Events, Activities & Resources

Posted on May 21, 2013 by

June 17, 2013; 12:00-2:00 p.m. (note: change from usual 2nd Monday)
WMSBF Monthly Meeting – Special Workshop
Kendall Historic Federal Building
17 Pearl St., Grand Rapids

As follow up to our Corporate Social Responsibility Conference and Davenport Lecture Series, we will welcome back Dr. Kyle Whyte to Grand Rapids to lead us in an experiential workshop, using an innovative framework from which to approach wicked sustainability problems that directly affect our businesses and our communities.  We hope this will be the first in a series of workshops with clearly identified issues and outcomes. More details to follow…Early registrations encouraged!

Dr. White is Assistant Professor of Philosophy at Michigan State University and affiliated faculty for Peace and Justice Studies, Environmental Science and Policy, the Center for Regional Food Systems, and American Indian Studies.  His research has been funded by the National Science Foundation, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and Spencer Foundation.

If you would like to attend this meeting, you must register by email to llocke@wmsbf.org by Thursday, June 13. Cost of attending is $10 for members/$15 for non-members. Payment may be made by cash or check at the event or by credit card in advance through the home page of our website, Programs & Events/Monthly Meetings on the top menu, http://www.wmsbf.org.  A $1 additional processing charge is included for credit card payments.

Board Election Results

We are very pleased to announce election of the following members to our Board of Directors, which provides the vision, strategy and oversight of this unique and vibrant organization:

Phillip Greene, Grand Rapids Community College
Theresa Hogerheide, Mi Local Foodbeet
Wendy Ogilvie, Fishbeck, Thompson, Carr & Huber
Su Paauwe, NTH Consultants
Dan Schoonmaker, West Michigan Environmental Action Council
Steve Teitsma, Progressive AE
Matt VanSweden, Integrated Architecture
Jennifer Wammack, IDa Design
Kristen Wieland, Kent County Department of Public Works

Board members continuing their terms:

Dave Aupperlee, BISSELL
Cindy Locklin, Busy Bea’s Services
Carol Parsaca, Pilgrim Manor
David Rinard, Steelcase
Justin Swan, Organicycle
Alison Waske, Key Green Solutions
Gabe Wing, as Past President

Outgoing board members will be acknowledged at our June 17 monthly meeting.  Officers will be elected at the June board meeting.

Essay Contest Updates

Our 2013 Essay Contest winners were recently interviewed on Shelley Irwin’s WGVU Morning Show.  Click HERE to hear their reflections on the contest, the theme, and their own creative processes.

Our Essay Contest and our Essayists are also being showcased on the U of M’s Center For Positive Organization Scholarship website.  You can check that out at http://www.centerforpos.org.

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Earth Day Thought, May Meeting, Activities & Resources

Posted on April 23, 2013 by
“Before we plow an unfamiliar patch
It is well to be informed about the winds,
About the variations in the sky,
The native traits and habits of the place,
What each locale permits, and what denies.”
                                                           Virgil (70-19 BC)

May 13, 2013; 12:00-2:00 p.m.
WMSBF Monthly Meeting
Grace Legacy Builders
501 Broadway NW Grand Rapids

This month we  explore a bit of Grand Rapids’ West Side.  Join us as we meet in a church building being renovated from a fire; dine on local Indian food; hear presentations on performance-based building design, the Grand Rapids Whitewater project, and local Active Commute Week Challenge & activities. Following the meeting, there will be a tour of the building that received the most LEED Platinum certification points in the world - so try to carve out a little extra time.

Presentations:

Beliefs + Performance Planning + Measurable Results - Catalyst Partners

*Aligning Core Beliefs with Actions

  • The integrated Team Approach to Sustainability – Keith Winn

*Case Studies

  • The 502 Second Street Building – Eric Doyle
  • Bicycle Friendly Company Designation – Danielle Ostafinski

Grand Rapids White Water Update - Chris Muller

Tour of 2nd Street Building, which received LEED Platinum, at that time, the most points of any building in the world!

