2008 SRI in the Rockies Conference to be a ‘Green Meeting’

First Affirmative Financial Network and the Social Investment Forum, hosts of the 19th anniversary SRI in the Rockies Conference, accept advised their 2008 accident to be a “green meeting.” This year’s appointment is accepted to draw a almanac 700 acceptable and amenable investment (SRI) industry practitioners and professionals to Whistler, British Columbia, Canada, October 26–28, 2008.

According to the Convention Industry Council's definition, a blooming affair is “a affair or accident that incorporates ecology considerations to abbreviate its abrogating appulse on the environment.”

George Gay, CEO of First Affirmative, is planning for the 2008 SRI in the Rockies Conference to be a archetypal of amusing responsibility, and not alone with attention to the environment. “It's simple to feel afflicted by the changes all-important to actualize a absolutely ‘green’ meeting,” says Gay. “But whatever we do now—even artlessly allurement questions of hotels—contributes to the drive that will move blooming affairs to the mainstream.”

As allotment of First Affirmative’s appointment planning process, hotels are asked to complete a appeal for angle (RFP) that includes the Best Practices Survey developed by the Green Hotel Initiative (GHI). Hotels that abort to abode the RFP's sustainability questions or to complete the GHI analysis are alone from consideration.

The SRI in the Rockies appeal for angle aswell includes all-encompassing questions apropos a hotel's sustainability efforts, such as whether or not the acreage has evaluated its carbon footprint, is LEED-certified (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design), uses locally developed and/or amoebic food, has a recycling program, and exhibits a charge to activity ability in its operation.

“It's an evolutionary, rather than a revolutionary, process,” says First Affirmative President, Steve Schueth. “As we abide to accession the bar on this accident anniversary year, we animate added blooming contest and conventions above the spectrum.”

Greening SRI in the Rockies includes alive with auberge agents onsite to actualize acquaintance as able-bodied as blurred activity usage. For example, rather than circadian allowance accumulation of newspapers, they are broadcast by request. At meals, pitchers of baptize and added beverages are fabricated accessible with abandoned glasses rather than all glasses accepting pre-filled; bottled baptize is not available. When attendees access their rooms, they will acquisition that the television is off, as is all abounding lighting. Rather than housekeeping replacing bed linens and towels daily, they are instructed to alter them alone aloft request. The Conference has a Recycling Sponsor, and a Carbon Offset Sponsor. For added information, amuse go to http://www.sriintherockies.com/d/SRIR08_Sustainability.pdf.

This year’s appointment venue, the Fairmont Chateau Whistler, has been awarded a 4 Green Key Rating in the Green Key Eco-Rating Program. For added information, amuse go to http://www.hotelassociation.ca/site/programs/green_key.htm.

A new study, “The Green Event Imperative” by the Event Marketing Institute, begin that investment in blooming accident business could bifold over the next 18 months. But the abstraction aswell begin that companies claiming to be breath in blooming initiatives accept a cogent gap amid their accord and their akin of commitment.

ABOUT FIRST AFFIRMATIVE
First Affirmative Financial Network, LLC (www.FirstAffirmative.com) is an absolute fee-only Registered Investment Advisor (SEC File #801-5687). The company, which manages about $700 actor in applicant portfolios, offers consulting and asset administration casework through a civic arrangement of investment professionals who specialize in confined socially acquainted investors. First Affirmative produces the anniversary SRI in the Rockies Conference (www.SRIintheRockies.com), the arch appointment for the acceptable and amenable investment industry in North America.

ABOUT THE SOCIAL INVESTMENT FORUM
The Social Investment Forum (SIF) is the U.S. associates affiliation committed to advancing the concept, practice, and advance of socially and environmentally amenable investing. SIF associates accommodate economic, environmental, social, and babyminding factors into their investment decisions. SIF associates includes added than 500 amusing investment practitioners and institutions, including banking professionals, analysts, portfolio managers, banks, alternate funds, researchers, foundations, association development organizations, and accessible educators. More advice about the Forum, including the 2007 Report on Socially Responsible Investing Trends in the United States, is accessible at www.socialinvest.org.

REGISTRATION AND SPONSORSHIPS
To annals to appear the conference, go to www.sriintherockies.com/register.jsp. For abetment with allotment and sponsorships, amuse acquaintance Krystala Kalil at 303-442-4463 / krystala@SRIintheRockies.com.

MEDIA QUESTIONS
Mo Shafroth for First Affirmative and SRI in the Rockies: 720-470-3653 / mshafroth@csg-pr.com
Patrick Mitchell for the Social Investment Forum: 703-276-3266 / pmitchell@hastingsgroup.com