Hey everyone!

This will be my last newsletter. I'm leaving the Board and taking a break from SBA after about four years of faithful service. No one has stepped forward to handle the membership tasks, web site, or the newsletter, so I'm not sure when the next newsletter will appear, but keep checking the web site for details.

Remember to check out our Events calendar, which you can review anytime, and even add events to your own calendar. There's lots going on, so be sure to keep up with these interesting tidbits.

And don't forget our networking lunch at India Palace next Friday! Pre-register here.

The next in our new speaker series is on June 3rd, and it's a timely topic: water conservation. Register here! EBMUD's Board of Directors voted on May 13 to impose water restrictions -—and raise water rates —for most customers. Find out what YOU can do at your business and home to respond to the severe water shortage facing the East Bay - and keep your water costs under control! Come away with a water saving kit, quick tips, rebate information for toilets, irrigation, washing machines—and more.

And don't forget our monthly Green Drinks, now in two locations each month…check it out here.

SBA Board:

• Beth Gelfand, the Buddy Club
• Chris O'Brien, Mechanics Bank
• Gil Friend, Natural Logic
• JB, Pre-Paid Legal Services
• Jennifer Kassan, Katovich Law Group
• Leila Khatapoush, Breathing Room
• Marissa LaMagna, Rasa Travel
• Pamela Evans, Green Biz Program

Finance:

• Allan Moskowitz, Progressive Wealth Management
• Sunny Hill, Sunny Hill Bookkeeping
• Kayleen Clemens, CPA

• Mark McLeod, SBA ED

• Tom Cosgrove, Clean Energy Associates
• Connie Hampton, Hampton & Associates
• Tatyana Ryevzina and Pam Chang, Sarana Community Acupuncture
• Laurie Prindle, Blue Heron Graphics

• Justine Burt, Justine Burt & Associates
• Tisha Winters, Numi Organic Teas
• Rick Elfman, Flooring Solutions
• Burr Tyler and Eron Ersch, EcoCraft

June 4th
The Dream Reborn Recap
Oakland Museum, 1000 Oak Street • 5:00 - 8:30pm • FEATURING: Van Jones, Jakada Imani, and other community leaders, musicians, and spoken word artists
Did you miss the Dream Reborn conference? Or perhaps you were a part of our inspiring gathering and want to continue building the movement now that you're home. Here's your chance to tap into the excitement that began in Memphis last month. We invite you to join the Ella Baker Center and Green For All on Wednesday, June 4th to learn how people in California are turning the dreams hatched in Memphis into action in our communities. Don't miss this evening of uplifting performances and presentations from inspiring leaders who will share their ideas for creating an ecologically balanced world with opportunities for everyone. RSVP.

June 6th
East Bay Women in Business Roundtable Breakfast - Programs that help women in business sustain performance and growth
Scott's Restaurant, Jack London Square •  2 Broadway, Jack London Square • $25/35
ORGANIC FOODS: Achieve profits and positive social impact. What do exotic beverages, tea, and healthy meals all have in common? They are organic products that sustain profitable, award-winning businesses. Join EBWIBR on Friday, June 6, 2008 when a distinguished panel of experts will reveal wisdom from the organic foods industry.

June 7th
Green Marketing: The Art of Doing Well by Doing Good
UCBerkeley Extension, San Francisco • 10 am–2 pm • FREE
By promoting green practices, you're helping the environment and boosting your career. Get expert advice on how to sell green.

June 9 - 14, 2008
We still have space available in the Certified Green Building Professional (CGBP) Training and GreenPoint Rater Training in Irwindale, CA. SIGN UP ONLINE NOW!!! A full schedule of Southern California trainings is listed online.

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June 12th
Fairmont Hotel San Francisco, 950 Mason Street •  5:15 p.m. registration (Grand Ballroom) •  $135 per person; $1,500 Group of Ten
The nominations are in, the judges have met, and the finalists have been selected! Join us as we announce the winners of the San Francisco Business Times Bay Area Green Business Awards. We will honor the leaders and entrepreneurs in green business, clean tech, energy conservation, alternative energy, and the best and brightest innovators and champions of green and sustainable business practices. Be a part of the celebration. Meet and congratulate the winners and finalists. Share the knowledge and best practices of leaders in the green revolution. And don’t miss the Green Business Awards special edition profiling all the finalists and winners Friday, June 13. Register: San Francisco Business Times. Download a flyer.

