Bum economy forces redesign of Portland green conference
Posted by Carrie Sturrock, June 30, 2009
"It's Portland. People care about being green. So a two-day conference sponsored in part by city and regional government on how businesses and organizations can become more green should have no trouble filling seats, right...?" MORE >
Today (6/30) is the LAST DAY to register for all five Achieve Green NW online workshops at the discounted $99 price and to qualify for continuing education units through the University of Oregon Sustainability Leadership program!
The Achieve Green NW online workshop series is designed to provide tips for businesses and organizations interested in being green and saving “green.” Achieve Green NW is offering each workshop for only $25. Workshops begin on July 1 and run one hour on five Wednesdays through August 26.
Workshop attendees will hear from a variety of industry experts on how to incorporate the concept of sustainability in areas such as recruiting and retaining employees, accessing energy efficiency incentives and tax credits, greening office and operational practices and marketing their business as a green leader. All workshops are designed to provide easy and important tips that reduce costs for businesses and preserve the environment. A culminating networking reception will be held in Portland at the OCC in September.
Visit www.achievegreennw.com to register and find more information about individual workshops and confirmed speakers.
"The Oregon Convention Center produced record revenues and made major strides in leading the green meeting industry in 2008. In fiscal year 2007-08, OCC generated, through enterprise services, $16,862,000 in revenue with an economic impact of $441,512,000 for the tri-county region. Each year, the Oregon Convention Center supports roughly 4,800 jobs as a result of our conventions and meetings business,confirming year in and year out, the return on investment made by Oregonians twenty years ago..."
SOMETHING FOR EVERY BEAD-A-HOLIC
Come, see, buy, and learn what beads are all about, from the history of beads to the contemporary artists, from making your own beads to making your own jewelry.
With these beads...this is a MUST SEE EVENT!
Day & Times:
Friday, July 10th Noon-7pm
Saturday, July 11th 10am-6pm
Sunday, July 12th 10am-5pm
Ticket Prices:
$5 General Admission
11 years and under free
Each paid admission comes with a weekend pass good for all days. Tickets are sold at the door only, beginning 30 minutes prior to the opening of the show each day.
Check out beading classes
For more information visit the faire website
Wed 1 - Fri 31 (Ends Aug 26)
Achieve Green NW - Online Workshops
Fri 10 - Sun 12
2009 Bead Faire
*For a complete listing of all upcoming OCC events visit our Event Calendar
Today, Achieve Green NW conference organizers announced new series dates and details for the retooled, online conference series presenting tips for businesses and organizations interested in being green and saving “green”:
July 1, 2009 10:00 – 11:00 a.m.
Putting Your Sustainability Initiatives to Work: Recruiting New Talent and Finding Your Dream Job
July 15, 2009 10:00 – 11:00 a.m.
Show Me the Money: Incentives, Tax Credits and Financing to Help You Pay for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
July 29, 2009 10:00 – 11:00 a.m.
Best Practices for a Green Workplace
August 12, 2009 10:00 – 11:00 a.m.
Marketing That Matters
August 26, 2009 10:00 – 11:00 a.m.
Recycling, Composting and Purchasing in Food Service Operations
Conference attendees will hear from a variety of industry experts on how to incorporate the concept of sustainability in areas such as recruiting and retaining employees, accessing energy efficiency incentives and tax credits, greening office and operational practices and marketing their business as a green leader. All workshops are designed to provide easy and important tips that reduce costs for businesses and preserve the environment.
“This feels like a win-win for us because now more people can join the discussion, given that it is online and only $25,” stated Jeff Blosser, Achieve Green NW conference sponsor and Executive Director of the Oregon Convention Center. “If traveling to Portland for a two-day conference was a barrier to attending, now small business owners in rural areas and out-of-work individuals living anywhere can participate,” he added. “We believe this was the responsible thing to do given the economic challenges facing so many these days.”
Each workshop will be presented online through a URL and password provided to registrants. The cost to participate is $25 per workshop or $99 for the entire series. All presentation materials and greening tools will be immediately available via email once each hour-long workshop concludes.
