Green Communities Coalition is: "A Grassroots Organization of Northern Illinois
Dedicated to Preserving Our Environment through Positive Action."
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Next Meeting - August 17th, 6:00 p.m. Emmanuel Lutheran Church, 920 Third Ave, Rockford
Guest Speaker: Scott Summers, Green Party Candidate for U.S. Congress will speak on his views of environmental policy.
SUCCESS STORY: Green Communities Coalition ended its 18 month grassroots campaign that garnered unanimous Rockford City Council endorsement of the Cool Cities initiative that culminated in Mayor Larry Morrissey signing the U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement, June 11th, 2008
Area Events
Benefit Concert for Green Communities Coalition
August 24th, 5:00 at Cliffbreakers, 700 Riverside Blvd. Concert $10, with meal $20
Click here for details. (PDF) Reservations: call Allen @ 815-874-9604
Burpee Museum of Natural History - EarthFest Sept. 27 & 28 More info at Burpee website.
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We had excellent success at the 7th Annual Illinois Renewable Energy Fair.
Volunteers Ruth Penticoff and Alison Lakey signed up the bulk of our 41 new
memberships. We also networked with other groups and learned a lot from the
speakers. And it was fun.
Photo below:
Alison and Ruth at our table, modeling our new GCC tee shirts. Having the
shirt available - about ten of us wearing them - the GCC Team was everywhere!
Order yours for only $10 in all the normal sizes. Email or call Allen Penticoff
apenticoff@comcast.net or 815-985-1108
Who We Are
Green Communities Coalition is a non-profit grassroots organization
of concerned citizens dedicated to preserving and improving our
environment through positive action.
We seek to build a cooperative coalition with partners in the communities
where we live: be they churches, schools, non-profit organizations, government,
business or individuals. Together we will agree on actions we can take to
improve the environment and make recommendations to government
and the public. This effort is undertaken with the support and assistance
of the Sierra Club's "Cool Cities" program.
However, GCC is not a part of the Sierra Club in any manner. The "Cool Cities"
program has already obtained the commitment of over 1,000 mayors of U.S.
cities to agree to voluntary efforts at carbon dioxide reduction - side stepping
national level debate over climate change and taking positive action now
at the community level. We believe global warming climate change is a fact;
we cannot wait any longer to take action to reduce the causes or our children
and grandchildren's planet may be drastically altered.
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Our present efforts are aimed at bringing to the attention of the
communities where we live, the need to address climate change NOW.
We are seeking partners for our coalition who will lend their name
and support to our efforts of the City of Rockford, Illinois and mayor,
Larry Morrissey, to truly be a Cool City.
See the U.S. Mayor's Climate Protection Agreement.
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GCC has already been deeply involved with City Hall in moving forward with
energy conservation and other environmentally friendly practices. We will continue
to be an active partner with the city in moving forward toward a greener future.
The City Rockford, Illinois will be performing energy audit of its buildings, operations
and vehicles to see where we stand and where money saving efficiencies
and carbon dioxide reducing practices can be applied. Interdepartmental meetings
will take place to share in and promote conservation. Ongoing monitoring of
energy and waste will continue indefinately, constantly striving for improvement.
City of Rockford had a kick off "Green Week" June 9 - 14, 2008
Still good recommendations any time... Details
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With the backing of the mayor and the city council, we will work
with them and the community to ensure efforts are carried out to
reduce carbon dioxide emissions and that future activities undertaken
by the community take emissions into account before approval or action.
Other projects moving forward. We are in talks with Comprehensive
Community Solutions and Youth Build Rockford to construct a high
efficiency "green" demonstration home then be auctioned/sold/raffled
for charity at the end of a year of being open to the public.
Also, we're to launch a campaign to promote use of canvas shopping
bags in lieu of paper or plastic.
We also support the Winnebago County 2030 Land Use Plan, and
the Just Goods, A Fair Trade Marketplace's efforts to install a vertical axis
wind turbine in the heart of the 7th Street business district.
GCC was an important part of the highly successful,
Inaugural May 29th, 2008 Winnebago County Green Business awards.
Website: www.WinnCoGreenBiz.org (grossly overdue for updating - A.P.)
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A survey of 1,033 Winnebago County residents on their concerns about
the environment was done in 2004. This 105 page document is available
for your review and consideration.
We observe that the majority of respondents were quite concerned with
the direction of the environment. It would be fair to assume that three
years hence, with all the publicity about global warming and actual
environmental crisis taking place, that a new survey would find the
level of concern considerably higher - and probably a higher response
rate to the number survey's mailed out.
