Newsletter- Summer 2007

Tenth Anniversary Events:

October 10th and 11th

Ten years ago 500 business and government leaders attended their first Natural Step workshops at the Nike campus in Beaverton, Oregon. The workshops inspired several business leaders to apply the Natural Step framework in their businesses which lead to the formation of the Oregon Natural Step Network. Over the past ten years, many businesses have found that the path to sustainability and success are one and the same. By reinventing how they do business, our members have developed new products that perform better and are environmentally friendly. Many are part of sustainable industries such as renewable energy, green building and recycled products. Others have transformed their organizations, and in doing so have found significant ways to save natural resources, energy and money, while at the same time attracting and retaining the best and brightest employees. While the number of companies who understand the value of sustainability has grown, there are so many more of us that have looked, but not yet stepped on to the path.

On October 10, 2007 the network will hold a one-day conference to share “A Common Path for Success and Sustainability.” For those that are new to “sustainability,” the goal of this event is to bring a context and framework to this term that will help create understanding of how sustainability and business goals can follow a common, responsible path. For those who are already following the path, the purpose of this event is to inspire them to continue and to expand their efforts. The conference will feature Dr. Karl Henrik Robèrt, Founder of The Natural Step and Ray Anderson, CEO of Interface and author of Mid-Course Correction. We’re also excited to have Bob Willard, author of The Next Sustainability Wave: Building Boardroom Buy-in, Paul Dudley Hart, Director at Large of Mercy Corps and Ken Melamed, Mayor of the Resort Municipality of Whistler, B.C. participating. The program will include break out sessions featuring organizations large and small, government and private, sharing their experiences and know-how. Nike has generously offered to host this event, in honor of what was so successfully launched on their campus ten years ago.

Come be inspired and reinvigorated! Visit the Conference website to learn more and register: www.or-natural-step.org.

October 11th: Celebration Dinner

In addition to the Conference, we’ll be hosting a celebration on the evening of October 11, 2007 with an anniversary dinner at the Doubletree Hotel in Portland. We’ll be celebrating the past and inviting you to take a Challenge for the future. As October gets closer, we’ll be revealing more about the Challenge and the role you can take to make sustainability a reality. Dr. Robèrt, will be our guest and keynote speaker. In addition, you’ll be treated to the world premiere of our new video featuring Natural Step members. Come celebrate the achievements of the past ten years and take the challenge to make the next 10 years even more successful. More information will be available at our website www.ortns.org.