Something for Everyone at the 2009 Door County Sustainability Fair

Door County business owners and government leaders who bring their families to the 2009 Door County Sustainability Fair April 18 will find something for everyone. Stories, crafts, and a movie for kids; Ultimate Frisbee for teens; and inspiring, thought-provoking lectures and discussions for adults are on tap.

The fair runs from 10 am – 5 pm at the Door Community Auditorium and Gibraltar Schools.

Paul Linzmeyer

Two main stage presentations and a number of other workshops are geared toward business owners. Learn about ways to make your business more sustainable. Paul Linzmeyer of ISO, Inc., a consulting firm which helps businesses develop and incorporate sustainable visions with economic goals will offer a “big picture” presentation at the fair entitled, “A 21st Century Reality: Why Sustainability Matters for Business, Communities and Organizations.”

Rick Brooks

The Vice President of Wisconsin Partners for SustainAbility, Rick Brooks, will present “Show Me the Green: Green Practices for Small Business,” a lecture on using sustainable practices to help small businesses earn money, save money, establish a niche in the marketplace, ensure safer and healthier workplaces and contribute to the community. Brooks is co-founder of the Dane Buy Local initiative.

Door County Visitor Bureau representatives will conduct a workshop about the Travel Green Wisconsin program. Elizabeth Moriarty will present a workshop explaining various other certification processes and alerting workshop participants to “greenwashing” pitfalls. Moriarty will explain the process of purchasing carbon offsets to mitigate a company’s contribution to global warming pollution.

Lynn Markham

In addition to Linzmeyer’s contribution to their understanding of sustainability, local elected and appointed officials will find Lynn Markham’s main stage presentation, “Organizing Sustainable Communities,” to be a useful primer on the steps required to become a sustainable community. Markham is a Land Use Specialist at the Center for Land Use Education, UW – Stevens Point. She has been involved in Stevens Point’s process to become a designated eco-municipality.

In addition to the programs available at the Sustainability Fair, the YMCA is conducting a Healthy Kids Day full of activities and featuring silent sports. The Peninsula School of Art Family Day will feature recycled art. Full schedules and more information about these programs are available at sustaindoor.org, doorcountyymca.org, and peninsulaartschool.com.