NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Dec. 9, 2011 – Mark Thien, president of Envolve Strategies, Inc. and co-founder of the Nashville Clean Water Project, has been named 2011 Volunteer of the Year by National Public Lands Day.

National Public Lands Day (NLPD), America’s largest, single-day volunteer event for public lands, recognizes outstanding volunteers that go above and beyond to make their local NPLD event a success. As one of five national award recipients, Thien was selected for spearheading the Nashville Clean Water Project’s large scale eco-recovery initiative at J. Percy Priest Lake on Sept. 24, 2011.

“Mark’s dedication to National Public Lands Day exemplifies the spirit of that day,” said NPLD Program Director Robb Hampton. “His work at J. Percy Priest Lake in Nashville demonstrates the important contribution by volunteers in helping to sustain our nation’s public lands.”

Thien inspired the Nashville Clean Water Project in 2008, thereby providing Middle Tennessee corporations and residents a unique avenue for volunteering their environmental service. Percy Priest Lake is one of the most visited lakes in the country, attracting almost 7 million visitors annually many of whom leave the region polluted with trash and debris. The ongoing campaign leverages year-round volunteer and corporate support from the likes of Bridgestone Americas, Waste Management, and others, including his own Envolve Strategies, for a lasting impact on Middle Tennessee’s environment.

“This recognition is really a tribute to every volunteer and supporting business that has engaged with the initiative these past four years so I tip my hat to each of them,” Thien said. “Most people want to do good and only need a connection. I’m grateful for the recognition of our work to fill that role.”

Since encountering the pollution problem on a camping adventure in 2008, Thien has worked directly with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to manage seven large-scale recovery projects at J. Percy Priest Lake. The Nashville Clean Water Project has contributed more than $400,000 in service value represented by tens of thousands of hours from volunteers throughout the region. Two seasonal projects at Percy Priest (the first Saturday of each May, and National Public Lands Day in September) highlight the campaign’s many year-round public engagements.

The Fall 2011 event was a logistical spectacle, attracting 268 volunteers who amassed a work crew value of more than $30,000 over 1,435 volunteer hours in eight unique locations. Volunteers removed 81 tires and 1,250 trash bags totaling 104 cubic yards of waste and weighing an estimated 33,800 pounds. The project scrubbed 120 acres overall, providing focused attention on 5.1 acres of roadway and 6.5 miles of shoreline, addressing the unnatural impact of lake visitors and increasing storm water debris from surrounding communities.

John McFadden and his son prepare for most camping trips on the islands of J. Percy Priest Lake with three 55-gallon trash bags.

“It’s not unusual for us to fill those bags when we get there,” said McFadden, Tennessee Environmental Council executive director. “I sail on the lake, and I camp there about three times a year. There’s an underlying problem with our society. It’s a lack of respect and appreciation for nature, which is the backbone of our community.”

The 7 million fishermen, campers and other lake users who visit each year contribute to the litter, but last year’s historic flood amplified the problem with stormwater and debris from neighborhoods across the area.

Nashville Clean Water Project and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers have planned a Sept. 24 cleanup of the 33,000 acres of land and water, which feeds into Nashville’s drinking water and serves as one of Middle Tennessee’s favorite recreation locations. The volunteer group and rangers are hoping to gather about 400 volunteers for the first cleanup at Percy Priest since the flood.

The two agencies have worked for the past four years to solve the 40-year trash problem at the lake, but there are still tons of debris, said Mark Thien, co-organizer of the volunteer cleanup.

“We already have about 120 people signed up, but the need is great when you’re talking about this much land and water,” Thien said. “This area saw 14-and-a-half feet of water, so the islands along Percy Priest became a filter.”

ext week’s cleanup will target two islands, Rivers Bend and Poole Knobs, that were hit the hardest by old and new waste over the past year.

Everything from Gatorade bottles to pop-top Budweiser cans to broken flip-flops can be found spread across Percy Priest’s 12 camping islands.

Volunteers ages 16 and older are welcome to take part in clearing those islands, the lower lake and areas closer to the homes that surround Percy Priest.