If you would like to attend this meeting, you must register by email to llocke@wmsbf.org by Thursday, May 9. Cost of attending is $10 for members/$15 for non-members. Payment may be made by cash or check at the event or by credit card in advance through the home page of our website, Programs & Events/Monthly Meetings on the top menu, http://www.wmsbf.org.  A $1 additional processing charge is included for credit card payments.

May 13-17, 2013
2nd Annual Active Commute Week

The Greater Grand Rapids Bicycle Coalition invites you to participate in its second Active Commute Week celebration, www.acwgr.org. The purpose of this week is to raise awareness and promote alternative forms of transportation. The goal is to expose the West Michigan community to resources and education through a variety of events during the week that would reinforce the importance of a healthy lifestyle and environmental impact through active transportation. This would be a great opportunity for your organization to promote transportation, health and environmental issues to your employees and their families. An Active Commute Challenge will be held this same week.  An Active Commute Celebration complete with giveaways, live music, food and cash bar at the GRAM will be held at Rosa Parks on May 17th beginning at 4pm.  Please contact desarmli@gvsu.edu or (616) 331-2215 for additional information .

Congratulations to WMSBF Members who were recently recognized as Bicycle Friendly Businesses by the League of American Bicyclists.

Gold:  Catalyst Partners

Bronze:  Amway Corporation, Priority Health, Steelcase

This program recognizes employers’ efforts to encourage a more bicycle friendly atmosphere for employees and customers.  The programs honors innovative bike-friendly efforts and provides technical assistance and information to help companies and organizations become even better for bicyclists.

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April 2013 meeting

Posted on April 10, 2013 by

April Meeting Features 2013 Essay Contest Winners

Michele_Theresa_Anne2

Winner:  Michele Van Houten - The Country Cemetery 
Honorable Mentions:  Theresa Hogerheide - From Vine to Virtue & 
Anne Reynolds - Constructive Dissent

4-8-13_meetingGabe Wing, WMSBF Board President, welcomed members and guests to Calvin College’s Bunker Interpretive Center, which once again graciously provided a beautiful setting for recognition of our annual Essay Contest winners and a celebration of Earth Month.

This year’s theme was the Value of Virtuousness, inspired by Kim Cameron’s January presentation on Positive Organizational Scholarship. Click HERE for more information on the essay contest and to read the essayists’ thoughtful reflections.

Contributing to the meeting were Brock Rodgers, izzy+, who shared a personal Earth Day retrospective; Lindsey DesArmo, GVSU, who promoted Active Commute Week in May; Deanna Demory, United Way, who planted a few seeds of collaboration; and Dan Schoonmaker who offered a rapid-fire review of West Michigan Environmental Action Council’s past, present, and future initiatives.

Special thanks to members of our essay review panel, who have already begun  discussions on topics and expanded outreach for next year’s essay contest: Dave Aupperlee, BISSELL; Shelley Irwin, WGVU; Terri McCarthy, Wege Foundation; Brenda Moore, Grand Rapids Urban League; Su Paauwe, NTH Consultants; David Rinard, Steelcase; Dan Schoonmaker, West Michigan Environmental Action Council; Justin Swan, Organicycle; Jennifer Wammack, IDa Design; Gabe Wing, Herman Miller; Lisa Locke, WMSBF.

 

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Posted on March 29, 2013 by

Call for Nominations for Election to WMSBF Board of Directors

We invite you to play an active role in steering the course of this vibrant organization. If you would like to nominate yourself or someone else for a two-year term or would like more information, please contact Lisa Locke at llocke@wmsbf.org.  Click HERE for a Board Member Job Description and HERE for a Nomination Form. Nominations are due April 15.

