Our good friends in Hermosa Beach, California, are hosting a phenomenal beach party in honor of our planet – and to benefit 1% for the Planet. You’re invited!

At 12 noon the Hermosa Beach Green Expo opens along the pier. Exhibitors will give you the opportunity to learn what strides this community is making in encouraging their local businesses to make a commitment to the planet, and how you can help!

Be sure to stick around for 6 pm as all are welcome to boogie down to the California reggae vibes of Rebelution, all to support 1% for the Planet with the Hermosa Beach community!

It’s a FREE show– and is going to be a rocking day on a stunning stretch of Southern California beach. Including booths with green goods and services, environmental non-profits, and a blowout music concert to boot- this party is surely one not to be missed!

Mark your calendars for Sunday, July 26th and do swing by the 1% for the Planet booth to say hello – we look forward to seeing you there!

Treehugger.com has just released their “Best of Green” nominations! We’re more than pleased to reveal that many victories were realized among the 1% for the Planet network, including our very own win for the “Best Non-Profit/Business Partnership”! Please click on the below links to read some of Treehugger.com’s kudos. Better yet, we encourage you to show your support and cast a few votes. Polls are open until Earth Day (Wednesday April 22nd), at which point the best of the best in each category will be revealed. Many thanks to Treehugger.com and to you for the support. Go 1% for the Planet!

Nominations include -

In Business and Politics – 1% for the Planet – Vote Here

In Food and Health – New Belgium Brewery – Vote Here

In Fashion and Beauty – Greenloop and/or Style, Naturally – Vote Here

In Design and Architecture – Q Collection – Vote Here

In Culture and Celebrity – Jack Johnson - Vote Here

In Travel and Nature –  Patagonia and  Native Energy – Vote Here

(left to right: Craig Mathews, Terry Kellogg, Yvon Chouinard and Tom Brokaw.)

Very rarely are these men in the same room. Even rarer still are they all wearing suits! But February 11th was a very special occasion for us.  We pulled out the stops to celebrate crossing our 1,000 member milestone.  Former NBC Nightly News anchorman Tom Brokaw hosted the event which was designed to honor our co-founders Yvon Chouinard of Patagonia Inc. and Craig Mathews of Blue Ribbon Flies and 1% for the Planet CEO Terry Kellogg.

We could not have asked for a more perfect evening. Attendees included editors from publications such as Fast Company, Fortune, Elle, Men’s Journal, Vanity Fair, and the New York Times; phenomenal environmental stewards including senior staff from NRDC, the Rainforest Alliance, and the Clinton Global Initiative; inspiring philanthropists including the Rockefellers, talented musician Grace Potter and even royalty. The party lasted two hours over schedule – no one wanted to leave!  Most importantly, the gathering generated a significant amount of attention and momentum for our movement.

We cannot give enough thanks to those who worked so hard on the event itself and on bringing us this far. 1,000 members is indeed a big milestone.  In another respect, however, it’s really just the beginning.

We’ve included some photos to give you a sense of the moment. We hope you enjoy!

(Celebrating 1,000 Members, left to right: Craig Mathews, Yvon Chouinard and Tom Brokaw.)

(1% for the Planet CEO Terry Kellogg addressing the crowd.)

(1% Director of Outreach Becky Benard and Board Advisor Maria Moyer.)

(Long-time NRDC head John Adams with Yvon and Malinda Chouinard.)

(Verlyn Klinkenborg of the NY Times, Craig Mathews and Board Member Riley Etheridge.)

(left to right: Barney’s Fashion Director Julie Gilhart, FEED Projects Founder/designer/model Lauren Bush, former (PRODUCT) RED President Tamsin Smith, theory Founder/President Andrew Rosen and Terry Kellogg.)

(Board Member Jesse Johnson and Host Steven Gluckstern.)

(left to right: 1% Consultant Gabriel Unger, fuseproject Founder Yves Behar, 1% VP Melody Grote, Board Member Kim Jordan, Malinda Chouinard, and 1% supporter Rae Emmett.)

(One of our favorite photos from the evening, musician Grace Potter with Yvon Chouinard.)

(The 1% for the Planet team! left to right: Kate Mitchell, Melody Grote, Becky Benard, Terry Kellogg, Grady O’Shaughnessy and Chrissy Gilhuly.)

(1% for the Planet founders, board members and employees. left to right: back row – Larry Kopald, Melody Grote, Becky Benard, Jesse Johnson, Yvon Chouinard, Riley Etheridge, Craig Mathews, Lisa Pike, Kate Mitchell, front row – Maria Moyer, Terry Kellogg, Grady O’Shaughnessy and Kim Jordan.)

