Suburban Sustainable Network

Early October Events

2008-10-01T19:45:00.003-05:00

I'm still working on logistics for a Social Hour event later this month, but wanted to go ahead and post some info on a couple of interesting events happening in the next several days.

Let's start with the 2008 Illinois Solar Tour by the Illinois Solar Energy Association. This tour will include opportunities to see and view more than 100 wind and solar powered buildings within Chicago and the suburban area as well as across the state of Illinois. The date is this Saturday, October 4th. For more info, check out: http://www.illinoissolar.org/solartour/images/stories/tour/SolarTour08.pdf

A second event is the West Suburban Green Trolley Tour by the US Green Building Council (USGBC). This event will include tours of three suburban green buildings:

Wight & Company's office
Lyman Woods Interpretive Center
Argonne National Laboratories Central Supply Facility addition

The tour is happening on Tues., October 7th and will convene at the Jewel-Osco on South Cass in Darien. You can find full details on the USGBC website:
http://guest.cvent.com/EVENTS/Info/Summary.aspx?e=ca4c9b9c-b376-4bc2-9c0a-2828f734c130

Stay tuned for more information and additional events.

Another September Event

2008-09-07T21:59:00.003-05:00

Missed one in the last post...the Illinois Environmental Council's 2008 Environmental Leadership Dinner. It's happening on Thursday, September 25th at the Hotel Intercontinental Chicago, and features Cathy Zoi as the keynote speaker. Zoi is the CEO of The Alliance for Climate Protection, a non-profit, non-partisan effort to halt global warming founded by former Vice President Al Gore in February, 2007.

Full details can be seen here: http://www.ilenviro.org/news/?item=116

And on a related note, the Illinois Environmental Council is seeking an Executive Director. Details on the job description and how to make contact if you're interested can be found at:

http://www.ilenviro.org/news/?item=114.

Upcoming Events

2008-09-02T18:45:00.009-05:00

Well...my overbooked schedule continues to make life interesting. That, combined with a number of interesting local events occurring in the near future have brought me to the conclusion that once again, it will be better to simply point out some of those interesting choices rather than to try to find a way to force another into the mix.

So with no further ado, here are some happenings I think you should be aware of:

First, both in chronological order and in terms of being near and dear to my heart, is a celebration by The Light Center. TLC is a terrific organization that uses rescued animals to enable animal assisted learning and therapy for challenged and at-risk youth. If you're not familiar with them, please take a look at http://www.tlcinunion.org/. Note - in the interest of full disclosure, I should say that I'm an active volunteer and current board member, so my view may be a bit biased. At any rate, TLC is hosting an event at The Anvil Club in East Dundee (http://www.theanvilclub.com/) on Sunday, September 7th to celebrate having helped 1000 kids. The Anvil Club is Chicago's premier private dining club. The TLC event will be an afternoon of wine and hors d'oeuvres on the Veranda. The event will run from 2:00p - 5:00p, and tickets are $50/person. If you'd like more information, please look at the TLC website or contact me.

On September 13th, join Seven Generations Ahead for their Green Home Tour. This event will provide you with an exclusive look inside homes in Oak Park and River Forest that look great, save money, and are easy on the environment. Discover how to green your home regardless of budget or taste. Learn from homeowners and building professionals who have built and remodeled green. More details available at http://www.sevengenerationsahead.org/events.html

Next up is a US Green Building Council (USGBC) event on September 17th. Here's an opportunity to hear from L. Hunter Lovins (Natural Capitalism Solutions) in person at The Natural Leaders Breakfast & Luncheon at The University Club of Chicago.

Join over 200 members and industry professionals from the Chicagoland green building and sustainability community at the 2008 Natural Leaders Luncheon featuring keynote speaker L. Hunter Lovins, co-author of the groundbreaking book, Natural Capitalism. The topic of Ms. Lovins' speech will be "Drivers of Change: The Business Case for Sustainability and Protecting the Climate." In addition, the event will feature a raffle of sustainable birdhouses designed by members of the Chapter's Emerging Green Builders Committee. For full details, visit http://www.usgbc-chicago.org/.

On September 20th, join The Conservation Foundation for the DuPage River Ramble. Update: this event has been cancelled. For details on other TCF events, check out www.theconservationfoundation.org.

A bit further out, but worth putting on your calendar, are two additional events.

