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March 2010 Newsletter


Dave Feldman
Executive Director Dave Feldman
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Bethesda Green

Bethesda Green relies on corporate sponsorships, grants, in-kind donations and individual contributions to develop programs and outreach that support the local economy, create a healthier community and provide information about innovative sustainable businesses and living solutions. Businesses can participate at a variety of commitment levels.

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Upcoming Events
BG 101 -- Bethesda Green orientation for newcomers, young and old. Thursday, Mar. 25, 4 - 5:30 pm.

Fields of Green Internship Fair -- at the Bethesda Regional Services Center, 4805 Edgemoor Lane, half a block from the Bethesda Metro station. Saturday, Mar. 27, 11:00 am - 3:30 pm.  Pre-registration required.

April First Thursday Happy Hour -- will be at Visions Restaurant, 4926 St. Elmo Ave., Bethesda, 5 - 8 pm.

Earth Day Events -- A special listing of local environmental and conservation events in April, with a number of volunteer watershed clean-up activities.

Check the Events page regularly for updates.

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First Thursday
Happy Hour
We enjoyed a lively Happy Hour at Flanagan's Harp & Fiddle March 4 with BG Board Member and District 1 Montgomery County Councilmember Roger Berliner serving as the featured speaker and providing an update on the Home Energy Loan Program.

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News
Lunchtime discussion -- Green Tips for Small Businesses. Attendees learned how going green can help small businesses save money with a modest amount of effort.

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Managing Storm Water discussion featured an all-star panel that offered ideas for ways to improve the condition of our local watershed.

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BG Executive Director Dave Feldman is featured in "Connecting the Dots to a Greener Future," Center for Social Value Creation newsletter, Smith School of Business, University of Maryland, Winter 2010.

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From the Executive Director

If you followed earlier Bethesda Green newsletters, you may recall we frequently use "Planting Seeds" as a metaphor. This is because our organization follows a growth pattern similar to that of plants. Just two years old, we are amazed at the shoots that spring out from our grassroots initiative, the nutrients required for each innovative program and the challenges of harvesting multiple opportunities in a complex ecosystem.

This month is about Planting Seeds.

We are launching several programs that will reap future benefits.  Our first is the "Fields of Green" Internship Fair on March 27 at the BCC Regional Services Center.  Led by Volunteer Coordinator Rosalie Grazzini, this program will help young adults and students meet local businesses to explore internships, apprenticeships and careers in green fields. Our goal is to create jobs by raising awareness and inspiring young people to pursue careers and majors in critically evolving fields.

We are also digging in the fertile grounds of Bethesda's business community. In partnership with the BCC Chamber of Commerce, we are surveying local green businesses to identify ways we can better serve them. Businesses are increasingly recognizing the potential for "green" practices to create value, reduce costs, increase publicity and create competitive advantage. If you are a business, we would like your input. Survey respondents will be entered in a raffle to receive a gift from one of our sponsors (see item below).

And that's not all. Come visit award-winning film producer Laura Seltzer at the release of her recent documentary, The Last Boat Out about Virginia's watermen and the Chesapeake Bay. The show will premiere April 21 on PBS, and we are co-hosting a viewing event with our good friends at the Hard Times Cafe in Bethesda.

Now that spring is here, it's time to sow some seeds.

Dave_Feldman_signature

Dave Feldman
Executive Director
Reviving Urban Streams
 
Photo by Dan Kulpinski
Cabin John Creek Bridge















Our local urban and suburban streams suffer from pollutants, trash and massive amounts of stormwater runoff. By working to improve the health of our streams, we can also improve the state of the Potomac and Anacostia Rivers -- as well as the Chesapeake Bay.

This article by Dan Kulpinski, originally published in the Audubon Naturalist News, offers some ways residents and landowners can help.


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Intern Profile - Cindy Powers

Cindy Powers

Meet the interns supporting our work at Bethesda Green.

Cindy was the first employee hired back in 2008.  After taking time off to travel, she's now working as a volunteer on re-designing the displays in our Education Center.

Read more >>



New BG singage

Sign of the Times

New Bethesda Green signs adorn the lamp posts outside our office on Woodmont Avenue.  It may not seem like much, but we think it shows we're moving in the right direction with much more yet to come.

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Fields of Green Internship Fair
 
Bethesda Green, in partnership with the BCC Regional Services Center, is hosting its first Fields of Green Internship Fair Saturday, March 27, 11:00 am - 3:30 pm.  Young adults and students ages 17-24 will have an opportunity to explore careers in "Fields of Green" through local internships, apprenticeships and education.

Pre-registration required >>

Internship Fair graphic











Businesses interested in placing online ads for internship positions, please contact [email protected].

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We gratefully acknowledge The Reznick Group as a lead sponsor of the Fields of Green Internship Fair.

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Green Business Survey
 
Help us better understand how local businesses are responding to and benefiting from new opportunities in the emerging green economy.  Survey participants will be entered in a raffle to win a great prize from one of our sponsors listed below.

Take the Survey >>

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