Lights… Camera… Action!

We have a video! Brandie had a brilliant idea and connected the Go Green group with Craig Andrews at Beholder Productions to produce a video to help our cause. The video looks great and we are ready to show it off this Tuesday at Commencement. Take a peek below and please share the link with friends and other bloggers.

Special thanks to:
Main Line Chamber of Commerce
Jeanne Taylor-McClennan
Kevin Nolan of Nolan Painting
Wharton Esherick Museum
Bob Gross of Vanguard
Charlie Szoradi of greenandsave.com

Extra special thanks to Beholder Productions who helped make this video possible. We couldn’t have done it without them… literally!

Leadership Mainline Drive – Motivation – Commitment

In an effort to develop future community leaders in the region, the Chamber established the Leadership Main Line program in 2002.

Leadership Main Line provides an intensive six-month curriculum that involves the participants in learning experiences designed to enhance the infrastructure of the Main Line. Graduates benefit personally and professionally, but the big winner is the community as more qualified leaders are developed. 

Dear Readers,

The following was a recount of the adventures of my classmates and mine in 2008’s Leadership Main Line class of the Main Line Chamber.  When I signed up for the program, I had no idea what it entailed.  While I did some research prior to beginning to make sure I was well-suited to the program and it was well-suited to me, I had no idea the amount of information, insight, and contacts that has improved my life not only as a Main Line business owner, a member of the Chamber, but as a person.

I wrote generally about the program to document (paperless) the journey we went through to come up with the idea of Going Green for the Chamber and the processes and different paths we went down in order to develop a cohesive, easy-to-implement, and environmentally-friendly plan for not only the Chamber, but also other businesses as well.

We hope sincerely that this inspires you, the reader, to bring about small changes that can make a huge impact on our community as a whole, not just for businesses, but for the residents as well.  

For us – this project made us stretch beyond ourselves – and through the Leadership Main Line Program – we learned to step up and become amazing leaders to help bring this amazing project to fruition.

Together we can make a difference.

Dr. Brandie Nemchenko

Classmate in the 2008 Leadership Main Line Class of the Main Line Chamber of Commerce

 

 

Quick! Wrap it up!

Hi guys,

 

I know that we will be missing some people this evening so I wanted to get this info to you all.

 

Your presentation to the Board is scheduled for 8:30 am on Tuesday June 2. Please be at the Chamber no later than 8:15 in case you called in earlier. Each group has a maximum of 8 minutes to present.

Feel free to handout any “goodies” you have i.e. Eldernet brochures, Go Green outlines, etc.

 

If there is anything you need please contact me or Meredith so we can help you with this. Go Green group – do you need a monitor or computer set up for the video is you are showing that?

 

This has been a unique experience for us all. Thanks for you individual and collective efforts!

 

See some tonight, some next Tuesday and all next Wednesday – phew, almost done.

 

One more thing-next Wednesday you will have your pictures taken for the commencement – bring your best smiles!

Jeanne

I was at work when I got this email – followed by an email from Karen that simply said,

“I almost choked when I read this. Will the video be complete by then?”

I laughed out loud reading it – but she was right!  We were officially under the gun!

Everyone was in motion.  Who had what?  Did we need a TV/projector?  Was the video going to be done by then?  The emails were flying back and forth.

Two weeks prior, Alison and I had met at my office to put all the suggestions from Jim, Karen, Jenny, and Dave’s meeting with Cheryl Kuhn.  Using Alison’s amazing gift for organization, despite my MacBook losing the document once, we constructed a table timeline of what the Chamber could do in increments that were easy.

The group also decided to print up lapel stickers to show a cohesive front (no pun intended) with our brand spankin’ new logo that Kenyon made….man, is that guy talented!  Not only did he design the Eldernet group’s brochure, he also made us a logo, too!  We also had a new slogan, “It’s just good business!”  I love it!

Dave met with Craig, from Beholder Productions, when they went out to shoot the video using different size Main Line Chamber businesses.  Vanguard, Nolan Painting, and the Wharton Eshrick Museum, where Paul works to show what steps each business is doing to decrease their use of our environment.  Beholder had been working hard – and sent each one of us a script for the video.  Beholder had knocked the socks off everyone – they do such amazing work!

