Introductions – Marylu Dykstra

Everyone was asked to introduce theselves

Don Goetcheus:

• Life insurance – sustainability
• Retirement income
• Top 20 sustainable business in the world.

Steve Bohn:

• What is “socially responsible” differs from person to person – what’s important to the individual.
• Can screen whatever you want as an investor – Screens allow the investor to decide what’s important.

Q: What is “green”?

A: Anything that’s important to the community/world, etc.

Q: Third-party certification – who independently verifies that what the company’s claiming is true.

A: There is no entity, but the media and SEC can punish if any irregularities are discovered.  Publicly-traded companies have full disclosure laws to force them to behave.

Discussion of China, and responsibility of investing there.

Q: Micro-loans

A: There will likely be more, easier access to those pools for investing.

Q: Do funds target companies that are considered detrimental to the environment and short sells them?

A: probably – don’t know any names.

Introduction of Gabe Wing as new treasurer – Golf Scholarship Outing

• Looking for golfers, sponsors, and prizes
• Scholarship fund – introduction of Brett Little: thanked group and gave a brief introduction to his understanding and belief in sustainability.  Thanked group.

Announcements:

Coupon policy – bring a guest, get a free $10 fee offset for a future meeting.

Companies are welcome to group together for golf outing sponsorships

Get company sustainability testimonials to Kyle

September event at Kentwood Office – able to ask experts about different topics.  September 14.  This is an excellent event to attend for the first time or to invite friends from non-member companies.  More information will be out in the coming weeks.

No August meeting -- golf outing in its stead.

Meet and greet.

Present were: