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More good news from our Business Mentor Program
Kyneton Toyota Has a Big Waste Win In 2013 Kyneton Toyota was awarded a Toyota Environmental Dealership or TED which recognises dealers who embrace environmental excellence. Not wanting to just rest on their accolades, earlier this year Kyneton Toyota contacted me to see what else they could do to reduce their environmental impact.
One of our first tasks was to assess the waste going to landfill and we realised that most could be recycled. John and Ros Bradbury were very keen to make an impact not just because it was the right thing to do, but because it could make their business more efficient and because it could save their business money.
Together we set up a green team, studied the waste stream, installed a new three-bin system and educated all staff on its use. We improved the outside collection system, adjusted the system inside and after we began to make it work we soon saw the result: a 45% waste reduction.
Once it was all up and working they then invited the local school to visit and provided a three-bin system for their classrooms to spread the message. I call that a win, win, win, win.
The winds of change are blowing on many fronts – make sure your organisation reaps the rewards, or at the very least, avoids the coming costs.
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Sustainability Workshops - Inspiring the Ambassadors.
I had a ball two weeks ago in Williamstown delivering a two-day workshop for Community Sustainability Ambassadors on behalf of Hobsons Bay City Council. These folks have been long term local community leaders looking after the earth and creating the new economy. Their Council wanted to celebrate their efforts, provide a space for them to come together to share, learn and create.
Together we celebrated their 2014 achievements. I then spoke about enabling change, we had a conversation on hope and we created the top ten list of attributes for awesome small teams. I delivered my Speaking/Facilitating/MC Toolbox and we went on a nature walk at the Willy Wetlands. The group then created a Sustainable Living Festival event to take place in 2015 that will bring together all of the sustainability focused community groups in their area for some kitchen table conversations.
It was a pleasure meeting and working with passionate, experienced and skillful community folk who are changing the world around them. It was a hope inspiring session all around.
"Thanks, Ian, for leading our Sustainability Ambassadors through two jam packed days of learning, teaching, celebrating and sharing. Your ability to keep the energy in the room high the entire time, be flexible enough to adapt to the needs of the group on demand, and allow time and space for the participants to share with, learn from and motivate each other was truly inspiring. Participants said they felt 'enriched' by the experience and the have chosen to continue working together to develop a community event as a direct result of the workshop. We think you're ace!"
- Jen McQueeney, Environmental Engagement Officer, Hobsons Bay City Council
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A Facilitator Fundamentals
This has been a wildly varying and incredibly fun year with so much time spent face-to-face inspiring and being inspired by people and organisations taking responsibility for sustainability. Some of the highlights have included:
- Facilitating the Metropolitan Fire Brigade Sustainability Visioning Workshop,
- Leading the development of two primary school Active Travel plans,
- Supporting five neighbourhood houses on sustainability action planning, to both reduce their impact and to reimagine their enabling role as local, living, regenerating economies appear around them,
- Working with five secondary colleges on leadership and change practice to help the City of Greater Bendigo put together a Youth Council,
- Leading the two day DEPI Young Professionals Network Retreat at Philip Island for 50 inspiring and intelligent young state government folk,
- Facilitating two Melbourne DEPI Forums for local government on sustainability and climate change adaptation,
- Delivering Green Team sessions for five organisations at all stages of the journey, and
- Running a Melbourne University Waste and Resource Recovery Centre Think Tank.
Want a facilitator who gets everyone participating, is thought provoking and heaps of fun? Check out my website for referees and further details.
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MC Wrap-up
This year has been a big one on the MC front too, events have included:
- Connecting Greater Bendigo, on integrated transport and land use for the City of Greater Bendigo,
- Minding your Business workshop on mental health at work for the City of Greater Bendigo,
- Active Travel Forums for business and schools,
- The Hume, Darebin and Banyule City Council Community Environmental Champions Graduations,
- ‘Greening the Health Care Sector’ in Brisbane for the Climate and Health Alliance,
- The Small Business Bootcamp run by Synergize Hub as part of the Victorian Small Business Festival,
- The Bendigo Youth Summit, with 70 young folk on behalf of the City of Greater Bendigo,
- The Warrnambool Community Sustainability Festival.
"We were lucky enough to have Ian MC at the Warrnambool Sustainable Living Festival, the largest event of its kind in South West Victoria. Ian's energy and enthusiasm were completely contagious and his effortless crowd-management skills ensured that guests were constantly engaged and informed about events throughout the day. Ian's endless bag of tricks (literally) entertained kids and adults alike and successfully got people talking about their vision for a healthier, happier future."
- Lisa Rankin, Sustainability Officer, Warrnambool City Council
If you're after a sustainability-knowledgeable, funny, on time and on message Master of Ceremonies check out my website.
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The Sustainability Street book for iPad is now in the iBookstore. Sustainability Street provides "a new reason to be neighbours" and might just be the most powerful community sustainability approach on the planet. The book has animations, videos, images and stories to bring the concept into the digital world. After twelve years and 300 communities in three countries plus a university evaluation of the approach, you can be amongst the first to download Sustainability Street: and I'd love you to rate it and review it in iTunes!
Want to reduce your waste, water and energy consumption by 30% meanwhile
building wonderful new relationships in your local community? Read more about my unique education with Francis Fitzgerald Ryan through my days at Vox Bandicoot and the beginning of Sustainability Street on my Blog.
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A card set to inspire meaningful conversations about ecological sustainability and your organisation. I'm a little bit proud of these :-)
Order today!
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