Monday, July 25, 2011

More Tips to Green Your Meeting

TeamBuilding Unlimited is a member of Green Meetings. As a member, we're always looking for more tips and ways to make our meetings and events green. Sacramento Convention Center’s Tips for Hosting Sustainable Meetings
  • Choose a sustainable venue that recycles, donates food, incorporates locally grown produce and organic food into its menus.
  • Choose a venue that is rich in ambiance, featuring floor to ceiling windows, great year round outdoor seating, stunning art work and sculptures throughout, thus requiring less decorations or enhancements which can help to save you money and reduce your carbon footprint.
  • Opt to use china and linen or biodegradable plates, cups and flatware.
  • Conserve paper by posting event materials to your web site or distributing them on flash drives.
  • Purchase name badges that are reusable and collect them at the end of the meeting for use at the next one.
  • Avoid dating promotional items and reuse overages at future meetings.
  • Have water served from pitchers rather than plastic bottles.
  • Encourage attendees to enjoy environmentally friendly activities including walks around the hotel or meeting site.
  • Encourage exhibitors to bring a realistic amount of promotional materials. Have them recycle unused portions rather than dispose of them.
  • Encourage exhibitors to use environmentally friendly packing materials (i.e. cardboard).
  • Do not provide handouts for the educational sessions. Instead place handouts on a website or on a thumb drive.
  • Send confirmations and information electronically.
  • Do not provide printed agendas. Instead have a dedicated monitor at the registration desk, or post agenda on electronic boards.
  • Request healthy meals using locally grown or organic food.
  • Any printed paper accumulated during the event should be recycled.
  • Ask the host property not to provide pads and paper during the educational sessions.
  • Collect name badge holders for recycling and reuse at all other events throughout the year.
  • All event signage should be recycled and/or reused. Stay away from polystyrene or petrochemicals in décor, packaging, or signage.
  • Event bags should be made from recyclable material, which can be reused after the event for groceries, etc.
  • Have a solid count of attendees to avoid wasteful over spending and excess.
  • If handouts are necessary, have them printed on both sides of the paper.
  • Partner with a local charity or community/environmental project and collect funds through a raffle.
  • Choose venues that are recognized as green properties.
Have any other ideas? Please comment!

Thursday, July 21, 2011

Bears that Care: Boxes of Love


Found this photo of one of TeamBuilding Unlimited's Charity Challenge: Bears that Care Events. All of our bears/animals are 'packaged' in gift boxes. No this is not a Food-to-Go Truck!

Thanks Intendis for donating 100 bears to the Ronald McDonald House of Dallas! TeamBuilding Unlimited was so glad to facilitate your event!

Tuesday, July 19, 2011

Bears that Care: Charity Challenge Christmas in July

Last week TeamBuilding Unlimited/Murder on the Menu showcased our holiday events at a Christmas in July trade show at the lovely Oceano Hotel in Half Moon Bay (CA). What a great location!

Now's the time to start planning your holiday party. Whether you're looking for entertainment or some great philanthropic team building, contact us for creative customized ideas.

Bears that Care is one of our favorite events. After playing a series of children's team games, participants work together to stuff animals/bears. Each participant also decorates a t-shirt for both the bear and the child who would receive the animal. We provide red gift boxes and paper and markers for giftcards. What a great event for your holiday party.

Giving back to the community is welcome any time. The bears/animals are donated to a variety of charities including The Family Giving Tree, the Ronald McDonald House, oncology units, fire and police stations.

For other Charity Challenges, perfect for your holiday party (or any time), go HERE.

Contact us now, so we can provide you with the very best Charity Challenge for the Holidays