Our country and planet stand at a crossroads. How do we strengthen our global economy while addressing climate change? The Socially Responsible Investing world is rapidly transforming into a Sustainable Investing industry at the heart of the emerging green economy movement. World leaders will soon meet in Copenhagen, Denmark to finalize an agreement to cut greenhouse gas emissions, continue to address climate change, and begin a massive transformation towards a sustainable and equitable future. How can investors, world leaders and the movement work together toward a sustainable and equitable recovery?
Panelists: Michael Lent, Chief Investment Officer: Veris Wealth Partners, Sustainable Investing Financial Consulting & Planning Firm; Cary Krosinsky, Vice President: Trucost Environmental Investment Research Firm, Author of Sustainable Investing: the Art of Long-Term Performance (2009); Jerome Tagger, Chief Operating Officer: United Nations Principles of Responsible Investing (UNPRI), Global Investor Network November 9, 2009, 7-9pm
Location: Theresa Lang Community Student Center Arnold Hall, 55 West 13th Street, 2nd floor Free Admission. RSVP with The New School University's Net Impact chapter at netimpactnsu@gmail.com
On October 27th, Urban Green Council and The New York Academy of Sciences presents Dr. Eric W. Sanderson, author of Mannahatta: A Natural History of New York City and Charles C. Mann, author of 1491: New Revelations of the Americas Before Columbus, for a moderated discussion on the landscape of New York City prior to European settlement. The authors will open with a short presentation and lead into a broad ranging discussion of the human and environmental history of our region, including the import of this knowledge on the sustainable use of our region’s resources.
Drinks will be available following the discussion and both books will be available for sale. Urban Green and NYAS Members attend for free. If you're not an Urban Green member, JOIN today. Tickets and details here.
Josh said that we need to figure out how to engage undergrads in the program because they are at The New School longer.
- Perhaps going to classes and giving short presentations to the students there.
- Shawn may have a contact at Mannes
- Rachel has access to some deans
- Vivian suggests we all get the word out for now. She said there is a quick ‘elevator pitch’ on the Net Impact Web site.
- Josh will make a Google group for the exec
There was Discussion of a Web site for the organization.
- Shawn said he can build a “no frills” web site for us to use.
- Lauren might have a friend wiling to do it in pro bono.
- Josh suggests doing it as a blog because it’s easy to update. He will look into it.
Soo ah suggests selling food at events. Shawn will look into if there are any a la carte options
The idea is tabled until the next meeting. Everyone consider options.
EVENTS
Rachel recapped last year’s events
1.Kickoff event was talk with NI Co-Founder Mark Albion of the “More than Money Institute” (January)
2.Careers with a Conscience Job Fair—was more Milano piggybacking on Parsons.(Milano) Rachel said it was not too successful, requires advanced planning from career development leadership across the University (not Just Milano)
3.Documentary Film Screening of “Kilowatt Ours: A Plan to Re-Energize America” (May) – huge success!
Rachel suggests we should have a follow up or perhaps a film series
Upcoming events:
- Ashoka Kick-off Sept. 21
- Breakfast Briefing Invitation Sept. 23 “Newsweek Green Rankings 2009: Implications for Investors”
- Bill McKibben is coming to speak Oct. 22. He was a religious person who became an environmental activist. This should be used in combination with:
- Oct. 24 is the international day of action. We are looking to do an event with 350.org. Perhaps something on the 23rd as to not compete with Milano Day of Care.
Other options:
Try to follow up careers with a conscience, but more successfully. Perhaps in the spring to give us more time.
Josh suggests recruiting a person to be in charge of the conference. Vivian will draft a message to send to current Facebook group members.
Social outings
-Josh suggests we should host these no more than monthly.
Shawn said that if we include undergrads we can’t do anything that encourages alcohol consumption.
Perhaps the social coordinator takes this role.
Bowlmore has a weekly deal all you can bowl for a decent price.
Josh moved that Soo ah become our social chair. Lauren seconds. Motion carries 5-0-0.
Group challenges Soo Ah to get an event together at the Astoria beer garden before it gets cold.This could double as our event kickoff?
- Our sponsorship was requested on an event Monday, Nov. 9for a workshop on sustainable and green jobs from Atlee Mcfellin. It could be branded as our event, if we reserve a room.
- Is it possible to have Carol Anderson to get a panel of alums in sustainable fields?
