Article published: Jul 15, 2009
New group encouraging ‘green-collar’ workers to network

A social networking group for the emerging “green” sector is putting down roots in Cedar Rapids.

CR Green Drinks, Linn County’s first chapter of the national Green Drinks network promoting environmental and sustainability issues, will meet from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday at DC’s River Walk Pub & Eatery, 401 1st St. SE, Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Plans are to meet the third Thursday each month.

CR Green Drinks organizer Jeff Carey said the idea is to create an opportunity for people involved in green initiatives in both the public and private sectors to make connections and share ideas.

“They can talk on an informal basis, see who the players are and spread the word,” said Carey, a certified green consultant.

Making connections is important because while “institutional and corporate names are jumping on the green bandwagon, green businesses tend to be smaller and localized,” said Mark Signs of Trees Forever in Marion, who attended the group’s first meeting in June.

That meeting attracted people from a green cleaning firm, Linn County Public Health and Conservation departments, Sierra Club, Prairiewoods Spirituality Center, Clarion Hotel, Pigott, Inc., CRLC Solid Waste Agency and Department of Natural Resources.

Carey said meetings will be informal. Typically there will be a topic for discussion.

“We’ll let those who come determine the format,” he said. “It’s very grass roots. We’ll just see where it goes.”