Nashville Clean Water Project heads about two cleanups each year at the lake, but the last two were rained out.

“Not staying on schedule with the cleanups has meant all this stormwater waste has sat here since the flood,” Thien said. “I think seeing the trash here has undoubtedly contributed to people leaving more trash. They see it, so they add to it.”

3 littering citations written this year

Army Corps of Engineers gives citations to those caught littering in or around the lake, said Todd Yann, Percy Priest Lake resource manager. Three citations and five warnings have been written to littering lake users this year. With only a handful of rangers patrolling the area, it’s hard to handle the trash problem and enforce the law, Yann said.

“We just don’t have the people to be everywhere at all times, so that’s why we rely on the volunteer responses like these,” he said.

Courtney Wilson, Army Corps of Engineers ranger, said she hopes that along with clearing the debris, volunteers gain knowledge of the prolonged effects of water pollution.

The broken pieces of Styrofoam, plastic and glass in the water and on land can be consumed by wildlife and aquatic creatures. Because Metro Water Services treats the lake’s water for drinking, keeping the water clean is just as important to humans, Wilson said.

“I hope they’ll gain an appreciation for what’s here because this is a large resource that a lot of cities don’t have,” she said.

The volunteer effort, sponsored by Bridgestone Americas and Waste Management, has the backing of Impact Nashville, Mayor Karl Dean’s initiative that matches volunteers with some of the city’s most significant community projects. It’s also one of dozens of national projects that will be endorsed by National Public Lands Day, the country’s largest single-day volunteer event of public lands, Thien said.

Several Tennessee Environmental Council members plan to be on hand for the event, McFadden said. Between the hundreds of volunteers and those who regularly recreate at Percy Priest, he said he hopes to soon see a change at Nashville’s largest body of water.

“It’s worth the time and effort to take care of this thing,” he said. “It’s the value of one of God’s creation, so hopefully those who come out will begin to think, ‘What am I doing? Am I a part of the solution or part of the problem?’ ”

Contact Stephanie Toone at 615-259-8079 or stoone@tennessean.com.

http://www.tennessean.com/article/20110916/NEWS/309130079/Overrun-by-tons-trash-Percy-Priest-Lake-seeks-lifeline

I’ve shopped online at Amazon.com for more than a decade and appreciate the positive difference I’ve seen in the last year or so in how items are packaged. This is no mistake; Amazon is on a quest to “make it easier for customers to liberate products from their packages.”  A few years ago, it seems, Jeff Bezos grew tired of emails from frustrated consumers who ranted about excessive packaging. Whether they annoyed by clamshells designed to deter shoplifters, boxes several times larger than necessary, or fighting through layers of bubble wrap (often to find a indestructible clamshell underneath), customers were communicating their “wrap rage.”

Rage is not a word any company wants to associate with its customer base, so the online retail giant seized the opportunity to reduce costs along with customer angst, introducing “frustration-free packaging” for 19 of its products in 2008. According to the New York Times, frustration-free products have earned on average a 73 percent reduction in negative feedback on the Amazon site. That’s a pretty significant improvement.

Despite the seemingly daunting task of convincing manufacturers to offer special packaging for online sales, Amazon’s “frustration-free” offerings have grown to more than 600 items currently. Philips is one of the most recent companies to design/offer special packaging for its Sonicare toothbrush after Amazon shared some disgruntled customers descriptions of fighting with the plastic package.

Amazon is not stopping there. The company continues to empower consumers to identify waste and inefficient packaging with its Packaging Feedback Program.  In addition to asking questions about how the product was protected and whether the box was sized appropriately, there’s a place for specific comments and complaints and even the opportunity to upload a photo. I have a feeling most of the photos added look a lot like those from the Stupid Shipping Gang.

Packing smarter saves resources and money – and it makes people opening the boxes a lot happier. Properly packaged consumer goods are less prone to damage and cost less to ship.  Smart packaging also helps reduce an overwhelming burden on our land and oceans. What do I mean? You should read this.

Reducing waste always makes good business sense. Listening to your customers doesn’t hurt either.

Do you have a topic you’d like to know more about? Ping us with a comment and we’ll respond.

