Dear Sustainable Business Alliance Members, Fans, and Community,

The Sustainable Business Alliance (SBA) is bringing 2009 to a close with a flurry of enthusiastic and energetic growth.

1. SBA has a brand new website and website address!! Check it out at www.sustainablebusinessalliance.org. We have two of our Board members - Mike Paunovich and Sue Kearney - to thank for the new site. Their diligent and generous contributions of time and talent are greatly appreciated and we are delighted by the results - and know you will be too!

2. Gil Friend, who was SBA Board President since the founding of SBA in 1996, has resigned from that position and is deeply immersed in further growing of his highly successful company, Natural Logic. Thank you, again, Gil for your service!

3. Leila Khatapoush, who has served on the Board for the two years, was unanimously elected by the board members as Board President. Any of you who know her through her work for Alameda County Green Business Program; for her own company, Breathing Room; or through her burgeoning career as a singer/songwriter, will know that she is blessed with the energy, effectiveness and sense of humor (very desirable attributes for this demanding position) of any three normal mortals.

4. SBA has just become one of a dozen sustainability-oriented business associations who are members of an important new political advocacy organization, American Sustainable Business Council, which is currently being led by David Brodwin, a specialist in "messaging" for Triple Bottom Line nonprofits. Our members will derive benefits such as opportunities to engage in political activism as well as benefiting from the impact of a united voice championing an agenda for sustainable businesses in Washington D.C.

5. Pamela Evans, who has been SBA Events Committee Chair for the past three years, is now turning this position over to SBA Board Member Beth Gelfand, who has been serving on that committee for the past two years. Beth is looking forward to producing SBA Networking Lunches on the first Friday of each month; SBA Speaker Events on the second Tuesday of each month; and co-producing the SBA Annual Party. See note #1 at the bottom. 

6. Justin Martello, Board Treasurer and Certified Financial Planner with Effective Assets, is spearheading a dynamic Membership Committee which has committed to doubling the SBA membership over the next twelve months, helping us to achieve our mission of increasing awareness and growing the green economy in the East Bay. Find out more about SBA membership.

In short, we are looking forward to a great year for our wonderful SBA, and hope to have you join us as we move forward into 2010!

Mark McLeod
Executive Director

NOTES

1. Our annual party will be held on Wed., Jan. 20, 2010, 5:30 pm, at Luka's Taproom, 2221 Broadway, in Oakland. The Green Chamber of Commerce and East Bay Green Drinks are co-sponsors of this event.