First off, Happy Inauguration Day! Please join us in applause for member Jack Johnson who has been invited to play the Presidential Home States Ball tonight. This is a phenomenal honor and we congratulate Jack for this recognition. With Jack’s spirit and commitment to the environment, we couldn’t think of a warmer welcome for our new president.

Second, the Winter Outdoor Retailer Show is right around the corner, this Thursday through Sunday in Salt Lake City. Not only will we be attending but we are proud to announce we’ll be hosting a Happy Hour in the Backcountry Village on Saturday from 4 to 6 with special musical guest, member Garett Brennan! Please join us! Terry, Melody and Kate will be in attendance along with many members, approved non-profits and friends. This is a great opportunity to meet and experience the energy of the movement in the flesh. We hope to see you there!

Global Warming is affecting all of us. Even Santa! To raise awareness of this increasingly ugly scene, an amazing team created our Hot Hot Santa. Have you seen him yet? If not please check Santa out here, share with your friends, and consider making a donation. We thank you for your support and hope you have a happy holiday season!

A couple weeks ago 1% for the Planet attended the largest apparel show in the world, MAGIC, in Las Vegas. One might think that throwing our non-profit into the mix of the “City of Sin” among the fashion gurus of the world might not be ideal, but we sent our road warrior Kate out anyways on a hunch. This is what she found . . . .

I arrived at the Las Vegas Convention Center locating the 1% for the Planet booth in the vibrant Ecollection of MAGIC, a debut area devoted to environmentally focused designers and manufacturers. I was soon thankful for the concentration of members among my neighbors in the Ecollection area. I displayed exhibiting member business cards on the 1% table and directed many interested visitors, looking to learn more, to these neighbors for a continued conversation of first hand accounts. The overwhelming response was of great appreciation- wonderful exposure for current members and valuable insight for potential members.

Throughout the show I further learned how infiltrated the Ecollection truly was by 1% for the Planet. The Ecollection promotional banners were designed by Loop (member since Oct. ’07), the happy hour was sponsored by member Veev (member since Aug. ’08), and evening music acts were booked by our dear friends at Music Matters. Members with booths utilized the member logo brilliantly on banners, t-shirts and information packets throughout the Ecollection along with a couple members showcasing their apparel in the afternoon Eco Fashion Shows. To boot, our sponsorship package included our video playing on the flatscreen tvs in the lounge throughout the show and the presence of our logo on area sponsorship stands. With such awareness a slew of non-exhibiting members found their way to the 1% booth, and neighboring member booths, to say hello.

I’d like to extend a special thanks to all of the members who said hello at MAGIC and helped create such a successful event for the 1% for the Planet community – Loop, Restore Clothing, Mama Om, Eco Purna, Truly Organic, Unifi, Veev, Econscious, Lizzie Parker, Forrest and Fauna, Zee Spot, Locals Have More Fun, Earth Friendly Apparel Company and Ecowood Displays.

Between this wonderful energy in the Ecollection and being snagged in other halls of MAGIC for questions due to my 1% for the Planet identification badge, I feel the “City of Sin” full on embraced the 1% for the Planet movement.

Kate has been our road warrior of late, spreading the word about 1% for the Planet far and wide to businesses and consumers alike.  We thought we’d use this entry to bring you up to speed on all of her summer travels. We’re hoping she gets over the jet lag soon. She’s been getting into the office at 3AM and falling asleep after lunch.

Hi all, Kate your trusty Program Assistant here. After a good long nap under the conference table I’m back to work and so pleased to give you the following report.

June 5 – 7 at Boston University

Business Alliance for Local Living Economies (BALLE) folks are a dynamic and dedicated group of entrepreneurs from around the country strengthening their individual communities through “Buy Local” programs.  At their annual conference this year, attendees heard from world-class environmental speakers Majora Carter, Bill McKibbon and Mark Sardella among others. I am absolutely a better person for having absorbed their wisdom. I also had the great pleasure of meeting . . . .

Matt from BetterWorld Telecom (member since June ‘06)

Victor from approved recipient non-profit B Lab

and Ginger and Kim from approved recipient non-profit Bioneers. The main Bioneers conference is held annually in the fall in San Francisco, but there may be a simultaneous satellite event near you. Perhaps we’ll see you there?!

June 18^th – 21st in Boulder, CO.

The Lifestyles of Health and Sustainability (LOHAS) show brings together a variety of participants in the green industry – including many of our members. Wow this market has grown! Ed Begley Jr. shared his successes with many during the closing talks. Thank you Ed for the inspiration!