Meet Envolve Strategies, a full-service marketing company that’s focused entirely on corporate sustainability, environmental and CSR initiatives for a variety of clients nationwide. Simply put, Envolve gets it. They’re an experienced group of eco marketers who excel with green media, grassroots marketing, socially responsive messaging and online marketing programs that produce. Because of their niche, Envolve’s work typically involves reputable operations that seek deeper, cohesive connections to sustainability but can’t quite “crack the code” for transitioning the whole organization. Envolve (the “en” for environment) is guided by its own 12-point screen for determining if a company’s sustainability initiatives are genuine, marketable, and of real value to consumers. Ultimately, they translate traditional marketing chatter into the language and tactics of the new economy, transforming yours into a sustainable brand people want in their lives, and producing quality marketing programs that are convincing and true. Envolve Strategies also offers a range of sustainability services, including waste, material, GHG and carbon reduction strategies. If your company gets it, and wants more of what Envolve does, check them out online for sustainable marketing, proudly unwashed:  www.envolveus.com.

Contact Caty Hirst at chirst@tennessean.com or 615-259-8088.

Click here to view this original story at Tennessean.com

Maybe you should try that. Sustaining, I mean.

It happens to be the biggest thing in business since the spread sheet itself. Nearly every day, we encounter another success story about sustainability in business.

By working smarter, and using less, sustainability-focused companies are boosting performance, increasing profitability, improving reputations, reducing operational costs, eliminating waste, and generally making their customers, investors and employees feel good.

Since sustainability emerged as a leading business influence (almost five years ago for the Upper Cumberland mainstream), the principles of a leaner, greener world have proved beneficial to those innovative enough to be on the leading edge.

According to the Edelman Good Purpose consumer study, more of shoppers are spending money – despite the economic downturn – on brands that have developed their social and environmental reputations. As Interbrand CEO Rune Gustafson says: “It is becoming the hygiene factor.” Without a good sustainability record, people will be turned off by your brand.

Statistically, the case grows more compelling. The respected research firm AT Kearney says green companies are 15% more profitable than traditionally modeled ones; at sustainably-focused companies, stocks trade 45% higher. Four out of five people said they were still buying green products and services, even in the midst of the recession, according to Opinion Research Corp.

From LEED-certified (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) to SSI-ready (Sustainable Sites Design) to ISO-compliant (International Organization for Standardization), industry best practices can intimidate even the hard-nosed veterans among us. Established and emerging jargon can cause doubt and, no question, sustainability has many science-sided elements that require specialized knowledge, training and skills.

But I promise the movement also includes easy concepts for you, your employees, your colleagues, your company and partners to grab a hold of and understand. Simple matters like conserving water and energy. Carpooling. Reducing paper or other waste.

When individuals begin to think “less” and innovate more, impressive things happen. In the last year alone, The Outdoor Advertising Association committed to eliminating paper poster boards (the industry’s smaller-sized billboards) and dress them with recyclable plastic. Aramark introduced a reusable takeout food container, diverting an estimated 2 million disposables from college landfills each school year. And maybe you’ve heard that extra rustling (or been the cause of some) in a cubicle near you from Sun Chips’ ully compostable bag.

Perhaps you don’t know where to start – energy, IT, facilities, supply line, materials, the list of possible impact areas is long.  The sound advice of people who started a sustainability journey before you is usually short: Just pick an area to work on, and go.

That’s the attitude of Chris Clark, a Tennessee businessman who improved the lives of thousands of Upper Cumberland residents this year alone. The president of a land planning and site design company in Nashville, SC&A Natural Resources, donated 101,000 trees to people of Tennessee. His reasons were two-fold.  One, he knows the critical role trees fill with respect to air and water quality, carbon savings, soil erosion, energy conservation, aesthetics and more.

His second motivation?  “I just wanted to show others how simple it is to step into sustainability,” Clark said.

Together, the 15 counties that comprise the Upper Cumberland Business Journal’s readership area adopted 10,200 of Clark’s trees. Clay, Jackson, Smith and Trousdale requested 1,000 trees each for public distribution and municipal projects, alike.