As I read the script, I was amazed how just a little idea of Karen’s had exploded into such a great project.  I thought of one of my favorite quotes by Margaret Mead,

“Never underestimate the power of a small group of committed citizens to change the world. Indeed, it has never been done otherwise.” 

One last thing to do – an Executive Summary.   Alison pulled up a “How-To” online.  Here’s to writing an Executive Summary!  You learn something new everyday!

session #5 – communication is easy

 Wednesday, May 14, 2008

If I must say one thing about the program, not only have we had amazing speakers, amazing classmates, but also – amazing locations, and amazing food.  :)  This location today was probably my favorite.  

 

On my drive from King of Prussia, map in hand, I envisioned a business park.  The Willows.   Imagine my surprise when I pulled along a winding tree-lined driveway that surrounded a lake, that led to the top of a magnificent hill to a mansion.  

 

The trees just became flowered and the air was so fragrant.  We entered into a bright garden room that overlooked the park.  After grabbing some coffee, we were told that in leadership, sometimes it is evident, when things go wrong.

Jeanne told us then that our speaker, Doug Jeffrys, who was to speak on “The Art of Public Speaking” was hung up on a trip and could not make it.  He did send a copy for each of us of his DVD.  Jeanne said that we would be watching that for the morning.

 

I thought the tape was great.  It was not the normal “This is how you give a speech,” but instead, silly things we do that can ruin the impact of our talk.  As one who LOVES to talk, the biggest thing I took away was “When you stop talking, that is when people start to listen…”  Deep thoughts, Jack Handy!  I had never thought of that!  

After that, we went back into the garden room, and I got to introduce Craig Andrews, of Beholder Productions.  Craig and his wife Emilia run a full-service outsourced marketing company.  My company hired them to relaunch us, and their material blew us away.  They have an amazing ability to get to the heart of a matter and convey it in a simple way.

I had the idea to involve them on the way to George’s and the Go Green group unanimously agreed how incredibly fabulous it would be to have a video for the Chamber.

Craig met with our group and was immediately impressed about how we, as a small group, could agree on most everything.  It was almost kismet.  I attribute our uniformity to the beginning.  Our Go Green group fought for our project to come to fruition and it was such a mission, that we realized how incredibly important it was to get it done and to do a GREAT job.

 

Before lunch, Dave and Kenyon were presented with gifts from the class to celebrate their new additions. Each carried adorable baby bottle balloons around.  Our class has such a genuine friendship, that it was nice that people came together to do that!

 

After lunch, we met Ed Wallace, formerly of Vertex, and now of The Relationship Capital Group.  Ed told us many stories, not about who you know, but the quality of the relationships that you cultivate honestly.  Ed told us the story of Max, a cab driver, that inspired him to leave his job, and to provide exemplary service.  We all left with copies of Ed’s book, Fares to Friends.

 

The day was over – we met in the parking lot prior to leaving to just chat together.  Some of us were going to go to a “Green” house that is in Wayne.  Jim had gotten us an invitation and we were excited to go.

evening session #5 – a gorgeous night at the radnor hotel

Wednesday 5/28/2008

It was slated to be a family night – bring babies, and meet the spouses, finally.  We had all grown so close, it was so cool to meet everyone’s better halves!!  Two classmates had new additions they added in the time we had been meeting since January.  One classmate was expecting – how exciting!

The rain had finally stopped – and the evening was a perfect one.  Out in the garden, a calm before the storm, we all discussed what was next and how we could not believe our PROJECT WAS DUE NEXT WEEK!!!

Spouses met and found out we all had a lot in common – in fact, Jeanne’s husband was there – a chiropractor!  My husband, also one as well, made a new friend!

The general consensus was that we could not believe the time had flown – one more class to go, this one down in UPenn. We all joked that since gas prices were so high and we had to be there early – we would meet on a certain train and hook up for coffee – kind of like a mass transit carpool, if you will.