2013 Scholarship & Golf Outing

The WMSBF scholarship application process is open to students in any field of study at any of the accredited four-year universities and colleges in Kent, Ottawa and Muskegon Counties. Applications are due May 6.  The WMSBF scholarship committee will review all applications and conduct interviews of the top candidates. The $5,000 scholarship will be awarded to the student who most convincingly shows an in-depth understanding of sustainability, embodies the ideals and goals of the WMSBF, and has submitted the most plausible and implementable suggestions for enhancing integration of sustainability into their school’s operations or within their community.  FLYER and APPLICATION for the 2013 Scholarship are available through these links and on our website.  Contact Lisa Locke, llocke@wmsbf.org for more information. 

SAVE THE DATE:  Monday, August 12, 2013; 8:00 a.m. scramble.
New location this year – Sunnybrook Country Club in Grandville, http://www.sunnybrook.com.

The Scholarship Golf Outing is a fundraiser designed to raise $5,000 in order to encourage college/university students to integrate sustainability into their particular discipline. Your Sponsorship will help ensure we reach our goal!! Contact Lisa Locke, llocke@wmsbf.org for more information on sponsor, donor, and volunteer opportunities.

 

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The Value of Virtuousness & Wicked Problems

Posted on February 21, 2013 by

March 19, 2013; 6:00 p.m.

2013 Davenport Presidential Lecture Series, Co-Sponsored by the WMSBF
Davenport University Sneden Auditorium
6191 Kraft Ave., Grand Rapids

The subject of Wicked Problems was raised by Dr. Kyle Whyte, Professor of Philosophy at Michigan State University, at our Corporate Social Responsibility Conference last fall. Wicked Problems are characterized by deep ambiguity in the assumptions and philosophical categories used in their articulation; corporate ethics involving complex problems with high degrees of uncertainly surrounding cause and effect and practical solutions.

Davenport University and the WMSBF  welcome back Dr. Whyte for a more in-depth exploration of Wicked Problems, how they come about and how to address them.   His presentation will be followed by a panel discussion of local business leaders sharing insights into their own struggles with a broad range of Wicked Problems.

Click HERE for a flyer. For more information, contact Jack Cichy, jcichy@davenport.edu,  or Lisa Locke, llocke@wmsbf.org.  RSVP to Barbara Rhodes Williams at 616.698.7111 or brhodes@davenport.edu no later than 3/12/13.  Space is limited so reserve your seats early!

2013 WMSBF Essay Contest — Submissions due March 4 by midnight!

What are the virtues manifested by individuals or businesses/institutions that most profoundly enrich your life?  What character traits inspire and motivate you to create – and share – a meaningful and productive quality of life?

Virtues

Tell us a story…

1,500 word limit. Submissions are due March 4, 2013. Winners will be recognized at the April 8 monthly luncheon meeting at the Bunker Interpretive Center and invited to read their essays. Program will be videotaped.  Click HERE for press release with contest and recognition details  and submission form.  Hear Shelley Irwin’s interview with Jennifer Wammack and Lisa Locke from today’s WGVU Morning Show here.

This essay contest is a unique opportunity for us to further bridge our corporate and personal worlds; to dig a little deeper, to push the limits of our understandings, and to share our insights and inspirations. Sharpen those pencils and help us spread the word!!

Click HERE to see essays submitted last year.

February Meeting Overview...Living Building Challenge

Matt VanSweden_LBCAt our February 11 monthly luncheon meeting,  Matt VanSweden, Integrated Architecture, led a presentation and discussion on the Living Building Challenge. This is a certification program that provides a framework for design, construction and the symbiotic relationship between people and all aspects of the built environment - Socially Just, Culturally Rich and Ecologically Benign.   Table discussion provided much valuable feedback and suggested a great deal of interest in continuing conversations and exploring possibilities for local initiatives.  If you are interested in being a part of that conversation, please contact Matt at MVanSweden@INTARCH.com

Matt’s presentation can be downloaded HERE.