In the end, the EPA says Clark’s contribution could yield an annual economic impact of $11,260,000 starting in the 20th year. Now consider most of the species he chose will live between 60 and 100 years.

With some help from the Chris Clarks of the world, we all can find ways to “sustain” in this economy. All that’s really missing is a willingness to ask, “How can I do what I need to, while using less?”…and a willingness to start today.

Mark Thien is president of Envolve Strategies, Inc., a sustainability and marketing consultancy in Nashville, Tenn.  Your questions and ideas for a future columns about sustainability in business are welcome at info@ucbjournal.com.

“This year’s roster of honorees demonstrates that environmental stewardship is thriving in our local communities – from universities to golf courses to the hospitality industry.  I am pleased to support a program that recognizes leadership that positively impacts the environment,” Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam said.

The Governor’s Environmental Stewardship Awards program recognizes exceptional voluntary actions that improve or protect our environment and natural resources with projects or initiatives not required by law or regulation. This marks the 25th year for the awards program. Thirty-six professionals from various public and private organizations judged more than 100 nominations to determine the award recipients.

“The quality of our environment is so important in our daily lives and citizens continue raising the bar to ensure that Tennessee’s communities are healthy places to live, work and play,” said Environment and Conservation Commissioner Bob Martineau. “Covering each region of the state, this year’s award winners have worked very hard and we are pleased to recognize their innovation and dedication.”

The 2011 Governor’s Environmental Stewardship Award winners are:

Category:  Natural Heritage – 100,000 Trees in Tennessee, Statewide
Chris Clark sought to provide solutions to many environmental issues by enabling Tennessee residents to plant native trees across the state. These trees were planted in shopping malls, neighborhoods and corporate properties, in addition to municipalities, public schools and even state parks.  Donating 100,000 native trees to Tennessee, Clark inspired these tree “adoptions” while educating citizens about the benefits of native trees across the state.   Planting these trees benefited communities by addressing issues such as storm water runoff, following two consecutive years of record flooding; increases in the carbon canopy; reduction of water levels in our region’s aquifers, streams and lakes; persistent erosion of natural resources and wooded areas; sediment in fresh water supplies, caused by bank erosion and runoff; and an emerging concern about the loss of water worldwide. Within five months of the program’s inception, 100,000 Trees in Tennessee penetrated the entire state with ambitious partnerships developed in 93 of the state’s counties. Should all of Clark’s adopted trees survive even after 20 years, they will have absorbed a combined 41 tons of carbon each year – almost equivalent to what a 350-acre forest would absorb annually.

Category:  Agriculture / Forestry – Tennessee Farmland Legacy, Statewide
The Tennessee Farmland Legacy Partnership was formally launched in 2010 with a memorandum of agreement between 12 public agencies and organizations throughout the state. The Farmland Legacy group works on the preservation of working farms and farmland. The Farmland Legacy Partnership has produced two statewide conferences, 26 regional and local workshops, and continues through website resources and ongoing planning of events and activities this year and beyond. More than 15,000 working acres of farmland – which included over 50 individual farmers in 28 counties – have been protected because of this partnership.

Category:  Aquatic Resource Preservation – Cities of Millersville and Goodlettsville: Stream Watch Committee, Sumner County
This nine-member water quality committee was created to ensure the protection of Slaters and Mansker creeks in the cities of Millersville and Goodlettsville. Consisting entirely of volunteers, this non-profit committee has successfully cleaned the two streams through three separate events.  Activities include removing over 5,000 pounds of metal, which was recycled and generated $500 in revenue; and collecting more than 500 bags of household trash, which was removed from the creeks and banks along with many larger items that would not fit into trash bags such as broken bikes, an above-ground swimming pool and tires. The committee successfully pursued the prosecution of one illegal dumping case in the city of Millersville, along with aiding in the correction of two illicit connections to Slates Creek.

