I want to thank The Greater Fort Walton Beach Chamber of Commerce, its members and community for embracing and supporting the Green Awareness Taskforce since its inception in 2008. It was a vision that Lisa Jo Spencer and I discussed as I was driving home from Tallahassee in the spring of 2008. We were both co-chairs of the Local Issues Committee that year. I told Lisa Jo I would come up with a plan and she created the original name, “What Footprint Will You Leave?” We both worked on the mission statement, and then presented The Green Awareness Taskforce plan to Kathy Houchins who was the 2008 Chamber Chair and the rest is history. My goodness has time flown by! First of all I want to thank all of you for attending one or more meetings and especially to those who faithfully attend monthly. 20 to sometimes over 45 members and guests have attended our monthly committee meetings. From the research conducted by The Greater Fort Walton Beach Chamber of Commerce we may be the only current Chamber of Commerce Green Awareness Taskforce in the state of Florida that continues to meet monthly and make a difference in our community.
I am looking forward to Amber Ryan taking over the Green Awareness Taskforce Leadership starting in 2012. Amber’s environmental background will help move the Taskforce to the next level and will continue to be one if not the only Chamber of Commerce in the State of Florida to continue bringing Green Awareness to its members and the community.
Lisa Holmes owner of Creative Web Solutions and a Chamber member has created a top notch website for the Green Awareness Taskforce. www.gogreenokaloosa.com
I send her emails almost daily for her to add something new or update information. Lisa and her staff have donated countless hours to this website for the last 3 years. You can go to the website and see all the Chamber members who have been instrumental for the success of this committee and view all the achievements since 2008. If you are a chamber member and you have a product or service that supports Green Awareness, your business or organization can be added to the website directory. Gulf Power has some fantastic programs for you to save money and energy. You can begin by getting a FREE Business or Home energy Audit. Recycle whenever possible! Take advantage of single stream recycling opportunities for those who have weekly curbside pick ups and Fort Walton Beach residents have various drop-off locations. The Green Awareness Taskforce will continue to recycle at community events throughout the year.
I encourage you to attend and support Amber’s first Green Awareness Taskforce meeting Tuesday January 3, 2012 at 815am at the Greater Fort Walton Beach Chamber of Commerce Conference Room.
I would like to thank and remind you to continue to bring your reusable drinking cups to the 1st Friday Breakfasts. The website keeps track of these numbers monthly.
Libbie Hambleton will update and maintain the Greater Fort Walton Beach Chamber of Commerce Green Awareness Taskforce Face Book Page. I wish I was be able to mention and personal thank everyone who has contributed their time and efforts to the Green Awareness Taskforce but it would be an entire Coastlines Magazine of what the members, the city, the county and businesses have done. So remarkable! Thank you for allowing me to serve as the Greater Fort Walton Beach Chamber of Commerce Green Awareness Taskforce
Chair since 2008.
Tammy McDaniel – Owner of Tammy’s Journeys
2008-2011 Green Awareness Taskforce Chair
whatfootprintwillyouleave@gmail.com