 

The mood was light as we all joked around, babies running around.  I was grateful I left Nat, my one year old at home, since she was in to everything.  Everyone had such beautiful children.  

 

When the stars came out, it was time for the kiddies bed times, and off we all went, again, having a great time, with a tinge of sadness, knowing that it was all to soon come to an formal end as a group.

green goes gorgeous

So after we met at the Willows, Jim (now nicknamed “Jimmy V”) weaves through the back roads of Wayne with Jenny, Dave, and me in tow.  We pulled up to an amazing home – not a half a mile from the Chamber.

 

Not a minute later, a man drove up, hopped out of his car, and introduced himself….”Hi, I’m Charlie Szoradi.  Welcome to my house!”  

 

We entered his home and were all awestruck.  His house looked like it was right out of a magazine.  There was even an adorable little boy that sat at the kitchen table who was busily playing with yogurt.

 

Charlie explained that about 5 years ago, he and his wife, Cynthia wanted to be more green.  Out of that, they had made major changes to their home to make it more green….from putting solar panels on the house which feeds the energy back – to radiant heat floors that are heated from the suns rays.  Charlie, an architect, began talking about vectors and insulation types.  I found him incredibly brilliant and yet humble, and funny.  

When we originally came into his home, he poured us all juice, and handed us his “business card.”  I flipped mine over to see “Jo Jo’s” while others had printed bears and other colorful prints.  Charlie laughed and said that he made his business cards from his cereal boxes and a stamp.  I commented that I was sure no one ever forgot about his card.

The other thing we will never forget, was a ladder in one of Charlie’s rooms that is made out of 600 cases of Bud Light. 

Charlie then explained about his website greenandsave.com.  It was exactly what we had planned for the Chamber, times a million.  Charlie lays out on that site, small, medium, and large things you can do to be more green…..the cost, and how much you should recoup.  It is an all-in-one resource that is amazing!

 

Our group was blown away by the sheer beauty of Charlie and Cynthia’s home.  It was incredible and environmentally responsible.  Charlie and Cynthia were so hospitable, funny, and warm.  We had so much fun that night.  Another great experience in my life, only by participating with Leadership Main Line.

evening Session #4 – meet the alumni

 

Leadership Main Line Alumni Cocktail Party at George’s in Wayne

Wednesday April 23, 2008

 

What an amazing night!!!  Karen, Jim, and I met in the parking lot of George’s to discuss the progress of the project.  Karen had a great meeting with the landlord of the Chamber.  According to Karen, he was incredibly nice and gave her a lot of great information.  Karen had also found out that it is mandatory in Radnor Township to recycle.  

In calling the landlord, she found an area that had the recycling bins that she thought we may need to purchase for the Chamber (SCORE!).  The landlord also pointed out where there was a recycling container on site which would make it easy for to tenants to recycle.

Jim and Karen talked about their amazing meeting with Kevin Nolan, of Nolan Painting.  Kevin is a very active member of the MLCC.  Kevin recounted for Jim and Karen, that seeing Al Gore’s The Inconvenient Truth changed his life.  He took massive action steps to educate himself on the process of going green and made changes in his business as well.

We came up with many great ideas that night for the presentation.  One idea I had on the way over was “How cool would it be for our presentation to be on video?!?!?  PDFs and a binder were great, but how cool would that be?”  Recently, through some interactions at the Chamber, I had met Craig and Emilia Andrews of Beholder Productions.  I knew of their giving spirit and amazing work.  Karen and Jim thought it would be too cool.

We met in a private room upstairs of George’s in Wayne.   We enjoyed cocktails and hors d’oeuves as we met graduates from previous classes of Leadership Main Line.    We told them about our project and each person told us about their experience with LML and their project.  It was clear that they, too, had formed friendship as happy chatter filled the room. 

After a toast from Stan Schuck, it was officially announced that Jeanne, our facilitator would be taking another position within the Leadership Main Line program. Jim showed off his awesome impromptu oratory skills when he made a toast to Jeanne and the program.

It truly was an incredible evening with incredible people!  

 

 

 

 

Our Name is Born!

