Twas the night before Christmas.... Amazon Drone delivery.... right down the chimney?

It must be the future as we are on the cusp of closing out 2013.   This year as we close out the year I can't help but to think about the science fiction we used to only dream of in comic books and movies.   Who remembers the Dick Tracy comic?  The squared off jaw and squintey eyed Tracy used to talk into his futuristic wrist watch and fly around in a rocket powered trash can.  Never a chance this will become reality?  Think again.   By know we have all seen the Samsung watch.  Looks suspiciously like the Dick Tracy special.  I wonder if there will be a law suit over this?
How about the flying trash can?  Well from some of the YouTube Videos I've seen that is not far off.  How about the water jet powered boots you can slap on... attached by a tether and fly around like Iron Man or Wonder Women? 

No doubt technology is passing many of us by faster than a high speed bullet train.  This year has been one of great hope, progress, setback, disaster, growth/destruction, life/death.  A mixed bag for sure.  As you wade through the list of things yet to do in 2013 try and contemplate the blessings we have as a  nation.  Just a short few years ago we were flat on our backs as a country with massive bankruptcies from institutional titans who were not to big to fail.  Today many have made adjustments to the "new realities" and perhaps it is for the better.

All that aside I want to take this time to say "Thank You" to all who have helped us stay on the mission of growing Greenfundraiserstore.com from a seed that has begun to take root.  If you visited with us at an event or clicked on our store site this thanks you is for.  We certainly are in a different place today then when things got started in April 2011.   Not as much running from event to event.  Not as many hours trying to tweak the plan.

The e commerce store has taken hold across the country and I cannot think of a better operational partner than Amazon for the platform.   One of my favorite things to do is tell people about "who" from "where" has selected "what".   Truth be told I think of this as what Ernie Harwell used to in the golden days when he would announce "That ball was caught by a man from Kalamazoo, Michigan...".  How'd he know that?   Did he really know the man was from Kalamazoo?   What I find interesting is places I've never heard of like Arkadelphia, Arkansas or Sunnyvale California.  I have visited Sunnyvale and will likely return but have not yet visited Arkadelphia.

So in the theme of the celebration of the Christmas season I want to take you to a new reality for the legendary St. Nicholas. Imagine the new stories to be written about the trials and tribulation in the near future when the sleigh and reindeer have to share the air space with the delivery drones from Amazon.  How shocking this will be to Santa and how reindeer will be startled! If you haven't heard this story that broke last week on a CBS interview with the Amazon founder, Jeff Bezos Amazon is piloting the use of drones to deliver packages right to the door step.  Science fiction?  Maybe... just like the Dick Tracey watch!

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/amazon-unveils-futuristic-plan-delivery-by-drone/

What ever happened to "Down the Chimney with Old St. Nick.  Santa may be replaced or perhaps develope his own fleet of smart drones for delivey right down the Chimney?   Only time will tell... but one thing is clear... get ready for the future.

All the best to you and yours as we turn over the calender to 2014.


Best Regards,

Don Sherman
President of Greenfundraiserstore.com

2013 Best and Brightest Sustainable Companies in Michigan

Press Release:  September 6th, 2013

Today we received notification that Greenfundraiserstore.com was again selected as one of the
101 Best And Brightest Sustainable Companies in Michigan for 2013.   The awards will be presented at a symposium scheduled for September 18th, 2013 at Davenport University in Grand Rapids, Michigan.   Michigan Govenor Rick Snyder will be in attendance to honor the recipients.

The selection criteria is based on an assesment completed  earlier this year which was judged scored by an indepedent research organizaion.   Area's of assesment include:

Education. The level of education provided to employees on sustainable practices along with industry best practices.

Communication.  The extent of outreach in reporting our results of sustainable business efforts to employees, customers, suppliers and community.
  
Strategic Planning & Operantional Implementation.  The depth to which our organization measures all maters of sustainability and the support of senior management for long term viability of the organization.

Innovation & Problem Solving. The extent to which your organization monitors the entire cycle of your company's product(s) or services(s) to determine the impact and needed changes.

Environmental. The extent to which your organization monitors all aspects of the environmental output as a result of your organizations product(s) or servcies(s).

Building & Grounds.  The extent to which your organization has implemented changes to your building and grounds to impove sustainability and lessen consumption and emisisions.

Community Leadership.  The level of community outreach, monitoring of economic impact , and promotion of sustainable practices your organization provides to the community.

Workforce.  The extent of encouragment and support your organization provides employees for participating in sustainable initiatives at the organization and in the community.

