Network and Member News

Mark your calendars: October 9, 2007, Network 10th Anniversary Celebration Dinner, October 10, 2007, Network 10th Anniversary Conference. Details coming soon!

In March, Steve Kolmes, Molter Chair in Science, University of Portland, organized a small conference of people from Catholic Institutions from North America. Participants included Bishop Walter Sullivan of Richmond, Virginia, a peace and social justice activist, Tim Kautza, the education director from the National Catholic Rural Life Conference, Dan Misleh, founder of the Catholic Coalition on Climate Change, several Catholic Theologians, John and Jane Emrick and several others. The two-day conference was a spirited exploration of the
integration of The Natural Step's System Condition 4 in connection with Catholic Social Teaching. Taken together they may provide a basis for Catholic institutions adopting the entire Natural Step framework.

OHSU was awarded LEED Platinum certification for the new OHSU Center for Health and Healing. The integrated design process included the use of The Natural Step framework. Some of the building features include: 60% energy saving over code, 100% of the buildings waste water is treated by a membrane bio-reactor, passive solar heating, solar preheating for hot water and 60 kW of photovoltaic panels. Network members on the Health and Healing Center team included Gerding Edlen, GBD Architects, Interface Engineering, Hoffman Construction, OHSU, Otak, Glumac and Brightworks. Take a trip on the streetcar and check it out.  Photo Courtesy of Brightworks. 

Over 100 meeting professionals attended the Green Meetings Industry Conference at the DoubleTree Hotel and Executive Meeting Center in February. Meeting Strategies Worldwide was a key organizer of the conference. Keynote speaker Joel Makower described how the business community is embracing sustainability as a key business strategy, making “green” meetings relevant beyond just environmental organizations and green industries. Other panel speakers included Susan Sokol Blosser, from Sokol Blosser Winery and John Echlin from SERA architects. Sustainable coffee was provided by Portland Roasting. And how many conferences can boast a back of the house tour to see good food being made with local produce and composting in action?

Sustainability made the cover of the recent Oregon State Bar Bulletin (Feb/March 2007) and featured member firms Tonkon Torp, Schwabe Williamson & Wyatt and Stoel Rives integrating sustainability into their law and office practices.

Our colleagues at the North American Eco-Municipality Network in Madison, Wisconsin have published “Toward a Sustainable Community: Toolkit for Local Government”.  As described in the toolkit, “The purpose of this toolkit is to provide ideas and descriptions of specific actions that a local government can take to transform itself into a model of sustainable practices. These practices can result in cost savings and increased employment, and enhance environmental quality and community well-being. The message of this toolkit is simple: local governments can lead by example.” We hope you’ll benefit from this important resource.