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During Wichita's EXPOsure, Green Biz Wichita (GBW) hosted a contest to introduce attendees to the organization. GBW requested people to visit its Facebook page then stop by the booth to enter into a drawing to win an iPad2. This contest more than doubled GBW fans on Facebook and the winner of the iPad2, Stacy Wontorski from Kansas Star, was notified this week.
In addition, the next GBW mixer will be held prior to the holiday season. Mark your calendar for Dec. 6 and come to Bonefish Grill from 4-6 p.m. Check out greenbizwichita.org for a full list of upcoming events and watch for future announcements in the newsletter and social media.
The executive committee has set goals for 2012. It will hold four Lunch-N-Learns and four mixers next year. GBW will also host a membership drive and a membership appreciation event. Another goal of the GBW executive team is to plan events and activities one year in advance then forward ideas to the its Event Committee to be carried out. The team is asking for strong input from newsletter readers on their ideas for events, speakers, educational topics and lunch and social locations.
As a new organization, GBW is able to build its calendar based on member input - and hopes you'll openly participate. Please respond with ideas by replying to this newsletter or emailing suggestions to info@greenbizwichita.org
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MEMBER PROFILE:
Dave Coyle,
In the Bag Cleaners
The business of dry cleaning has not always been considered environmentally-friendly. However, Dave Coyle has been researching and implementing green practices since he's owned In the Bag Cleaners.
Coyle has worked in dry cleaning for years, purchasing his first store in 2000. His interest and ability grew and by 2008 he had purchased Wichita's Best Cleaners stores. In 2010 he acquired Royal Cleaners and today he offers 15 In the Bag (ITB) retail stores in Wichita, Andover, Newton and Derby.
Many recognize In the Bag for its famous purple - or blue - bag. The company offers pickup and delivery service in 4,000 homes and offices around the Wichita metro. Though this service offers complete convenience for ITB customers, Coyle says the "bag" makes up only ten-percent of his business.
"We do promote it from a green perspective," he says.  "Using our bag means people are saving gas by eliminating one errand. For us, we map our pickup routes as greenly as possible to save on fuel costs and emissions."
Inside both of In the Bag's 10,000 square-foot warehouses, Coyle uses a petroleum-based solvent, which is a green alternative to perchloreythene - a hazardous chemical used by more than 80-percent of dry cleaners. His five machines push out 400 pieces of clothing each hour without harmful carcinogens. Coyle says this change in chemicals was "the right thing to do."
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October 2011
Volume I, Issue 3
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Get Involved in the Wichita Initiative
to Renew the Environment
The Wichita Initiative to Renew the Environment (WIRE) is currently looking for volunteers for Wichita's Environmental Leadership Council (ELC). Members of the ELC meet once a month to develop ways to address Wichita's top environmental concerns -- no environmental expertise is required. Current projects include building rain gardens along the Arkansas River to reduce pollution from storm water run-off, establishing no-idling zones throughout the city to reduce vehicular air emissions and implementing waste audits for businesses in collaboration with Green Biz Wichita.
Click here for more information about the project, or contact Elizabeth Ablah at eablah@kumc.edu for volunteer opportunities. --
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GET READY TO BE RECRUITED:
Executive Team Sets Tone
for Future Membership Drives
The leadership of Green Biz Wichita has set the tone for how it will increase membership in 2012. As a young organization, the processes and plans for recruiting people and hosting events are all new, exciting and can be modified until GBW finds the right fit.
As the organization works to increase its membership base in the coming months, GBW team members are asked to actively pursue names and pass along contact information to its Membership Chair Roger Carvalho of Pen Publishing. Each lead will be contacted within three working days by a team member who either knows them personally or who can relate in the best way to their business or company.
When possible, membership visits will be made in person and will promote the organization website, present a membership application and be proactive in encouraging the prospect to attend at least one GBW function before joining.
The committee member who leads the prospect will be asked to report on progress and all aspects of contact, handling their application and membership confirmation. Once the new member pays dues, Green Biz Wichita will offer immediate contact of materials and information and the new member will be welcomed on the GBW website within 48 hours of becoming part of the city's green business organization.
The Membership Committee invites new members and newsletter readers to join a committee and become active in the organization. To do so, contact GBW at info@greenbizwichita.org. --
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"I didn't want to subject our team to something that could cause negative health effects," he says. "This way our team is not breathing it and it is not going into our customer's home or closet. In addition, the residual or waste that is handled from the hazardous chemical is not good for environment and is much more costly."
As a standard, dry cleaners use a lot of boxes, hangars and plastic. In the Bag maintains a partnership with Waste Connections, another Green Biz Wichita member, to recycle every piece of cardboard, metal and plastic material used in its line of work. In the Bag consistently asks customers to return and recycle hangars and uses the purple and blue bags to cover pickup and delivery garments, instead of plastic. Internally, the company utilizes paperless communication.
Coyle says the company also uses an autobagger, which pulls plastic down over the garments and automatically cuts the material three inches below the clothes. This avoids wasteful plastic - a commitment Coyle says no other dry cleaning business can offer in town.
"Our plastic is also 100-percent recyclable," he says. "Even if it goes into a landfill, the resin of the plastic would biodegrade in one year. It's just the right thing to do."
Joining Green Biz Wichita was a no-brainer for Coyle. He is glad the city is emphasizing recycling efforts and says that as the movement grows he believes people are and will be loyal to companies that demonstrate a commitment to being environmentally-conscious.
"We know we don't know everything about being green and we need to keep learning and stay sharp on the subject," Coyle says. "The purpose of attending GBW meetings is to gather info about what other businesses are doing and generate more ideas for us. We place Green Biz Wichita signage and the logo on all of our countertops and have received a tremendous response. In the Bag is environmentally-conscious and we want our customers to know that." --
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