We’re lucky every so often to get to head north (and west) to beautiful British Columbia. Home to 55 1% members and 88 non-profit partners, BC is the most stunning convergence of mountains, sea, and sky I’ve ever experienced. It was also the site of the first stop in our recently launched Canadian event series, Conversations on Conservation, a national campaign highlighting urgent, local environmental issues and the impact 1% member businesses and non-profit partners are having on them.
In Vancouver, the panel discussion focused on issues facing BC’s coastal waters, ranging from increased tanker traffic and recreational boating impacts, to salmon farming and orca habitat protection. Local, issue-experts Sabine Jessen of the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society (CPAWS), Jeffery Young of the David Suzuki Foundation, Christianne Wilhelmson of the Georgia Strait Alliance, were joined on the panel by Marc St. Onge, CEO of 1% member and leading omega-3 producer Ascenta Health.
From Vancouver, we took a(n exhilarating!) seaplane ride across the Georgia Strait to Victoria, for a chance to meet for the first time with our active and fast-growing network of members and NGOs on Vancouver Island. Thanks in large part to the support of long-time 1% member Horne Coupar and 1% recipient Victoria Foundation, we convened a lively reception, made many new friends, and left with a deepened understanding of the environmental challenges facing Vancouver Island.
During the trip, 1% CEO Terry Kellogg also had a chance to sit down with Vancouver Sun reporter Scott Simpson to talk about 1% and our impact in Canada. Check out the resulting article, which also features comments from members Mountain Equipment Co-op and Clif Bar, and CPAWS, one of our largest 1% non-profit recipients in Canada.
The next event the series takes place in Montreal on November 16, where panelists from the David Suzuki Foundation, Fondation de la Faune du Quebec, and Naya Water will discuss initiatives to protect Quebec’s freshwater resources. Please join us if you’re in the area!
In less than a month, 1% for the Planet will be in San Francisco for the Slow Money National Gathering. Slow Money is an emerging network of investors, donors, and farmers committed to building local food economies, and they are playing a critical role at redefining the boundaries between philanthropy and investing. This is their third National Gathering and the first two have launched national activity that holds great promise for all of us who want to see our economy transformed.
1% for the Planet is an early and proud supporter. Our very own, Rebecca Calahan Klein will be speaking on 1% for the Planet’s model of corporate engagement and environmental investing on a panel: Giving Something Back: New visions of corporate philanthropy. See the schedule for details.
As a benefit of our partnership, Slow Money is offering all 1% Members a 10% discount to attend the gathering on October 12-14th. Click here to register at the discounted price.
Click to listen to Woody Tasch, Slow Money Founder, explain how moving towards more local economic principles can benefit our planet and everyone involved.
The 2011 Ecotrust Sundown Concert Series wrapped up Thursday night with an all-star showing of the 1% network! Throughout the concert series, 1% members and non-profit partners have been coming out every Thursday evening to exhibit their commitment to creating a healthier planet. But last week we got to see the whole 1% model in action with 1% member, Trew Gear and their 1% non-profit partner, Columbia Gorge Ecology Institute exhibited their longstanding partnership protect and promote the Columbia Gorge. This was the first week where it was a full partnership at the booth and it was great to see them laughing together and explaining their work together!
Photo Courtesy of Trew Gear
Trew Gear is a ski and snowboard clothing company based out of Hood River, Oregon. They sell jackets, hats, t-shirts, hoodies, and pretty much anything else you would need for a great day of riding in the mountains. Dedicated to sharing the “trewth” Trew gear joined 1% for the Planet in 2009 and has donated to the Columbia Gorge Ecology Institute consistently each year. They haven’t just handed out money either. Tripp, John, and Chris are active volunteers with CGEI, showing that their commitment to the environment runs deep throughout their business.
Aaron and John enjoying their evening at the booth! Photo courtesy of Trew Gear
Aaron Morehouse, Executive Director of Columbia Gorge Ecology Institute, came out on Thursday evening to represent the NGO and their partnership. Aaron works closely with the Trew crew on the projects that they fund and in facilitating their partnership. CGEI works to promote knowledge and stewardship of the Columbia River Gorge canyon in Washington and Oregon. They work with schools and other groups of people, taking them to the canyon and helping them find their place in the environment.
