EarthShare Illinois Speaker Wednesday-Green Drinks

On Wednesday, January 7th, the public is invited to McHenry County Green Drinks at Duke’s Alehouse & Kitchen, 110 N. Main St. in Crystal Lake, from 5pm-7pm. Additional parking is available at the train station.

The main speaker for the evening is Tom Jacks, the Managing Director of EarthShare Illinois, a network of environmental nonprofits working together to address issues in our communities. EarthShare Illinois works with private and public sector organizations to provide employee engagement opportunities in sustainability, including workplace giving, volunteer events and educational opportunities. 

Tom Nowak will be in the Living Room from 5pm until the presentation. He is a Certified Financial Planner practitioner with Quantum Financial Planning LLC  and has been providing, hourly, as-needed financial planning and investment advice for 10 years.  He is a member of The Forum for Sustainable and Responsible Investment (US SIF), Green America, the International Environmental Forum, the Garrett Planning Network, Inc., and the National Association of Personal Financial Advisors (NAPFA). In early 2012, he self-published a book titled “Low Fee Socially Responsible Investing: Investing in your worldview on your terms”. His latest book (December 2014) is titled “Low Fee Vegan Investing: Taking veganism to the next level”. Both books are geared to the green investor.

To be added to the Green Drinks email list, go to http://www.greendrinks.org/IL/Crystal%20Lake  or “like” the group on FaceBook www.FaceBook.com/GreenDrinksMcHenryCounty.

The Green Drinks network was founded in North London, England in 1989 and now is active in over 600 cities worldwide. Interested public is always welcome to attend the McHenry County Green Drinks monthly event. Each month there is a short presentation on a different eco-topic plus displays and demonstrations. Also, information about upcoming eco-events and green products and services is made available. Non-alcoholic and alcoholic drinks are available plus a featured “green drink”.

Green Drinks McHenry County is sponsored by the Environmental Defenders of McHenry County and Duke’s Alehouse and Kitchen.

Green Drinks McHenry County Meeting April 2

The public is invited to Green Drinks McHenry County on Wednesday, April 2nd from 5pm-7pm at Duke’s Alehouse & Kitchen, 110 N Main Street in Crystal Lake  Head upstairs at Duke’s for info and inspiration, business and pleasure. Come talk about “greening” the future with others. Must be 21 to purchase alcohol - non-alcoholic drinks are available, of course!

Become a Watershed Watchdog. Learn how you can become part of the Friends of the Fox River Watershed Monitoring Network. Watershed Watchdogs play an important role as citizen-scientists collecting data from streams throughout the watershed. In addition, they become stewards and influence local water quality.  

Two local retired teachers, David Rigby & Gary Swick will share what happens in the stream & beyond for over 1000 students annually. Both have been at this for over 20 years, and can't give it up. “Join us to learn about what makes us wag our tails, bark, and sometimes growl to protect our Fox River Watershed.”

There will be an information table set up, and you are welcome to bring information about your green products and services each month to share. Additional parking is available at the train station.

To be added to their email list, send a note to: GreenDrinksMC@gmail.com or “like” the group on FaceBook www.FaceBook.com/GreenDrinksMcHenryCounty.

Green Drinks Program Wednesday

The public is invited to Green Drinks McHenry County on Wednesday, November 6th from 5pm-7pm at Duke’s Alehouse & Kitchen, 110 N Main Street in Crystal Lake. Head upstairs at Duke’s for info and inspiration, business and pleasure. Come talk about “greening” the future with others. Must be 21 to purchase alcohol - non-alcoholic drinks are available, of course!

This month’s topic is Slow Food

November is a time to celebrate the Harvest as we look forward to Thanksgiving.  This is a perfect time for a program on Slow Food! The presenter this month is Pat Inman.

Slow Food is a network of 100,000 members in over 150 countries – grouped in 1,500 local chapters called convivia – that develops activities, projects and events at a local, regional and global level. These currently include:

• More than 5000 Slow Food initiatives each year
• Over 10,000 small producers involved in more than 400 Presidia projects
• Over 1000 products at risk of extinction promoted through the Ark of Taste catalog
• 1,300 food education activities and 350 school gardens in 100 countries
• Terra Madre network activities which involve 2,000 food communities, 1,000 cooks, 500 academics and 1,000 young activists
• For more information:  http://www.slowfoodusa.org/

Pat Inman is a Senior Research Associate at the Center for Governmental Studies at Northern Illinois University developing sustainable regional food systems.  She has served on the board of the Woodstock Farmers’ Market and was one of the U.S. delegates to Slow Food’s Terra Madre in 2011. 

