WMSBF Meeting Minutes

April 14, 2008

12:30am – 2:00pm

Introductions:

Kelley Losey welcomed members.  She announced that this was the last meeting of the SBF at which she will serve as President.  Kelly introduced Marylu Dykstra as the incoming chair of the business forum.

The group introduced themselves in a roundtable format.

Marylu Dykstra thanked Kelley Losey for her leadership over the last two years and shared a card and gift for her.

Rachel Hood thanked Ann Erhardt for her work  as the SBF Intern over the last academic year.

GRCC Presentation:

Gary Burbridge, Chair of the GRCC Sustainability Committee introduced the presentation to be made by the GRCC Sustainability team.  He introduced the college’s commitment to address climate change.   GRCC will be building breaking “roof” to build the first green roof on their campus. Additionally, announced that GRCC is a member of the Clean Cities initiative which is working to deliver alternative fuel resources in West Michigan corridors.

Burbridge also introduced that GRCC is a member of the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education.  This organization is working to integrate sustainability in a measurable way into campuses across the country.  Their program provides a “check list” of items for the college to work on that will help progress their commitment to the triple bottom line.

Wayne Sneath:

Service Learning at GRCC & Sustainability:  Academic service leranings

Intro to Sustainability Course:  Course Objectives –

• Explore the major elements of contemporary thought related to economic development, environmental integrity, and social equity.
• Understand the underlying science and principles of sustainability.
• Develop a greater awareness of the complex interactions between the three legs of sustainability.

GRCC has built its sustainability work over the last few years.  The committee is about to publish its second sustainability report.

Upcoming Projects with the community:

1. Kent County Mentoring Collaborative – Students will help to increase mentoring activity in Kent County.
2. Grand Rapids Children’s Museum – Students will leverage recycled materials from local businesses to be used in displays at the Children’s Museum.
3. Interfaith Hospitality Network – Students will work on an energy audit.

Economic Impact of the Service Learning Center – 16,582 hours = $311,244.00

Tom Smith, Director of Facilities

1. Purchasing Renewable Energy – Over the last six months, GRCC has increased its renewable energy purchase commitment from 5% - 15%
2. Storm water Management – Barclay Porous Parking Lot – Over the course of a year, GRCC has managed over 1 million gallons of water in this lot alone.  It is one of the easier lots to maintain. 
3. Green Roof – Roof will be installed at the GRCC ATC.  The roof will be 19,000 sq. ft. when complete (to be built in two phases).
4. Energy Management – Currently working to engage a full time staff person to manage energy expenses and continue additional work to reduce energy consumption.

MTEC Site – George Waite –

MTEC’s Grand Rapids building is part of a statewide initiative to build 18 MTEC Centers across the state.  GRCC built two, one in Holland and one in Grand Rapids.  Grand Rapids’ MTEC is the second largest of all of the MTEC centers in the state.  The site was built on a Brownfield.  1700 students annually come to MTEC to learn about construction, automotive and metal manufacturing.  George Waite offered to share a tour of the building after the meeting at 2pm

Trades – Brian Schulz – Construction Trades Manager –

1.  
   1. Partners – grand Rapids Public Schools, National Center for Construction Education and Research, Ferris State University.
   2. Three programs

                                                              i.      Introduction to Construction – 18 week program.  16-20 students who end the program knowing entry level construction skills and prepared for employment.  High employment rates.

                                                            ii.      Residential Construction – Partner: Habitat for Humanity.  H4H partners with GRCC to build green housing – H4H received a grant to certify the first LEED Certified Habitat house in the US.  Since that time, six additional LEED certified Habitat homes have been built.  16 – 20 students are involved in this program and leave job ready, with residential building skills.  Because homes are all built very similarly, we know some basic comparative information.  It costs approximately 1500 – 3000 dollars more/home to build LEED.  Homeowners save $1200 – $1500 in energy costs/year.  Beginning in 2008 the Wege Foundation will ensure that Habitat will build ALL LEED certified homes.

1.  
   1. Green Advantage

                                                              i.      GRCC will soon be delivering an environmental certification for contractors, subcontractors and trades people.  If these people work on a site, their presence automatically qualifies that person to deliver a LEED point to the project that they participate in building.  IF 30% of a workforce has the Green Advantage certificate, then a LEED point is earned.

Scholarship Awards:

The Scholarship Committee decided to award three scholarships from the funds raised by the annual golf outing. 

Becky Brown – Attended Central Sustainability Forum

Cody Copus – GVSU Senor Math & Econ Manor/minor.  Got into sustainable practices through a theme course that GVSU has offered.  New to the subject. Goal is to teach and integrate sustainable thinking into the curriculum that

Ann Erhardt – Senior at Aquinas.  Hooked in sustainability through a design innovation course she took at Kendall College with Gayle DeBruyn and Kelley Losey.

Paul Murray – The scholarship committee will work with Students will work with the students to help them deliver a presentation/discussion

Golf Outing – August 13 ?? 2^nd Monday in August at Quail Ridge – Best Ball

Nominations for the Board:

Laura Rauwerda – Candidate for the government position.  Laura is excited

Bill Foley – The Right Place – Representing Non-Profits

Gayle Debunk – Lake Affect Design Studio   Mentorship has been a key to their work as a result of the SBF. SBF has provided so much and Gayle hopes to give back.

Gabe Wing – Herman Miller – Active with the group since 2001.  Great to see such a large representation of members at the SBF.  Looking forward to continuing the work of the organization like the scholarships, my healthy green home and more.

Frank Schuller – Allied Waste – AW haws been a member for quite some time.  Frank has been coming regularly for 8 months.  Frank’s goal is to give back to the organization.  Frank works to capture recycling materials at Allied Waste.  Frank just began the maters in management program at Aquinas with

Rick Pulaski – Nederveld – Land planning, architectural company.  Paradigm shift at Nederveld in order to become more sustainable.  Moving to Custer Office Space,

Levi Gardner – Integrated Architecture – Recent grad from GVSU.  Began his work at Integrated soon after.  Learned about triple bottom line through the SBF.  Discovered the value of the SBF while learning economics at GVSU.

Members are asked to vote before the 28^th.

Committees:

The following committees will be called by the named people below.  At that first meeting, the committee is charged to identify a chair.

Finance & Development – Ron Blouw

Outreach – Marylu Dykstra

Program Committee - Kelly

Sustainable Design Committee – Greg Metz

Social Responsibility – Bill Foley

Renewable Energy & Energy Conservation – Paul Murray

Sustainable Business – Paul Murray

The committees are designed to promote more collaboration among members and to make the forum more dynamic

Membership Brochure:  A new brochure is available and can be shared with other businesses that may become members.

Next Meeting:  May 12^th at GVSU – Presentations by Right Place and EPI Concrete Products

Announcements:

Green Built Michigan – Conference coming up in August of this year.  A scholarship will be given to students at this time.  Entry forms need to come in by May 5, 2008.  Jill Armstrong is the contact.

Statewide Sustainable Business Forum – November 13, 2008

Title:  Energizing Michigan’s Green Future

WMU Fetzer Center

Meeting Attendance: 59