1,870 miles (in one red Prius, average 50.1 MPG)

5 state borders crossed

28 state license plates spotted along the way

4 lbs. blueberries

30,000 concertgoers

3 days

95 bands

6 hours of hula hooping

300 frisbees

1% for the Planet

1% ventured south from Vermont to Louisville (“Looavul” as we learned), KY to catch some tunes (and rays) at the Forecastle Festival.  Since it got started in 2002 as a gathering at a local park, Forecastle has grown into an exuberant three day bonanza of music, art, and activism on the banks of the Ohio River.  In addition to snagging acts like The Flaming Lips, Widespread Panic, The Smashing Pumpkins, and 1% artist Grace Potter and the Nocturnals, this year Forecastle became the first music festival to join 1% for the Planet.  Brittany and Grace represented 1% at Forecastle this year, partnering with Patagonia Footwear to sell the new Advocate Moc and talk to concert-goers about 1% (while also finding plenty of time to hula hoop!).

For more photos of the event, check out our ‘1% sightings’ album.  Have a 1% sighting to share? Email us your photo— witty caption required—and we’ll post it!

Slow Money National Gathering
Shelburne Farms, Shelburne, VT
June 9-11

We’re looking forward to this gathering of thought leaders, investors, donors, entrepreneurs, farmers, and activists, taking place (nearly) in our backyard at historic Shelburne farms.  Slow Money’s Second National Gathering will feature a star-studded line-up of speakers and the chance to hear investment presentations from two dozen small food enterprises and collaborate with folks from around the country who are finding new ways to connect money, culture and the soil.

If you think you might like to attend, check out the Slow Money website for more details and to register.   As an added bonus, 1% members and friends can received a 20% discount off standard registration rates by entering code 1%fortheplanet to register for the gathering and 1%fortheplanet+dinner if you’d also like to register for the Friday night farm table dinner celebration.

LOHAS Forum
Boulder, CO
June 23-25

1% for the Planet is sponsoring the LOHAS Forum this year, a packed, two-day conference that will feature presentations by 1% CEO Terry Kellogg, and a variety of leaders in the LOHAS market sector.  The Forum will bring together companies large and small, media, and marketing experts to discuss the latest trends and opportunities in the in the Lifestyles of Health and Sustainability marketplace.

We’re happy to offer the 1% community a discount on registration to this engaging forum—just use code LF20 when you register.  As an added bonus through May 31, you can buy one pass and get the second for 50% off, too.  We hope to see you there!

Last year, a few of us from the 1% staff spent a productive and inspiring few days at Sustainable Brands, a premier forum for CSR leaders to connect, share, and strategize.  The conference is being held again this year, June 7-10, in Monterey, CA, and we’re looking forward to a much more robust 1% for the Planet role in the dialogue.

We hope you’ll consider joining us there, and are excited to offer an exclusive discount to the 1% community. Register today for SB’10 and receive 20% off an All-Event or Conference Only pass when you enter code oneplntsb10. SB’10 opens in just four weeks, and ticket prices go up on May 17, so please join us in registering soon!

Make sure to let us know if you’re planning to attend! You’ll be joining leading 1% members like Klean Kanteen, Clif Bar, and People Towels. Here’s a short sampling of some of 100+ speakers at SB’10:

“Re-Defining the Metrics of Success: The Emerging Measures of Qualitative Growth” -Hazel Henderson, Futurist & Economics Iconoclast, Ethical Markets Media “Responsibility AND Profit: From Corporate Responsibility to Responsible Profit” -Jason Saul, CEO, Mission Measurement “Design for Behavior Change: Helping Consumers Co-Create a Better World” -Bruce MacGregor, Managing Partner, IDEO “The Road to Sustainability” -John Viera, Director, Ford Motor Company “Future Vision: 3 Snapshots of the Possible” -Scott Friedmann, Exec VP – Innovation and Service Design, Idea Couture “Connecting Sustainable Brands with Quality, Modernity, and Innovation” -Dorothy Mackenzie, Chairman & Co-founder, Dragon Rouge “Smarter Planet – Gaining Momentum by Branding a Strategic Platform” -Lee Green, VP, Brand Experience and Strategic Design, IBM “Brand AND Consumer Activation — Passing Your Brand to the People” -Michael Dupee, VP Corporate Social Responsibility, Green Mountain Coffee

1% CEO Terry Kellogg makes a bold statement today, the 40^th anniversary of Earth Day: greening your business is not enough.  Sure, office recycling programs, efficient buildings, and carpooling incentives show a commitment to protecting the planet, but environmental progress within a company can only go so far unless we change the context – the larger system in which all businesses operate.

1% for the Planet exists to change that context. Cheers to our 1,248 member companies whose commitment to financially supporting environmental work worldwide inspires the rest of the business community to step up to the plate!

Read the full article here.