We need to name our baby.  Kenyon, our resident technical expert, suggests GO GREEN MAIN LINE vs MAIN LINE GO GREEN and asks if anyone have a preference.

I think I like MAIN LINE GO GREEN because it is an imperative, or plea that the Main Line goes green.  Also, when shortened, MLGG, it is similar to MLCC, which might make it easier for people to remember, especially if it takes on a life of its own and the Chamber decides to register its own domain name MLGG.org

 

As for the slogan, or tag line that explains what exactly what we mean by GO GREEN, I like a snappy tag line like: For a Cleaner & Greener Main Line

Almost all of us are in favor of this.  We all realize that “Going Green” is a process.  No one can be totally green, but the process is where it is at.  There is never enough that can be done, but we have to start somewhere!

 

Green is Everywhere!

March 24, 2008

 

GREEN is everywhere.  Just about every other commercial on NBC10 is about going green.  Major companies like PetSmart are even speaking environmental.   The Today Show features tips on how people can go green.  Is it just Spring?

Allison finds a few interesting websites that can help all of us in our research when it comes to statistics.

 

http://www.greenpowermgt.com/green-energy.htm

 

http://www.johnlmclane.com/eco-statistics

 

http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/Story?id=2049304&page=1

 

and with regard to the Chamber’s 5 Star accrediation, Allison writes:

 

I downloaded an Excel sheet with thes accrediations from all over the country and I have attached it. It looks like the only other PA 5 Star chamber is the Tri-County Area Chamber located in Pottstown and they have an Environmental Education link listing several events. Here is the site…

http://www.tricountyareachamber.com/pages/environmental-education.asp

 

5 Star is definitely what the Chamber deserves!!!  

 

 

 

 

Still gathering info!!! So much is out there!

March 15, 2008

We need more information.  The project is so broad, we are to gathering facts to find out what is the most important to the Main Line.  Allison came across links to the Kansas City and Seattle Climate Protection Partnership websites.   I love the carbon calculators!  There are so many small things an individual can to to improve their “Carbon Fingerprint.” 

Having lived in Kansas City for four years while my husband and I went to school, I am familiar with the impetus to create a greener environment.  There are many great things the local government and agencies are doing to help provide incentives for individuals and businesses.  What a great idea! ( Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce: http://www.kcchamber.com/ClimateProtection/Index.asp?IdS=000360-96A6A30&x=010|010&~=and the City of Seattle: http://www.seattle.gov/climate/partnership.htm.

Milena Lanz found an interesting site called the Green Business Alliance which is an amazing resource for businesses.  Here is a short blurb from their website,

Green Business Alliance has assumed a leading role in assisting businesses to understand what it means to be Green, identifying attainable objectives and then implementing more environmentally responsible business practices. In short, we help companies Greenify for better business and homes Greenify today for a better tomorrow.

Our mission at Green Business Alliance is to help integrate environmental stewardship into your daily business practices.

We understand that it is naïve to think that a business can go Green overnight or that every recommendation can be implemented within every company. Green Business Alliance understands these dynamics and presents our members with the support and expertise to incrementally boost the Green qualities of their businesses.

The chief objective of Green Business Alliance is to help businesses become “Greenified” and be able to demonstrate their commitment to a Green business future to customers, prospective customers and their community through the display of several recognition channels that we provide. https://www.greenbusinessalliance.com/default.aspx

This is awesome!!!  Could what we are doing provide a strategic advantage for the MLCC by giving it a GREENER competitive edge?

Paul Eisenhauer found the website http://www.treehugger.com  which has a large list of “how to go green” pages that will be very useful to us. This site concentrates on individuals, but many of the ideas will work for an office as well or can be easily modified to add to our arsenal of information.

Paul wrote on our board, “One thing that this site mentions that we haven’t talked about is educating all of the members of the organization about the “whys” as well as the “hows” of going green. This needs to be part of our plan.”  

One thing the MLCC is famous for is their wealth of information with all the classes, information sessions, and activities.  I think this plan will fit well for the Chamber.   People look to a Chamber for advice on running their business better – why not Greener?