The Green Awareness Taskforce had two very successful events during the month thanks to the many dedicated volunteers, sponsors and participants. On November 12th, the Chamber, Gulf Coast Energy Network & Holiday Inn Sunspree on Okaloosa Island held a Green Lodging Workshop. We brought in Brad Stombock who heads the State's Green Lodging Program to educate Local Condominium & Lodging Facilities about the new changes to the program. Brad took the time to meet with local condominium leaders for an informal discussion how they can be Green Lodging Certified from 8am to 9am. From 9am to 3pm Florida Green Lodging Brad Stombock, Applied Green Ray Ivy, Gulf Power Lynn Erikson, University of Florida Sheila Dunning, Ride On Dan Deanda, Florida Green Building Coalition Suzanne Cook & Okaloosa Gas Mark Clark inform lodging attendees about ideas, products, services and procedures on how they can become Green Lodging Certified. The sponsors at this event made it cost free for attendees. A special thanks to: Orkin, Applied Green, Ride On and Okaloosa Gas. After this workshop there were two more hotels who became Green Lodging Certified on Okaloosa County. Big congratulations to the Holiday Inn Resort on Okaloosa Island and the Best Western Ft Walton Beachfront. All 5 major chain hotels on Okaloosa Island are now Green Lodging Certified. This is remarkable considering a year ago there was only one hotel certified in Okaloosa County.
On Saturday November 14th, recognizing America/Florida Recycles day, the County, the City of Fort Walton Beach, McDonalds, Sam's Club and the Greater Fort Walton Beach Chamber, set up a Hazardous Waste Disposal area, Single Stream Recycling Mobile Unit, Empty Printer Cartridge Bin and Aluminum Can collecting container at Fort Walton Beach City Hall. McDonald's stores in Navarre, Florosa, Mary Esther, Ft Walton Beach, Shalimar, Destin, Crestview, Walton County and Bay County collected aluminum cans. The results were phenomenal and we thank the businesses, schools, residents and 16th Electronic Warfare Squadron at Eglin AFB who participated in this yearly national recognized day. Aluminum cans collected: over 30,000; estimated 892lbs; approximately $428.00 plus that will go to the Ronald McDonald House. The cans were taken to Sam's Club in Fort Walton Beach to be counted. Residents who brought 15 or more cans to collections locations received a Free McDonalds Ice Cream Sunday. The county and city collected approximately 5500 pounds of hazardous waste and single stream recycling. There were 89 vehicles that dropped off cans, single stream recycling and hazardous waste. WEAR3 stopped by to film and interview Jim Reece. A special thanks to Cox Communications who promoted National Recycling Day and McDonalds Aluminum Can Collection Campaign on Channel 6. I want to thank Lisa Holmes from Creative Web Solutions for donating her time and talents adding all these events to the www.gogreenokaloosa.com web-site.
I appreciate all the support from the volunteers who came out and supported both events. I want to especially thank Jim Reece, Allen Lassiter, Mike Wright, David Costa, Mindy & Jason Floyd, Melissa Bryant and Kim Henderson for organizing and donating their time, talents and food on America/Florida Recycling Day.
A special note of thanks to Dave Robau, Tisha Maraj, Jessica Young & Ivana Coteat for organizing a successful the Green Lodging Workshop.
I encourage taskforce & chamber members and anyone else who would like to attend the final Green Awareness Taskforce Meeting of the year December 1st at 815am - Fort Walton Beach Conference Room. We will review all accomplishments that Taskforce was able to complete over the year and recognize all those who took the Green Awareness Pledge on the web-site.
Nick Chubb and Mike Wright presented the Ronald McDonald House with 88.00 from collecting cans from ROW (Recycling on the Water) at November's Green Awareness Taskforce meeting at the Chamber.
