E-SAGE is 1 Year Old!

Well it's finally happened, we've been around for 1 year, and we couldn't have done it without you! So come and celebrate with us.

Party Details:
Date: Thursday December 11, 2008
Time: 6:00 – 11:30 pm
Place: Village Lifestyles
10429 – 79 Avenue

The potluck dinner starts at 6:00. We will have local wine from En Sante Winery, (including a dinner session about wine pairing and fruit wines) and local beer from Amber’s Brewing. We will also have live music and entertainment for your enjoyment. Bidding for the silent auction closes at 9:00 pm.

And for those of you have been looking for a way to support us to grow and do more in the coming year, now is your chance. We are having a silent auction to help raise funds for basic operations and building the online directory. If you have a business and could donate an item to the silent auction, please let us know by Dec 8 by replying to this email or calling 780.435.5683. If you need more information or reasons to donate, keep reading...

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Good Day!

We’re writing to invite your support for e-sage in helping us create a vital financial nest egg (without giving us a dime)

Seriously. We’re not asking for money.

There’s a way you help us (in a big way) and it will only take you about 5 minutes but could help us make big strides towards becoming more financially stable.

Here’s the deal:

Up until now we’ve done all our work (more on that below) through passing the hat at our meetings. However, to keep it up and take this group to the next level, we need to generate an operating fund.

Why? The main reason is that we want to be able to hire people to work on E-SAGE as a full time basis – not just a volunteer venture. A paid staff person will then have the time to do the more substantial work of grassroots fundraising and grant-writing.

So – here’s how you can help:

On Dec 11th we’re holding a silent auction at our anniversary party.

We’ve chosen to approach local independent businesses like yours because the unique products and services you offer appeal to our members. This is a great way to promote your product or service and a practical way to encourage people to shop locally.

Could you donate an item for the silent auction? If so, we need to pick it up by December 8, 2008, and would appreciate if you could include a slip of paper with the item that lists this information:

- your company name and contact info
- the name and description of the item being donated
- the approximate value of your donation

Two good reasons to donate something . . .

You might get more business for yourself. If you have your own product or service, this is an inexpensive way to promote it to a lot of new people (who may be just your kind of client). Silent auctions can be a great way to get exposure and also reduces anxiety for people who want to try something new.

It’s an easy way you can support Edmonton’s Green Economy without needing to donate any money (of course – financial donations are welcome as well). For the past year, E-SAGE has been one of the only groups in Edmonton providing consistent & energizing opportunities for green business owners and passionate people to gather and network about sustainable alternatives. And we think that’s worth celebrating (and supporting).

Who or what is E-SAGE?

This abbreviation stands for Edmontonians Supporting A Green Economy. E-SAGE is an Edmonton-based network that encourages Edmonton area businesses and community members to become greener, to think local first, and to make informed socially-responsible choices in the ways that they earn and spend their money. We work to support them in contributing to the development of a vibrant local living economy, community and environment through networking events and workshops.

What do we do?

We do what we say we will do.

When we started this group, we asked our members what they wanted most. Their top 3 wishes were:

to network with like-minded people.
to find out what others are doing, or where to find “green” businesses.
to DO something, not just talk about it.

We inspire people. Our meetings are energizing. People meet others they can REALLY talk to and connect with. In less than 1 year our mailing list has grown to over 320 members, and our Facebook group has over 480 members.

We educate and empower people. Our monthly meetings cover topics ranging from urban gardening, greening your home, eco-villages, alternative energy, local economics & business to the 100 mile diet. We are building an online directory of sustainable businesses, products, services, organizations and resources to help people take daily action on their decision to live more sustainably.

We support events & organizations that are making a difference.

We worked with the City, and Keep Edmonton Original to have November 2008 proclaimed as “Shop Local First” Month.

We worked with the Greater Edmonton Alliance to bring 600 people out to the hearings to preserve Edmonton’s agricultural lands at city hall on November 12, 2008.

We promote community events for other groups like the Sierra Club, ESPA, and help to bring in world-class speakers like Kevin Danahar, Michael Shuman and others.

Thanks you so much for your contribution,

Maureen, Terra & Tad
E-SAGE
maureen@e-sage.ca
780.435.5683

P.S. not sure what you could donate? It could be any product or service you think that a progressive minded crowd would appreciate. Here are some examples of other items being donated:

2 hour “Breakfast Conversation” with Mark Anielski –author of “The Economics of Happiness” at the Sugar Bowl. Approx value $300.

1 hour “Urban Landscape Consultation” with Ron Berezan, “The Urban Farmer”. Approx value $150.

½ hour “Marketing Consultations” with Tad Hargrave of “Radical Business”. Six sessions valued at $100 each.

1 hour Sustainability Consultation (for technology, economics, development and investment) With Joey Hundert. Approximate value $200.