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February 11 Monthly Meeting & 2013 Essay Contest

February 11, 2013; 12:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m
WMSBF Monthly Meeting
Eastern Avenue Christian Reformed Church
514 Eastern Ave. SE, Grand Rapids

Matt VanSweden, Integrated Architecture, will lead a presentation and discussion on Living Building Challenge, https://ilbi.org:

  • a PHILOSOPHY, ADVOCACY PLATFORM AND CERTIFICATION PROGRAM.  Because it defines priorities on both a technical level and as a set of core values, it is engaging the broader building industry in the deep conversations required to truly understand how to solve problems rather than shift them.
  • an EVOCATIVE GUIDE. By identifying an ideal and positioning that ideal as the indicator of success, the Challenge inspires project teams to reach decisions based on restorative principles instead of searching for ‘least common denominator’ solutions. This approach brings project teams closer to the objectives we are collectively working to achieve.
  • a BEACON. With a goal to increase awareness, it is tackling critical environmental, social and economic problems, such as: the rise of persistent toxic chemicals; climate change; habitat loss; the collapse of domestic manufacturing; global trade imbalances; urban sprawl; and the lack of community distinctiveness.
  • a UNIFIED TOOL. Addressing development at all scales, it can be equally applied to landscape and infrastructure projects; partial renovations and complete building renewals; new building construction; and neighborhood, campus and community design.
  • a PERFORMANCE-BASED STANDARD. Decidedly not a checklist of best practices, the Challenge leads teams to embrace regional solutions and respond to a number of variables, including climate factors and cultural characteristics.
  • a VISIONARY PATH TO A RESTORATIVE FUTURE.

He’ll introduce a group that has formed in Grand Rapids, who has taken this Challenge and added a little West Michigan flair.  Join us as we explore how business, both small and large, can – and should – take on this challenge.

Sponsors for this meeting are Integrated Architecture, Eastern Avenue Christian Reformed Church & the Grand Rapids Urban League.

If you would like to attend this meeting, you must register by email to llocke@wmsbf.org by Thursday, February 7. Cost of attending is $10 for members/$15 for non-members. Payment may be made by cash or check at the event or by credit card in advance through the home page of our website, Programs & Events/Monthly Meetings on the top menu, http://www.wmsbf.org.  A $1 additional processing charge is included for credit card payments.

 

Image | Posted on January 28, 2013 by | Leave a comment

January Meeting & Scholarship Recipient

Posted on January 23, 2013 by

January Meeting Overview

Kim Cameron at BunkerPositive energy, the heliotropic effect (organic tendency to lean towards the light), positive deviance, and a virtuous state of being; these were all key ingredients in Dr. Kim Cameron’s presentation on The Value of Virtuousness at Calvin College’s Bunker Interpretive Center. Dr. Cameron, of University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business, discussed research on the link between positive energy – or virtuousness – and employee performance in both the public and private sectors. He used empirical data and personal anecdotes to show this link, and to help define ways to increase positive energy and productivity, or a virtuous state within organizations.

Dr. Cameron pointed out that people organize to eliminate deviance from the norm, because deviance is seen as strictly negative. However, eliminating deviance also means taking away opportunities for individuals to be extraordinary. Virtuousness, positive imagery, and positive deviance create a state of coherence, where the mind and body functions are perfectly aligned. More information can be found on the Center for Positive Organizational Scholarship website, http://www.centerforpos.org.

Special thanks to Busy Bea’s Services, IDa Design, Lake Affect Design Studio & The CarbonNeutral Company for sponsoring this special presentation to kick off the new year.

2013 Scholarship Recipient

Abby Samotis - scholarshipAlso at the meeting we introduced our 2012 Scholarship recipient:  Abby Samotis.  Abby is a Junior in the Sustainable Business program at Aquinas. Her passion was beautifully expressed in her essay:  My love for flowers accompanied me to my first job at a local greenhouse. I was living my dream. The hours I spent digging in the dirt, taught me more about life, than any teacher, preacher, or friend.  Seeing how much nature had taught me assured me it needed to stay incorporated in the rest of my life. Congratulations, Abby!!  And our sincere appreciation to all the students who submitted applications.  Our best wishes to you on your sustainability journeys.  We’re counting on you!!

 

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