The Conference Committee has been working hard to “green” our 2009 Conference and needs your help. As you prepare for our August conference, we invite you to help us green our conference and ask that you please be aware of the following ways you can help. 

PLEASE BRING THESE ALONG ON YOUR TRIP:

Hot Beverage Container:

We have asked Semiahmoo not to use disposable cups at the conference. If you drink coffee or tea, please bring a hot beverage container with you since there will be both on and off-site opportunities to use it, such as when walking around the hotel grounds, at the espresso bar and on field trips.

Water Bottle:

If you like to drink water, please bring a reusable water bottle of your choice. As with hot beverage containers, there will be plenty of on-site and off-site opportunities to use it. During the day, the Semiahmoo will supply water jugs and glasses. For picnics, other offsite activities and on the grounds of the resort, we ask that you please use your own reusable water bottle instead of using plastic bottled water. This will help use reduce waste, save on the energy costs associated with transporting bottled water, and help the WDA to save money on conference expenses. If you’ve always wanted a nice steel water bottle, now is the time to buy one (try www.mysigg.com; www.REI.com/Sigg; or www.kleankanteen.com) and bring it with you.

Cloth Bag, Briefcase or Backpack for Papers and Personal Items:

We will not be giving out fabric or plastic tote bags with conference materials. Please bring your own from home. This will also help reduce our conference costs.

Writing Supplies:

Please bring your own pens, as well as writing pads or notebooks, preferably made of post-consumer recycled paper. We will not be giving these out either.

Personal amenities:

Although the hotel provides individual shampoos and conditioners in small plastic bottles which are replaced daily, these are not biodegradable and half or more of the contents is usually wasted. To avoid using these individually packaged personal amenities, we request that you please bring your own shampoo and conditioner.

ADDITIONAL THINGS YOU CAN DO TO HELP ENHANCE SUSTAINABILITY AT THE CONFERENCE

Getting To and From the Conference

Vancouver International Airport (British Columbia) is 2 hours closer to Semiahmoo Resort than Seattle’s SeaTac Airport but is only worthwhile if you can get a direct flight. www.yvr.ca/guide/toandfrom/.  From there you can take a shuttle to the Bellingham International www.quickcoach.com: /(800) 665-2122.  NOTE: You will need a passport. Information on entering the US from Canada is available here.

SeaTac International Airport (Seattle, WA):  If you fly into SeaTac (www.portseattle.org/seatac/ground/groundrates.shtml) you can take Bellair Charters to Birch Bay: www.airporter.com/schedules/schedules-rates/ 800 235-5247.

Another good option for getting from the airport to Semiahmoo resort or from cities within driving distance of Semiahmoo Resort is to carpool with other participants. Once WDA has a registration list, you will be able to search out participants and arrange to carpool with your colleagues by using www.ERideshare.com.

At The Conference

Newspapers:

If you don’t need the newspaper as part of your morning ritual, we ask that you inform the front desk when you check in and the newspaper will not be delivered to your door. Complimentary newspapers will always be available in the lobby if you should change your mind on any given day.

Cell phones, laptop, etc.:

Cell phones, MP3 players and laptops are real energy drains. We ask you not to charge any of them overnight if you can avoid it. Most modern versions no longer need such long charges. The idea would be to charge them after the last session of the day and unplug them before you go to bed.

If you so desire, you can purchase a solar powered combination charger for cell phones, iPods, GPS & digital cameras at www.solio.com. One hour of sunshine gives you 20 minutes talk time.

Towel-linens:

The resort has a towel / linen program that gives guests an option to have their towels and linens changed every other or on the third day rather than every day. If you can, please partake of this program while you are visiting.

Carbon Offsets

Carbon offsetting has proponents and opponents. It is not the first action you should take to address greenhouse gas emissions but, at this stage in environmental progress, it is the best way to make up for the carbon the conference will emit. The key is that the provider is both honest, established, has an excellent reputation and invests in projects not just to reduce emissions but does so in a sustainable way (including social responsibility). We have such a provider and offer you an opportunity to offset your emissions for this trip:

http://www.nativeenergy.com/

Many thanks on behalf of the organizing committee for helping us meet our goals of greening this conference by participating in all, or as many of our requests as possible.

Suggestions for next year’s conference will be greatly appreciated.