July 19th
Urban Permaculture: An Ethical, Eco–Social Design Response to Climate Change and Peak Everything
UCBerkeley Extension, San Francisco • 10 am–1pm • FREE
Learn innovative strategies for ecologically sound living in an urban environment, including rooftop gardening, constructed wetlands, and community–based job creation.

July 26th
Body Conscious Design
UCBerkeley Extension, San Francisco • 1-4 pm • FREE
The co-author of Bodythinking, Jader Tolja, demonstrates how aesthetics and design are rooted in the body. In a workshop environment, he teaches you how to think with your body to produce design that creates a sense of well–being.

NEWS

Panama, 13 May 2008: The Earthrace eco-boat has successfully avoided delay in its attempt to beat the round the world speed record and completed its transit through the Panama Canal. Earthrace is a 24m tri-hull wavepiercer that is currently attempting to smash the world record for a powerboat to circumnavigate the globe, running renewable biodiesel fuel, and with a net zero carbon footprint. Read more at Earthrace's web site.

Oakland Merchants Leadership Forum board co-chair Erin Kilmer Neel just put on another rockin' Oakland Indie Awards showcasing local businesses and handing out chocolate statuettes to the winners of the Pillar, Soul, Newbie, Ripple Effect, Greenie, Innovator, and other categories.

Aerial Spraying
Important for everyone, everywhere, because, it may be about CA now, but will likely be coming to neighborhoods across the country, if not prevented. (THAT is a real danger, not the spread of a moth.) And, of course, we share One Planet--what's done to air and water anywhere, is done effectually, everywhere. www.stopthespray.org

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East Bay MUD Needs Your Help

OAKLAND – The East Bay Municipal Utility District Board of Directors voted unanimously Tuesday to immediately implement a Drought Management Program to safeguard its shrinking water supply amidst a second consecutive dry year. The District received roughly half of its normal runoff this year and projects its water storage will be over 200,000 acre-feet short of the water desired by October 1 of this year (the beginning of a new rain year). EBMUD is seeking a 15 percent reduction in water use district-wide implementing the drought program and mandatory restrictions on water use now would stretch the dwindling supply further, especially in the event next year is dry as well. To achieve the 15 percent savings overall, EBMUD is calling for single-family residential customers to cut back by 19 percent; multi-family units, 11 percent; irrigators, 30 percent; commercial, 12 percent; institutional 9 percent; and industrial, 5 percent. Read More…

JOB POSTING: Terrain Magazine Advertising Coordinator
Part Time (20 hours/week); Excellent benefits package; Salaried Exempt Position + commission; The Ecology Center is a multicultural work environment, diversity is a core value. AA/EOE. Summary of Responsibilities:The Terrain Magazine Advertising Coordinator is responsible for the overall development of the advertising accounts and promotions activities for Terrain Magazine. This position represents the magazine and organization in cultivating relationships with advertisers and procuring high quality, high profile and appropriate advertisers. This position is primarily responsible for increasing the profile of the magazine to readers and potential advertisers. This position works under the direct supervision of the Terrain magazine program manager. More info: Ecology Center. Apply: mary@ecologycenter.org

4.4 Cents and Sensibility: Bay Area initiates first-of-its-kind fee on biz greenhouse-gas emissions
Businesses in nine San Francisco Bay Area counties will pay 4.4 cents for every ton of greenhouse gases they spew, after the district air-quality board voted 15-1 Wednesday to approve the fee. Set to take effect July 1, the fee will affect more than 2,500 businesses; the district estimates that perhaps seven power plants and oil refineries will have to pay more than $50,000 a year, but most businesses will pay less than $1. The fee is modest enough that dramatic emissions reductions are unlikely to occur, but proponents laud the precedent. Businesses were, unsurprisingly, less enthusiastic, expressing concerns about the cost of tracking and reporting emissions, duplication of state efforts to address warming, and the authority of an air-pollution board to regulate greenhouse-gas emissions. The fee is expected to generate $1.1 million in the first year, which will help pay for projects aimed at reducing the region's emissions. Read about it here…

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