Along with crafting the most refreshalicious soda on the planet, 1% member Snow Beverages has educated a league of Protectors of the Planet this school year.  Through its Save the Snowflakes program, Snow worked with teachers and parents in classrooms in New York, Boston, Washington, DC, Richmond, and other areas where their soda is sold to educate elementary students about climate change.  Students were encouraged to think about how their own choices affected the environment, and to submit their ideas for ways they could change a habit to lessen their impact on the planet.  Snow received hundreds of submissions, the most original of which was awarded a classroom party, and donation in the winner’s name to the Natural Resources Defense Council.  Congratulations to Mercer, a New York City student who was recently chosen as the leading Protector of the Planet–check out her submission here.

Save the Snowflakes will culminate in the Earthrockers concert, an afternoon of fun and music for kids and their parents to celebrate Earth Day.  Held on Sunday April 25 at New York’s Bowery Ballroom, Earthrockers will feature performances by Apollo Sunshine and Real Estate.  Click here for more information and to purchase tickets, and we hope to see you there!

This week marks the kick-off of the Chris Velan 1% for the Planet Tour.  Sponsored by Mountain Equipment Co-op, the tour spans Canada from Vancouver to Montreal throughout April.  1% member and musician Chris will be headlining the tour with performances in MEC stores and venues in seven cities, all focused on raising awareness of local environmental issues.  Representatives from the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society, a 1% non-profit recipient, will be on hand at each stop to share stories of progress made as a result of donations from 1% members like MEC.

Vancouver: April 1 MEC Vancouver Store 12-2 PM, Railway Club 8 PM

Edmonton: April 7 MEC Vancouver Store 12-2 PM, Haven Social Club 6 PM

Calgary: April 11 MEC Vancouver Store 12-2 PM, Marquee Room 8 PM

Winnipeg: April 14 MEC Vancouver Store 12-2 PM, Park Theater 8 PM

Ottawa: April 24 MEC Vancouver Store 12-2 PM, Zaphod Beeblebrox 8 PM

Toronto: April 28 MEC Vancouver Store 12-2 PM, C’est What 10 PM

Montreal: April 30 MEC Vancouver Store 12-2 PM, Petit Café Campus

Live nearby one of these cities?  We hope you’ll stop by to hear some great tunes and learn about the impact of 1% giving in your area. As an added bonus, the new 1% album will be available in MEC stores during April, so be sure to pick up a few copies!

After a running start to the year with a strong 1% presence at the Outdoor Retailer winter show and Sundance, we’re rolling into 2010 with an ambitious schedule of events from Montreal to Hawaii.

Where you can find us in 2010:

Natural Products Expo West Anaheim, CA March 12-14

Mountain Equipment Co-op/1% for the Planet Canadian Tour Vancouver, Edmonton, Calgary, Winnipeg, Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal April (See here for tour dates) Featuring 1% for the Planet member and musician Chris Velan performing in seven cities and MEC stores across Canada

Kokua Festival Honolulu, HI April 23-25 Jack Johnson (1% member #50) headlining, benefiting 1% recipient, The Kokua Foundation

Social Venture Network Spring Conference Stevenson, WA April 29-May 2

Ceres Conference Boston, MA May 5-6

Vermont Businesses for Social Responsibility Spring Conference Burlington, VT May 17

Sustainable Brands Monterey, CA June 7-10

Slow Money National Gathering Shelburne, VT June 9-11

LOHAS Forum Boulder, CO June 23-25 1% is a proud sponsor of the 2010 LOHAS Forum

Forecastle Festival Louisville, KY July 9-12 Music, Art, and Activism on the banks of the Mississippi River

Outdoor Retailer Summer Market Salt Lake City, UT August 3-6

Opportunity Green Los Angeles, CA October 6-8

Austin City Limits Austin, TX October 8-10

Natural Products Expo East Boston, MA October 14-16

We’ll keep you posted on any changes or additions to this list, as well as any international events staffed by our stellar volunteers.  Several of these events are likely to feature presentations by CEO Terry Kellogg, and 1% Board members, so be sure to stay tuned for updates.  Are you planning to attend any of these events? Have an event to suggest that’s missing from our list? Let us know—grace@onepercentfortheplanet.org or @1percentFTP

Ephemera Field and Fish hosted the lively meet-up along with representatives from Balao, Green-News, Magnana, Planet Lures, and Dosnon & Lepage, all pictured above.  Balao’s Emmanuel Donfut was happy to report that the gathering included guests from several businesses interested in joining 1% for the Planet.  We wish we could have been there to help convince them to join, but we know the Dosnon & Lepage champagne and great company likely did the trick. Thanks to all members who attended Salon de le Peche and organized the 1% meet-up!

Pro soccer player Natalie Spigler founded Green Laces on a simple premise: give athletes an easy way to green up their act. Athletes, ranging from Olympians to NFL players, and everyday folk make a promise to incorporate an environmentally friendly behavior into their daily routine, and to wear green shoelaces signifying their commitment to the environment.  Much like the ubiquitous yellow Live Strong bracelets raise awareness and much-needed funds for cancer research, Green Laces aims to make their all recycled, sustainably packaged laces a mascot for the environment.

Forty percent of each Green Laces purchase funds 1% recipient non-profits, like Protect Our Winters, 350.org, and the Surfrider Foundation.  What’s more, when you purchase your own pair of Green Laces, you can select which of the featured non-profits you’d like to support with your purchase.