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SBC Newsletter Spring 2005 |
In this Issue:
1. March's Sustainability Lecture
2. Committee for the Built Environment
3. Community Food Assessment Project
4. Conference Planning
5. First Annual Sustainability Awards
6. Missoula Greenhouse Gas/Energy Conservation Team
7. Other SBC Board Activities
8. Member Profile: Customer Carpets And Flooring
9. Member News Briefs
10. SBC Calendar of Events
11. Web Site of Interest
12. SBC Web Site News
13. Members in Best of Missoula List
14. Member to Member Discounts
15. SBC Wish List
16. About the Sustainable Business Council
1. March Meeting - Building Sustainability:
The past, present and future of Home Resource
On March 15th, Home Resource Co-Director Matt Hisel will present a brief history of Home Resource and a vision for the store's future role in the community, followed by a group discussion about ways to collaboratively advance Missoula's sustainability efforts. The mission of Home Resource, Missoula's one-year-old building materials re-use center, is to reduce waste and help build healthy communities by collecting and selling reusable building materials. The original vision for Home Resource was to become a sustainable moneymaker for the environmental and social service sectors. Now, in order to realize that vision, the organization is developing new products and services, new community relationships, and plans for a new location.
Home Resource's latest project is a collaboration with Opportunity Resources, Inc. (ORI) that employs disabled adults to clean, repair and recycle construction waste from a variety of sources. The program is supported by a $20,050 “Jobs Through Recycling” grant from the Environmental Protection Agency, awarded to Home Resource in June of 2004. Last year, ORI employees began work cleaning plumbing fixtures, pulling nails, and organizing shipments of materials. In February, they started producing siding shingles from scrap lumber using a process developed by Steve Loken of Loken Builders in Missoula.
Matt Hisel, together with Lauren Varney, co-founded and co-directs Home Resource. Matt has a Master's Degree in Environmental Studies from the University of Montana, and has lived, worked, and studied in Missoula for seven years, including two years as Site Director for the Missoula Urban Demonstration Project. Currently he also serves on the City of Missoula Greenhouse Gas/Energy Conservation Team, an advisory committee to the City Council.
2. Committee for the Built Environment
In late summer and early fall of 2004, a group of individuals interested in sustainable building practices met several times and decided to form a subcommittee of the SBC. The Board approved the creation of the committee in November. The new Committee for the Built Environment (the Committee) has had three official meetings, one each at Tipu's Tiger, the Gold Dust Apartments and at Loken Builders, where they received overviews of the sustainable features of each facility.
The Committee would like to undertake a hands-on project to demonstrate sustainable building practices and one or two other projects as well. Demonstration projects being discussed include work on the Dakota Street bicycle pedestrian path area, traffic-calming circles in the neighborhood south of the Osprey ballpark, and a building on the Missoula Urban Demonstration Project site. Other projects the Committee is considering include a green building tour, a green building trade show, workshops for contractors, workshops for homeowners, bringing the Northwest Eco Building Guild speakers' tour to Missoula, and developing web content related to green building.
The Committee's next meeting will be held April 14 from 12:00 - 1:00 p.m. at Mark Vandemeer's shop, 1301 Scott Street in Missoula. The group will be discussing projects to undertake.
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3. Missoula Community Food Assessment Project-
The SBC has had a representative on advisory team for the Missoula Community Food Assessment Project of the University of Montana Environmental Studies and Social Work Departments for over a year. In the fall of 2004, the Project group released the results of the assessment in two documents, "Grow, Eat, and Know: A Resource Guide to Food and Farming in Missoula County" and "Our Foodshed in Focus: Missoula County Food and Agriculture by the Numbers."
The project group and its advisory team recently developed a set of priorities for future progress in improving food and farm system security in Missoula. Their first priority is to set up a Food Policy Council, recently renamed the Community Food and Agriculture Coalition (the Coalition). They have recently received support for and representation on the Coalition from both the Missoula City Council and the County Commissioners. Priorities for the Coalition include developing and securing a Missoula County Food and Farm Policy, conducting educational campaigns that target both the general public and low-income people, and facilitating collaborative projects to increase local production of and access to nutritious foods for low-income people.
