First SAGE Meeting

I am very pleased to invite you to participate in the creation of a new networking community in Edmonton.

Networks strengthen local economies by supporting their members while being respectful of social and environmental principles. Local networks can link regionally to other networks, nationally to BALLE Canada and internationally to a BALLE (Business Alliance for Local Living Economies) The purpose of this network is to encourage and support local businesses and individuals to make sustainable lifestyle choices.

There have been other attempts to gather together the threads of the "green" community in Edmonton. Some of you may have been or are currently involved in such projects. This invitation is intended to help connect the various groups and develop a place where everyone can work together for a common goal.

Who can join the group?
What is its purpose?
When will we meet?
Where will we meet?

These are all questions we can answer together. If you know of others who would be interested in being a part of this group please forward this invitation to them.

What: The inaugural meeting of the Edmonton Socially-Conscious Alternative Green Entrepreneurs Network (or E-SAGE for short)

When: Tuesday, December 11, 2007
7:00 - 9:00 pm

Where: Village Lifestyles
10429 - 79 Ave
Edmonton, Alberta
Behind the post office
Who: if you have any questions or want to RSVP, call Maureen Abram @ 435-5683, or reply to this email.

I believe that to create a sustainable lifestyle one must consider, evaluate and choose the best options based on certain criteria. Transportation, housing, food, health, education, family, work, and relationships between local and global communities are part of our lifestyle. With the right information it is possible to make the best choices. Educating members about each other's businesses is one of the many functions of a networking group.

Here are some of the other reasons I want to be part of this networking group, and I hope some of them resonate with you.

- To meet socially with like-minded people in the local community make new friends, and work together to accomplish shared goals.

- To develop working relationships with experts in related fields. It is great to be able to work on a project with others who share the same values and can offer fresh perspectives on an issue from their professional experience.

- To feel supported in maintaining a lifestyle change. The decision to break away from old habits can be traumatic if you don't know what to do or who to talk to when questions or problems arise. Meeting others who have "been there", who can share inspirational success stories as well as their frustrations and failures helps to create a safe space for meaningful relationships and a caring community to develop.

- To access a collection of resources and strategies for people working to create "living economies" and sustainable lifestyles. These resources
would include articles, newsletters, product catalogs, local business directories, case studies, web links, step by step instructions, guest presenters, workshops and anything else that helps people live more sustainable lives. Some examples are on the toolsforchange.com and davidsuzuki.com websites.

- To be part of a unified community of like-minded people who are a significant portion of the population. When it comes to influencing the decision makers there is strength in numbers. I'm sure everyone can think of a time where a certain number of signatures on a petition, letters to an MP, or people at a meeting would have made a difference. The problem has always been how to get the word out to the right people, at the right time.

I hope to see you at the meeting!