NNewsSpring 2003 5_14 - Keep America Beautiful

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BUILDING ON THE FOUNDATION FOR THE NEXT FIFTY YEARS KEEP AMERICA BEAUTIFUL’S 49 TH NATIONAL CONFERENCE Award winners on the dais. I n celebration of its past accomplishments and ambitious plans for the future, Keep America Beautiful, Inc. (KAB) brought together more than 300 affiliates, volunteers, business, community and government leaders from December 4 - 7, 2002 at its 49th National Conference in Washington, D.C. Themed “Building on the Foundation for the Next 50 Years,” the Conference featured a four-day program of wide-ranging and relevant presentations, exhibits and sessions. A welcome reception at the National Geographic Society’s Exhibition Hall featured an exhibit on biodiversity and provided the backdrop for affiliate networking. Attendees were able to meet peers, become reacquainted with old friends and meet new affiliate staff members in an inspiring and striking setting. The key advantage for full-capacity crowds was the opportunity to share ideas and resources with each other, which the National Conference agenda provides each year. Conference sessions addressed topics and trends in community improvement, solid waste management and recycling, litter abatement, as well as ancillary economic development issues, legislation and leadership action. Other issues of key interest to attendees, such as cigarette litter and electronics recycling, were also highlighted. In his keynote address, White House Federal Environmental Executive John L. Howard praised Keep America Beautiful affiliates for their positive, measurable community improvements, and noted how the Keep America Beautiful organization and its volunteers exemplify the spirit of service President George W. Bush enthusiastically supports and hopes to reinforce. He urged affiliates to consider new partnerships with the Federal Government, stating, “the President’s desire is for the Federal Government to be a good neighbor in your community, and we will continue working with you to find opportunities to be good neighbors.” (The full text of Mr. Howard’s presentation is available on the Office of the Federal Environmental Executive’s website: www.ofee.gov.) Recycling was the focus of one Conference panel discussion. The Solid Waste Management panel, representing 75 years in the recycling industry, addressed trends in waste management and recycling, such as the emergence of single stream recycling programs, the impact of legislation, and effective product stewardship programs. The panel reminded attendees that every effort counts, and that all need to work together to promote the message that solid waste recycling deserves a prominent place in the larger environmental picture. Volunteer liability was another relevant session, given that more than 100 million citizens volunteer each year. Melanie Herman, executive director, Nonprofit Risk Management Center, noted the unique human resources challenge posed to a volunteer-driven organization like Keep America Beautiful. This session helped affiliates explore the legal implications of volunteer liability by defining terms, reviewing current regulations and various types of insurance. While risk can’t be entirely eliminated, affiliates were reminded to be educated and prepared in order to best protect volunteers and the organization. Attendees at this session were given comprehensive handouts on volunteer liability, including a review of state and federal protection laws and tools and checklists for assessing organizational exposure to risk and providing safeguards to exposure. Many free resources were distributed to Conference attendees. A tree planting idea kit was one example; conference sponsors also provided product samples. At breakfast sessions and general conference workshops, attendees shared program ideas and exchanged materials with fellow Conference participants. The “Constructing Change” breakfast session provided ideas and tools to help effect community improvement; the “Steel This” session, sponsored by The Steel Recycling Institute, featured innovative programs that attendees could “steal.” An Award Winners Museum displayed Keep America Beautiful award winning entries and exhibits. As an added feature, attendees were invited to be audience members in the television program, Crossfire. The National Conference also provided the opportunity for state leaders to conduct targeted business meetings with their affiliates, and facilitated mentor connections between veteran directors and new affiliates. These sessions provided invaluable advice and counsel, and an exchange of fresh ideas and perspectives for all parties. One Conference highlight was the annual Awards Luncheon and presentation of awards. Luncheon keynote speaker and polar explorer Robert Swan talked with the group about his “The President’s desire is for the federal government to be a good neighbor in your community, and we will continue working with you to find opportunities to be good neighbors.” John Howard, Federal Environmental Executive life-altering adventures and environmental awareness work. In 1986, Swan and two colleagues trekked over 900 miles of treacherous polar ice cap to reach the geographical South Pole – a journey fraught with danger that could have ended in tragedy at any time. Following this remarkable achievement, Swan again braved polar bears and hidden crevasses and trekked to the North Pole to become the first man in history to reach both the North Pole and South Pole on foot. page 8 keep america beautiful — NETWORK NEWS — spring 2003
