2007 Chapter Challenge Grant—Application Excerpts
St. Louis
USGBC-STL will leverage funds from the Chapter Challenge grant to maintain the Chapter Coordinator position and increase administrative support for the Chapter. Taking administrative roles off the Chapter Coordinator’s plate will allow more time spent developing leadership; meeting with community leaders; meeting with potential sponsors, recruiting national and Chapter members; and engaging members more thoroughly in Chapter committees and activities.
Chapter Challenge Grant funds will allow USGBC-STL to begin the process of achieving the following:
· Establish a Speakers Bureau
· Host new member events
· Develop a membership campaign
· Develop and hold LEED general information sessions (working with USGBC’s Education staff) and increase number of LEED workshops & modules held
· Hold LEED AP study sessions, hosted by the Emerging Green Builder committee
· Collaborate to pursue state-wide green building legislation and municipal LEED adoptions
· Instigate information sharing sessions among Chapter members and like-minded organizations
· Partner with AmerenUE (local utility) in order to enhance the LEED Incentive Grant Program and incorporate a research/case study component
· Support Chapter Coordinator’s effort to seek LEED Accreditation
· Develop media outreach strategy
Arizona
The Arizona Chapter hired contract administrative support in 2006, hoping that the additional, consistent support for specific tasks identified at board meetings would free the board members to spend more of their time thinking strategically, and allow the chapter to increase its funding and visibility.
The results of these efforts were positive: the chapter increased funding by a large percentage, and succeeded in building some core platforms for all committees to function more effectively. Chapter goals for increased productivity were met by many committees, including program planning, emerging green builders initial efforts, and educational outreach efforts into the Arizona community. The chapter hosted Rick Fedrizzi for a series of meetings in the Fall, and closed the year with a major event.
This year, the Challenge Grant will further leverage the administrative support available to board members, and allow the chapter to provide better assistance to a new branch chapter in Tucson, as well as expand continuing partnership funding efforts. The increased revenue will be used to fund greater administrative support for committees, as each committee chair has well defined goals and strategies to implement in 2007. Results will be measured at year end for each chapter.
We are looking forward to transforming the built environment in Arizona, especially in view of the 2030 Challenge!
Las Vegas
The LVRC has a very different perspective for the Chapter Challenge Grant. We are a uniquely positioned International destination which can impact the Green Building and Global Climate Change movements far beyond our borders. LVRC will match Challenge Grant funding with local funding to provide $50,000 to start an ongoing program to promote knowledge of Green Building and LEED as well as impact a large audience on Climate Change issues. We will create a local Challenge Grant program to match USGBC funding which can leverage the account to $100K, a four fold improvement on the USGBC national investment. A clear description of our program is elaborated below.
The LVRC will implement a program to promote Green Building practices and Climate Change Awareness to travelers that visit our city each year as well as regional stakeholders connected to our industry. The approach is as follows:
Integrate education and media programs at Las Vegas Convention and Visitor Bureau (LVCVB) and the Las Vegas International Airport (LAS). Las Vegas is home to conventions ranging from 1200to 150,000. The Airport sees more than 41 million travelers each year. The media plan will include:
Embrace the 2010 Imperative and 2030 Challenges thru roundtable sessions and the first ever USGBC Green Bus tour. These efforts will be directed toward Stakeholders in the Education and Design Communities. Activities will include: o USGBC Green Bus Tour, carbon neutral using bio-diesel buses to showcase sustainable Green Building projects to students and design professionals
A “world class” Regional Green Building Conference will be founded that will be carbon neutral and will set high standards for Green Building Practices and Climate Initiatives in the Desert Southwest. The conference will create passion and embrace action among stakeholders who will effect change that will benefit our Region for generations to come.