Great Lakes Bioneers Volunteers Reception

Fee?? No way. This is a free event to say thank you for all that you’ve done to make the Great Lakes BIONEERS an year round inspiration.

For more Information, email : info@bioneers.org

For the official international Web site, go to: World Fair Trade Day
Come join in these local events to celebrate the movement to make trade fair. Learn about the benefits of fair trade (FT), and taste the difference that respect, love and dignity can make in chocolate, coffee, olive oil, fruit preserves, bananas and other fair trade products.

Unity FT Marketplace will be tasting free FT coffee, chocolate, etc all day, as well as holding a drawing for a $25 gift certificate to the store full of FT fashion, toys, books, and beautiful/useful home decor. join us here at 3PM for the official TC’s largest fair trade coffee break Lets get the whole town together to join in this awesome celebration 113 E State St. (in the alley behind the City Opera House) 929-4228 http://unityfairtrade.com/

Higher Grounds and Oryana all day will be tasting free fair trade coffee, local FT fruit preserves and other FT goodies. Come check out their SALES on FT products in honor of WFTD

Oryana: 260 E.10th St. (at Lake st) 947-0191 http://www.oryana.coop/

Higher Grounds: 806 Red Dr., Suite 150 (the old state hospital) 922-9009 http://www.highergroundstrading.com/

What is Fair Trade?
Fair Trade is an alternative way of doing business, one that builds equitable, long-term partnerships between consumers in North America and producers in developing regions. Fair Trade businesses commit to:

• Paying a fair wage in the local context.
• Offering employees opportunities for advancement.
• Providing equal opportunities for all people, particularly the most disadvantaged.
• Engaging in environmentally sustainable practices.
• Being open to public accountability.
• Building long-term trade relationships.
• Providing healthy and safe working conditions within the local context.
• Providing financial and technical assistance to producers whenever possible.
This criteria was established by the Fair Trade Federation.

Is Your Community Bike Friendly? Take this test; it’s short.

Well, it’s Michigan, anyway. As we await more green shoots, here’s what’s cooking up north:

First, Thanks For Your Support!
We had an amazingly great showing of people who came to our Locavore Potluck and the movie, King Corn. We surprised ourselves with the turn out and were really happy to help showcase the new Serenity Tea Bar and Cafe as well as bring many new faces (and farmers) to the State Theater, where Great Lakes Bioneers was in lights on the marquee. How fun!

Last Call For Presenter Proposals
In case you haven’t written it down yet, the Great Lakes Bioneers Conference will be October 17-19, 2008 right here in Traverse City, MI. Are you doing something that you’d like to share with others? Know someone else who is? The Bioneers mission is based on the promotion and application of practical solutions and innovative strategies for restoring Earth and our communties. Presenters are not paid, though we offer complimentary registration, lodging and meals for those selected.

Applicants will be notified by June 1. Fill our our application form online by May 14 if you are interested in being a presenter or would like to recommend someone to us.
Website Redesign: Your Input Requested
We want to incorporate YOUR website wishes as we redesign the GLBioneers website. Let us know what you’d like to see more of, what you’d like to see less of, and ideas to make it better. The website is there for you, so please let us know what works. Send comments to info(at)glbconference.org.

Have Time to Help? Volunteer with Us!
We need volunteers to help us create outreach materials and displays, update our press contact lists, do data entry, and hang posters & deliver brochures across the state. We also have some fun new outreach ideas that we think you’ll enjoy. Including,

• Bioneer Walk-Abouts: canvass for Bioneers! We’ll start knocking on doors later this spring.
• Salons, Brunches, and Ice Cream Socials: Interested in hosting a Bioneer event for your friends and neighbors? We’ll help!

More volunteer needs are coming as we close in on this year’s conference, that’s right, October 17-19. Let us know your skills, talents, and availability and we’ll help you help us! Contact Tara(at)ecoSEEDS.org or call 231.947.0312

Final Note: Is Your Community Bike Friendly? Take this test; it’s short.

