Green Drinks Lehigh Valley

Sep

Join us for Green Drinks Lehigh Valley! Every 2nd-Wednesday in Silk!

Green Drinks is an informal monthly mixer that brings together folks who are interested in sustainable business, policy and living. This is your chance to connect with like-minded eco-friendly people to help shape a future that’s green and happy. Join us for drinks (featuring organic and local specials), conversation and a little networking with other environmentally minded people.

Lehigh Valley Green Drinks is sponsored by the following partners: WDIY, the Lehigh Valley Sustainable Business Network and the City of Allentown Bureau of Recycling and Solid Waste, Natural Awakenings magazine and the Lehigh Valley Green Builders Forum.

Green Drinks will be held the SECOND Wednesday of every month — come toast a green future! Every month various local merchants and organizations who share our vision will be present to share their products and information to help you go green!

This Month’s presentation:

September 8th, Andrew Kleiner, member of the Allentown Environmental Advisory Council, writer of Remember (a blog focused on nature and local ecosystem health) and an undergrad student at Muhlenberg College studying Environmental Science, will be hosting a roundtable discussion and presentation regarding the health of Allentown’s park ecosystems. He will be joined by EAC members Dr. David McGuire and Karen Tuerk.

Green Drinks is mostly for people working on environmental issues, but anyone can come — people from environment groups, business, government, academia and as individuals. There is no ‘us and them’. Check out the Green Drinks “Code”.

WHERE: Allentown Brew Works

WHEN: 5:30 pm ’till whenever! Every 2nd-Wednesday of the month!

Become a member of our Green Drinks Facebook Group and join in the discussion!

Previous Speakers:

August 2009: Len Frenkel, Lehigh Valley Vegetarians
September 2009: Dr. Vera Cole, Director of Local Power at the Mid-Atlantic Renewable Energy Association
October 2009: Paul J. Marin, Rail Transit Advocate. Presentation: Intercity Rail Briefing: Network Planning for Rail Expansion.
November 2009: Troy Reynard, Sustainable Business Network of the Lehigh Valley (SBN-LV)

December 2009: The Lower Macungie Environmental Advisory Council came for a gathering with other local EACs to share ideas and cocktails! The meeting was facilitated by Deana Zosky, Lower Macungie Township Commissioner and RenewLV co-chair.

January 2010: Jeff Pooley, a volunteer with the nonprofit, member-owned Lehigh Valley Food Coop, From Local Farms to Your Table: The Lehigh Valley Food Coop.

February 2010: Lou Cinquino of Sustainable Urban Neighborhoods of the Lehigh Valley, Community Gardening

March 2010: Bruce Wilson of the Lehigh Valley Green Builders Forum, Reducing your carbon footprint with Green Building. (He will also talk about the second annual Lehigh Valley Green Building Expo coming up on the weekend of March 19 to 21 at the Main Campus of Northampton Community College)

April 2010: Y. Sarah Cooke, Marketing and Public Relations Manager at the Allentown Art Museum, The Green House: New Directions in Sustainable Architecture and Design and Lehigh Valley Going Green, talking about the exhibit that runs February 7th – May 30th at the Allentown Art Museum. This is the one year anniversary gathering for Green Drinks Lehigh Valley!

May 2010: Catherine Frankenberg, Program Organizer for Clean Water Action in Bethlehem, Hydrofrac ki ng 101: The Dangers of Natural Gas Drilling in Pennsylvania and What We Can Do. “Pennsylvania is experiencing a boom in natural gas exploration and drilling, but the extraction of this resource contaminates our air and water. Learn more about the process of hydraulic fracturing, and how we can act to protect our air, our water, and our health from toxic contamination.”

June 2010: Crisis in the Gulf. Muhlenberg professor, Dr. Kimberly Heiman, whose research has focused on the human impacts on marine and estuarine habitats, will faciliate. A special thank you to Dr. Richard Niesenbaum, Professor and Chair of Biology and Director of Sustainability Studies at Muhlenberg, who will also be joining us, for inviting her to join us. Our discussion will begin at 6 pm in the Silk Lounge.

July 2010: “Electric Deregulation and the Resulting Choices.” Brian Sangster, an Independent Associate with Viridian Energy Inc. will present “Greener, Cleaner, Affordable Energy Choices in a Post Rate Cap Deregulated Marke”. Brian will also show us how to compare competitor’s rate plans on the Department of Public Utilities website, explain Viridian’s mission and its offerings. He will be joined by John D. Kucher, PPL Electric Utilities Key Account Manager. John will talk about how energy choice works and how you can also save on your energy bill through efficiency measures and will touch upon rebates being offered by PPL on many of these enhancements to your home or business.

August 2010: “The Marketing of Green.” Reid Boyer, Publisher of Natural Awakenings – Lehigh Valley, presents recent survey data about American consumer behavior and shows some ways that small businesses can effectively reach their target markets. Reid will expose some “green washing” examples as well as show examples of how media tells incomplete stories that influence consumers. He will also offer a short explanation of how to change consumer behavior. Come gain some insight about marketing your green products and services and network with other green and greening businesses in the Lehigh Valley.