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SBN Newsletter
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September, 2011
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Dear SBN Members and Friends,
This Saturday, October 1st, SBN is hosting its second annual Boston Local Food Festival at Boston's Fort Point Channel! We've been working on this wonderful event for a year, and now it's finally here! This year's festival is even more exciting and larger than last year's trailblazing event. You don't want to miss this fantastic party.
A special thanks to Nicola Williams, Jamey Lionette, Katey Tobin, and all of the Festival team for putting in untold hours (many of them volunteer) on making this second festival a reality. Their work and leadership has been nothing short of extraordinary.
Thanks to all of you, the SBN network continues to grow and thrive as we build our movement to build local, green, and fair economies. As an example of the leadership SBN is taking, in the next few weeks we'll be announcing a brand new and innovative format for our annual spring conference.
Please check out our online fundraising campaign and SBN video that will be sent out next week! We think you'll enjoy the video and we encourage you to make a personal tax deductible donation to support the mission of SBN and to send the email around to your friends.
I hope to see you at the Festival on Saturday, I'll be the one on rollerblades wearing a helmet.
Thank you for your support.
Laury Hammel AKA `The General'
Executive Director, SBN
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News from the Boston Local Food Festival
Join a long list of over a 100 vendors for the 2nd Annual Boston Local Food Festival along Fort Point
Channel on Saturday, October 1, 2011 from 11 am - 5 pm. Themed "Healthy Local Food For All!" the festival is produced by the Sustainable Business Network of Greater Boston (SBN), the organizations core guiding is based on the principals of green, local and fair. This free admission and zero waste event promotes the benefits of eating local food and offers a diversity of locally grown and sourced dishes at affordable prices of $5 or less. The Boston Local Food Festival is the premier event where eaters can support local restaurants, farmers, and food producers.
The festival takes place along the Fort Point Channel waterfront, extending from Boston Children's Museum Plaza under Seaport Blvd., to Northern Avenue. Festivities include over 100 food vendors, farmers, educational exhibits, Do-It-Yourself demo booths, chef demos, a Seafood Throwdown competition and educational activities for children and families. A Crop Share program will be collecting harvested vegetables from attendees to share with those who are in
need.
Festival-goers are encouraged to take public transportation, walk, bike, or take a water taxi. Mass Bike, sponsored by Boston Collaborative for Food and Fitness will have bicycle valet service on-site. The festival is accessible by the MBTA at the Silver Line's Court House Station or the Red Line's South Station.
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Last years festival drew over 30,000 attendees. Come make this years event an even bigger success! (photo credit: Laurin Stoler)
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Check out this video for a preview of what's to come: http://bit.ly/presNU
Visit www.bostonlocalfodfestival.com for festival updates and more information.
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SBLP to Certify 30+ Businesses as Sustainable Business Leaders
On October 25th, 2011, at Boston City Hall over 30 businesses from across Greater Boston will celebrate their completion of the Sustainable Business Leader Program (SBLP) and will be officially certified as Sustainable Business Leaders. Through the SBLP, businesses have undergone comprehensive environmental assessments, worked with their SBLP coordinators to identify areas for change, and with the help of their internal "Green Teams" have implemented a wide variety of sustainable environmental action items to "green" their businesses, reduce their carbon footprint and save money.
The ceremony will feature representatives from the Mayor's office, the Boston ReDevelopment Authority, the City of Boston Environment Department and the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection. Stay tuned for more details and a complete list of graduating businesses.
 Do you have a favorite local business that you would like to see become 'greener'? Do you know of a green business that you feel should be formally recognized for their sustainability efforts? Please let us know!
For more information on the SBLP please visit: www.sustainablebusinessleader.org
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SBN Participates in Moving Planet: New England
On Saturday, September 24th, SBN joined over 1,000 people from across New England at Boston's Christopher Columbus Park as they made a collective call to the nation's leaders to move beyond fossil fuels. The event, called Moving Planet: New England, was one of over 2,000 similar events occurring in more than 175 countries around the globe, resulting in an appeal that was loud and clear. "It's time to transition to clean, renewable energy!".