Well, it’s Michigan, anyway. As we await more green shoots, here’s what’s cooking up north:

First, Thanks For Your Support!
We had an amazingly great showing of people who came to our Locavore Potluck and the movie, King Corn. We surprised ourselves with the turn out and were really happy to help showcase the new Serenity Tea Bar and Cafe as well as bring many new faces (and farmers) to the State Theater, where Great Lakes Bioneers was in lights on the marquee. How fun!

Last Call For Presenter Proposals
In case you haven’t written it down yet, the Great Lakes Bioneers Conference will be October 17-19, 2008 right here in Traverse City, MI. Are you doing something that you’d like to share with others? Know someone else who is? The Bioneers mission is based on the promotion and application of practical solutions and innovative strategies for restoring Earth and our communties. Presenters are not paid, though we offer complimentary registration, lodging and meals for those selected.

Applicants will be notified by June 1. Fill our our application form online by May 14 if you are interested in being a presenter or would like to recommend someone to us.
Website Redesign: Your Input Requested
We want to incorporate YOUR website wishes as we redesign the GLBioneers website. Let us know what you’d like to see more of, what you’d like to see less of, and ideas to make it better. The website is there for you, so please let us know what works. Send comments to info(at)glbconference.org.

Have Time to Help? Volunteer with Us!
We need volunteers to help us create outreach materials and displays, update our press contact lists, do data entry, and hang posters & deliver brochures across the state. We also have some fun new outreach ideas that we think you’ll enjoy. Including,

• Bioneer Walk-Abouts: canvass for Bioneers! We’ll start knocking on doors later this spring.
• Salons, Brunches, and Ice Cream Socials: Interested in hosting a Bioneer event for your friends and neighbors? We’ll help!

More volunteer needs are coming as we close in on this year’s conference, that’s right, October 17-19. Let us know your skills, talents, and availability and we’ll help you help us! Contact Tara(at)ecoSEEDS.org or call 231.947.0312

Final Note: Is Your Community Bike Friendly? Take this test; it’s short.

This Just In, Corporations are ruling the world!

Taking the corporation’s legal status as a “person” to its logical conclusion, the film puts the corporation on the psychiatrist’s couch to ask “What kind of person is it?” Provoking, witty, sweepingly informative…and, either depressing as hell or a stimulus package of a different sort.

When: Tonight!!! April 28 at 7:30 at the Traverse City State Theatre… www.statetheatretc.org
This film is part of the on going Monday night Community film series, tonight’s host is the Unitarian/Universalist group

Look for the papers around Northern Michigan, they are literally everywhere, or read the article online after it is archived in a week or two at Northern Express Archive.

Early registration is $25 per person, kids 14 and under free! Add lunch for just $5.

All the information you need and online registration is at www.artmeetsearth.org/skillswap.htmlSkills Workshops:

Session I (9:30 to 10:55)
Baking Bread: Yeasted & Sourdough
Seed Starting & Transplanting
Irrigation for Water Saving
Handmade Paper Making
Timber Stand Improvement

Session II (11:05 to 12:30)
Chicken Processing
Seed Saving
Earth Floor Construction
Handmade Soap
Cook for a Crowd (& make lunch!)

Session III (1:30 to 2:55)
Friction Fire Starting
Cultured Foods
All About Herbs
Pruning Fruit Trees
Earthwise Cleaning Products

If you want to help, here are a few of our current volunteer needs:

1. Creating a tabletop display for use at conferences and events
2. Doing data entry to our database of interested people and organizations
3. Updating our press list

The building of the Earth Day parade (Building Revolution), Odom’s 10th Anniversary festivities & tour, Oryana’s 35th Party, the annual NMEAC EOY dinner where we will present our 2008 Bioneers Award, the Compost Give-a-way, the EDay Parade, the Empty Bowls Benefit…and that’s not even all of it…

For a complete low down of events, go to the Progressive Calendar at www.traverseareaprogressives.org

See you there, or somewhere in between.