1% would like to thank Trew Gear and CGEI for coming out to last Thursday and for work together to create a healthy planet. It is partnerships like these that speak to the power of the 1% model in action!
Over the last year, we have been working with the George Gund Foundation to increase environmental funding for the state through 1% awareness building and new member acquisition.
1% recently traveled to Cleveland, Ohio for the Burning River Festival hosted by Great Lakes Brewing. It was a gathering to celebrate good beer and music while raising awareness of local environmental issues. And also happened to be my first business trip! Not many people get to have their first “business trip” be to a festival featuring local craft beer, three stages for constant music, local business vendors, and a dozen non-profits representing in the “eco village.” The weather was HOT, especially coming from Vermont but it was an awesome experience, nonetheless.
We’d like to thank Great Lakes Brewing and all of the volunteers involved in organizing the festival. It was a fantastic opportunity for 1% to explore a part of the country where we see great potential and inspiring to see Cleveland’s commitment to protecting and reinvesting in their local ecosystem.
If you want to really understand something, you should go to the source. And if you are interested in seeing sustainable transportation in action, you have to go to Portland, Oregon; the epicenter of bike culture and sustainable community design.
Last week on a beautiful summer evening, more than 70 people — 1% member companies, 1% NGO partners, along with Patagonia customers and other interested folks dropped into Patagonia Portland for an update on sustainable transportation initiatives.
New Belgium Brewing- Follow your Folly Bicycle
We heard from Dan Powell, co-founder of Portland Design Works, a 1% member company that makes great bike accessories, about why he and his partner decided to locate their company in Portland. While they loved Wisconsin, Portland is “the place” for people who love bikes and biking in the United States. He loves being a part of a community where nearly 6% of the residents make their daily commute to work or school on a bike. This is a much higher percentage than is found in communities around the United States.
Gerik Kransky, Bicycle Transportation Alliance (left) and Dan Powell, Portland Design Works (Right)
Dan and his partner wanted to build investment in environmental NGOs into their business model right from the start, and made the decision to become a 1% member. They support the Bicycle Transportation Alliance and work in partnership to help make Portland and other communities in Oregon more bike friendly.
Gerik Kransky, Advocacy Director for the Bicycle Transportation Alliance, gave an update on biking issues at the local, state and federal levels. BTA is working to get funding for a bike sharing program in Portland, as well as advocating for bike friendly policies at the state and federal level. The BTA is a 1% NGO Recipient supported by six 1% member companies, five of whom are based in Oregon.
After the presentation, we got a chance to eat some great local, organic food and look at a display showing products from many Portland area companies involved in biking including Sweet Pea Bicycles, Truce and Patagonia.
1% Member Products on Display
Looking forward to seeing you all again on July 28th, at the final Eco-Trust Sunset Concert. Bring your friends and co-workers!
Last night was the third week of the Ecotrust Sundown Concert Series and the theme was energy, particularly alternative energy. 1% for the Planet had its usual tent and table, which was hosted by the fantastic Focus the Nation and sweet new member Skate Lift. The NGO and business handed out t-shirts and stickers to the crowds of people who attended while sharing their 1% stories and getting to meet each other and discuss the 1% network. They also got the chance to meet 1%’s VP of Organizational Development, Rebecca Calahan Klein who was in town for the day and made it to the show.
Photo Courtesy of Focus the Nation
We’d like to extend a big thank you to Anne and Sasha from Focus the Nation and Bobby and Anthony from Skate Lift for holding down the fort last night! If you’ll be in Portland make sure to stop by next Thursday at 5:30 for a great concert and exhibits with the theme of forests.
Last night kicked off the first week of Ecotrust’s Sundown Concert Series in downtown Portland. Every Thursday, from 5:30 to 8:30 a local band plays while various businesses and non-profits exhibit work that is related to the theme of the week. Last night’s theme was water and 1% NGO Western Rivers Conservancy was there to show and tell people what they do to make Oregon’s water purer and safer for ecosystems. The crowd of about 600 people was able to wander through all of the tents and tables while listening to the awesome sounds of the Everyday Prophets.
Western Rivers Conservancy tabling (Photo Credit: Eric Brody)
The themes for the following weeks include:
July 7 — Food
July 14— Energy
July 21— Forests
July 28 — Reliable Prosperity
We’d like to thank Western Rivers Conservancy for exhibiting and a BIG thanks to Eric Brody from Shift Advantage for helping us coordinate the events.
