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2006 OSN Annual Conference
The Oklahoma Sustainability Network (OSN), in partnership with the Sustainable Tulsa chapter, is holding its fifth annual conference, "Smart Growth: Building a Sustainable Community," Friday, September 15, 2006 from 8:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. at the Tulsa Convention Center. Featured tracks will spotlight such relevant topics as land use, transportation, renewable energy, and personal/community action. With the ever-increasing importance of sustainability to many facets of society, this conference will be of interest to a wide audience including those in business, non-profits, industry, government, design, construction, education, community groups and anyone who has a vested interest in a sustainable future for Oklahoma.
The cost of the conference is $35 ($20 for students) if attendees register prior to September 8 and $50 ($30 for students) after that date. A continental breakfast and lunch featuring locally grown food are included with all registrations received by September 8.
Concurrent sessions will cover such topics as the environmental impact of sprawl, regional transportation planning, using transportation choices to achieve land-use goals, sustainable home and office tips, Oklahoma’s alternative energy choices, how to green your life and local foods. A mini-workshop, "Creating the Urban Environment," will be offered as part of the Land Use track.
This year's keynote address features "It's All About Us" by Robert Waldrop, founder of the Oklahoma Food Cooperative and home improvement guru. Ande Reed, Conference Chair stated, "We are exhilarated this year to have Mr. Waldrop and numerous, dynamic speakers on the significance of land use as it relates to individuals, communities and our state."
Waldrop reinvented how many Oklahomans purchase their food when he founded the Oklahoma Food Cooperative. The cooperative is a food order delivery service that provides an infrastructure to distribute locally grown food across the state. "Our goal is a business that is environmentally sustainable, economically viable, and socially just… We bring the farmer's market to your front door." Under the guidance of Mr. Waldrop, the cooperative has blossomed and become an integral part of the Oklahoma sustainability movement. More information about Bob Waldrop is available on his website: http://www.bobwaldrop.net.
Another outstanding conference feature will be a panel discussion from 10:30am until noon on "Sustainable Legacies: Today's Plan Produces Tomorrow's Outcome." Distinguished panelists include Alan Hart, AIA, from Via Architecture in Vancouver, Canada; Dr. James Horne, President of the Kerr Center for Sustainable Agriculture; Robert Gregory, Executive Director of the Land Legacy; John Dugan, AICP, City of Oklahoma City Director of Planning; Linda Koenig, Senior Transportation Planner for Benham Company; Dr. Charles Warnken, OU College of Architecture, Regional and City Planning; and Wayne Alberty, AICO, Manager of INCOG's Land Development Services.
Major sponsors for this year's event include DEQ Pollution Prevention, OGE Energy Corp, PSO, Metropolitan Environmental Trust (M.e.t.), OU's Department of Interdisciplinary Perspectives on the Environment (IPE), Sustainable Tulsa, INCOG’s Environmental Division, Oklahoma Department of Commerce, PSO, McCann Law Firm and Kerr Center for Sustainable Agriculture. Exhibitors from DEQ's Use Less Stuff Campaign, Harvest Solar & Wind, Land Legacy, OSU Environmental Institute, OGE Energy's wind program, Sierra Club's Cool Cities Campaign, Blue Thumb and many more will be on hand to share their information.
The Oklahoma Chapter of the US Green Building Council will be hosting the second public LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) workshop in Oklahoma. The full day LEED for New Construction (NC) Technical Review Workshop will be held concurrently with the OSN Conference. To register for the LEED workshop, please go on-line to www.USGBC.org. If you have further questions regarding this workshop, please contact Todd Stephens at 918.587.4747or arqitekt@hotmail.com.
Visit www.oksustainability.org for OSN conference registration, agenda and location details. Contact Ande Reed at 918.852.9794 or Info@SustainableTulsa.org for general information or questions about the Oklahoma Sustainability Network or the conference. If you are unable to register on-line or would like to exhibit, contact Susie Shields at susie.shields@deq.state.ok.us or 405.702.5166.
OSN's 2005 Conference
Conference Photos
See information about the 2005 "Building Bridges to a Sustainable Oklahoma".
OSN's 2004 Conference
Conference Photos
See information about the 2004 "Actions Speak Louder than Words".
OSN's 2003 Conference
Conference Photos
See information about the 2003 "Strategies for a Sustainable Oklahoma".
OSN's 2002 Conference
See information about the 2002 "Sustainable Solutions: Envisioning Oklahoma's Future".
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