Not easy being GREEN!

Article that was published bout my Green Drinks Mason events grp you may enjoy-Thanks

Want to help the environment? Care for a drink? Being environmentally consciou involves more than just throwing cans in a recycling container-although that's a start. To truly be green, one must think green and live green. It's a lifestyle change that betters the planet, and the smallest steps go a long way.

One group, now firmly established in Mason, is reaching out to people hoping to make a difference by giving them an unusual arena to gather, to socialize amd learn how to live eco-friendly. Sometimes it's as simple as chatting over a few drinks. Every month, people who work in the environmental field set up meetings known as Green Drinks. This eco-movement has been taking place in bars acorss the country since the first meeting was held in London in 1989, when a heated discussion within a small group of environmentally friendly fashion designers in a local pub turned into a tradition. In 2001, the official website of the movement, greendrinks.org, was launched, inviting others to host there own discussion forums in local bars. Green Drinks now holds monthly events in 722 cities worldwide.

Green Drinks Mason was established in September 2008 and the first meeting was held in January 2009. The meetings, which are open to everyone, take place on the fourth Wednesday of each month from 6-730pm in area locations, including Cincinnati. The group's website http://bit.ly/GDMFans describes the meetings as a way to "discuss, network and learn about sustainability - and have a good time doing it." The premise of Green Drinks is simple: discuss the environment, have a drink. Anyone is invited to sit and chat, and there's no real agenda to follow. "We want to get as many people as possible together to just network and meet people," says Eric Routenberg, founder and organizer of Green Drinks Mason. Routenberg, outside sales manager for InfoTrust LLC, http://www.infotrustllc.com saw Green Drinks as an avenue for people to exchange ideas and business cards, or just sit and listen in a friendly, non-threatening environment.

Topics of conversation have been as simple as discussing the benefits of recycling and how to stop a leaking faucet, to the more complex issues like global warming and urging government officials to require more reusable sources of energy. The talking points continue to shift and grow-while the drinks keep flowing. Often times, Green Drinks will invite a guest speaker to the monthly meeting "just to spark a conversation," says Routenberg. Of course, the topic must be environmentally related. The most recent Green Drinks Mason took place at the Famous Neon's Unplugged in Over-the-Rhine in August and featured a special forum on Cincinnati's green source for salvaging usable building materials. Jerry Janszen from Building Value LLC was the guest speaker. Along with themes and guest speakers, some meetings have featured promotional perks like a limousine tour of the city, or other ways to help their fellow businessmen while remaining a non-profit. A benefit for women with fibromyalgia is scheduled for the next meeting Sept. 29 at the Ludlow Bromley Yacht Club in Ludlow,Ky.

"I just got tired of looking around the city and seeing these cigarette butts and trash on the ground," says Routenberg about founding the group. His concern for the area sparked a movement, and as a result, the Mason chapter of Green Drinks became reality. Most of the early meetings took place at the Fox & Hound Pub on Bowen Drive Routenberg says he's seen the group increase with every meeting. "We nearly doubled our very first meeting to our second," he says. Steps to create a new Green Drinks for your city are relatively easy. Among them: a reasonable distance from other Green Drinks chapters, maintaining politically neutral, and a desire to help others and the environment. Routenberg became aware of Green Drinls while reading an article in Men's Journal. Soon after, he made the call to Edwin Datschefski, founder of greendrinks.org, seeking to organize the Mason chapter. Datschefski serves as the international coordinator of Green Drinks and was one of the founding members in London.

While Green Drinks has become large in terms of worldwide participants, the philosophy of a small get-together remains the same. Each city strives to host the events in a local bar setting whenever possible, and most new groups start with only a dozen or so participants. It;s not uncommon for a larger city to attract 100 or more people per month to their meetings. Ten to 60 people have attended recent Green Drinks Mason meetings, and the number grows each time. "People have been turning out more for many different reasons," says Routenberg. Some chapters have noticed that as the group sizes increase, so do the possibilities. It's not uncommon for events like these to create lasting friendships, partnerships or even romance. Green Drinks also serves as a venue for prospective employment, something that is on the minds of many. As people gather with similar interests, certain opportunities may present themselves. This is something Routenberg has seen as a rewarding byproduct of Green Drinks.

"No matter what field it may be in, we all know someone who may fit a job opening," he says. "It's always satisfying seeing people come together for others in need and it's always great when you can relax and toss back a cold Blue Moon with an orange slice, too". In additiion to his responsibilities at his day job, InfoTrust, Routenberg works tirelessly on his promotion of Green Drinks Mason. He maintains social networking sites like Facebook and blog http://bit.ly/GDMason and gives updates and news blurbs on the latest Green Drinks news. "We aren't asking you to do a complete 180 in your lifestyle in one day," says Routenberg. Habitual changes can be difficult, but Green Drinks aims to make the transition a little easier-and more fun. Of course, you could always come for the drinks.

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