WSPPN Conference 2008 Page

GREENING THE CONFERENCE

This year, WSPPN’s Green Team is working with the hotel by implementing activities to help registrants reduce the environmental impact of the event. The idea is to leave Monterey just as WSPPN found it--GREEN. For instance, WSPPN will encourage conference registrants to sign a Green Pledge during onsite registration. The Pledge is a promise by the registrant to:

Encourage carpooling;
Reuse linens;
Turn off lights and air-conditioning when exiting rooms;
Refuse newspaper delivery to the hotel room;

Other initiatives include:

Having recycling bins for cans, bottles and paper available throughout the facility;
Working with the caterers to ensure that our meals largely consist of locally-grown, organic foods;
Offer the purchase of carbon offsets during the online registration process;
Ensuring that no disposable plastic bottles are served during the conference

The opportunity for conference registrants to purchase carbon offsets to reduce his/her carbon footprint will be available via the online registration tool. Each person creates carbon dioxide emissions daily through work, travel, and home – basically through anything that uses fossil fuels. By offsetting our carbon footprint, we become part of the solution to climate change by supporting the reduction of carbon dioxide emissions.

WSPPN asks that when you are at the conference facility, sharing and learning information with your colleagues, you do your part by signing the Green Pledge. By signing this pledge, you are ensuring that this year’s conference will be the greenest conference yet.

In addition, WSPPN will repeat the GREEN CHALLENGE competition in 2008. If you recall, the Team developed a list of “green actions” last year for registrants to partake in to ensure that we leave the smallest carbon footprint when attending the conference. At the conference, a survey will be distributed to all conference participants. Questions in the survey will be assigned points, and those with the highest total will receive prizes for their “green actions”. So don’t forget to fill out the survey and return it to the registration desk before the conclusion of the conference to be eligible to win some prizes and other goodies.

Here’s the survey:

GREEN ACTIONS	POINTS Circle the amount
Cleaner Transportation:
To the conference (choose all that apply)
Use public transportation (not air)	3 Monterey area 7 Other areas
Carpool (2 occupants) (2 Bonus points if 3+)	2 Monterey area 6 Other areas
Use low emission vehicle	2 Monterey area 3 Other areas
Other mode of transportation (no emissions)	3
Purchase offsets (renewable energy credits)*	1 Monterey area 3 Other areas
Between Airport-Hotel Roundtrip (choose 1)
Rental of Hybrid or other low-emission vehicle	2
Public transportation or carpool	2
Airport Shuttle	2
Transportation to locales during the conference- (choose 1)
Walk/bike/skate/scooter	3
Public transportation	2
Carpool	2
Solid Waste Reduction:	Max 5 + Bonus points
Bring/use flash memory to copy presentations	1
Take notes reusing scrap paper instead of new paper	1
Bring/use your own re-usable bag	1
Bring/use your own cup	1
Bring/use your own non-disposable water bottle	1
Bring/use your own lanyard and badge holder	0.5
Use recycle bins	0.5
No presentation handouts	+2 Bonus points
Water and Energy Conservation:	Max 5
Share a hotel room	3
Use the hotel linen/towel reuse program	1
Take short showers vs. baths	1
Refusing newspaper delivery to room	1
Shut off heat/cooling in guest room when unoccupied	1
Turn out lights when leaving room	1
Sign the Green Pledge	1
Less Impact Food Choices:
Vegan, as much as available at conference	4
Vegetarian, as much as available at conference	3
Other Green Actions: (propose to Green Team)**	+2 Bonus points
GRAND TOTAL
Write down your other green actions. We will determine the points awarded during the review.
** Green Team members: Wendi Shafir, Al Hurt, Amy Gross, Kirsten Liske, Sushma Dhulipala and Ed Gonzalez.