On Thursday, October 16th, join the West Suburban Women Entrepreneurs as they present a panel discussion featuring:

Alline Anderson - Proprietor, The Milkweed Mercantile, Dancing Rabbit Ecovillage, MO
Jodi Murphy - President, Murco Recycling Enterprises, LaGrange Park, IL
Tracey Robertson - Proprietor, Share Wear, Chicago, IL

The panel will be moderated by:

Jennifer Weigel

Emmy award winning broadcaster and news anchor
Host and Executive producer of "TASTE" on NBC
Chief Executive Officer of JCW Productions
Author of "Stay-Tuned: Conversations with Dad from the Other Side"
Star of one woman show, "I'm Spiritual, Dammit!" Viaduct Theatre

Full details are available at http://www.wswe.org/events.htm.

On October 18th, check out the Second Annual Renewable Energy Fair at Waubonsee Community College in Sugar Grove. Featuring hybrid cars, workshops and exhibits
emphasizing renewable energy and sustainable living. Learn how you can make a difference by becoming more Earth-friendly and energy efficient. More details available at http://www.wcc.cc.il.us/downloads/pdf/community_ed/energyfair08/public_flyer.pdf.

I hope you find something in this list that catches your interest. As always, feel free to contact me if there are additional happenings in the area that you feel would be worth communicating to others. You can do so by sending an email to shawn@thirdisolutions.com.

August Events

2008-08-06T23:04:00.002-05:00

My apologies on the lengthy silence. My travel schedule has been such that planning, pursuing, and pulling off a gathering has been difficult to accomplish. That same issue is continuing in August, with my schedule requiring me to be away more than home. So I've decided to push the planned 'Ten minutes of Airtime' session(s) to next month and to highlight some interesting events and activities happening around the area during the next several weeks.

First up is the Illinois Renewable Energy and Sustainable Lifestyle Fair. It's happening this weekend (8/9 and 8/10) in Oregon, IL. That may be stretching the boundaries of 'suburban' a bit much, but it promises to be worth the drive.

The seventh annual Illinois Renewable Energy and Sustainable Lifestyle Fair will be held on Saturday, August 9th and Sunday, August 10th at the Ogle County Fairgrounds, in Oregon, IL.
The Fairgrounds will open at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday.

Admission Fees:
Adults: $7 for one day/$10 for both days
Youths (12 - 16): $3 for one day/$5 for both days
Children (under 12 in the company of an adult): FreeIREA Members: Free

Electric car to be auctioned off.

The Fair will feature over 100 booths and exhibits, 60 workshops, food, entertainment, childrens' activities and tours.

Full details can be found at the IL Renewable Energy Association website: http://www.illinoisrenew.org/

Next up is a US Green Building Council (USGBC) event in the south suburbs.

South Suburban Green Networking Event

Little Red School House Turns GREEN!
Please join the newly established South Suburban Committee at the Little Red School House Nature Center for a green networking event. This event will feature speakers from the architecture and construction firms currently working on the project. It will be a great event to learn more about sustainable design, involvement in our organization, and meet some great people in the green building industry.The main speakers will discuss the green renovation and construction of the Little Red School House Nature Center, a LEED registered project in the South Suburban area. You will learn what needs to be done during the green construction process. Since the project is still in the construction phase, you will have a rare chance to see green construction processes, including recycling and geothermal installation, in use.

WHEN
Thursday, August 14, 2008 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM

WHERE
Little Red School House Nature Center
9800 Willow Springs Road
Willow Springs, IL 60480

FEE
Member
$5.00

Non-Member
$15.00

Next, another USGBC event...this time at Prairie Crossing in Grayslake.

LEED, Leaders & Liters

LEED, Leaders & Liters is an event held several times a year to help increase the USGBC - Chicago Chapter membership. It is a forum for attendees to network with each other and discuss use of the LEED rating system. This event is hosted at Prairie Crossing by the North/Northwest Branch of the Chicago Chapter.In this session, developer G. Benjamin Ranney will speak about the history and Guilding Principles of Prairie Crossing, as well as plans for future development. The discussion will also address the distinctions between the different green building rating systems that have been employed in the community, and provide an opportunity for questions from the audience. Participants are encouraged to come early in order to explore the trails and see the community and its architecture prior to the presentation.Complimentary beverages and hors d'oeuvres will be available.

WHEN
Wednesday, August 27, 2008 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM

WHERE
Prairie Crossing
Byron Colby Barn
1561 Jones Point Road
Grayslake, IL 60030

FEE
Member
$20.00

Member with Non-Member Guest
$10.00

Non-Member
$10.00

Full details for both of the USGBC events can be found on the Calendar of Events within the Chicago chapter's section of the USGBC website: http://guest.cvent.com/EVENTS/Calendar/Calendar.aspx?cal=0f6dfcc0-e595-415a-b03f-45cbb8f2d6b6

There are always interesting events happening in the area, and if you're aware of one that you think should be highlighted here, simply send me an email at shawn@thirdisolutions.com. I hope you're able to attend one of those mentioned above, and I look forward to connecting with you at these or other events soon.