Vivian inquires if there are organizations or businesses worth partnering with?
Perhaps whole foods?
- Everyone is instructed to consider events until we have an events chair
Rachel will be emailing a more in-depth report of potential groups to partner with. She thinks there is a huge opportunity for change on our campus.
She also said that The New School got an f on the college sustainability report, but the information is not getting out there.
We should contact social entrepreneurship faculty with more ideas
This blog serves as the Internet home for the New School University Chapter of Net Impact. Net Impact is an international non-profit organization designed to inspire, educate, and equip individuals to use the power of business to create a more socially and environmentally sustainable world. We aim to inspire the same at The New School and, also, the world.
On this site, you will have find information about our upcoming events, recaps and pictures of our past events, minutes from our meetings, and information about opportunities for social change.
Leading your New School Chapter of Net Impact for 2009-2010 are:
We hope you will become followers on this site and please join our Facebook group if you haven't already. You can email chapter leaders directly at netimpactnsu@gmail.com. We will try to update the polls regularly so we have a constant idea of what is on the mind of our membership.
Please come back often and we look forward to hearing from you!
Re-source™ Challenge – Improve campus greening, and send three people to the Net Impact Conference for free.
Nestlé Waters and GreenOps, a subsidiary of Waste Management, are looking to the Net Impact network to help them design and implement a pilot recycling strategy on a college campus in January 2010. Teams (up to three members per team) may enter by completing a mini-case, available at www.netimpact.org/resourcechallenge. From these entries, a judging panel will select three teams to compete in a case competition at the 2009 Net Impact Conference (covering registration, air, and hotel expenses). One team will win $5,000 and the opportunity to implement their business plan on campus as a pilot.
Get more information and complete the mini-case at www.netimpact.org/resourcechallenge. Applications are due by October 5. Please email re-source@netimpact.org with any questions.
2010 Walmart Better Living Business Plan Challenge – Win up to $20,000 for your sustainable business idea Many of you probably remember the 2009 Challenge, where teams from more than 40 schools competed in regional competitions across the country, presenting their business plans for sustainable products or services to a panel of Walmart executives, suppliers, and environmental organizations. This year, Walmart is opening the challenge up to 64 schools. Like last year, the competition will begin with school-level competitions in January, progress to eight regional competitions in February, and culminate in a national competition held in Bentonville, Arkansas in April. In addition to gaining an audience with some of the top business and sustainability leaders in the United States, the winning team will receive $20,000 to invest in their business or product.
To make sure that your school is one of the 64 selected to be part of the 2010 Walmart Better Living Business Challenge, visit www.netimpact.org/walmartchallenge by September 28 and fill out the short application.
Chapter Leaders: note - For the Walmart Challenge, you may want to take the initiative and sign up your school, to ensure that you are one of the 64 schools selected to compete. Then you can get started publicizing the challenge to your members and others on campus. You can even work with an administrator or faculty member to organize the competition on the school-wide level and count it toward one of your chapter events for the year. Please email walmartchallenge@netimpact.org with any questions.
Gates Foundation “Innovative Solutions for Development” call for proposals–Travel to Paris to present your financial solution to poverty reduction Net Impact is working with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation on a call for ideas for “Innovative Solutions for Development.” With the Agence Française de Développement (AFD) and the World Bank, the Gates Foundation will be co-hosting an international Marketplace on Innovative Financial Solutions for Development (MIF), to be held in Paris on March 4-5, 2010. The 2010 MIF will be dedicated to innovative, smart, fine-tuned financial mechanisms for mobilizing, channeling, and spending funds dedicated to development.
A key feature of the MIF will be a competition to garner fresh ideas for financial solutions aimed at reducing poverty and sustainably improving livelihoods through addressing market or government failures. Grants will be awarded for up to five proposals in a two step selection process entrusted to a special jury. In the first phase, approximately 20 finalists will be selected to present at the MIF Conference in Paris (travel and registration will be covered), and the MIF will award up to five grants of up to $100,000 each.
Proposals are welcomed from all development finance innovators, including financial institutions, private-sector companies, social enterprises, non-governmental and civil society organizations, government agencies, foundations, and development organizations. The Gates Foundation specifically reached out to Net Impact to encourage universities and other academic organizations to become involved. Teams of students and/or faculty are encouraged to submit ideas.
To learn more and submit a proposal by November 15, visit www.fininnov.org