It was wonderful to see the follwing members in attendance:

Rob from Patagonia (member since May ’02)

Rob from Social K (member since Feb. ’06)

Jed from the Healing Arts Guide (member since Jan. ’07)

Alyssa from DeBoom Sports Mecca (member since Oct. ’07)

Toshi from gConscious (member since Dec. ’07)

And a big hello to Mary Jo and Lisa from approved recipient non-profit Center for a New American Dream.

July 2^nd in London, England

July 3^rd in Birmingham, England

July 9^th in Paris, France

As you know from our last update, musician Jack Johnson (member since Jan ’04) invited us on tour for a few shows across the pond to further our global awareness building efforts via participation in their Village Green. The Village Green is a tent section at each show that features global, national and local environmental non-profits. If you make it to a show this summer in the US or Canada, be sure to swing by these tents!

From my England experience I’d like to extend a special thanks to . . . .

Rachael, Leah and Emma of The TYF Group (member since Dec. ’05) for helping at the Hyde Park show in London. Sold out at 35,000 capacity, your help there was immensely appreciated to say the least.

[L to R - Rachael from The TYF Group (member since Dec ’05), Jack (member since Jan ’04), and me at the Hyde Park show. Photo: J. Sheeter.]

All the best to Tom of approved recipient non-profit Surfrider Foundation – Europe.

Also many thanks to Jack and Kim, to Josh and the Brushfire Records crew (member since Jan ’04).

[A view of the crowd and gorgeous sunset at the Hyde Park show. Photo: K. Johnson]

In between acts this crowd also saw our video on the jumbotron. If you weren’t there, you can check the 1%FTP video out here . . . .

This video is with Jack on his world tour, shown at all venues. It can also be found on YouTube, MySpace, Facebook and All At Once. Please pass it on. It’s a great introduction to the 1% movement!

Attending these events helps us to reach and inspire potential members.  It’s also a great way to mobilize consumers.  But my strongest lasting impressions are from the interactions I had with current members and non-profits of our incredibly strong network. The company we keep in this community is exceptional.  Thank you all for the shared experiences and for your passion and dedication. I look forward to many more of our paths crossing.

Momentum
The 1%FTP network continues to grow at a tremendous pace. In 2007, 420 new environmentally committed companies joined our membership ranks. In the first quarter of this year, we’ve signed up 115 more. Bringing the total member count to over 860. Our members can now be found in 27 different countries and we’re channeling over $12 million annually to a myriad of environmental groups (more than 1,500) around the world. That’s some serious cha-change.

Print Ads
Our first print campaign launched last November and has covered significant ground thanks to friendly media, members and recipient groups. Developed (pro bono) by TDA Advertising in Boulder, CO, our ads have been consistently featured in Outside, Backpacker, Plenty, Huck, Fly, Rod & Reel, Fly Fusion, Wild on the Fly, Backcountry, Surfing, Spin Magazine and others.

Click on the ad below for a closer look at one of our print ads.

In fact, a few media outlets – including Backcountry Magazine, Plenty Magazine, Huck Magazine (UK), Fly Fusion Magazine and Grist.org have agreed to become official “media partners” – committing free advertising inventory to us on an ongoing basis. These media partners have also generously offered subscription and advertising deals to our membership – the details of those offers can be viewed here:

Media Partners
Please help us support the media partners joining us in the effort to raise awareness of 1%FTP.

The campaign has recently been selected as a finalist for the 2008 Kelly Awards – recognizing creative excellence in print advertising. As a finalist, we are in the company of brands like Nike, Adidas, MINI, American Express, HBO and Greenpeace. Congrats to TDA on such an outstanding accomplishment. Have a look at the other finalists here:

www.magazine.org

Rock n Roll
We’ve been on tour with Jack Johnson (1%FTP member #50), supporting his new album “Sleep Through the Static.” They have been kind enough to let us tag along on the international tour and they continue to help us spread the word about the importance of environmental giving.

Here’s a pic of our fresh new booth in Japan.

Thanks to Kenji Shino and his crew for making it possible. We’ll have booth space in London and Paris as well – then it’s on to the U.S. later this summer. Get ready to rock people.

We’re 2.0 baby
Check out our profile pages:

myspace
facebook

Please be our friend.

Virtual Thank You
To fellow members Groundswell and Core Industries for building our new website and helping us continue to build on it with initiatives like – well, this blog. Check them out:

1% website credits

There are many more initiatives to discuss – but perhaps that’s enough rambling for now.

We’ll be updating The Blue Marble on a regular basis – so check back for the goods.

Until then, keep giving – karma exists.