50 The journeys changed his life forever. The environmental damage he witnessed inflicted by man on planet Earth, such as the ozone hole and early polar ice melt, prompted a new life strategy. Swan now works to draw attention to the environmental damage we bring upon ourselves, and works also to preserve the last true wilderness on Earth – the Antarctic. Over the past five years, he has worked closely with the Russian government to pack up 1,000 tons of rubbish from the Russian Antarctic Base Bellingshausen, which was successfully removed in January 2002. Swan continues to take young people, teachers and representatives from Industry and Businesses down to the Antarctic to lend support to the cleanup action, as well as to give individuals the chance to see this unique place for themselves and understand the importance of protecting it. Conference attendees who were treated to Swan’s gripping and motivational talks can return to their affiliates and apply Swan’s lessons of teamwork, management and effective communication to their own lives and work. Coca-Cola helped make his appearance at the Conference possible. National Conference Sponsors included: The Coca-Cola Company, The Procter & Gamble Company, SC Johnson – A Family Company, and the Steel Recycling Institute. Keep America Beautiful also thanks the 2002 National Awards Luncheon Sponsors: BASF Corporation; Illinois Tool Works; Owens-Illinois, Inc.; Shell Oil Company; and Target Corporation. We gratefully acknowledge AT&T Environment, Health & Safety for the donation of AT&T phone cards and The Steel Recycling Institute’s sponsorship of the “Steel This” work session and donation of lunch box mementos. Below: Henry Moore, the former assistant city manager of Savannah who spearheaded inner-city improvements there for more than 17 years, spoke to Conference attendees about how they can mobilize local neighborhood assets to improve communities. Moore, currently a faculty member of Northwestern University’s Asset-Based Community Development Institute (ABCD), reviewed the Institute’s “ABCD” tools and problem-solving techniques during his interactive Conference session. Below: John L. Howard, White House Federal Environmental Executive, delivered the keynote address. His remarks included an overview of the Office of the Federal Environmental Executive and an historical perspective on President Bush’s environmental commitment as governor and then as president. Conference Postscript: National Awards Luncheon Speaker Robert Swan W hen Robert Swan, Antarctic explorer, spoke at the December National Conference, attendees were riveted by his account of environmental exploration and leadership advice. Now there is a postscript to Swan’s story. The Coca-Cola Company, which funded and sponsored Swan’s National Conference presentation, sponsored a trek back to Antarctica in February, when 36 Coca-Cola associates representing Coke employees, bottling partners and customers from 18 different countries, traveled with Robert Swan back to the South Pole. The Coca-Cola team experienced the worst Antarctica could throw at them – below zero temperatures, Force 12 winds and 15-meter waves. Overnight friendships, cross-cultural alliances and trust in one another made overcoming the range of significant physical and emotional challenges possible, according to expedition participant Jeff Foote, Director of Corporate Environmental Affairs of Coca-Cola. Through this trek, Coca-Cola became the first corporation to undertake a mission to help preserve the pristine wilderness of Antarctica. Foote explained that the group broke into three teams to evaluate existing waste management procedures on seven scientific bases on King George Island. Plans for removal of above-ground storage tanks were outlined; renewable energy opportunities to heat and light for research huts were investigated; and opportunities and recommendations for cooperative solid waste management planning between these research stations were documented, said Foote. He also indicated that these environmental assessments, evaluations and recommendations will pave the way for future Coca-Cola activities to support the Antarctic environment. Foote reported that everyone returned home inspired to be more efficient and effective in their jobs and better people for the effort. His comments: “While, not finalized, (Coca-Cola is) Networking opportunities were another Conference highlight. planning to take a new team back to Antarctica to begin work implementing the plans we developed to get some of the bases to work together to increase recycling efforts, improve waste water cleanup efforts, test some solar and wind technologies to power huts, and remove nine 250,000 gallon rusting oil tanks.” Here Robert Swan and Jeff Foote, Coca-Cola Director of Corporate Environmental Affairs, are photographed during February’s Antarctica Expedition. keep america beautiful — NETWORK NEWS — spring 2003 page 9
Page 1 and 2: Keep America Beautiful ® Published
Page 3 and 4: 50 YEARS HOW ARE YOU CELEBRATING KA
Page 5 and 6: ica SISSIPPI ity of life across the
Page 7: ALABAMA POWER& RENEW OUR RIVERS A C
Page 11 and 12: VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT IRON EYES CODY
Page 13 and 14: KEEP INDIANAPOLIS BEAUTIFUL HELPS T
Page 15 and 16: 2003 GREAT AMERICAN CLEANUP SPRING
Page 17 and 18: ward Recipient Above: Joyce Kagan C
Page 19 and 20: For the past 100 years, when it com
Page 21 and 22: Freddie Mac and Keep America Beauti
Page 23 and 24: ® Congratulations 3M! We salute 3M

NNewsSpring 2003 5_14 - Keep America Beautiful

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