Our 1% member, The Boatyard Bar and Grill in Eastport, Maryland had some high-profile guests for lunch recently. First lady, Michelle, and daughter, Sasha, dropped in for lunch with family and friends while in the area touring the Maryland State House and Naval Academy.  The Boatyard owner, Dick Franyo said, “The first lady ordered the crab cakes and loved them!”

The Boatyard Bar and Grill comes highly recommended by everyone here at 1% and now the first family!

Michelle Obama and the Boatyard Bar and Grill Staff

To read the full story about the Obama visit or to learn more about the environmental commitment the Boatyard has made, check out their website.

On foot, 65 miles from civilization, braving sub zero temperatures, and fighting week-long storms, Deeper places a handful of world’s premier snowboarders in hot pursuit of the ultimate in big mountain riding while leaving the helicopters and their emissions at home. “The Deeper crew put cameras in places and in conditions you could never imagine. It is the ultimate first-hand experience and the most insane riding I have ever seen,” said TGR co-founder, Steve Jones.

Along with fellow 1% members Tactics, Venture Snowboards, Clif, and Volcom, TGR’s partnership with POW is leading the winter sports industry towards a more sustainable future. Deeper hits the road this fall–check here for a screening near you–we’ll see you out there!

With this aptly chosen reenactment of the famous French Revolution painting, Liberty Leading the People, member companies on the French Riviera celebrate a present-day tour de force: 100 members of 1% for the Planet… and counting!

In back: Arnaud Charlier, Waveconulting; Manou, PEPS SPIRIT; Emmanuel Donfut, Balao
In front: Frédéric Glo, South Shore Bicycle

Getting members together for a networking event is a great way to share sustainability stories, recruit prospective companies to join, collaborate around a new giving project, or show off the great people, companies, and non-profits behind 1%. Big thanks — and CONGRATULATIONS — to the 1% members in France for expanding the pool of funding going to environmental projects each year.

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!

Soon after the traumatic earthquake in Haiti, our inboxes filled and phones rang here at 1% with member inquiries about how one might use their 1% donation to assist the shaken country.  We reached out to our nonprofits, and wrote a blog post about how 1% members may support the relief efforts in Haiti.  Since then, we’ve had the pleasure of seeing many member donations directed towards sustainable relief and re-development in Haiti, as well as personal thank you notes from our partner organizations.  Now, in light of six months of hard work on the ground, we offer a follow up from our friends, Plant With Purpose. Bob Morikawa, Plant With Purposes’s Technical Director, who spent six weeks in Haiti over a period of four months, shares the story of Nelta Fils-Aime:

Nelta Fils-Aime was one of the hundreds of thousands of Haitians forced to flee Port-au-Prince and relocate in the countryside.  This influx of people into the countryside put an immense burden on already poor rural families, boosting family sizes from 6 or 7 members to 10 or 12.  Meals per day dropped to just one or less.  But, with fierce hope and hard work, Nelta joined Plant With Purpose’s “Cash for Work” program, which compensates those helping to restore the steep slopes that farmers are forced to farm to sustain themselves.  Through this soil conservation work, Nelta has been able to contribute to her father’s household, making money for her family, while simultaneously prepping the soils, which will soon provide the community with garden crops.  Nelta is one of the many courageous Haitians working to provide sustenance for her family and her neighbors, every day bettering the dire situation in Haiti bit by bit.

As Bob Morikawa recounts, ‘The work is far from over. Haiti was one of the poorest countries in the world even before January 12th and I had always thought that people were living on the edge. It turns out that now that ‘edge’ has been moved to a place I simply would never have imagined. It is surely a testament to the resilience of the people of Haiti, and as a locally popular song inspired by these events says “Haiti is on its knees, but not down yet.”‘ If you would like to read the full article please click here.

At the core of The Gulf Coast Fund model is an impressive Advisory Group comprising policy advocates, community activists, and grassroots organizers who are helping direct funds where they are needed most. Since April’s explosion, the Fund has given over $150,000 in grants for efforts like independent monitoring, buying safety equipment for clean-up workers, and mapping where oil is coming ashore. The full transcript of the interview is posted below.

If you have specific questions about the Fund, please contact Annie at Gulf Coast Fund  (annie@gulfcoastfund.org).

– — interview transcript — –
Terry: I’m Terry Kellogg with 1% for the Planet and we’re here with Aaron Viles, Campaign Director for the Gulf Restoration Network and we’re going to talk about the Gulf Coast Fund which was set up by the Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors, post Katrina.

Thanks for joining us Aaron, can you tell us how the fund works and what it’s doing right now in the wake of the BP disaster?

Aaron: The fund is really an interesting endeavor; it’s a unique way of doing philanthropy. As much as the Rockefeller name may evoke certain things what it really is, is folks on the ground in the gulf coast, the folks who have been working in these communities before the storms and working with the racial, social and environmental injustices that were really exposed by the storms of 2005. They’re the folks who are in control, who are directing resources, who are responding to community requests and who are making sure philanthropic dollars are being utilized effectively. It worked very well post storm and it’s working incredibly well right now, as we’re, unfortunately, facing another disaster that’s threatening the future of the north central gulf coast. They made emergency grants immediately, working with the first responder environmental community making sure there were independent eyes and ears working to assess what was happening here and responding to what was happening here, even as BP was denying that there was a problem or downplaying the severity of it. We had folks like the Waterkeepers, like Gulf Restoration Network, LEAN (Louisiana Environmental Action Network), who had the resources to respond and I think that was critical. Now as they move on and as the coastal communities really are impacted as our traditional maritime and fishing communities are really questioning their future and concerned about what is happening here. They’re able to work in those communities and support the groups that are doing the effective movement building to help these communities have the resources to fight for their future.

