The goal of mainstreaming sustainable practices across the global meetings industry drives the activities of the
GMIC Sustainable Meetings Foundation
(GSMF), an independent, non-profit organization with 501(c)(3)
charitable status under the U.S. Internal Revenue Code. The GSMF is headquartered in Portland, OR.
The Foundation was established by the
Green Meeting Industry Council (GMIC) to fund
education, training, research, and leadership development
proposals that will help move sustainability beyond the relatively
small niche it currently occupies within meetings and events. GMIC, a non-profit professional association with members in more than 20 countries, is the premier global community solely dedicated to sustainability education, research, policy, and standards in the meetings and events industry. Further information on GMIC is available on their
website.
The
GSMF operates independently of GMIC, with a separate Board of
Directors. It supports and brings needed financial resources to GMIC’s
mission to "transform the global meetings industry through
sustainability,” while simultaneously establishing its own distinct
presence in meetings and sustainability: While the GSMF maintains a very
close synergy with GMIC at the global and chapter levels,
to ensure that available resources are applied and coordinated for
maximum impact, its funding is not limited to entities affiliated with
GMIC, and GMIC itself must go through the same application process as
any other organization to receive GSMF funding.
Visit here to read more on the case.
Immediate Priorities
The GSMF seeks funding to support projects in the following areas:
- Research to more fully understand the drivers and opportunities for sustainability in the meetings industry
- Education and scholarship to build a broader base of sustainability expertise within the industry
- Demonstration projects to apply and test new and emerging sustainability practices that can then be mainstreamed across the industry
- Chapter initiatives that
support the growth and sustainability of GMIC’s own member networks
through leadership development, marketing and communications, succession
planning, sharing of best practices, and special projects
The
GSMF welcomes the opportunity to work on collaborative projects with
other associations or foundations in the meetings, events, hospitality,
and sustainability industries, in ways that leverage the expertise and
networks that all parties can bring to the table.
Project ideas and funding initiatives are welcome from anywhere in the world, and can be initiated in one of three ways:
- Based on established criteria,
the GSMF solicits innovative project proposals from research and
educational institutions, private businesses, GMIC chapters, graduate
and post-graduate students, and professionals working in meetings,
events, hospitality, and sustainability.
- The GSMF welcomes
proposals from funding organizations that see a specific need for
research, scholarship, demonstration, or leadership development projects
that address aspects of the transition to sustainability in meetings
and events.
- From time to time, the
GSMF may issue proposal calls to address specific research priorities or
emerging issues within its current program priorities.
A Moment of Opportunities:
With sustainable
technologies and industries taking hold around the world, this is a time
of unprecedented opportunity for the meetings and events industry.
Better understanding and adoption of sustainable meeting practices will
help the industry eliminate unnecessary costs, improve efficiency, and
reduce an environmental footprint that will face increasing scrutiny in
the years ahead. The GMIC Sustainable Meetings Foundation is eager to
work with donors and grant recipients to build innovative sustainability
solutions for one of the world’s most dynamic global industries. This is your moment
to help support the case for sustainability through foundation,
corporate and individual contributions to the GMIC Sustainable Meetings
Foundation.
GMIC Sustainable Meetings Foundation Board of Directors
2012-2013 GMIF Board
of Directors:
- Chairman: Richard Aaron, CMP,
CSEP, President, BizBash Media
- Vice Chairman: Mark Andrew, CMP,
CHA, Regional Vice President and General Manager, Fairmount Hotels and
Resorts
- Treasurer: Scott McKye, President
and CEO, KLEERTECH©
- Past Chair: Mitchell
Beer, President, The Conference Publishers, Inc.
2012-2013 GMIF
Trustees
- Scott
Beck, President and CEO, Salt Lake City Convention and Visitors Bureau
- Harith
Wickerma, President, Harith Productions, Ltd, Adjunct Professor, Temple
University School of Tourism and Hospitality
2012-2014 GMIF
Trustees
- Carrie
Abernathy, CMP, CEM, Director of Education and Training Events, Practice
Greenhealth & Health Care Without Harm
- Chris
Brophy, Vice President-Corporate Sustainability, MGM Resorts International
- Cary
Broussard, Owner, Broussard Global Communications, Author, From Cinderella
to CEO/Adjunct Professor, New York University.
- Joseph
Cozza, Catering Sales Leader, New York, Marriot International Global Sales
- Mandy
Kaur, Director of Marketing and Communication, National Environmental
Balancing Bureau
- Charles
Massey, CMP, Founder and CEO, SYNAXIS Meetings and Events
Staff
- Interim Executive Director: Mariela
McIlwraith, CMP, CMM, MBA, President, Meeting Change
For more information visit:
http://gmicglobal.org/?page=Foundation