Category:  Building Green – Volkswagen of North America Assembly Complex, Hamilton County
Volkswagen of North America invested $1 billion over the last three years to build a U.S. production facility in Chattanooga – their first in 20 years – on a 1,350-acre Brownfields site. The facility will use rainwater harvesting in order to supplement 653,000 gallons of water per year used for greywater, reducing the overall water usage onsite. The facility also will incorporate the use of landfill gases from an existing local landfill site to generate electricity through a conversion process. A special roof was used throughout 1.8 million square feet of roof surface in an effort to minimize the heat island effect. Skylights are used generously throughout the building to provide natural lighting, which reduces the energy demand from light fixtures. There are dedicated carpool and vanpool parking spaces in the main parking lot, as well as preferred parking for low‐emitting and fuel‐efficient vehicles. An extensive stormwater conveyance system consisting of bioswales, vegetative ditches and culverts culminating at a constructed sluice gate acts as the primary stormwater management system. A large portion of the acreage has been set aside for native or adapted plants, which do not require permanent irrigation. Specific species have been planted in the ditches and swales for filtration of suspended solids.

Category:  Energy Leadership – Solar Power at the Arts Center, Cannon County
The Arts Center serves as a cultural center for Cannon County and the five surrounding counties, providing both art and education as a not-for-profit organization.  A private investor, Good Earth Energy, leased the center’s roof to prepare for a 29 kilowatt solar installation. After 15 years of operation, the system will be donated to the Arts Center. After the system has been in operation for 16 years, the Arts Center will obtain ownership of the solar array – benefiting directly from reduced energy bills.  Good Earth funded an educational kiosk inside the Arts Center, featuring real-time output displayed on monitors for the viewing public.  Also significant is the solar billboard, which is located on the roof and visible to the 13,000 people that pass the center daily.

Category:  Environmental Education and Outreach – Burgess Falls State Park and Natural Area, White County
Burgess Falls State Park and Natural Area is the first Tennessee State Park to offer a full month of on-site, Junior Ranger summer day camps. These day camps educate and involve the local youth in protecting and preserving natural resources. Burgess Falls has implemented a two-part environmental education program. The first involves a Girl Scout Planting/Service Day, which teaches participants about planting and maintaining native plants as well as the value of community service. The second part is a Junior Ranger day camp program, which educates local youth about parks, protecting natural resources, wildlife and the specific duties of park rangers and other park staff. The combined goal of these two programs is to encourage our young citizens and future leaders to respect and protect the natural resources in their community and the importance of being good stewards of their environment.

Category:  Green Schools K-12 – Stone Memorial High School, Cumberland County
Stone Memorial High School opened the doors of its beautiful new school on 65 acres in rural Cumberland County in the fall of 2006. The school was recognized as a Tennessee Pollution Prevention Partnership Green School Partner in September 2007, with the successful launch of its mixed paper and cardboard recycling program. Each year, Stone Memorial’s Ecology classes interact with their school and community by carrying out environmental projects on the campus and beyond. Through their research and initiatives, the Ecology students have garnered support of the school administration and raised awareness of environmental issues throughout the student body. This place-based approach to environmental education has been highly successful at Stone Memorial. The projects include expanding plastics collection and reducing energy usage at the school. This year, students identified significant issues to tackle including reducing plastics going to a landfill and reducing high utility bills.  In addition to reducing energy costs, the school saved $2,970 in landfill tipping fees.  The plastics recycling program prevented 2,100 pounds of plastic from going to the landfill and generated $294 for Cumberland County Recycling.

Category:  Green Schools – Higher Education
The University of Tennessee at Martin Recycles – Weakley County
UTM Recycles is a rural-based recycling movement supported by the University of Tennessee at Martin and is the only comprehensive recycling program of its kind in the area.  Along with providing support for recycling, the program provides education in the form of talks, disseminated literature and sponsored events.  UTM Recycles is unique due to its location on the university campus and because it encourages the community and the school to use the program, free of charge. The program accepts an extensive array of products,  including cardboard, paper, aluminum, scrap metal, glass, printer cartridges, plastics, books, clothes, shoes and electronics.  Working with various community groups and organizations to set up and organize their sustainable efforts, the school expanded its educational programs to include service learning. Reporting over 1,100 volunteer hours last year from people of all ages at the facility, UTM recycled 40 ton of glass, 38 tons of scrap metal, 46 tons of plastic, 245 tons of cardboard, 63 tons of paper, 40 tons of compost and 10 tons of aluminum. This classroom experience also sparked more than 15 sustainable projects, bringing students and members of the community together.