There will be an information table set up, and you are welcome to bring information about your green products and services each month to share. Additional parking is available at the train station.

To be added to their email list, send a note to: GreenDrinksMC@gmail.com or “like” the group on FaceBook www.FaceBook.com/GreenDrinksMcHenryCounty.

Green Drinks -- Wednesday, November 6

The public is invited to Green Drinks McHenry County on Wednesday, November 6th from 5pm-7pm at Duke’s Alehouse & Kitchen, 110 N Main Street in Crystal Lake. Head upstairs at Duke’s for info and inspiration, business and pleasure. Come talk about “greening” the future with others. Must be 21 to purchase alcohol - non-alcoholic drinks are available, of course!

This month’s topic is Slow Food

November is a time to celebrate the Harvest as we look forward to Thanksgiving.  This is a perfect time for a program on Slow Food! The presenter this month is Pat Inman.

Slow Food is a network of 100,000 members in over 150 countries – grouped in 1,500 local chapters called convivia – that develops activities, projects and events at a local, regional and global level. These currently include:

• More than 5000 Slow Food initiatives each year
• Over 10,000 small producers involved in more than 400 Presidia projects
• Over 1000 products at risk of extinction promoted through the Ark of Taste catalog
• 1,300 food education activities and 350 school gardens in 100 countries
• Terra Madre network activities which involve 2,000 food communities, 1,000 cooks, 500 academics and 1,000 young activists
• For more information:  http://www.slowfoodusa.org/

Pat Inman is a Senior Research Associate at the Center for Governmental Studies at Northern Illinois University developing sustainable regional food systems.  She has served on the board of the Woodstock Farmers’ Market and was one of the U.S. delegates to Slow Food’s Terra Madre in 2011. 

There will be an information table set up, and you are welcome to bring information about your green products and services each month to share. Additional parking is available at the train station.

To be added to their email list, send a note to: GreenDrinksMC@gmail.com or “like” the group on FaceBook www.FaceBook.com/GreenDrinksMcHenryCounty.

If you’d like more information, contact the Defenders’ office at 815-338-0393 or e-mail mcdef@owc.net.

Talk About Greening The Future

The public is invited to Green Drinks McHenry County on Wednesday, October 2nd from 5pm-7pm at Duke’s Alehouse & Kitchen, 110 N Main Street in Crystal Lake. Head upstairs at Duke’s for info and inspiration, business and pleasure. Come talk about “greening” the future with others. Must be 21 to purchase alcohol - non-alcoholic drinks are available, of course!

This month’s topic: Toys that are Future Friendly and Kind to the Environment

Lori McConville, Owner of Marvin’s Toy Store in downtown Crystal Lake, will be speaking about how she chooses toys for her store that meet expectations for being sensitive to the earth and friendly to our future.  That means looking for a product that is both environmentally and socially responsible.  It’s about being conscious about the life-cycle of the toy and striving to have the whole supply chain engaged in environmentally sustainable practices. 

Buying a toy for a child is a special purchase.  It’s important to know that the toy meets safety standards and that the quality is there both in materials and in the play that it provides.  Beyond that, there are other layers to look at that affect the earth and people, such as packaging, shipping, production, etc.

Find out about the criteria used to select toys for an eco-conscious store and learn about the questions Lori asks when deciding to sell an item.  You will get a chance to check out some toys, and you will be asked to make some decisions yourself.  Find out how easy or difficult it can be to make smart decisions about the toys our children play with. 

There will be an information table set up, and you are welcome to bring information about your green products and services each month to share. Additional parking is available at the train station.

