Initiatives
MELA’s tenth anniversary in 2012 marks a decade of change ahead, when we’ll bring our members new events and benefits, respond to their new needs and reach out to new constituencies throughout the Midwest. We hope you will be a part of our growth.
Education and Networking:
For all of our ten years we have been committed to providing education and networking that promotes sustainability. Our Winter Conference 2012 (link) is the centerpiece of this mission.
- Eco-tours, sponsored by member companies, showcasing their sustainable solutions.
- A Summer Movie Night, “Green Fire, the Life and Legacy of Aldo Leopold” This film follows Leopold as scientist, ecologist, forester and environmentalist and explores the profound impact of his thinking on conservation projects around the world today.
- A Fall Conference and Members’ Meeting on Sustainable Maintenance co-sponsored by The Shedd Aquarium.
- A Season Wrap-Up Event in November, when we gather to talk about sustainable solutions, the business of sustainability and the challenges and successes of the past season.
Watch the calendar or find us on Facebook for details of the events.
As “being green” catches on, more and more companies and organizations are getting in the education game, and we are hearing from our member companies that they want something more. You want customers who are interested in sustainable solutions. To help you, MELA is reaching out to municipalities, sustainability officers, park districts, and public groups to talk about the benefits of sustainable landscaping and point them to our member database for assistance. In addition, 2012 we will:
- Sponsor Meet MELA: “Bring a Friend” networking events for MELA members, friends, customers and others interested in joining our movement. We will host three in Chicago in 2012 and one in Wisconsin. These events will feature helpful hints on how to build sustainability into your business plan – and how MELA’s tools and resources can help.
- Debut at Green Town in three cities in 2012: Valparaiso, Indiana; Highland Park, Illinois: and Toledo, Ohio. In these forums, MELA will speak to community leaders about sustainability in the built environment.
- Sponsor public presentations on sustainable landscaping for homeowners in June and August this year.
It’s a virtual world, and MELA will be there too in 2012. Our new website features resources and links to help you learn, network, and promote your sustainable business. We offer:
- A Searchable Database, where you can promote your company and the sustainable services you offer.
- Sustainability in Action: A discussion forum on sustainable issues, with link to others in the movement who can help you!
- A Jobs Board where job seekers can post their resumes and companies can look for qualified candidates.
- The MELA Interactive Calendar where you can post events on sustainability, find events to attend, and see who is doing what in sustainable education. Posting is free for all MELA members, partners, friends, and the public. Posts are screened.
- Social Media and Enews: Beyond the website, MELA’s Facebook page posts news, information and resources about sustainability and MELA events. In addition, members can send news about their company’s projects, events and people to info@melaweb.org for posting on the page. The MELA Report, a bi-monthly enewsletter, also reports type of information from members.
To practice what we preach and give back to the community, MELA provides sustainability consulting, design and selective installation support to one community garden each year selected for us by our partner, Neighbor Space.
Our current project is in Little Village.
Our first project, during 2010 and 2011, was at O’Keeffe School Garden. |
