FHLBA Employee "Lunch-and-Learn" is for the Birds
Federal Home Loan Bank of Atlanta employees were recently treated to an Earth Share sponsored "lunch-and-learn" session, presented by Kathryn Dudeck, wildlife manager at the Chattahoochee Nature Center in Roswell. Dudeck showed off a barred owl and a red-tailed hawk for the FHLBA employees-- educating them on the unique traits of these raptors as well as debunking some commonly held myths about birds in general. Note to the birding novice: If you see a baby bird on the ground, leave it there. Its momma probably kicked it out for a very good reason! After the session, one Bank employee was inspired to visit the center and become a volunteer. The Chattahoochee Nature Center is a wildlife refuge located in Roswell on the banks of the Chattahoochee River. Earth Share of Georgia is a Level One Community Partner with Federal Home Loan Bank of Atlanta whose employees have a long history of community involvement. To find out how to schedule an upcoming "lunch-and-learn" session in your workplace, contact Earth Share at 404-873-3173 or email richard@earthsharega.org.

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One Earth One Day for Georgia
Earth Share of Georgia announces plans for Earth Day Georgia 2005. Leading off the month is Green Day, Saturday, April 2. Working from the Earth Day mantra, think globally, act locally, Green Day unites hundreds of corporate and government employees in a mission to clean up the environment through hands-on community projects.

The 3rd annual Earth Day Leadership Breakfast will explore ways local businesses can take that next natural step to strong community investment through creative corporate philanthropy. Event with keynote speaker will be held Earth Day, Friday, April 22 from 7-9 am at the Carter Center in Atlanta. Individual tickets are $50.

The Earth Day Party, Earth Share's annual gala and fundraiser will bring together members of the environmental and business communities and will be held the evening of Saturday, April 23 at the LEED Platinum Certified Interface Showroom in Midtown Atlanta. Partygoers will get a glimpse of how environmental groups and local businesses are helping to create a cleaner and greener Georgia. General admission is $50. VIP Patron tickets are $250 per couple.

If your company has an environmental story to tell contact Earth Share today to learn more about opportunities to participate in Atlanta's premier Earth Day celebration. 404-873-3173 or email richard@earthsharega.org.

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For Future Generations
Many of Georgia's leading environmental groups are applauding Governor Sonny Perdue's recently announced $100,000 initiative to preserve unspoiled land throughout Georgia. The Georgia Land Conservation Act would encourage public and private partnerships by enabling the government to purchase property outright or purchase a conservation easement to put restrictions on its development, while still allowing it to stay in private hands. The plan is similar to what has been happening voluntarily in south Fulton's Chattahoochee Hill Country Alliance. While many praised Governor Perdue's proposal for its innovation, some were disappointed that it did not include an initiative to protect 20 percent of green space in counties that are experiencing the highest rates of growth, similar to former Governor Roy Barnes' plan. Read more about the proposal at www.earthsharega.org.

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Blank Check for the Belt Line
As part of its commitment to preserve green space and improve parks for urban residents, The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation announced on January 28, it is awarding grants to two organizations involved in making the Atlanta Belt Line - a proposed corridor of transit, parks and trails - a reality. Recipients of the grant include Trust for Public Land, a national nonprofit, land conservation organization. TPL was awarded $2.5 million to support their campaign for right-of-way and green space acquisition along the proposed Belt Line corridor. Additionally, Friends of the Belt Line, led by Ryan Gravel, the former Georgia Tech student who conceived the belt line, and former Atlanta City Council President, Cathy Woolard, received a $30,000 grant to fund their education and outreach of the belt line proposal. The Blank Foundation is making its Belt Line-related grants as part of a broader strategy c alled Inspiring Spaces, which is aimed at developing a system of great parks in Atlanta through planning, land acquisition, maintenance and public support.

Read more about the proposed belt line project at www.tpl.org and www.beltline.org.

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Compassionate Consumption
Whole Foods Market, the world's leading natural and organic foods supermarket founded in 1980, donated five percent of total company sales on January 25, 2005 to create the Animal Compassion Foundation. The Foundation will provide education and research services to assist and inspire ranchers and meat producers around the world to achieve a higher standard of animal welfare. "By creating the Foundation, Whole Foods Market is pioneering an entirely new way for people to relate to farm animals - with the animals' welfare becoming the most important goal," said John Mackey, chairman, chief executive officer and co-founder of Whole Foods Market. " The launch of the Animal Compassion Foundation parallels the development of upcoming enhanced species-specific standards, which will give shoppers peace of mind in knowing they can find the highest-quality meat products that adhere to Whole Foods Market's strict standards and values which include raising farm animals with compassion. Whole Foods Market hopes to raise $500,000 for the foundation through this global five percent day. Read more at www.wholefoods.com.