Click here for the pdf document: Green.Communities.Survey.Jan.04
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Organization/Contacts
President: Rev. James A. Roberts, jarob401@aol.com 815-963-4815
Vice President: Mike Kearney Apingos@aol.com 815-874-2923
Treasurer: Rich Muniz Rich_Muniz@hotmail.com 815-222-8572
Secretary: Jamie Johanssen jjohannsen@wcfpd.org 815-877-6100
Web & Communications: Allen Penticoff, apenticoff@comcast.net 815-985-1108
Technical Consultant: Bob Lindstrom rbrtlindstrom@yahoo.com 815-540-9843
Inquiries about our meetings and events are welcome.
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To join Green Communities Coalition, contact Allen Penticoff above.
There are no membership fees. We just need your support to make things
happen - do join us and we'll keep you abreast of local environmentally related
events, news and progress via our email list and this website.
Coalition Members
As of 08.12.08 our individual membership
totals 252.
Organizations: (27)
City of Rockford Illinois
Emmanuel Lutheran Church
Unitarian Universalist Church
Rockford Progressive Meet-Up
Black Hawk Chapter - Sierra Club
Klehm Arboretum & Botanic Garden
Natural Land Institute
Rockford Business College
Winnebago County Forest Preserve District
Womanspace
Winnebago County Democratic Central Committee
League of Women Voters - Greater Rockford
Illinois Renewable Energy Association
P.L.E.A.S.E. of Rockford College
Wild Ones
Sinnissippi Audubon Society
Junior Achievement of Rock River Valley
S.I.F.E - Students in Free Enterprise, Rock Valley College
The Northwestern Illinois Local of the Illinois Green Party
Rockford Area Habitat for Humanity
Rockford Yacht Club
Seversen Dells Nature Center
Vegetarians In Motion
Burpee Museum of Natural History
Rockford Area Convention and Visitors Bureau
Rockford Urban Ministries
Zion Development Corporation
Business: (17)
Just Goods, A Fair Trade Market Place
The Rock River Times
Affiliated Surgeons of Rockford
Choice Natural Market
Hartsough Dermatology
Solergy Alternative Energy Solutions
Wild Birds Unlimited
Angelic Organics Learning Center
D&N Real Estate
Rockford Geothermal
Midtown Art Gallery
Mac Group Productions, Inc.
Tina Brenza D.D.S.
Minglewood
Comprehensive Community Solutions, Inc.
Healing-Scents.com
Davig Custom Cleaners
Clergy: (2)
Rick Meier, Pastor Alpine Lutheran Church
James Roberts, Pastor Emanuel Lutheran Church
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Action Corner
We don't have a big "links" page as there is
already so much on the web for you to explore, just use your search
engine and inquire about whatever interests you. We assume you're
smart enough to seek out information on your own. (This may change
when the webmaster gets around to building such a page. So many
nice websites to choose from is the difficult task - A.P.)
Below is a little out of date now, but if you wish to sign on the dotted line in support of
GCC, this is the place to do it. We particularly encourage non-individuals to sign, i.e.
businesses and organizations to document we are authorized to display your support
on our webpage.
Read the "Statement of Support" document. PDF format
We encourage those who are considering joining the coalition to read the statement.
If you agree to the statement - it is short and simple - to print it, sign it, and mail to
Green Communities Coalition, 6302 11th Street, Rockford, IL 61109 to have it recorded.
Please advise the webmaster that you have sent the document - we will notify the other
members by email of your joining. You will then be added to our coalition partners list.
Our strength is through shear numbers of supporters.
Encourage your elected officials - find your alderman/woman here.
Contact info for aldermen/women including email here.
NEW: Read the Illinoisans for Global Warming Solutions letter.
GCC is a signatory to this letter.
To contact Environment Illinois to sign on too - click here.
Click here for the awesome
"Do Something" poster.
Click "books" for photos of a ton of new "Green" books at the
CherryVale Barnes & Noble books
Awareness + Action = Change
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Donations:
Green Communities Coalition has established a tax-exempt charitable
fund with the Community Foundation of Northern Illinois.
Checks may be written payable to the "Community Foundation of Northern
Illinois" with "Green Communities Coalition" noted in the memo line.
Send to: 946 North Second Street, Rockford IL 61107.
Please call the Foundation at 815-962-2110 if interested in making a
credit card contribution to the Coalition fund.
Non-taxable donations:
Checks made out to: Green Communities Coalition
Send to: GCC, 4941 Innsbruck Drive, Rockford, IL 61114
Please contact our Treasurer if making a donation. See above contact info.
Thanks for getting this far - the end.
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