online Calendar of Events.
US Green Ribbon Schools is a new program from the US Department of Education. Sustainable Florida will help coordinate the judging for this program. Florida Department of Education Commissioner Gerard Robinson can nominate up to four schools from the state. Nomination deadline is February 17th - be sure to nominate your school today!
Meet some of the best association managed communities in Florida at the Communities of Excellence Awards. The awards program is scheduled for March in Hollywood.
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| Welcome New Members! Thank you! | | |
Your Name Could be Here!
 Sustainable Florida is indebted to its Board and corporate and non-profit Partners. And, now with a new membership program, we are pleased to welcome the following new members of Sustainable Florida.
- Ben Bird, Sustainability Manager, City of Bradenton
- Stewart Parsons, Sustainable Tallahassee
- Kerul Kassel, Ph.D., Faculty with Fielding Graduate University
Sustainable Florida is also pleased to welcome back the following sustaining corporate Partners.
- Walt Disney World Parks and Resorts
- Publix Super Markets
- Darden Restaurants
- Florida Power and Light
- Covanta Energy
- Florida Farm Bureau Federation
To become a member or corporate partner, simply contact us at SustainableFlorida@gmail.com or complete the form.
Thank you! |
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