All call for '10 minutes of airtime', Social Hour gatherings for June

2008-06-15T09:44:00.003-05:00

I'm working on the details for an event (or possibly a series of events) that will provide an opportunity for deserving suburban organizations to have 'ten minutes of airtime' to tell a bit about their story, why it's important, and what type of assistance or connections they need. For those of you familiar with Green Drinks, this will be similar to the annual event where 30 organizations are presented in 60 minutes. For our first foray into this format, I'd like to offer a bit more time to each participant, so the number of spots will be limited. If interest is sufficient, we'll provide the chance for additional participation in future months.

So let's start with submissions of interested - and interesting - organizations. There are several options for submission.

The preferred option is to do so in person. That allows you to tell me a bit more about the organization you're suggesting and why you think it matters. This month, we'll be gathering in two separate locations to network and discuss these ideas and others. The first gathering will be on Wed., June 25th at Mullen's Bar and Grille in Lisle. The second gathering will be at The Ram in Schaumburg on Thurs., June 26th. Both evenings will begin at 6:30p and provide an hour or two of casual conversation and the chance for good food and drink among friends.

If those dates don't work with your calendar, then feel free to email your submissions to me at shawn@thirdisolutions.com. I'll be out of town this week with limited email access, so please be patient regarding response times.

Again, for the gatherings:

Date: Wednesday, June 25th
Location: Mullen's Bar and Grill, 3080 Warrenville Rd., Lisle
Time: 6:30p

Date: Thursday, June 26th
Location: Ram Restaurant and Brewery, 1901 McConnor Pkwy, Schaumburg
Time: 6:30p

And as always, feel free to forward this to others you feel would be interested. If you would like to be added to the email list to receive information about future events, simply send an email with that request to shawn@thirdisolutions.com. Hope to see you at one of these events!!

...and one more for May

2008-05-16T17:21:00.004-05:00

There's one additional event I'd like to highlight for all to consider. This one is being put on by the U.S. Green Building Council's (USGBC) Chicago chapter, and it's a panel discussion on ways to encourage sustainable housing. So if you've been interested in learning more about what 'green building' is all about, here's your chance to hear from the experts.

Event summary:
The USGBC - Chicago Chapter and the NIHBA are hosting a special event that features an open forum to explore the methods, programs, organizations, and resources available to encourage sustainable housing. This event is being held in Chicago on Thursday evening and in Lisle on Friday morning. The program will be the same with the intent on giving attendees in the Chicagoland area an opportunity to attend at the venue that is most conveniently located.
The panel features members from USGBC (Mike Holcomb), NAHB (Bill Styczynski), Energy Star (Jim Cavallo), and Chicago Green Home Program and will be moderated by Jim Hackler.

The main topics of discussion will be:
Understanding the variety of approaches to sustainable housing.
Fostering cooperation and education among the different groups advocating green homes.
Removing market barriers and increasing demand for sustainable housing.

The forum is not an endorsement of a single approach - but it's hoped will lead to an including strategy to bring more sustainable housing to the Chicago area. The moderator, Jim Hackler, brings a balanced approach to the discussion as a journalist covering environmental issues for GreenBuilder, Natural Home, and Delta's Sky magazines. He also has served as the head of two of the country's leading green building initiatives (USGBC's LEED for Homes and the Greater Atlanta HBA's EarthCraft House).

A breakfast buffet will be served.

When
Friday, May 23, 2008 8:30 AM - 11:00 AM

Where
Hyatt Lisle
1400 Corporetum Drive
Lisle, Illinois 60532
630-852-1234

Event Registration
Member: $40.00

Discounted Price $30.00 If Registered By Monday, May 19, 2008
Refund Policy: No Refunds

Non-Member: $50.00

Discounted Price: $40.00 If Registered By Monday, May 19, 2008
Refund Policy: No Refunds

For more details, or to register: USGBC - Chicago Chapter

This one is on my calendar, so if you'd like to know more about the world of sustainable housing and green building, I'll see you there.

May Events

2008-05-14T21:11:00.005-05:00

Once again, it's been a busy month...and it's only half over. Or I should say it's already half over. After considering various options for dates for this month's event(s), I have decided that trying to fit another gathering into an already full month of sustainable activities and events is not the best answer. Instead, I'd like to communicate the details on some of those events that I plan to attend and invite you to join me there.