Financial Performance.  Your organizations effectiveness in monitoring its sustainable performance and innovation on improving its financial performance.

Our business has evolved since it's inception in 2010 yet the vision of providing education, awareness, and advocay for "Green Shifts' in the course of daily living remains firmily at the core of the organization. 

Thank you for your kind words of encouragment and support as we continue on this journey.

Regards,

Don Sherman
President of Greenfundraiserstore.com
www.greenfundraiserstore.com

Associated articles:

http://www.grbj.com/articles/77793-association-reveals-2013-class-of-101-best-and-brightest-sustainable-companies

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/governor-rick-snyder-to-kick-off-michigans-101-best-brightest-sustainable-companies-awards-symposium-2013-09-11

http://www.mlive.com/business/west-michigan/index.ssf/2012/03/new_awards_program_to_honor_be.html

Greenfundraiserstore.com Spring 2012

Spring has arrived in Michigan.... even though the calendar says it is winter for another week.... nature will not wait!  For the past few weeks... winter has really already left.  My snow plow sits there on the driveway with a sad rusty grin.... no work in March!  However.... while the plow may feel unappreciated... my wifes garden is already coming to life like never before!  Yes... there are little purple flowers already fully developed in the grown cover AND full ripe buds on other plants that I don't know the proper name for that are ready to burst open any minute.  The birds are up at 5:30.... HOO, HOO and Chirp...Chirp... so.... am I.  I live for this time of year.... up early and usually exhausted by sundown... the way it was meant for us to live.

This past week has been without a doubt the most significant week in the development of the Greenfundraiserstore.com life cycle.  May I tell you about it?   After careful consideration and a lot of contemplation about an implied threat of sorts.... I am going ahead with the 2012 fund raiser for the Michigan Green Schools Eco Tee.   I know you've heard this before... nothing in life worthy of doing is easy.... and that is the case here.  Last year we created an idea for an iconic tee that would help promote, celebrate, educate, and raise money for schools all over Michigan who are involved in the Michigan Green Schools program.  

http://michigangreenschools.us/

Those of you who follow GFS will recall that picture of the presistant young lady who would not take "NO" as an answer from me at our display.  I created one sample shirt with the MGS logo as an idea to pitch to the various MGS groups throughout the area.  Along the way... I was told that someone claims to own the rights to the logo and that I should refrain from using it for fear of repercussions.   Because of the timing of the process I decided to go with a gift or promotional give away that did not include the beautifully done logo and simply went with a congratulatory message to the MGS school recipients branded on an jar opener made from recycled tire rubber.   That was indeed the one and only MGS shirt and now it is owned by a proud young lady in the Southfield School district.


http://www.oakland.k12.mi.us/Departments/CapitalBuildingProjectsandFacilityOperation/MichiganGreenSchools/tabid/2638/Default.aspx

Fast forward to Michigan Green Schools 2012 and again.... the activity is reaching a frenzied level!  This is the time of year when the schools engage in their focused green activities... and rightfully so.  Time to be respectful of the beauty that is unfolding all around us in the annual renewal of spring and the beauty of the up-welling of new life and renewal.   This year I feel differently about the MGS Eco Tee project and have enough time and experience behind us to take it to launch.  We carefully analyzed the potential good will VS implied threat of the project and have decided that there is so much good that will come from this activity that I simply cannot let an implied threat stand in the way.  The logo has no visible trademark, registration or copyright markings that would have been placed there to prevent use.  That in of it self speaks volumes over the implied threat of use.

We stopped to consider other symbols and representations that might parallel this concept.  For example.... if we flash the peace symbol.... do we need to fear the original hippy who may stake claim to own it?  OR... if we show the chasing arrows of the recycling symbol... will the original stake holder show up to prevent this?  How about the American Flag?  Will the Ross family show up to claim that Betsy is the controlling interest here?   We considered all of it and came out with this final conclusion.
We are promoting a cause in the Michigan Green Schools program, we support their mission,  we are in turn educating/creating awareness/advocating their cause,  AND we are able to raise funds for partnering schools own green efforts.   That is plenty of up side... with little down side.  And... that is a risk we will take in doing good.

So... keep an eye out for more information from your school and if you don't see any out reach from them... then take this PDF to them and get involved.   Our program will run through the end of March for those who want to engage and have delivery before the arrival of Earth Day 2012.  Our goal is to have the Eco Tees delivered to the schools in time for the Michigan Green schools Awards ceremony in April.

Enjoy the early spring... and support your schools MGS efforts!