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Contributions
The fastest, easiest (and least interesting) way to involve attendees is to ask them to contribute cash, most commonly to carbon offsets. more »Carbon offsets are at their best when they are educational, teaching people about their environmental impact by measuring it. So we particularly dislike the approach of a voluntary contribution towards the average carbon emissions of a festival attendee... it removes the learn-through-measurement approach that is carbon offsetting's biggest benefit.
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Educate
- Let attendees know what you are doing, let them know who they can contact in your organization to talk about green ideas, and most importantly let them know what they can do. If you give attendees a take-home idea or a chance to actively participate, they'll remember you.
- In your conference materials, have a short set of activities that attendees need to do now. »After describing everything you're doing behind-the-scenes to be green including the flow restricter on the kitchen sink, remind attendees about the steps they need to take right then: transportation plans (train, carpool, bus from the airport), the closest green hotel to reserve a room, and anything else they need to do right then.
- Green Guides is planning to help events educate their attendees. You can be one of the first to link to the most relevant page on our site, with YOUR LOGO on top, for free. Contact us.
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Engage
Nothing is as powerful as getting attendees to participate. Greening and other "socially responsible" activities shouldn't be seen primarily as a "cost" to an event, but as means to your ends, and especially as an ice-breaker so that people meet at your meetings:
- Encourage attendees to share their travels, using it as a networking opportunity. During the conference, a solo drive from the conference location to a tour location is a waste of time; a bus or shared ride is one of the best networking opportunities -- part of the conference.
- Ask for volunteers who'll introduce their dinner table to your conference's greening goals. New leaders »Greening & other socially responsible discussions will draw out leadership skills from new contributors.
