Imagine your ideal weeklong trip by bicycle.

Five days of torrential rain—with temperatures in the 60s—combined with a leaky tent that soaks you on night one, and just two pairs of sopping chammy to get you through… I doubt any of those components would make it on to your list of  perfect conditions.

Nonetheless, after pushing for a week through malevolent storms, sopping roads and long, grinding hills, 1% for the Planet member Victoria Vox made it from Eureka to San Francisco undaunted last October. In fact, she recently said of her first Climate Ride “the sum was greater than its parts, and I can’t wait to be a part of that sum again!”

And she was true to her word.

Congratulations to Victoria, who got back on the bike and completed her SECOND Climate Ride, this time under more seasonable skies but with the same goals: to spread awareness about the climate crisis facing our planet, and to offer proactive solutions. If 100+ people can ride their bikes (in work clothes no less!) over 300 miles, there is real hope for the future.

The 1% for the Planet crew couldn’t be more proud of Victoria and all the other Climate Riders who made the journey from New York to DC last week.

Thank you!

We’re looking forward to sharing a post-ride report from Victoria, so stay tuned.

In the meantime I want to take this opportunity to welcome the companies who were motivated to make real change as well—using their businesses as the engines of positive change—but passed on the soaked chammy (and I’m not blaming them).

Congratulations and thank you to the following newly-minted member of 1% for the Planet!

Au Naturale Cosmetics, BathAndBidet.Com, Bubble Cafés, Dark Heartfelt Software, Fast Fastener LLC, George Soules Photography, Irikonji Dive Gear, Ourea Ltd (www.DragonsBackRace.com and www.GreatLakeland3Day.com), Primewalk, sfdental, The Green Playroom (our first business in ND!), The Outbound Collective, Urban Research, Van Eck Enterprises, INC, and VitaCoffee (our SECOND business in ND!).

Welcome to all, and keep tuned for more in-depth info on these businesses.

Thanks to Member George Soules for the great photos of the 1% FTP Crew!

Marc Gutman, the owner of Lighthouse Conferencing, is excited to announce that his company has recently become a member of 1% for the Planet. Lighthouse Conferencing delivers industry leading audio, web, and video services to businesses of all sizes. Lighthouse’s main goal is to make their clients look good while making sure they are having productive and effective meetings in a sustainable manner.  If your business is looking for more sustainable conferencing support- make sure to check out Lighthouse’s services!

Lighthouse is excited to be the first conferencing company to make the 1% commitment! Since they are based in Colorado, it is almost a given that Marc and his employees love playing in the outdoors. They are thrilled to carry this energy into our network in the form of financial donations to our local non-profit partners and connections with other business members!

Another new member is The Green Playroom, an online shop committed to offering the best in high quality children’s furniture, room décor and kids toys for your children’s playroom.  All of their products are sustainably produced, eco-friendly, and non-toxic. They realize the importance of having these products available, so that parents don’t have to worry about what they are surrounding their children with. The Green Playroom is excited to be part of this necessary cause and to actively participate in giving back to important environmental causes- and they are our first member based in North Dakota!

We are excited to have both of these new members in our network; please keep them in mind when thinking about how you can make your home and business life more sustainable!

New Belgium :30 from 1% for the Planet on Vimeo.