First up, the Green Festival. It's happening this weekend at Navy Pier. I know, I know, that's in the city and this organization is suburban in focus. It's worth the trip to attend this event, as it's the largest gathering of sustainable companies, organizations, and presenters in the entire area for the year. If you're not familiar with this event, check out the full details at:

http://www.greenfestivals.org/content/view/230/200/

It takes place on Saturday (10a - 8p) and Sunday (11a - 6p) at Navy Pier. Take the train or carpool with a friend - you'll be glad you did. I'll be there on Saturday afternoon, taking in the sights and sounds and speeches. If you're interested, send an email (shawn@thirdisolutions.com) and I'd be happy to try to coordinate times to walk through the show together.

Next up, a chocolate tasting happening Sunday at 2p at Citizen Kane in Geneva (319 W. State St.). And just what does chocolate have to do with sustainability, you ask? Plenty, is the answer. In this case, the chocolate happens to be the unprocessed dark chocolate variety which also includes acai berries and blueberries. All of which provide loads of antioxidants, helping to lower blood pressure, lower bad (LDL) cholesterol, and reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. More details to follow shortly, but hey...what better way to spend a bit of time on a Sunday afternoon than hearing about - and tasting - how chocolate is actually good for you?!?

And last (at least for the moment), but certainly not least: a Net Impact event. On Wed. May 21st, join me at their event: The Secrets to Successful Social Entrepreneurship. Location is the IIT Stuart School of Business at 565 W Adams St. in Chicago. I know, I know, another city event!! All I can say is once again, it'll be worth it!! Here's more detail:

The Secrets to Successful Social Entrepreneurship
Date/Time: May 21, 2008 at 6:30pm
Place: Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT) – Stuart School of Business
565 West Adams Street, Chicago IL 60661
** 10th Floor Event Room

Panelists : Rich Cohen – Founder and CEO, Distant Village Packaging
Lauri Alpern – Partner, Return On Inspiration
Katie Das – Owner, Das Foods
Jill Bunton – Senior Business Development Director, Heartland Health Outreach

RSVP: ChicagoEvents@NetImpact.org by May 16, 2008
(please indicate if you are a member of Net Impact and which local chapter you are affiliated with)
Cost: Free for Net Impact members, $5 for non-members
Questions: Contact Tricia Sheehan, Chicago Net Impact, tricia24@gmail.com

Event Description: Passionate about making the world a better place through business? Chicago’s top social entrepreneurs are joining the Chicago-area Net Impact professional and student chapters for an insightful discussion on the secrets to success in social entrepreneurship. Whether you are a budding entrepreneur with a big idea or just starting to learn about social entrepreneurship, this event will help you understand the secrets to success in using your entrepreneurial spirit to improve the world.

"Social entrepreneurs are not content just to give a fish or teach how to fish. They will not rest until they have revolutionized the fishing industry." - Bill Drayton, CEO, chair and founder of Ashoka

So as you can see, there's a lot going on already. I hope that one or more of these events captures your interest, and look forward to seeing you there.

Social Hour event for April

2008-04-20T20:04:00.002-05:00

Sorry for the delay in communicating event info for this month. I've been on the road for most of the month, which has made planning a bit more challenging than normal. As a result, I've decided to opt for another informal Social Hour event. For April, we'll be gathering once more at Citizen Kane in downtown Geneva. If you haven't yet had the pleasure of visiting this restaurant, now's the perfect time. They offer terrific food, a great sense of 'place' (located in the old Geneva Theater building), and some of the friendliest folks around to serve you. You can join us there on Wed., April 30 at 6:30p. We'll be grabbing some dinner and a couple of drinks and catching up on the most relevant sustainability topics of the day. It's a great chance to enjoy an evening out, expand your network, and participate in some very interesting conversations.

To summarize:

Date: Wednesday, April 30th
Time: 6:30p
Location: Citizen Kane - 319 W. State St., Geneva, IL

For those in the northwest, north, and south suburbs...stay tuned. We haven't forgotten you - just working out details on appropriate dates and locations for gatherings in your area. Details will be posted here as soon as they're finalized.

I hope you're able to join us in Geneva. I look forward to seeing you there or at other gatherings in the near future. And as always, feel free to pass this along to anyone you feel might be interested. To be added to the email list, simply send an email with that request to: shawn@thirdisolutions.com.

Social Hour Events for March

2008-03-13T18:13:00.004-05:00

Yep...you read that right!! This month we're changing the format to include several events happening on successive days. Since this group is composed of members that represent the entire suburban Chicago area, we've had a plan since the very beginning to move toward regular regional gatherings that will make participation more convenient. So starting this month, we're kicking off regular meetings in the north, northwest, and west suburbs (for those of you in the south, stay tuned...more info on that will be coming along soon). We'll be gathering in all of these locations each month on an informal basis - which means no presentations, just a chance to mix and mingle and have conversation and a drink or two with like-minded individuals in a location closer to home for all. On a bi-monthly basis, we'll be offering formal presentations, the location of which will rotate throughout the regions.

