Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida is holding an "Investing in our Future" Workshop Oct. 6, 2011, in the Conference Center, 4740 Cattlemen Road, Sarasota:

REGISTER NOW. Keynote speakers have been named for our sixth annual Sustainable Communities Workshop, next Thursday, Oct. 6 from 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. The workshop will be held at the LEED certified Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida Event and Conference Center, 4740 Cattlemen Road, Sarasota.

Hal Knowles III, Research Associate with the University of Florida Program for Resource Efficient Communities, will be the morning keynote speaker. Hal’s topic, which is also the theme of the workshop, is “Investing in Our Future: Green Economic Pathways and Partnerships.” Knowles is lead author of the Florida Energy Systems Consortium’s recent report, “Green Jobs: What, Why, How, When & Where.”

Our afternoon keynote speaker is Dr. Anne E. Keller, Senior Sustainability Advisor, Office of Policy and Management, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 4. Anne’s topic,“Encouraging Sustainable Communities,” will focus on how the EPA is supporting economic, social (health) and environmental sustainability and working with communities of all types, including Florida examples. 

Other workshop sessions include education pathways to green jobs, recharging the economy with electric vehicles, local food, home energy retrofits to save energy and money, green business, sustainable economic development, ecotourism and water connections in our community. See full agenda and speakers on workshop website.

Preregistration for the workshop is required. Registration fee for the workshop is $30 and includes continental breakfast, lunch and an afternoon refreshment break. A special rate of $20 is available to students. All registered attendees will receive a 60-watt equivalent ENERGY STAR CFL bulb and a WaterSense labeled low-volume faucet aerator to help save energy and water. There will be raffle prizes; participants must be present to win. Great food, fun and networking. Exhibits include green building, energy- and water-saving products and programs, electric vehicle charging stations, suppliers of local and organic produce. Electric vehicles on display will include electric bikes, the Chevy Volt, Vantage GreenTruck, a Tesla Roadster and the new Nissan LEAF.

The County is partnering with other municipalities and organizations to organize this workshop. Thank you UF/IFAS Sarasota County Extension, the cities of Sarasota and North Port, Charlotte County National Estuary Program, Florida Gulf Coast Chapter U.S. Green Building Council,  Sarasota Bay Estuary Program, and Ringling College of Art and Design.

To register online or obtain more information about the workshop, including remaining exhibitor space, visit www.scgov.net/SustainableCommunities or contact the Sarasota County Call Center at 941-861-5000. You won’t want to miss our popular annual workshop.

This workshop is presented with the generous support of our sponsors ~ Thank you!