The University of Oregon will continue to offer continuing education units for those who purchase the entire package of workshops. Upon registering for the series through the Achieve Green NW website (www.achievegreennw.com), they will be directed to the University of Oregon’s website to pay a $25 processing fee to receive 5 CEU (continuing education units) from the university.
A culminating networking reception will be held in Portland at the Oregon Convention Center in September.
Visit www.achievegreennw.com to register and find more information about individual workshops and confirmed speakers.
Communication and cooperation between the convention center, show management and a local charity results in a highly successful donation effort and landfill diversion.
The DPI Specialty Food Show recently partnered with the Oregon Food Bank and the Oregon Convention Center to help reduce the amount of food waste bound for the landfill and donate quality food products to organizations feeding the hungry in our community. With the show management initiative and coordination, as well as the assistance of staff from the OFB and the OCC, more than 35 pallets of food -- a total of 20,614 pounds -- was collected and donated to St. Vincent de Paul. Donated food included items such as specialty cheeses, meats, breads, packaged meals, cakes, sauces, and fish.
According to Hilary Eyres of the Oregon Food Bank, food shows of similar size generally generate 8,500 to 10,000 pounds of donations. "I was anticipating a 50-75% increase in donated product, but we more than doubled what we normally average at food shows.”
Pre-event communication between DPI, OFB and OCC helped to coordinate logistics ahead of time. In addition, information was included in vendor packets and at the pre-show vendor meetings. OFB representatives visited vendor booths shortly before the close of the show, encouraging them to bring donated items to pallet stations or to leave items at their booths with “FOOD BANK” signs attached. DPI staff, OFB volunteers and OCC staff also helped to box and gather donated food. Food that was not able to be donated -- displays, samples or opened packages -- was composted.
All agreed that it was the pre-planning and commitment of all three parties that made the collection effort so successful.
"The OCC crew was extremely helpful after the show - collecting compostable items and donations left on booth tables," said Brittin Witzenburg, OCC's Sustainability Coordinator. "It took a well-coordinated effort to capture this much for the Oregon Food Bank, and I appreciated everyone’s participation and enthusiasm."
Oregon Food Bank recovers food from farmers, manufacturers, wholesalers, retailers, individuals and government sources. It then distributes that food to 20 regional food banks across Oregon. Sixteen are independent charitable organizations. OFB directly operates the four regional food banks serving the Portland metro area, Tillamook and southeast Oregon. Those four centers distribute food weekly to more than 340 food pantries, soup kitchens, shelters and other programs helping low-income individuals in Clackamas, Clark, Multnomah, Washington, Tillamook, Malheur and Harney counties.
Contact:
Brittin Witzenburg
Sustainability Coordinator
Oregon Convention Center
503.731.7949
BrittinWitzenburg@oregoncc.org
Next time you walk down Oregon Convention Center's Ginkoberry Lane you’ll probably notice an attractive bovine grazing across from our Sustainability Wall. Don’t worry - she hasn’t lost her way from the farm. She’s sharing the climate change story with everyone who passes by.
In partnership with NW Natural, the OCC will permanently house the art cow display, highlighting our participation in the Smart Energy program. Starting January 1, 2009 the OCC began offsetting 100% of the carbon emissions from its natural gas use through the Smart Energy program. The program is designed to support projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions. These projects include a biodigester at a farm in Boardman, Oregon, that captures methane gas from cow manure and keeps it out of the atmosphere, where it is a 21 times more potent greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide. The captured methane will be used on‐site as a renewable energy source. The OCC’s participation in the Smart Energy program helps reduce the amount of carbon released into the atmosphere and supports renewable energy development in our state.
Feel free to pay our new friend a visit and learn a little more about climate change. Just another way OCC is practicing sustainability.
“Fight global warming, one cow pie at a time.”
For more information on Oregon Convention Center's sustainable practices and client options, contact Brittin Witzenburg, Sustainability Coordinator, at 503.731.7949, or by email BrittinWitzenburg@oregoncc.org.
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