Here's the schedule of events for this month:

Region: West
Date: Tuesday, March 25th
Location: Citizen Kane, 319 W. State St., Geneva
Time: 6:30p - 8:30p

Region: Northwest
Date: Wednesday, March 26th
Location: Pete Miller's, 1385 N. Meacham Rd., Schaumburg
Time: 6:30p - 8:30p

Region: North
Date: Thursday, March 27th
Location: Flatlanders, 200 Village Green, Lincolnshire
Time: 6:30p - 8:30P

Come to the one closest to home, or the one closest to work, or a combination of the two (or all three for that matter!)

I know spring break may be happening for many of us during this week, but we've decided to go ahead and plan for the events anyway. For those who are in town, it will offer a chance to get away for a couple of hours. And for those who will be out of town, plan on joining us next month. The regions will be the same, though the exact locations may differ. Details should be posted by the end of the month.

I look forward to seeing you at one or more of these events, and as always, feel free to pass this along to anyone you think might be interested. If you're not yet on the email list for this group, simply send an email to shawn@thirdisolutions.com and we'll remedy that situation.

Next Social Hour event on Wed., Feb. 27th

2008-02-07T19:48:00.000-06:00

We'll be back at it this month with a slight variation on the usual theme. This time, we'll be hearing a number of brief presentations all centered on the topic of "How to make your home more green." We'll bypass the basics of reduce, reuse and recycle, and instead concentrate on products that can have a real impact on energy efficiency and liveability within the home.

Information will be available on:
Small-scale (roof-mounted) wind turbines
Solar powered attic fans
Solar tubes (skylights)
Bio-based insulation
Low-VOC paints and wallcoverings
Geothermal heating/cooling systems
On-demand (tankless) water heaters
Home energy audits

For this month's gathering we're headed back to The Ram Restaurant & Brewery in Schaumburg. It's located at 1901 McConnor Parkway (right next to IKEA). Click here for directions from Mapquest: Map of 1901 Mcconnor Pkwy Schaumburg, IL 60173-4389, US

As usual, folks are encouraged to show up between 6p and 7p to mix and mingle and grab something to eat and drink (off of the menu). We'll begin the presentations at 7p and conclude them by 8p. After that, all are free to linger for additional networking or head on to other commitments.

To summarize:
Date: Wednesday, Feb. 27th
Time: 6p-8p
Location: The Ram Restaurant & Brewery, Schaumburg

As always, feel free to pass this along to others you think might be interested. If you'd like to be added to the email list for this group, send me an email at: shawn@thirdisolutions.com. We'll see you there!!

An informal gathering and Holiday Greetings

2007-12-13T17:04:00.000-06:00

Hi all,
Sorry for the long delay in communication. With everyone being so busy this time of year, I decided to forego the usual Social Hour events until the New Year. In the meantime, though, I'm planning to revisit a favorite spot from a previous event - Pilot Pete's in Schaumburg - for an informal gathering. I'll be there next Wed evening (12/19) at 6p. The plan is to eat a bite and have a drink or two. So if you're interested in a quick and informal get together and a chance to chat about whatever sustainability topic is top of mind, please join me.

Here's a link to mapquest showing the location: Map of 905 W Irving Park Rd Schaumburg, IL 60193-9700, US

Plans are in the works for upcoming Social Hour events, but as always, I'm open to suggestions on topics or presenters that you'd be interested in seeing brought to this group. If you have an idea, email me at: shawn@thirdisolutions.com.

I look forward to seeing some of you next week, and for those who are unable to stop by, my heartfelt wishes for a happy holiday season and a terrific beginning to the new year.

Location for October 30th Social Hour event

2007-10-15T08:42:00.000-05:00

We've finalized the location for our next Social Hour event. This month, we'll be meeting at Mullen's Bar & Grill in Lisle. The street address is 3080 Warrenville Rd. Here's a link to mapquest to provide a bit more detail for you: Map of 3080 Warrenville Rd Lisle, IL 60532-0919, US .

Timing for the event is as usual, with networking to begin at 6p. The conversation with Jim Kleinwachter about the Flower & Garden Show will run from 7p - 8p. The food and drink are great, so please plan to join us between 6p and 7p to quench your after-work hunger and thirst.

As always, please pass the info along to those you feel would be interested. I look forward to seeing you there.