Eric Brody of Shift Advantage working at the 1% table (Photo Credit: Eric Brody)
Come down to the Ecotrust parking lot on a Thursday night to meet some other 1% members and NGO’s exhibiting and listen to great music!
We took a calculated risk last week in planning a 1% event in Vancouver in the midst of the Canucks run at the Stanley Cup. The hockey gods managed to smile down on us, though, and scheduled games 3 and 4 of the series on either side of our June 7 event.
We welcomed around 40 people from 1% member companies, NGOs, and interested local businesses to the newly opened W2 Media Café in Vancouver on Tuesday to participate in a presentation and discussion with 1% and Mountain Equipment Co-op. Esther Speck and Laurie Edward, who together lead MEC’s sustainability and community engagement initiatives, joined 1%’s own Melody Badgett to discuss the 1% model and its role in MEC’s overall sustainability program.
As the largest 1% member in Canada, MEC has given over $17 million to environmental causes its 40 year history, and a large portion of total since joining 1% in 2006. MEC’s membership in 1% has driven major growth in giving and membership in Canada—when MEC joined in late 2006, we had 9 members in Canada. Today that number has grown to 164, and Canada is one of the fastest growing regions in the 1% network thanks in large part to dozens of companies, from Victoria to Halifax.
After the presentation everyone was invited to stay for the member reception. Kris Holm of Kris Holm Unicycle, our first Canadian member, spoke along with one of our newest Canadian members, Chris Winter from Big Mountain Bike Adventures, about their experience as 1% members.
We’d like to extend our great appreciation to everyone who came to hear the presentation, all of our members who attended, W2 Media Café, and Mike Rowlands from Octopus Strategies who helped us plan the event! We look forward to growing the 1% community in Vancouver, and go Canucks!
Last Wednesday, kicked off 1%’s summer in Portland, OR with an event for members, non-profits and local sustainability leaders at Ecotrust’s Natural Capital Building.
Photo Courtesy of Klean Kanteen
The event topped the charts as the second largest gathering in 1% history with more than 70 people in attendance. As the rain held off, people mingled and listened to wonderful music performed by 1% member Garett Brennan and the Great Salt Licks. The energy of the crowd was fantastic; business members discussed their 1% commitment along side their non-profit partners and 1%’s very own, Rebecca provided an organizational update.
Thank you to Susan from Portland’s female athletic clothing company, Team Estrogen and Jeannie from Portland’s custom, artesian label-making company MyOwnLabels.com for speaking so passionately about their companies decision to join 1% for the Planet and the environmental organizations they support.
1% would like to thank everyone involved with the event and everyone who attended! You all made it a great night of networking and celebrating the 1% partnerships!
Photo Courtesy of Klean Kanteen
PS: See you soon! Come out to the Ecotrust’s Sundown Concert series every Thursday in July to continue to meet and build relationships within the 1% network.
Last night Brittany and Brodie muscled (not motored) their way by bike to Onion River Sports just over the hill from 1% HQ in Montpelier, VT for a Patagonia Advocate Week event. Patagonia Footwear’s Advocate Weeks program is taking place at more than 80 independent retailers across the US this year. Inspired by Patagonia Footwear’s 1% for the Planet Advocate Moc, retailers select a local conservation NGO and Patagonia footwear donates $10 for each pair sold during a two week period, Onion River Sports chose to support the Green Mountain Club, a 1% recipient NGO that protects and maintains all 273 miles of Vermont’s Long Trail. Onion River Sports invited both Green Mountain Club as well as 1% to have tables in their store to explain how each organization worked as well as the details of the Advocate program. Onion River also showed appreciation to their patrons by having a table of snacks and drinks.
Photo Courtesy of Brittany
This event kicked off a month at Onion River where donations will be made for each pair of shoes sold. Other Advocate Weeks like this are happening all over the country, supporting numerous NGO’s that are working to protect your favorite areas! Check out the Advocate Weeks microsite to find an event in your city.
And. If you’re still wondering what this program is all about, check out this video from Mountain Sports in Arizona about the Patagonia Advocate Weeks program—it’ll clear things up!
