The green people talk ‘green’
Add comment February 3rd, 2009
… Or as Jan Herbert at the Rockford Park District said, “Green, greener, greenest.”
When I was writing with her Monday, she shared the fact that she just returned from a state conference that emphasized eco-friendly. I asked her to write a few words, and here you go….
The Illinois Association of Park Districts and the Illinois Park and Recreation Association are obviously pretty darn green in the first place. This last weekend their conference entitled “Soaring to New Heights” took place and indications were green is truly the color of their future.
Work to make the conference greener began early last summer with a joint meeting of convention planners, the Environmental Committee of the association and hotel management. The Hilton Chicago revealed their behind the scenes recycling efforts in every area from offices to kitchen, food and beverage service areas to the guest rooms, and from the top floor of the hotel to lower level exhibit halls. The Environmental Committee encouraged the use of even more recycling containers and suggested an even more aggressive position on decreasing the amount of paper used during the conference.
Getting the conference exhibitors involved as well, they were invited by the Environmental Committee to complete a short survey about their commitment to the green effort, particularly at the conference. When they met the criteria established, exhibitors could then post a certificate at their exhibit which they were to print themselves to save mailing and envelope expenses.
Nearly 10% of the Thursday, Friday and Saturday conference sessions were on “Green Track 2009”. There was a wide variety of topics including permeable paving, integration of natural resources into parks, water conservation, flood plains and the effects of climate change on turf grass. One session furnished the results of a “Greening Your Organization Pilot Project”, a joint effort of the Environmental Committee and Benefits Committee. Rockford Park District was one of the 25 participating agencies in this yearlong project.
Attendees enjoyed receiving convention materials in advance via e-mail, and during sessions, that often they needed only to note a Web site to visit where they could collect materials.
At the end of the conference badge holders were being recycled, and with help from the hotel, exhibitors were able to place excess materials in paper recycling instead of trash bins.
Work on next year’s conference begins this week with the goal of making the 2010 conference the greenest ever. I’m betting the efforts won’t go unnoticed and that other conferences will begin to “go green” themselves.