October 30th Social Hour event

2007-10-09T17:26:00.000-05:00

We're taking a bit of a new approach this month, with a meeting that's intended to be an interactive, participative conversation rather than the usual presentation-style format. We'll be joining forces with Jim Kleinwachter from The Conservation Foundation once again to discuss a new project he's coordinating. This time, it's an exciting opportunity to showcase environmental issues and solutions to the general public.

The quick summary is that Jim has secured 8000 square feet of display space at the 2008 Chicago Flower & Garden Show. The plan is to create a unified display that will be both environmentally friendly and educational. The Social Hour event will provide the chance to describe the opportunity, get input on ideas and plans, and solicit individuals and partners interested in participating. This is a great opportunity for the Suburban Sustainable group to contribute, both individually and collectively, to a project that will have significant visibility to the general public.

Some initial ideas on the display:

· Permeable paving displays (Belgard has a new product to debut)
· Native Plants – deep roots, wildlife benefits, erosion control
· Maintenance of natural areas, burns, invasive plants
· Conservation@Home – a house façade with green roof, working rain garden and rain barrels. Displays showing attractive native plants in the front yard – and integration in traditional landsapes.
· Wildlife benefits of native plants. Forest Preserve(s) Nature Centers, D.N.R participation; wildlife displays – frogs, turtles, salamanders –kid friendly: hands on displays.
· Lt. Governor (Pat Quinn) Rain Garden initiative highlighted – He could cut the ribbon or speak about sustainable landscapes.
· Displays: Carbon sequestering, connection to global warming , ethanol production from switchgrass
· Possible display of a gas pump and information about site remediation done with plants.
· Education area – seminars, workshops

New “Green” vendor area devoted to environmentally friendly products and services

The location has not yet been set, although it will be in the Wheaton/Warrenville vicinity. Timing will be as usual, with the networking to start at 6p and the interactive discussion to run from 7p - 8p.

Another post will be added shortly to identify the exact location. In the meantime, mark your calendars and pass this along to folks you think might be interested.

Details on Sept. 26th Social Hour event

2007-09-19T16:17:00.000-05:00

Apologies for the delay...but here at last are the details for our next Social Hour event next week.

Date: Wed. September 26th
Time: 6p start to networking, 7p start for presentation
Location: Pilot Pete's restaurant in Schaumburg (see below for link to directions)
Guest: Martha Dooley from the Village of Schaumburg
Topic: Schaumburg's Biodiversity Recovery Plan

As previously noted, Martha Dooley, Senior Landscape Planner with the Village of Schaumburg, will be joining us to discuss the Biodiversity Recovery Plan they have implemented. This Biodiversity Plan is based on the principles of the Chicago Wilderness Biodiversity Recovery Plan. Schaumburg is the first village to adopt the goals of the Chicago Wilderness Biodiversity Recovery Plan. Schaumburg's Biodiversity Plan provides specific guidance on maintaining, restoring, and preserving the integrity of open space per the Comprehensive Plan, and provides a framework for implementing the Chicago Wilderness Biodiversity Recovery Plan objectives. Those objectives include:

Involve the citizens, organizations, and agencies of the region in efforts to conserve biodiversity.
Improve the scientific basis of ecological management.
Protect globally and regionally important natural communities.
Restore natural communities to ecological health.
Manage natural communities to sustain native biodiversity.
Develop citizen awareness and understanding of local biodiversity to ensure support and participation.
Foster a sustainable relationship between society and nature in the region.
Enrich the quality of the lives of the region's citizens.

Martha's presentation will take us through some of the thoughts behind the program and share some of the success stories to date.

Our location this time is Pilot Pete's, located at the Schaumburg Municipal Airport, which is at 905 W. Irving Park Rd. Here's a link to mapquest showing the location: Map of 905 W Irving Park Rd Schaumburg, IL 60193-9700, US

I'm looking forward to an interesting presentation and another great opportunity to mix and mingle with a diverse group of sustainability-minded folks. As always, feel free to pass this notice along to anyone you feel might be interested. Or have them email me to be included in the database for future events: shawn@thirdisolutions.com. Hope to see you there!!

Save the date...September 26th

2007-08-31T09:35:00.000-05:00

Just a quick teaser announcement to communicate the details for our next Social Hour event. This month, we're pleased to have Martha Dooley from the Village of Schaumburg joining us to talk about the Biodiversity Recovery Program that the village has implemented. More details will follow shortly...

It's not easy being green...

2007-08-08T22:37:00.000-05:00

A friend shared this with me recently, and I thought it worth posting here in order to provide a bit of levity as well as one of those 'remember when??' moments. With full credit to YouTube, Sesame Street, and to the marvelous creative talents of Jim Henson and his team. With no further ado...