To find out more about the movement and future 350 events, check out http://www.350.org/
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| Worcester Sustainable Business Leader Program to Graduate its First Round of Businesses
The Worcester Sustainable Business Leader Program will graduate its first cohort of businesses at a ceremony to be held at Worcester City Hall on October 14th, 2011. The Worcester SBLP pilot launched this past spring through a partnership with the Greater Boston SBLP, Worcester Local First and Clark University has seen great success in signing on business participants and obtaining program sponsorships.
Mayor Joseph O'Brien will be present to greet and congratulate the graduating businesses which include Absolute Green Energy, C.C. Lowell, Community Realty, Kenmore Diner, Viva Bene, Thomas J. Woods Insurance and Worcester Airport Limousine. These pioneering Worcester businesses underwent the comprehensive six-step WSBLP process, instating changes including: adopting recycling programs, upgrading to energy efficient lighting, purchasing environementally preferred products, and adding sustainability management policies to their business operations, to name a few.
"Our management team and Clark University interns are committed to helping local independent businesses reduce their operating costs, improve their environmental business practices and cut carbon emissions while strengthening and growing our local economy", said Will O'Brien, Director of the Worcester SBLP. "The Awards Ceremony with Mayor O'Brien represents an important milestone and is compelling evidence of the need for the Sustainable Business Leader Program here in Worcester."
For more information on the Worcester Sustainable Business Leader Program visit: www.sustainablebusinessleader.org or email Will O'Brien, WSBLP Director
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SBLP Announces New Sustainable Community Leader Program (SCLP)!
 Through SBN's Sustainable Business Leader Program, it became clear that there was a lack of environmental sustainability technical assistance and certification services available for groups outside of the traditional business realm, such as non-profit organizations, community groups, houses of worship, and local municipalities. In an effort to serve these unique groups SBN has developed the Sustainable Community Leader Program.
Largely mirroring the SBLP's six step process, the SCLP aims to support diverse community groups in reducing their environmental impact and carbon footprint, and in acting as environmental stewards in the communities in which they work.
For more information on the Sustainable Community Leader Program download the program overview or contact Scott Wood, SBLP Marketing and Program Coordinator |
| Cambridge Celebrates Local Economy Week for the Second Year!
On September 26, 2011, Cambridge Local First officially kicked off the second annual Cambridge Local Economy Week at Cambridge City Hall with the support of Mayor Maher, Councillor Sam Seidel and Councillor Leland Cheung.
For a second year the City of Cambridge has been designated as a Local Economy Community. The designation calls for all departments in the City government to support the growth of the Cambridge economy through local procurement policies, supportive regulations, and community engagement and proclaims the week of September 26th - October 2nd, 2011 as Cambridge Local Economy Week.
 | Members and representatives of Cambridge Local First with Mayor David Maher, Councillor Leland Cheung and Councillor Sam Seidel at Cambridge City Hall.
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As part of the Cambridge Local Economy Week, Cambridge Local First will be holding their 6th annual Business Directory Launch Party on Wednesday, September 28, 2011. The event is free and open to the public.
What: Cambridge Local First, 6th annual Business Directory Launch Party
Where: Olé Mexican Grill in Inman Square, 11 Springfield St. Cambridge MA 02139
When: 7-9 pm
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| Cambridge Local First Business Improvement Seminar: Creating Value by Leading with Values
As a part of the Cambridge Trust Business Improvement Seminar Series, Cambridge Local First is offering a workshop that will give business owners practical tools to help strengthen their businesses. Alicia Korten founder of Renual and award winning author will facilitate an interactive workshop that will be a game changer for you and your business if you want to:
- Grow your business
- Develop a high-performance team that provides extraordinary customer service
- Identify key ways your company can add value to your products and services
- Develop the foundation for a dynamic marketing campaign
- Re-energize and excite your staff to be more engaged in the success of your business
When: Thursday, October 6th from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm
Where: Cambridge Innovation Center, 1 Broadway in Kendall Square
Price: Members Non-members By September 27 $80 $110 |
| Harvest Fest 2011: Somerville Local First Shindig
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| Register for SBN's Small Organization Roundtables
 Don't miss this unique opportunity to connect with and learn from like minded business owners and entrepreneurs who share a passion for sustainable business. The SBN Roundtables are groups of up to 8-10 members who want to grow both personally and professionally while helping support their fellow members with their own challenges in a safe and trusting environment of peers.
Spots are limited, for more information and details on how to participate please click here.
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