The advisory team's next meeting will be March 14 from 7-9 p.m. at the Missoula Public Schools Administration Building, 215 S. 6th St. West, Room 24 upstairs. Enter through the West doors.
http://www.umt.edu/cfa/
4. Conference Planning
The SBC Board is currently exploring the possibility of holding a conference on the new economy of the West next year. Anyone interested in helping with conference planning please call Susan Anderson at 543-5323 or email us at
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5. First Annual Sustainability Awards
The SBC Board has voted to begin giving annual sustainability awards in three categories: Sustainable Business of the Year, Sustainable Innovation or New Venture of the Year, and Sustainability Advocate of the Year. While we realize no organization is completely sustainable at present, we want to recognize those organizations that have made significant progress toward sustainability. The first annual awards will be announced at our May 19th sustainability lecture and meeting. To nominate a business (including your own) or individual for an award, please submit an application to the SBC Board by April 8. Applications are available on our web site or may be requested from Susan at 543-5323 or
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6. MissoulaGreenhouse Gas/Energy Conservation Team
The Missoula Greenhouse Gas/Energy Conservation Team (the Team) has met four times since its inception in the summer of 2004. In addition to writing bylaws, the Team has been exploring ways to fulfill its charge of aiding in community-wide education and communication of energy efficiency opportunities that minimize greenhouse gas generation. Activities currently being considered include supporting the bio-diesel bill before the Montana legislature, developing a fact sheet on recycling for the construction industry, creating initiatives to encourage alternative transportation. The SBC as a co-facilitator of the Team has been providing research and administrative support for the Team.
The Team's next meeting will be held April 13 at noon in the Mayor's Conference room. To read the Missoula Greenhouse Gas-Energy Efficiency Plan or follow the activities of the Team visit: www.ci.missoula.mt.us/mayor/Greenhouse-energy.htm
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7. Other SBC Board News
In fall, Sarah Annarella, a graduate student in Environmental Studies at the University of Montana, researched energy efficient lighting options available in Missoula for the SBC. Her report is available to check out (contact us at
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for details). A one-page fact sheet is being developed for release this spring.
In November, the Board released "Holiday Gift Ideas for the Sustainability Minded," a holiday gift guide featuring gift ideas proposed by SBC members. As a result of the gift guide, board member Susan Anderson was asked to give a 5 minute talk on holiday gift giving for the Alternative Energy Resources Organization's weekly spot on KUFM. During the talk, Susan was able to direct listeners to the SBC web site and the gift guide posted there. You can listen to a copy of Susan's presentation on the SBC web site.
In addition to our great Sustainability Lecture Series, the SBC co-sponsored Helena Norberg-Hodge's presentation, Globalization versus Community in November.
In January, the Board elected to give a $50 award to the most innovative project dealing with a sustainability issue at the Montana State Science Fair for middle school and high school students. This year's Fair will be held in Missoula at the University of Montana on April 3-5.
In February, the Board was asked by a member of the Milltown Superfund Site Redevelopment Working Group to support their Milltown Redevelopment Plan by writing letters to Representative Rehberg, Senator Baucus, and Senator Burns. After reviewing the plan, the Board voted to send letters outlining the economic and social benefits to redevelopment of the Milltown site and expressing support of the Redevelopment Plan.
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8. Member Profile: Customer Carpets & Floors and the Birth of The Green Room
Customer Carpets and Floors, which began as a tiny flooring store on the banks of the Blackfoot River in Bonner/Milltown, has grown and changed over the years. However, one thing hasn't changed, their focus on the customer's needs. That focus led them to more sustainable products and the creation of The Green Room, a newly opened flooring showroom dedicated to sustainable building in their current store at 801 Ronan Street in Missoula. The store is constantly evolving to provide customers with the best products to meet their needs.
Their interest in green products began seven years ago when one of their sales representatives was suggesting products that best fit their philosophy toward customers’ needs. He sold them their first display of vibrantly colored Marmoleum samples with assurances it would be an important new addition to their hard-surface flooring line. They loved this natural linoleum made from linseed oil, wood flour and jute, but were skeptical because at the time Armstrong and Mannington dominated hard surfaces in flooring across the nation. But, something about the little store in Bonner attracted the most progressive builders and customers, so they bought 30 rolls of Marmoleum to show and have grown with the upsurge in natural flooring ever since.
Now located right in Missoula at 801 Ronan Street, along the pedestrian path north of Boyce Lumber, they note that the interest in natural flooring continues to grow. Marmoleum piqued interest in ‘green’ flooring, but soon their customers were also asking for flooring that looks good and that they can feel good about such as bamboo floors, cork floors, hardwoods certified by the Forest Stewardship Council, and carpet made from recycled materials. Over the years they have continued to add more products for building and living green, and now offer those in The Green Room. The walls are even made of wheatboard.