August 25th Social Hour event

2007-08-06T10:12:00.000-05:00

A bit of a change this month. We'll be meeting on a Saturday morning rather than the usual mid-week evening. The change is due to the topic for this month's event. We'll be hearing the Prairie Crossing story firsthand while touring the development. Given the time of year, trying to do a walking tour starting at 7p on a weeknight didn't afford us the opportunity to really see it in the same way that a morning outing will.

I'm guessing that, like me, many of you are familiar with the name Prairie Crossing but have not yet had the opportunity to see it for yourself. Prairie Crossing is the critically-acclaimed 'Conservation Community' that was designed to combine responsible development, the preservation of open land and easy commuting by rail. It is now considered a national example of how to design our communities to support a better way of life. For more detail on the community, which is located in Grayslake, check out this link: http://www.prairiecrossing.com/.

Our plan is to meet at the Colby Barn at 10:00 am. Map of 1561 Jones Point Rd Grayslake, IL 60030-3536, US We'll then take a tour through the development while hearing about its creation. Discussion will center on the genesis of the original vision, the realities of realizing the vision, and the end result. We've also lined up several homeowners to speak firsthand about the experience of living in this type of sustainable community.

We'll finish at around 12:00 pm in the Prairie Croissant Cafe. All those who are able are welcome to join me in lingering and enjoying lunch. Info and an online menu can be found at: http://www.prairiecroissantcafe.com/.

So, to recap:

Date: Saturday, August 25th
Time: 10:00 am
Location: Colby Barn, Prairie Crossing Development

This is a family-friendly outing, so please feel free to bring the kids along. A great way to live the lesson from last month (see previous post on the 'Leave No Child Inside' initiative by Chicago Wilderness).

As always, feel free to pass along the info to others you think might be interested. I'm also happy to try to coordinate ride-sharing options, so contact me if you'd like some assistance in that area. I look forward to seeing you all there.

Have questions, suggestions, or want to be added to the email list? Contact Shawn Stahmer at shawn@thirdisolutions.com.

Location for July 25th Social Hour event

2007-07-12T13:55:00.000-05:00

We've finalized the location for our July 25th Social Hour event. We'll be meeting at the Ram Restaurant & Brewery, located at 1901 McConnor Pkwy in Schaumburg. For those familiar with the area, McConnor Pkwy is the street that runs north from Golf Rd (just west of 53) past IKEA. The Ram is about a block north of Golf on the left (west) side of the street.

Here's a mapquest link: Map of 1901 Mcconnor Pkwy Schaumburg, IL 60173-4389, US

We'll be meeting in the Counselor's Row Room, which is at the front of the restaurant to the right of the entrance.

Event details remain the same: Networking begins at 6p, Presentation on Leave No Child Inside begins at 7p. The Ram Restaurant & Brewery has been kind enough to provide the room for us at no charge, so please bring your appetite for good food and drink and satisfy both prior to the presentation.

Please join us...and invite a friend or two!!

July 25th Social Hour event

2007-07-05T22:12:00.001-05:00

Hi all...hope everyone's summer is going well. We're back on track again with a Social Hour event lined up for Wed., July 25th. We'll be in the Schaumburg area, though the exact location is yet to be finalized. As usual, we'll plan on starting the networking at 6p, with a presentation to begin at 7p.

This month, we'll be featuring Martha (Marty) Kenahan as our guest. Marty is with Chicago Wilderness, and is the Regional Coordinator for the Leave No Child Inside initiative. I'm excited to have Marty joining the group to tell us more about this recently launched initiative. Here's a bit of detail:

A growing body of scientific evidence is demonstrating how important direct contact with the outdoors is to healthy childhood development. Structured and unstructured playtime in nature can help combat such health issues as ADHD and child obesity while promoting creativity and cognitive functioning.

To address this issue, Chicago Wilderness is launching Leave No Child Inside, a multi-year initiative designed to promote children's health and foster generations of children that care enough about nature to protect it. One of the greatest gifts you can give your children is to share your love of nature: Enjoying the outdoors with them is fun, healthy, and a great way to spend quality time with your family.

More details can be found at the LNCI website: www.kidsoutside.info.

Stay tuned for details on the specific location. And as always, feel free to pass the word on to friends and associates you think would be interested in the event.

No events for June - Stay tuned for July announcements

2007-06-07T08:09:00.001-05:00

We've decided not to host the Social Hour event this month due to difficulties in coordinating presenters, locations and vacation schedules. But don't despair - we've got some terrific topics and presenters in line for upcoming events. Stay tuned, as announcements regarding July's event will be posted shortly.

