We didn't have to look too far for a theme for this month's Green Drinks. Our Conference and Visitors Bureau made it too easy! The theme of the CVB's website this month is Sustainable September as it focuses on all the wonderful environmental work in which our community is engaged -- from restoration to Green tourism. This gives us an opportunity to bring you up to date on lots of different things that have been going on this summer and right now in our town month.

The CVB website features sections on businesses and organizations, events and other things to do... all with a Green theme. Have a look. The emphasis is reflected in the blogs too, with Elvia as the lead Green blogger! Read more.

It was last September that we were learning about the great Green things Towne Park was doing at the City parking garages.  The CVB hosted the September 2012 Green Drinks event and we and celebrated the tourism industry's embrace of eco-efforts and electric cars for Green transportation. This year we're partnering with the CVB and celebrating at the O'Callaghan Hotel, one of Maryland Green Travel's partners. We'll showcase the hotel's Green initiatives.  We'll be welcoming their guests too, as we "take over" not only the bar, John Barry Restaurant, and outside dining area as well as the lobby and breezeway! 

Yesterday we participated in an award ceremony given by BGE at Living Classrooms in Baltimore. Annapolis Green, through its fiscal sponsor, the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay, was one of 45 awardees in BGE's inaugural $400,000 BGE Green Grants program. Of the awardees, only two were invited to speak, and we were one of them. Elvia discussed our initiative, Annapolis Green's mission, and invited all to next week's Green Drinks. She followed speakers BGE CEO Ken DeFontes, Baltimore City Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, and Howard County Executive Ken Ulman.

Lynne and Elvia with BGE CEO Ken DeFontes (left) and Alanna Keating of BoatUS Foundation

This grant, paired with funds awarded to us by the BoatUS Foundation for Safe Boating and Clean Water, will be used to increase our inventory of eco-stations so we can cover the whole of the Annapolis Boat Shows, resulting the capture of at least 80% of recyclables!

We're also working to recycle exhibitor booth carpeting and to give exhibitors sources of carpeting that is either recyclable or reusable from hyear to year.  More than four dumpsters are typically filled with discarded carpeting at the end of the shows, so this will really make a difference.

Our grant monies also will be used to develop a toolkit planners of waterside events anywhere can use to carry out Greening efforts and a mobile-ready website for local and visiting boaters who want to go Green.

Why does this matter? Very visibly increasing recycling at the shows will demonstrate to local residents and visitors that we the Annapolis community shares a common concern for the environment and the Bay and that our capital city leads the way in sustainability and responsibility.

As Boat Shows general manager Paul Jacobs said, "Our business depends upon the health of the Chesapeake, and we are happy to do our share." We all need to do our share. When you see our eco-stations at the Boat Shows, pitch in with your plastic, paper and metal and make this a reminder to live a little Greener every day.

Want to volunteer to get involved with our Red Right Recycle effort? Just drop us a line.