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ISSP Insight March 2009

  ISSP Insight

Vol. 2  No. 3       March 2009

What's in this issue:

Featured Article

The World Business Council on Sustainable Development, based in Geneva, Switzerland, contains as its members some of the largest corporations on the planet. Find out whether they think sustainability needs to be sidelined during this crisis or if they want to double their efforts. Download the article using the link at the bottom of this newsletter.

 

What's New @ ISSP

Twenty-nine people signed up for the Green Careers webinar. The recording and files are posted on ISSP's Learning Center website. (This is a separate website so you may need to create an account there to get in. As members, you can avoid paying by using enrolment key: vickiandjanet). We were also able to arrange for ISSP members to get a 20% pre-publication discount off the new book, Green Careers. (See the book review below.) ISSP was mentioned numerous times as a great resource!

 

New discount offer from Environment Magazine

Environment Magazine, published by Heldref Publications, analyzes the problems, places, and people where environment and development connect, illuminating global and local concerns. Environment offers peer-reviewed articles and commentaries from researchers and practitioners who provide a broad range of international perspectives. The magazine also features in-depth reviews of major policies, reports, and environmental education programs, along with guides to the best Web sites and books. Visit www.environmentmagazine.org.

ISSP members receive a 30% discount off the regular annual price of $57 on all Environment subscriptions. Contact Heldref Publications' customer service department at 866-802-7059 or heldref@subscriptionoffice.com

 

 

ISSP Learning Events

Upcoming workshops in the ISSP professional certificate series
(Register on Workshops page)

 

May: Approaching Zero Waste (Shanna Eller) Learn how to do a waste audit and learn practical strategies for reducing and diverting solid waste from landfills.

June: Greenhouse Gas Inventories and Climate Action Plans (Josh Skov) Learn how to do a greenhouse gas inventory and climate action plan.

July: Sustainability Plans and Reports (repeat session) Learn a step by step process for creating a sustainability plan and report.

July: Sustainable Community Development: Economic Renewal 101  (Gwen Hallsmith and Hunter Lovins) Learn how we get out of this economic mess without creating the same problems in the future.

 

 

Webinars (free for members)

We will offer webinars (free to members) every other month (even numbered months).
Members, please contact Darcy Hitchcock to register for webinars.
Non-members, please pay on the Upcoming Events page.

  • The New Economics (author, David Boyle) April 15
  • Climate Change and Developing Countries: Implications for public policy  (Richard Klein, Stockholm Environment Institute) June 30

 


ISSP Orientations

We conduct regular new member orientations to help you learn how to get the most use of the site. These orientations are conducted by conference call and usually last about an hour.  They are free to members but require pre-registration. Below are the next scheduled sessions. Register with Marsha Willard.

  • March 19 at 4:00pm pacific time
  • April 21 at 9:00am pacific time
  • May 20 at 4:00pm pacific time
  • June 23 at 9:00am pacific time
  • July 21 at 4:00pm pacific time
  • August 13 at 9:00am pacific time
  • September 23 at 4:00pm pacific time
  • October 20 at 9:00am pacific time
  • November 19 at 9:00am pacific time
  • December 8 at 4:00pm pacific time


Member Involvement

Looking for new ISSP board members!

We are actively seeking new members for the board of directors for ISSP to help us during this exciting time of growth and development. Below is a short description of the responsbilities as well as the criteria we are using to select members.  If you are interested in joining us, or if you know someone who you think would make a stellar board member, please send  a letter of interest, a bio and a recommendation from a colleague to Marsha Willard. 

Term:
Two years (unless serving by special appointment or filling an unexpired term.) 

Purpose:
The board shall establish the long term vision for the organization, make major policy decisions, contribute to financial stability, ensure that the budget, policies and program efforts are consistent with the organization’s mission, goals and objectives, and evaluate the performance of the Executive Director.  In addition, board members will actively advocate for ISSP and work closely with the Executive Director to make ISSP a successful organization.

Specific Expectations:
Board members are expected to actively participate in the main functions of the board: setting policy, developing programs, fund raising and implementing key projects. The list below spells out the expectations in more detail:
1.    Participate in board meetings either in person or via conference call.

1.1.     If a board member cannot attend a meeting, the member is to advise staff prior to the meeting. 
1.2.    If a board member fails to attend more than three meetings in a fiscal year, the board chair will discuss with him or her whether to continue on the board.

2.    Be familiar with Network’s mission and programs.
3.    Make a leadership level financial or in-kind contribution each fiscal year through one or more of the following means: 

3.1.    Make a cash contribution or provide a needed service or resource
3.2.    Connect ISSP with and/or make introductions to potential funders.
3.3.    Actively participate in membership recruitment.

4.    Participate in events as appropriate.
5.    Promote ISSP at conferences and other professional venues
6.    Contribute postings to the ISSP web site
7.    Sign and abide by the conflict of interest policy
8.    Be a member in good standing.

Special Additional Responsibility:
Four to six board members will be needed to steward ISSP working committees.
9.    Steward one of the active committees acting as a liaison to the board, providing guidance and board input to the committee’s activities and assuring that the committee fulfills its obligations.
The following committees may be active at any given time:
9.1.    Regional activity/local chapters
9.2.    Membership
9.3.    Fundraising or corporate sponsorship
9.4.    Special projects
9.5.    Training
9.6.    Board development

Board Member Attributes
1.     Committed to ISSP’s mission and purpose.
2.     Highly regarded among professional peers.
3.     Breadth of understanding about sustainability.
4.     Ability to act and speak openly and directly with management staff and other board members.  
5.     Representative of membership. ISSP seeks to create and maintain a board that is representative of its membership by striving for geographic and industry representation.