In The Green Room, you’ll find Timbergrass bamboo, Eco Timber hardwoods, low and no-VOC paints and free-trade, natural window treatments. Customer Carpets and Flooring also offers recycled tiles, clay wall, and many brands of wool carpets including pesticide free, organic and VOC- free wool carpets. They also carry carpet made from recycled pop and milk containers called PET polyester, an important product that until recently did was not available in a quality that met their high standards.
Owners Bill Fleischman and Kathleen Kimble credit the faith of their early customers like George Tilton, facilities manager at the DoubleTree in Missoula, and Tracy Blakeslee, Wilma owner, and the influence of high quality builders with providing them incentive to continue to seek and provide products for green building. Bill says "our customers make up the extent of our wealth in the many positive comments and in the faith they have in us… We still focus on the customer rather than profits as the best gauge of our success. "
They further credit the SBC with helping to inspire them to recycle carpet pad and cardboard and to run their trucks on biodiesel. They donate leftovers to Home Resource to recycle good, new flooring of small quantities to others.
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9. The Black Dog Cafe is reopening soon in the Butterfly Building below The Bridge restaurant, offering mushroom-enhanced vegetarian and omnivorous meals, local brews and wine.
Home Resource is now accepting lumber scraps at least sixteen inches long from 2x4, 2x6, 2x8, 1x4, 1x6 or 1x8 boards that will be recycled into siding shingles. Contractors can save on dump fees and get a tax deduction for these donations. Home Resource also currently has a beautiful oak reception desk/counter for sale.
Meadowsweet Herbs will soon be launching a web site at herbsmt.com! For herb gardeners, they now carry Horizon Herbs organic herb seeds and many useful books. You can now purchase Meadowsweet Herbs products from The Bitterroot Community Market in Stevensville.
Missoula Food Coop, a new member, will now be holding their buying club pick-up at the Gold Dust community room at 330 North 1st St. across from the northside ped estrian bridge.
Shakespeare & Co. bookstore has a new location in the hip strip at 103 South 3rd Street West in Missoula.
Treecycle now sells biodegradable rice stalk paper products from Asia. They are made from agricultural rice stalk leftovers pulped into plates, bowls, cups, and several types of to-go food containers and are tree-free. Treecycle is also constructing a passive solar log building in Huson made from trees that were killed by pine bark beetles.
Western Montana Mycological Association now sells Mushroom Stamp T-shirts, which support their national campaign to have a mushroom postage stamp series. The fungaljungal.org web site shows hundreds of mushroom photos, with numerous recipes and other mushroom information.
Tsunami Relief Efforts by Members
In January, Big Sky Brewing spearheaded a tsunami relief effort. More than $18,000 and 2000 lbs. medical supplies were donated to support Darrin Coldiron's relief work rebuilding the village of Komari on the east coast of Sri Lanka. Nick Muzik, Spokane Firefighter, Carina Curnow, a Bozeman area medical student, and Gregg Trude, a Helena area retired Special Forces medic/geologist, have joined Darrin there. Missoula Response has also joined the effort and will potentially take over mid and long term efforts. In April, Darrin and one to three Komari citizens plan to visit Montana to give talks and participate in fundraisers. For more information, log on to coldiron.blogspot.com.
Susan Anderson, SBC Board Member and co-owner of BalanceTech LLC, will be escorting a group of Girl Scouts to Thailand next year to assist a Thai Girl Guide Troop with tsunami relief work on a school, library, or similar facility. If you would like to help sponsor their Thai relief effort, call Susan Anderson at 543-5323.
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10. SBC Calendar of Events
Sustainability Lecture Series -
All events in this series begin with a social hour at 5:00 p.m.
The presentation begins at 6:00 p.m.
Tuesday, March 15
Building Sustainability: Past, Present and Future of Home Resource
Matt Hisel,Home Resource
MCAT, 500 North Higgins
Thursday, May 19
Recycling in Missoula
Tom Ernst, Missoula Valley Recycling
To be announced
Sustainable Business Council Board Meetings - Board Meetings are held the second Tuesday of every month between August and May in the small conference room of the Missoula Public Library from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. The remaining Board Meetings for this year will be held on March 8, April 12 and May 10. Members and the public are welcome to attend.