Location for May 22nd Social Hour

2007-05-14T19:05:00.000-05:00

We've finally got a location confirmed. Our Social Hour event occurring next Tuesday will be held at the Ballydoyle Irish Pub and Restaurant. It's located at 5157 Main St. in Downers Grove. Here's a link to directions, courtesy of mapquest: Map of 5157 Main St Downers Grove, IL 60515-4616, US

We'll be starting the networking at 6p, with Jim Kleinwachter scheduled to present info on the Conservation @ Home program at 7p. There will be a cash bar, and food (which I'm told is very good) will be available from the restaurant.

As always, feel free to invite others you feel would be interested. If you've received a forwarded email regarding this group and these events, and you'd like to receive info directly, please send an email to Shawn Stahmer at: shawn@thirdisolutions.com with your name and email address and ask to be included in the Suburban Sustainable Network database.

If you have any questions or comments, please contact Shawn at the email address above. Hope to see you all there...

May 22nd Social Hour Event

2007-05-09T16:17:00.000-05:00

We've got the date saved and the presenter lined up...and should have the location nailed down in the next day or so. This month's event will be in the western 'burbs. The current contenders for location are in Lisle and Downer's Grove. (Near the intersection of I355 and I88, for those of you not familiar with that area). I'll be finalizing tomorrow or Fri and posting another note then. The plan is to start the networking at 6p and have the presentation begin at 7p.

In the meantime, here are some details on our presenter, Jim Kleinwachter from The Conservation Foundation.

Jim grew up in Warrenville, where he currently lives with his wife and three children. His passion for the environment led him to sell his successful business and join the staff at The Conservation Foundation in January of 2004.

He is no stranger to The Conservation Foundation. In his volunteer efforts, Jim has helped organize the annual DuPage River Sweep since its inception in 1991. In fact, he was organizing local river clean ups in Warrenville prior to the Foundation's involvement. Since then, he has worked on prairie and wetland restoration projects at Warrenville's Johnson School and on several educational endeavors of the Foundation. Jim is also the recipient of the 1999 Paul Butler Memorial Award presented by The Conservation Foundation for outstanding volunteer service.

Jim now works to preserve land as open space for The Conservation Foundation. In that duty, Jim works with government agencies and private landowners to negotiate open space purchases, facilitate land donations and conservation easements. He created the Conservation@Home program in 2004 to help educate homeowners and initiate positive changes in our landscape choices.

And here is a bit of additional detail about the topic of the night, the Conservation @ Home program.

This program is an extension of existing homeowner education and watershed protection efforts, and encourages and recognizes property owners that protect and/or create yards that are environmentally friendly and conserve water. This includes planting native vegetation, such as prairie and woodland wildflowers, trees and shrubs, create butterfly and rain gardens, and remove exotic species of plants.

We're not talking about digging up your entire yard and planting prairie, although that would be okay if you want. Conservation @ Home promotes planting areas almost like "flower beds" or "mini nature havens" in your yard that utilize native plants, such as prairie and woodland wildflowers. In addition, this could include water gardens and planting native species of trees and shrubs for wildlife cover, food and habitat. For fun, these areas can be created for butterfly and songbird gardens, and rain gardens that help capture rainwater and return it to the ground instead of allowing it to runoff. It could also mean simply preserving areas that are already "natural habitats" on your property such as stream corridors, wetlands and wooded areas.

More details on the location to come. Hope to see you all there...

April 26th Social Hour Event

2007-04-06T11:38:00.000-05:00

Join the Suburban Sustainable Network at our inaugural Social Hour event on Thursday, April 26th. Take advantage of this opportunity to expand your network by meeting a wide variety of individuals from the sustainable business community...all in a casual setting.

Presenter: Lois Vitt Sale AIA, Principle of Phoenix Architects, Inc.
Topic: Advancing Green buildings - overview and trends
Bio: Ms. Vitt Sale's architectural work is focused solely on sustainable design. As a leader in the sustainable design field in Chicago, she provides three areas of service: first, the design of leading edge sustainable buildings where the sustainable purpose of the building is paramount to its success; second, as a sustainable design consultant to project teams where she assists them in maximizing the environmental potential for their projects; and third, as a consultant on policy that assists jurisdictions to create programs that will result in more environmentally progressive practices.

Date: Thursday, April 26th, 2007
Time: 5:30p - 8:00p Doors open at 5:30p for networking, presentation will begin at 7:00p
Location: Wool St. Grill at 128 Wool St. in downtown Barrington.
For Mapquest directions, click here: Map of 128 Wool St Barrington, IL 60010-4561, US

Cost: $5
Age: 21+ as required by state law
No reservations or registration required. Seating and capacity limited and will be on a first come, first served basis.

For more info, contact Shawn Stahmer at shawn@thirdisolutions.com or 847.742.6502