Recent Postings on ISSP Site

Book Reviews by ISSP staff:

Covert Processes (Robert Marshak) Read review.

Everyday Survival (Laurence Gonzales) Read review.

Ecotourism and Sustainable Development (Martha Honey) Read review.

Green Careers (Jim Cassio) Read review. NOTE: ISSP is mentioned repeatedly as a good resources! ISSP members can get a pre-publication discount.

Urban Sustainability Through Sustainable Design (Kevin Thwaites) Read Review.

Small Giants (Bo Burlingham) Read review.

Sustainable Value (Chris Laszlo) Read review.

Step by Step Guide to Sustainability Planning (Hitchcock & WIllard) Read review.


Other featured postings:

Bloomberg Clean Development Mechanism (thank you, Tracy Puett) Read post.

CSR Europe Toolbox for responsible business (thank you, JJWaller) Read post.

 


News You May Have Missed

The Shopper of Tomorrow (Wharton) Read article.

ICCR Publishes Climate Risk Profiles for 150 Companies (GreenBiz) Read article.

State of Green Business Report (GreenBiz) Read article.

Green Companies Do Better During Downturn (Study) (GreenBiz) Read article.

Why Sustainability Is Still Going Strong (WBCSD/Financial Times) Read article.

Efficiency Alone Could Cut Energy 30%:RMI Study (GreenBiz) Read article.

Microsoft develops sustainability dashboard for SMEs (Sustainable Life Media) Read article.

New Wal-Mart CEO Says Sustainability Drive Still Full Speed Ahead (WBCSD) Read article.

 

Career Corner

This will be a regular feature in our newsletter, featuring advice and tips from Vicki Lind, career counselor. She has identified 10 common mistakes sustainability job seekers make so we'll highlight one a month.

Career Mistake #7— Expecting to date the prom queen

Many sustainability-oriented people are strongly committed to their ideal job in a company totally committed to sustainability (a company like Nau or an agency like the Office of Sustainable Development). There are more options from selecting a less-visible company when it is open to new sustainability initiatives.

 

Chapter Corner

Chapters of ISSP are spontaneously being created in a number of cities. We'll use this space to share special announcements from them. This time we hear from James Miles from Chicago.

Creating a Culture of Sustainability – A Research Initiative
James L. Miles Sr. - Sphinx Enterprises Ltd.

Going ‘green’ is more than a cliché, marketing tool or buzz word for companies significantly enjoying its business benefits. It is the integration of triple bottom line sustainable business practices into your daily operating culture that result in an ongoing competitive advantage.  Imagine each employee in your organization focused on the bottom line by consistently considering ways to generate less waste, use less energy, improve performance and have a positive social impact internally and externally.  This is a great way to create ongoing or ‘sustainable’ business success. Going ‘green’ or business sustainability creates a culture of innovative sustainable practices at every level of the business enterprise from the small entrepreneur to the largest multinational firm.    The corporate team that has developed a culture of sustainability will have introduced new operating practices, product enhancements, costs savings, customer service improvements, increased market share, improved workplace conditions and even enhanced shareholder value.  The 21st century global marketplace not only admires this type of business behavior, it is beginning to require it from those reaping the rewards of market success and industry leadership. The benefit of operating this way is, at times, referred to as the “sustainability premium”.

The Research Initiative
The Climate for Sustainability Project is a research initiative that helps management teams drive the adoption and integration of sustainable business practices within their organizations.  It enables management to strategically use measured indicators to reveal their specific business culture needs as the organization moves toward triple bottom line business sustainability.  Triple bottom line refers to the alignment of people, planet and profit considerations in the planning and achievement of overall business goals and objectives.

The Climate for Sustainability Project uses a 30 minute, multiple choice, online survey identifying the following three sustainable business measurement dimensions:

•    the existing level of awareness with regard to environmental concerns and sustainability in general.

•    values that drive behavior to include the difference between a focus on the self and a focus on others and society.

•    the degree to which  sustainability concerns are an important element of organizational decision making and action, and whether the organization promotes sustainability oriented behaviors and activities

The Climate for Sustainability Project results will provide key insights into:
•    Strengths and weaknesses for each of the above sustainable business dimensions.
•    The development of an effective and efficient sustainability training program. 
•    The link between a climate for sustainability and employee performance, productivity as well as employee attitudes. 
•    The appropriate allocation of resources for maximum return on investment

Participation in The Climate for Sustainability Project is free to the first 100 companies. There is no size or revenue restrictions, all industries and sectors are welcomed. 

The following are participation guidelines:
•    Regular participation only requires five (5) persons from the company taking the online, multiple choice survey.  One of the five should be a manager/supervisor.
o    Participating companies in this category will receive a copy of the general study results
•    Full participation requires having representatives from each department and two to three  corporate leaders (executives / managers) take the online, multiple choice survey. 
o    Participating companies in this category will receive a copy of the general study results as well as a company specific baseline report.

*ALL individual and company specific survey responses are confidential and will only be reported as part of the overall results

To participate in this landmark study and help make our business community more sustainable contact Dr. James L. Miles Sr. at 877-777-4469 or jlmiles@sphinxenterprisesltd.com. 

 

Other Featured Events--ISSP Members receive discounts!

 

 

 

 

 

 

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