Category:  Greenways and Trails
Enterprise South Nature Park – Hamilton County
Designed to provide an outdoor learning experience for children, Enterprise South Nature Park serves as a classroom for the environmental sciences.  This 2,800-acre passive park, formerly the site of a federal munitions storage facility, now serves as a facility whose staff is committed to providing quality recreation opportunities in a natural setting. Visitors can take a brisk hike or a relaxing stroll along woodland paths that traverse various terrains and footbridges, while marveling at the beauty of nature, and breathtaking views from scenic overlooks – including a magical “hidden lake.” The Enterprise South Nature Park features 5.3 miles of woodland walking and hiking trails, 10 miles of mountain bike trails, 6.9 miles of paved walking and bike roads, a seven-mile driving loop, a one-mile ADA-accessible woodland trail, three historical exhibits and four picnic areas.

Category:  Hazardous Waste Reduction – ThyssenKrupp Elevator Manufacturing, Hardeman County
ThyssenKrupp Elevator Manufacturing in Middleton, added a $30 million state-of-the-art fabrication and powder coat paint line. This new addition resulted in an 81 percent reduction in hazardous waste, a 50 percent reduction in water usage and a 79 percent reduction in air emission volatile organic compounds.  It also reduced the number of forklifts needed by operations, improved energy usage and improved safety at the facility.

Category:  Parks and Recreation – Mirimichi, Shelby County
A focus on green, sustainable management has been a consistent priority, resulting in Mirimichi Golf Course being named the first golf course in the U.S. to be certified by the Audubon International Classic Sanctuary program.  It also serves as the premier course in all of North, South or Central America to be certified by the Golf Environment Organization, which the course received in 2010.  Mirimichi is the only golf course in the world to achieve both of these prestigious designations. Native grass areas, natural waste bunkers and enhanced water features reduce the manicured acreage on Mirimichi from more than 200 acres to under 90 acres – minimizing the need for fertilization and irrigation.  State-of-the-art irrigation and underground drainage systems maximize the efficiency of water usage and reduce soil erosion, while re-circulating water throughout the course. Grassy buffer zones, wetlands areas and aquatic water plants all provide filtration to keep state waterways clean.

Category:  Pollution Prevention – Doubletree Hotel Chattanooga, Hamilton County
Chattanooga’s Doubletree Hotel took on a 2 ½ year rebuild of its 35-year-old hotel. After spending more than $28 million on the rebuild, the hotel now saves an estimated $24,000 a year in lighting alone. Utility costs for the year – including gas, water, electrical and waste removal – totaled $342,000 in 2009 and they were able to reduce that amount down to $336,000 in 2010.  What’s notable about this reduction is the fact that the hotel actually rented 50,001 total hotel rooms in 2010, compared to 45,993 rooms in 2009. While renting 4,008 more rooms, the hotel still managed to bring down utility costs. The hotel installed new energy efficient roofs and energy friendly air conditioning units in each guest room.  In addition to ensuring the hotel was better insulated, other upgrades or efforts included recycle bins in all guest rooms; the installation of low-flow toilets and shower heads; energy efficient light bulbs; the use of double-paned and insulated windows; the installion of bathroom light fixtures that are controlled by motion sensors – among many other upgrades that will help in the overall “greening” of the hotel and reduce pollution.

Category:  Solid Waste Reduction – Domtar Paper Company LLC / Kingsport Mill, Sullivan County
Located in Kingsport, Domtar Paper Company has demonstrated its commitment to the environment with an innovative program designed to reduce its solid waste and landfill usage and to help local farmers cut operating expenses by the application of nutrient-rich wood ash.  Approved by state regulation and supplied to applicants at no-cost, wood ash is a by-product of the paper-making process. Kingsport Mill turned the wood ash into a soil amendment, and in one year since its inception saved local farmers an estimated $900,000. According to the First Tennessee Development District, an impressive 25 percent of recycling efforts in Sullivan County are those conducted by the Kingsport Mill.  Helping 67 fields in a 35-mile radius of the mill, 9,000 acres have been enriched by 17,000 tons of wood ash that formerly would have been landfilled.

