Meetings & Events

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GREEN TRAVEL COMPETITION TO WORK, SCHOOL & MEETINGS DURING EARTH WEEK, APRIL 17-23

A community-wide Green Travel Competition will take place in the Walla Walla area during Earth Week, April 17-23, 2011.

Businesses, agencies, schools, and organizations will be encouraging their employees, students, and members to look for low-energy ways to get to and from work, school, and meetings throughout the week surrounding April 22 in celebration of the 41st anniversary of Earth Day, and to help make our community more sustainable.

Sustainable Walla Walla will be making awards to business, agency, school, and organizational participants with the most members using one or more green travel modes during the week. Individual participants will also receive "I Travel Green" buttons entitling them to ride free on Valley Transit all week and to discounts on Earth Day, April 22 from participating merchants. Green travel includes bike, bus, walking, carpool, scooters, and other low-energy alternatives to travelling by inefficient Single Occupancy Vehicles (SOVs).

Individuals are asked to report how they got to work, school, or organizational meetings throughout Earth Week by turning in a report form for the week to the competition coordinator for their employer, school, or organization, where they can also pick up their "I Travel Green" buttons.

Registration for participating organizations will take place on Monday, April 4 at 7 pm at the First Congregational Church at the corner of Palouse & Alder Streets, where report forms, "I Travel Green" buttons and other information will also be available.

According to Sustainable Walla Walla chair Marti Buck, green commuting is a good way to conserve natural resources, reduce our carbon footprint, save money, build community, and increase mobility. For more information on the competition and the benefits of travelling green, go online to www.sustainableww.org, email sustainableww@charter.net, call 522-0399, or come to the April 4 registration meeting, to which the public is invited.

3/16/11