SBC Committee For the Built Environment - Meetings are held from 12:00 - 1:00 p.m. on the second Thursday of most months at varying locations. The April 14 meeting will be held at Mark Vandemeer's shop, 1301 Scott Street in Missoula. The Committee will be discussing projects to undertake and Dakota Street as a possible area for a hands-on project. Don't forget to bring a brown bag lunch. Check the SBC web site for dates and locations of future meetings.
City of Missoula Greenhouse Gas-Energy Conservation Team - Meetings are held from 12:00 to 1:30 p.m. on the second Wednesday of various months. Their next meeting will be April 13 in the Mayor's Conference room. SBC co-facilitates this Team.
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11. Web Sites of Interest
The Missoula Urban Demonstration Project has put together an overview of recycling options in Missoula. You can view their two page Recycling Table by clicking the link at: http://www.mudproject.org/newsletter/index.htm
NorthWestern Energy's web site (www.northwesternenergy.com) For Business section, includes a lighting calculator, an energy savings calculator, an appliance calculator, and information on their commercial lighting rebate program.
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12. SBC Web Site News
The SBC web site has been getting a lot of traffic over the last year and the number of hits continues to grow each month. The site received 2450 hits in December, 2895 hits in January and 3038 hits in February.
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13. Congratulations to SBC Members in the Independent's Best of Missoula 2005 List
Crazy Daisy - Runner-up Second Hand Store
Tipu's Tiger - Best Vegetarian Food
Good Food Store - Best Supermarket, Best Fresh Produce, Runner-up Vegetarian Food, Runner-up Delicatessen
Bernice's Bakery - Best Bakery
Le Petit Outre - Runner-up Bakery
Big Sky Brewing - Best Microbrewery
Jeannette Rankin Peace Center - Runner-up Nonprofit Organization
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14. The following SBC members have agreed to provide discounts or benefits to other members.
Just mention you are an SBC member when ordering.
Treecycle - 5% off on all paper products
Obvious Ads - First month of advertising free
Missoula Valley Recycling - First month free of new service
Customer Carpets and Flooring - 10% off on all environmentally friendly products
Home Resource - 5% off on all products (except timber from Heritage Timber)
Historic Montana Publishing - 20% off on purchase of books directly from the publisher
Authentic Creations - 10% off all purchases
Zephyr Graphics - 15% off first design project, 10% of first print or sign order
Boyce Lumber- offers a discount to members, call for details.
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15. SBC Wish List
The SBC is currently run solely by volunteers and is funded solely by the comparatively low membership dues we charge. In order to serve you better, the SBC is asking members if they have the following items that they could donate or exchange for membership.
• Office Space - a single room where volunteers could work and which would hold a desk and file cabinet, preferably in the downtown area.
• A desk
• A file cabinet
• A phone
• A computer
• Time to help with administrative work, the newsletter, web site maintenance, the pocket shopping guide, the Christmas shopping guide, research, and other publications
• Service as a board member, a commitment of 5-10 hours a month directing SBC activities (one of our current members is moving to Colorado soon)
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16. About the SBC
The Sustainable Business Council – Missoula Area is a network of individuals, organizations, and businesses working toward a sustainable economy. Its purpose is to promote the economic benefits of a clean and healthful environment; to educate businesses, organizations, and individuals about efficient resource use; and to facilitate the adoption of economically, socially, and environmentally sustainable business practices.
The Council offers Missoula-area businesses, organizations and individuals:
• Educational presentations and workshops;
• Networking with other environmentally and socially concerned businesses, organizations and individuals;
• Resources including a newsletter, publications, and a web site;
• Promotional opportunities for their business;
• And discounts from participating members (see #14 for a complete list of discounts offered by members to other members).
Membership in the Council is open to businesses, organizations, and individuals.
Membership dues are:
$25 for individual supporters,
$50 for businesses or organizations with one to four employees and owners
$75 for businesses or organizations with five or more employees and owners
$250 or larger donations for sponsoring businesses or organizations.
Sponsoring Members Include: BalanceTech, LLC, Boyce Lumber, Livesey Freight Systems, Missoula Independent
Susan Anderson at BalanceTech, LLC, has edited this newsletter. For
submissions or questions about the SBC, contact Susan at 543-5323 or
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The spring newsletter deadline is Feb.
10th. Paid advertising will be accepted for the hard copy version of the
newsletter on a space available basis. |
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