First Green Living Symposium Set for September 28

The Green River Area Development District will present the inaugural "Green Living Symposium: Nurturing Sustainability for GRADD Communities" on September 28th, from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., at the Mount St. Joseph Conference & Retreat Center in scenic Maple Mount, Ky.

The goal of this unique event is to educate local government,business/industry, organizations, and individuals about environmental sustainability, and to equip them to affect positive change in their communities. It will feature guest speakers, information sessions led by a wide array of industry experts, exhibitors, demonstrations, and door prizes.Cam Metcalf, director of the University of Louisville's Kentucky Pollution Prevention Center will present the keynote address at  11:15 a.m.

Information session topics include: sustainable infrastructure, growing green, energy efficiency, bio-fuels, water quality and conservation, recycling, building green, green policymaking, renewable energy, energy auditing, and the plant-based medical field.

Among the featured presenters will be: local entrepreneurs John Fentress (GO Recycling), Steve Janson, (GreenWorks Recycling), and Malcolm Bryant (The Malcolm Bryant Corporation), as well as officials from KPPC, Kentucky Energy & Environment Cabinet, Kentucky Solar Partnership, Sierra Club, City of Owensboro, Daviess County Public Schools, and Kentucky Bio-Processing.

Owensboro-based Studio Slant will also provide a demonstration on "upcycling" - the process of converting waste materials or useless products into new materials or products of better quality or a higher environmental value.

Sponsors of the 2011 Green Living Symposium are Kenergy Corporation, Owensboro Municipal Utilities, RBS Design Group, and Public Life
Foundation of Owensboro.

This event has been approved for five hours of County Elected Officials Training (HB 810) credit by the Kentucky Department for Local Government (DLG).

Discounted rooms reserved at both the Marriott Courtyard Hotel (270-685-4140) and the Hampton Inn (270-926-2006) in Owensboro.

Advanced registration with an accompanying $10 fee - which includes admission to all sessions, a delicious lunch of locally grown foods prepared by the Mount St. Joseph staff, and a package of special "green" gifts is required. To register, call (270) 926-4433 or visit www.GRADD.com/Green<http://www.GRADD.com/Green>.