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Special Thanks…
As the fall 2004 workplace campaigns come to an end, Earth Share would like to take this opportunity to thank all the individual donors, campaign coordinators and workplaces that helped to make Georgia a healthier and safer place to live. An extra special thank you goes to Paul Hastings Janofsky & Walker, Seyfarth Shaw, Kaiser Permanente, Lord, Aeck & Sargent, and Emory University for demonstrating their continued commitment and outstanding leadership on the environment in their workplace campaigns. The numbers are still being tallied and we look forward to sharing the final results with you in the next issue of Green at Work Online.

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Chattahoochee Challenge
The Chattahoochee Nature Center is looking for volunteers to help with the 4th Annual Chattahoochee Challenge 10K Road Race and Fun Run on Saturday, February 12, 2005 from 6:00 am until approximately 10:00 am. Volunteers are needed for a variety of positions including water distribution, handing out t-shirts, registration, helping at the finish line, assisting in the parking area, and much more. All volunteers get a free CNC 10K race t-shirt at check-in. For more information, contact Lynda Perryman, l.perryman@chattnaturecenter.com or 770-992-2055 ext. 234. For more information about the race, visit www.chattnaturecenter.com.

Wildwood Restoration
Here's your opportunity to experience a wilderness without going outside the perimeter, and help nature restore a hidden Atlanta gem. Generation Green volunteers will be assisting Trees Atlanta to help restore The Wildwood, a 60-acre forest in the Morningside area of Atlanta on February 19 from 9 am to noon. Contact Samantha Lampert at the Georgia Conservancy to register, 404-876-2900 Ext 116.


Earth Day Volunteers Needed
Earth Share of Georgia is looking for volunteers to help coordinate our upcoming Earth Day events. Opportunities for involvement are still available to assist with the silent auction for the 2005 Earth Day Party, event registration, administration, as well as helping to staff our three events. Contact Annie Nixon for more details, 404-873-3173 or annie@earthsharega.org.


Green Day Corporate Teams
Are you and your co-workers looking for a way to make a difference in the community? Then join Earth Share on Green Day, April 2, 2005 as hundreds of corporate and government employees unite in an effort to clean up the environment. Contact Patty Reiter for more details, 404-873-3173 or patty@earthsharega.org.

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Adopt the pace of nature: her secret is patience.--Ralph Waldo Emerson

FACT: Nearly 97% of the Earth's water is salt water. Another 2% is locked in ice caps and glaciers. That leaves just 1% as fresh water suitable for farming, recreation, manufacturing, washing and drinking.

Water is one of our most precious resources, yet it is easy to waste. By conserving water we can keep plenty of clean water on tap for our health and well-being--and save money, too. Here are ten EASY water saving tips for around the house you might not have thought of.

1. Install low-flow showerheads. They're cheap, easy to install, and can save hundreds of gallons a week.

2. Run your washing machine and dishwasher only when full. You could save 1,000 gallons a month.

3. Soak pots and pans rather than let them sit under running water while you scrape them clean.

4. Turn off water while you brush your teeth and save 4 gallons a minute — that's 10,000 gallons a year for a family of four.

5. Use a broom instead of a hose to clean your driveway and sidewalk. You could save up to 80 gallons of water every time.

6. Use a commercial car wash that recycles its water.

7. Install a toilet dam or bottle filled with water in your toilet tank to cut down on the amount of water used for each flush. Be sure these devices do not interfere with operating parts.

8. Insulate hot water pipes so you don't have to run as much water to get hot water to the faucet.

9. Water plants only when necessary. More plants die from over-watering than from under-watering.

10. Put food coloring in your toilet tank. If it seeps into the bowl, you have a leak. It's easy to fix, and can save more than 600 gallons a month.

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When the well's dry, we know the worth of the water.--Benjamin Franklin

Youth Environmental Symposium (YES)
Middle and High School aged-children are invited to take part in the 9th annual Youth Environmental Symposium, a state wide competition sponsored by Georgia Conservancy to encourage environmental stewardship. Cash awards from $500 to $2000 will be given to the most outstanding projects. Deadline for entry is April 5, 2005. For more information visit www.georgiaconservancy.org.

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The sun, with all those planets revolving around it and dependent upon it, can still ripen a bunch of grapes as if it had nothing else in the universe to do.--Galileo