Terry: Outstanding. Aaron, what can you tell us about what’s happening on the ground but isn’t making it through to the mainstream media channels?

Aaron: Well, I just think that there is an incredible amount of apprehension in the coastal communities, these are folks who hadn’t truly recovered from the storms of 2005 then 2008 which didn’t get much attention but Gustav and Ike really put a wall up on a lot of our Gulf Coast communities that are, right now, really threatened with some very real problems, fishing grounds have been closed so their traditional way of life has been jeopardized. As BP’s oil comes into these marshes we’re not sure what the long term effects will be. How many shrimp seasons are going to be impacted here? How many oyster reefs are going to ultimately be shut down for a season or for a longer term? What this is doing is creating a lot of tension in these communities, so that’s important. The other piece that I think isn’t getting out is how much BP is trying to keep the story from getting out. I think to some degree they’re being affective, which is really unfortunate because the world really needs to see what’s really happening down here. They don’t need to see a sanitized version, they need to see what’s going on, and that’s been a struggle for us as an independent organization, to get the word out.

Terry: Do you think this disaster is going to help to inspire people to change their consumption of fossil fuels?

Aaron: You know, as I sit here and as I see what’s happening in the Gulf of Mexico and see the tension in the Gulf Coast communities and their fear for their future, I think that’s the only thing that gives any hope that we could learn something after this. I think that sometimes it takes a horrific shock to get people to change. We now see at large, what the cost of our oil addiction really looks like and what its impacts are on very important communities. I would hope that at a minimum we as a nation make a commitment to do everything in our power to keep this from happening again. That’s some very simple things, like making sure the regulatory agencies are in fact regulatory agencies and not just subsidiaries of the oil industry. But I also think it means we make a shift as a nation and, the easy things first, move our transportation sector off of oil. I don’t think people care what’s under the hood that gets them from point A to point B. As electric cars become more and more available we just need to make the move and force the move [which] means we need leadership. So I think that’s a really important piece that should happen sooner rather than later because this ecosystem cannot take another disaster like this.

Terry: Let’s hope that Obama makes that very clear call tonight in his remarks [from] the Oval Office, which would be outstanding. Is there anything else you would like to add?

Aaron: Well, I think what I would like to say is that the Gulf Restoration Network and the Gulf Coast Fund are happy to have the support of 1% for the Planet because we are seeing right now the worst examples of corporate bad actors and folks who are willing to cut corners and deny problems they have created, it’s important that corporations respond with a responsible approach to our environment, not just green-washing but a real commitment to do things right and to minimize their impacts as much as humanly possible. So, as Tony Hayward is out there making a bad name for corporations, especially those who tried to brand themselves green, I think it’s really important — the work that you do — to help corporations be truly responsible. That needs to be really lifted up and I hope a lot of corporations take advantage of the opportunities you provide. It’s important right now.

Terry: Well, thank you for saying so. We certainly hope that this issue also brings attention to the best practices for corporate behavior and that 1% grows as a result as well. Thank you very much for the great work that you’re doing on the ground, keep it up, I know it must be exhausting but were all rooting for you and hopefully we can get some support for the fund through this initiative.

Thank you again for your time and your perspective Aaron, all the best.

Aaron: Take care.

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

This call has already taken place. Listen to the call streaming!

[dewplayer:http://www.onepercentfortheplanet.org/blog/wp-content/uploads/brownbaglunch/brownbag3.mp3]

To download the entire MP3 audio file (36 min; 24.8 MB) right click (PC) or command click (Mac) on this link, then “Save Link As…”.

Join us Wednesday, May 12th, at 1:00 pm EDT (New York time) for a brown bag lunch call with Woody Tasch, founder and president of Slow Money, a nonprofit that connects investors to their local economies.

Today, a growing movement stands behind the idea that our lives would be richer if money would just slow down a bit. By directing our money into more local enterprise (remember the “buy local” and “eat local” movements?) the Slow Money team says we can take a vital first step toward building what they call a ‘nurture capital industry.’ But the truth is, investing locally just isn’t easy at this point. Take, for example, our retirement savings: when we put money away, those funds are teleported into a global capital market that shuffles around 3 trillion dollars each day. Imagine putting this money to work locally.

Next Wednesday, Woody Tasch will explain to us how moving towards more local economic principles can benefit our planet and everyone involved.

Enter your contact information below to sign up for the call. Then keep an eye out for an email will all the call-in instructions. The call, including a question and answer session with Woody, will last about an hour.

Founded by Woody Tasch, a pioneer in merging investing and philanthropy, Slow Money’s mission is to build local and national networks, and develop new financial products and services, dedicated to:
• investing in small food enterprises and local food systems;
• connecting investors to their local economies; and,
• building the nurture capital industry.

Can’t make the call? No problem — you can still submit a question. Just send an email with your name, location, and question to brownbag@onepercentfortheplanet.org.  We’ll post the full audio recording of the call right on this blog following the call, so you can always peruse past BBL calls on your own schedule.