Net Impact Seattle :: Professional Chapter

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When: Tuesday, May 15, 2012, 6:45 – 8:30 PM
Where: The Grand Illusion Theater in the U District, 1403 NE 50th St., Seattle, WA 98105
Cost: $5 for paid Net Impact members, $10 for everyone else
RSVP: Please reserve your spot here

Join us to hear a discussion on Creating Shared Value and Corporate Social Responsibility with Fay Hanleybrown, Managing Director of FSG and Henk Campher, Senior Vice President, CSR & Sustainability at Edelman.

Book: Prosperity without Growth: Economics for a Finite Planet
When: Thursday, June 7, 2012 at 7:00 PM
Cost: Free to Net Impact members; Limit of 8 attendees
RSVP: Email Jeremie
Location: Fremont. Address will be provided when you RSVP.
Details: Dinner will be potluck style, with a Mexican theme. Please bring a fitting appetizer/side/dessert dish, or drinks.

Is more economic growth the solution? Will it deliver prosperity and well being for a global population projected to reach nine billion? In this explosive book, Tim Jackson, a top sustainability adviser to the UK government, makes a compelling case against continued economic growth in developed nations.
No one denies that development is essential for poorer nations. But, in the advanced economies, there is mounting evidence that ever-increasing consumption adds little to human happiness and may even impede it. More urgently, it is now clear that the ecosystems that sustain our economies are collapsing under the impacts of rising consumption. Unless we can radically lower the environmental impact of economic activity – and there is no evidence to suggest that we can – we will have to devise a path to prosperity that does not rely on continued growth.

When: Wednesday, June 27, 2012, 7:00-9:00pm
Where: The Pike Brewing Company, 1415 1st Avenue, Seattle, WA 98101
Cost: Free
RSVP: Reserve your spot on our Facebook event page here. Open to members and non-members.
Parking: Parking is available at the Chase Center Garage at 1st and Union. For attendees dining at Pike Brewing Co., parking will be validated after 5pm making the ticket $5.

Join us for a networking happy hour event to welcome summer interns and new graduates in the Seattle area. The Pike Brewing Company features local, sustainable and seasonal pub fare. Handcrafted ales are made in the brew house from quality ingredients, including organic malts. This is an opportunity to engage with others who are passionate about corporate social responsibility, sustainability, and social entrepreneurship.

Book: The Blue Sweater: Bridging the Gap between Rich and Poor in an Interconnected World
When: Wednesday, July 25, 2012 at 7:00 PM
Cost: Free to Net Impact members; Limit of 8 attendees
RSVP: Email Lisa
Location: TBD.  Address will be provided when you RSVP.

The Blue Sweater is the inspiring personal memoir of a woman who has spent her life on a quest to understand global poverty and to find powerful new ways of tackling it. From her first stumbling efforts as a young idealist venturing forth in Africa to the creation of the trailblazing organization she runs today, Jacqueline Novogratz brings us a series of insightful stories and unforgettable characters — from women dancing in a Nairobi slum, to unwed mothers starting a bakery, to courageous survivors of the Rwandan genocide, to entrepreneurs building services for the poor against impossible odds.
She shows, in both hilarious and heartbreaking ways, how traditional charity often fails, but how a new form of philanthropic investing called “patient capital” can help make people self-sufficient and change millions of lives. More than just an autobiography or a how-to guide to tackling poverty, this book challenges us to grant dignity to the poor and to rethink our engagement with the world.

1.    How did you get involved with Net Impact? How long have you been a member?

I’ve been a member for about a year. When I finished grad school, I wanted to meet more people and be involved in more events that would help promote sustainability. When I found out about Net Impact, it was perfect.

2.    Have you attended any of our events? What types of events would you like to see in the future?

I attend book club meetings whenever I can. I enjoy reading about sustainability and talking with people who are interested in the same things. I think I learn something new at every meeting. I think any kind of networking events are great.

3.    What books or websites are you currently reading? What are your favorite sustainability resources?

I recently read Silent Spring by Rachel Carson for April’s book club meeting. I also regularly read Marc Gunther’s blog about sustainable business.

4.    How long have you lived in Seattle? What is your favorite place locally or your favorite thing about living in Seattle?

I’ve lived in Seattle for thirty years now, minus the four years I was in Boston for college. I loved being in Boston, but I really missed being surrounded by mountains and lakes. My favorite view is driving either way on 520 and having a beautiful background of mountains over Lake Washington, especially at sunrise or sunset. It’s gorgeous.

5.    Tell us about your career or career goals. What do you love the most about your job?

I work for FCS Group doing financial consulting for local utilities. We are currently expanding into solid waste, recycling and composting and I am excited to assist with setting rates and rate structures that encourage composting and recycling. I think it is essential to work towards achieving zero waste and keeping our planet inhabitable.

6.    What is your favorite aspect of Net Impact’s mission – sustainability, corporate responsibility or social entrepreneurship?

I don’t like to play favorites. I love them all!

7.    How have you driven transformational change in your workplace or the world? What did you learn in the process that you’d like to share?

Everywhere I’ve worked I have encouraged efficiency to decrease waste. I started composting and recycling at multiple Starbucks stores before it became a statewide requirement. My current company, FCS Group, has been on the “Best Workplaces for Recycling and Waste Reduction” list for three consecutive years, which I can’t take credit for, but I am the reason we now compost as well. I always think every little thing helps.

8.    Tell us something fun about yourself or an interest you have outside of sustainability.

I love to do anything outdoors, whether it is rock climbing, skiing, kayaking, hiking, mountain climbing, rafting, gardening, or anything else you can think of, I will probably enjoy it. Of course, good weather always helps.

9.    How can our members contact you (e.g. email, LinkedIn, Blog, Twitter, etc.)?

Feel free to send me an email at CatherineO@fcsgroup.com or find me on LinkedIn.