1. MCMLA 2005: Going Green A Sustainable Approach to Conference Planning MCMLA 2005: Going Green A Sustainable Approach to Conference Planning

2. Opening the Walls of a Funnel Rethink what has ALWAYS been done!

3. Why Green?  Align the conference with our lifestyle and values.  Conserve materials, reduce waste, and save money.  A fun and different approach to conference planning.  Why not!

4. Areas to be “Greened”  Conference facility, lodging, and reception location  Catering and dine-arounds  Exhibitors and vendors  Hospitality  Presenters and CE courses  Transportation  Conference promotion and registration

5. Prior to Conference  Gain support from the conference planning committee.  Prepare an environmental policy for the conference to set our priorities.  Communicate, educate, and market our policy to planning committee members and attendees.  Develop green checklists for vendors, caterers, etc. Conduct interviews.

6. During Conference  Promote green priorities.  Monitor the success of the priorities. Are attendees using the recycling bins? Are presenters reducing the number of handouts they distribute?

7. Post Conference  Document and evaluate challenges and successes.  Quantify results when possible – recycling collected, waste generated, money saved or spent, etc.  Survey participants to obtain comments, suggestions, etc.  Celebrate! Encourage others by promoting achievements to MCMLA and SLC Green Team.

8. Great Resources  How to Hold a Green Meeting http://www.epa.gov/reg03/p2/conference.htm http://www.epa.gov/reg03/p2/conference.htm  Blue Green Meetings http://www.bluegreenmeetings.org/HostsAndPlanners /Communications.cfm http://www.bluegreenmeetings.org/HostsAndPlanners /Communications.cfm  How Green Are Your Meetings? http://www.greenhotels.com/question.htm http://www.greenhotels.com/question.htm  It’s Easy Being Green! A Guide to Planning and Conducting Environmentally Aware Meetings and Events. From the EPA; PDF available online.