To be added to their email list, send a note to: GreenDrinksMC@gmail.com or “like” the group on FaceBook www.FaceBook.com/GreenDrinksMcHenryCounty

Green Drinks Group Will Gather on May 1st, 2013

The public is invited to Green Drinks McHenry County on Wednesday, May 1st from 5pm-7pm at Duke’s Alehouse & Kitchen, 110 N Main Street in Crystal Lake. Head upstairs at Duke’s for info and inspiration, business and pleasure. Come talk about “greening” the future with others. Must be 21 to purchase alcohol - non-alcoholic drinks are available, of course!

This month is a game show! Come play "Stump the Experts". Some of the county’s most knowledgeable recycling people will be on hand to answer your most obscure recycling questions. (Can I recycle regular light bulbs? What about unmarked plastic bags?) Bring your questions - they'll try to find answers!

And on May 1st, from 3pm to 5pm, Duke's will be donating 10% of your dinner tab to a local environmental group! Come to Green Drinks early and make your green dollars go even further.

There will be an information table set up, and you are welcome to bring information about your green products and services each month to share. Additional parking is available at the train station.

To be added to their email list, send a note to: GreenDrinksMC@gmail.com or “like” the group on FaceBook www.FaceBook.com/GreenDrinksMcHenryCounty

Green Drinks Time - Wednesday

The public is invited to Green Drinks McHenry County on Wednesday, March 6th from 5pm-7pm at Duke’s Alehouse & Kitchen, 110 N Main Street in Crystal Lake. Head upstairs at Duke’s for info and inspiration, business and pleasure. Come talk about “greening” the future with others. Must be 21 to purchase alcohol - non-alcoholic drinks are available, of course!

The topic this month is Bees!

Doug Hawthorne, Vice President of the Northern Illinois Beekeepers Association, will be speaking about bees: What is the State of Bees in McHenry County? Bee prepared with questions! Doug loves talking bees and honey so plan on fun!

Doug has been a beekeeper for 11 years.  He knows enough to recognize a honeybee from a wasp but feels that he has only touched on the knowledge available on raising bees.  On the other hand, he has raised honey each and every year - enough to cover out-of-pocket expenses.  A hobby that only costs you time is a good hobby, according to Doug. Recently, he has begun the process of learning how to make beeswax candles.

There will be an information table set up, and you are welcome to bring information about your green products and services each month to share. Additional parking is available at the train station.

To be added to their email list, send a note to: GreenDrinksMC@gmail.com or “like” the group on FaceBook www.FaceBook.com/GreenDrinksMcHenryCounty

Update On Hackmatack National Wildlife Refuge

Celebrate the new year and new beginnings when Green Drinks welcomes Nancy Williamson, who will give an update on the recently approved Hackmatack National Wildlife Refuge. http://www.hackmatacknwr.org/

The public is invited to the first Green Drinks McHenry County of 2013 on Wednesday, January 2nd from 5pm-7pm at Duke’s Alehouse & Kitchen, 110 N Main Street in Crystal Lake

.

Head upstairs at Duke’s for info and inspiration, business and pleasure. Come talk about “greening” the future with others. Must be 21 to purchase alcohol - non-alcoholic drinks are available, of course!

There will be an information table set up, and you are welcome to bring information about your green products and services each month to share. 

Additional parking is available at the train station.

To be added to their email list, send a note to: GreenDrinksMC@gmail.com or “like” the group on FaceBook www.FaceBook.com/GreenDrinksMcHenryCounty.

Green Drinks McHenry County -- Wednesday

The public is invited to Green Drinks McHenry County on Wednesday, August 1st from 5pm-7pm at Duke’s Alehouse & Kitchen, 110 N Main Street in Crystal Lake.

This month’s presentation will be by Dave Griffith, the Regional Forester for the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, who will speak about the big green menace - the Emerald Ash Borer - and other pest species coming our way and what to do.

He will also talk about the Illinois Forestry Development Act program and what they can offer to land owners to assist in management planning of existing woodlands (or starting from scratch) on their property.

Order a drink or some food at the bar before coming upstairs for info and inspiration, business and pleasure. Come talk about “greening” the future with others. Must be 21 to purchase alcohol - non-alcoholic drinks are available, of course!

There will be an information table set up, and you are welcome to bring information about your green products and services each month to share.

Additional parking is available at the train station.

To be added to their email list, send a note to: GreenDrinksMC@gmail.com or “like” the group on FaceBook www.FaceBook.com/GreenDrinksMcHenryCounty.