Category:  Sustainable Transportation Solutions – Neyland Stadium Improvements, Knox County
The renovation and improvements to the stadium and its grounds embrace new green technologies, while accommodating everyday campus transit transfers and student life. The design incorporates innovative tree-planting technology, permeable pavement, durable furnishings and native plantings to help meet the university’s program of developing sustainable sites within the campus.  Due to large amounts of paved surfaces, minimal green space and contaminates from vehicles and industries, stormwater runoff in urban areas has become a growing concern for municipalities across the country. To combat this issue, Neyland Stadium uses permeable pavers and large soil volume tree planters. The trees on site also help control another problem facing urban communities and their surrounding areas – invasive species. Only native, or non-invasive plant material was introduced at the stadium in an effort to  demonstrate the beauty and vigor that these plants maintain throughout the seasons, as well as ensuring their presence stays only where it is wanted. Additionally, trees planted throughout the site serve as a cooling agent to mitigate the consequences of urban heat island effect.

For more information about the Governor’s Environmental Stewardship Awards program, please visit www.tn.gov/environment/awards.

Like everything we do in our work, we want this forum to help move people and thoughts and business so we expect to tackle some tough issues, ask difficult questions and hold some folks accountable toward doing better in business.

You’ll hear from several of us over time and with that variety you’ll find different thoughts, styles and approaches. But at the heart of it all are genuine motivations by those of us who are (en)volving to help you and your communities (en)volve for the better, too.

If there’s a topic you’d like us to tackle, or you have suggestions on how to improve what we’re doing, please don’t hesitate to let us know. Meanwhile, find us on Twitter and tell others to chime in with you when they find time. We promise to keep it interesting.

Hoping to ease the minds of hungry tourists, the Gulf of Mexico Reef Fish Shareholders’ Alliance has launched a campaign dubbed “Gulf Wild,” which promises to tell consumers where their meals came from.

“You’ll know whether it’s a Gulf of Mexico red snapper and where exactly it came from,” said Bubba Cochrane, a member of the alliance. “With the oil spill, people are still a little skeptical about that.”

On the Gulf Wild website, consumers and retail buyers can type in a unique code tagged to each fish and retrieve information about the type of fish, who hooked it and the port where it landed.

The site includes a map that targets within 10 square-miles where the fish was caught.

“The big trend in the food world is buying local,” said Mark Thien, president of Envolve Strategies, a partner in the alliance. “People go to the farmers market. They want to know their rancher. We’ve found a way for people to know exactly where their seafood is from.”

The tracking service is primarily used for red snapper and grouper, two of the most prized fish. Soon, though, Gulf Wild will expand the brand, Cochrane said.

“We were talking about being able to scan the tag like a bar code,” he said. “Potentially you could go into a fish house and say you only want some fish from a certain boat, and we could do that.

Gulf Wild is sold at restaurants in Florida, Nevada and locally at Katie’s Seafood Market, where it is distributed to restaurants nationwide.

“Some restaurants have put the logo and description of the brand on their menus,” Thien said. “Customers can check it out on their iPhone and track their fish from the table.”

Cochrane said other tracking systems are used in the country such as one for Alaska-caught halibut, but this is the first system for the Gulf of Mexico.

The alliance also employs conservation techniques out on the water.

Anglers in the alliance sign a covenant agreeing to several conservation practices, such as intentionally releasing low-value fish and maintaining individual fishing quota requirements.

Thien said anglers sometimes use “not so good” ways of fishing, and that’s exactly what the alliance wants changed.

“Members are advocating for fishing issues,” Thien said. “They’re going to Washington, D.C. They’re getting the ears of those guys and getting them to understand the deep issues that make up the fisheries.”

Gulf Wild is still in a pilot phase and working with national fishing councils and other organizations such as the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

“This is our chance to do something,” Cochrane said.