1. I got my first job when I was 9-years-old. Even though I’m pretty sure it was illegal (since I’m not that old) a local farmer hired kids to pick strawberries and do other ‘chores’ like weed flowers, sell pumpkins, press cider and help bring in the hay. My favorite task was driving the truck for the hay harvest. Yup, I said driving.

2. The fun I had at that first job has left me with an aversion to offices, a soft spot for kittens and a connection to the great outdoors. All three conditions which I’ve explored in my professional and personal life including a decade long stint as a veterinary technician.

3. I am a big nerd including among my most nerdy accomplishments discovering a typo in a town history book published by an international publisher, participating in no less than three bird field study trips on two continents and getting excited upon finding signs of a bear, otherwise known as poo, early in the Spring.

4. My nerdiness has also brought me to many otherwise unfilled volunteer positions including counting seeds, data entry for a historic cemetery inventory project and a seat on the board of directors for a fiddle contest, yeehaw.

5. Explaining the volunteerism in brief, my most frequent answer to life’s questions big and small is “Sure, why not?” My most frequent follow up question is “Did we miss a turn or something?”

6. I have more than twenty first cousins, many of whom are ‘only’ children! These individuals are some of my favorite people on the planet. They are also multiplying exponentially with every passing month.

7. One more, one more. Oh my favorite. This is more a six degrees of ‘meme’ but my mom was once on American Bandstand and asked by the never-aging Dick Clark “What did you think, young lady?” to which she replied…”It’s got a good beat, you can dance to it.”

So there you go! Now on to the next seven bloggers to carry on the meme…

fellow business b5ers…

• Ren at Accounting Solver
• Scott at Linked Intelligence
• Susan at Brand Curve
• Rachel at Behind the Buzz
• Darlene at Interview Chatter

keeping it green…

• Jennifer at Tree Hugging Family

and for a little creative inspiration…

• Cyndi at Layers Upon Layers

Post from: EveryJoe

It’s a Meme!

Last year, the company established a set of 10 sustainable development priorities based on their environmental, social and economic footprint. It’s an interesting mix of practices including:

• discourage irresponsible drinking
• make more beer but use less water
• reduce energy and carbon footprint
• have a vibrant packaging reuse and recycling economy
• work towards zero waste operations
• have supply chains that reflect the company’s values and commitment to sustainable development
• have respect for human rights
• bring benefits to the communities served
• contribute to the reduction of HIV/Aids (within sphere of influence)
• be transparent in reporting progress on sustainable development priorities

Pretty comprehensive if you ask me. I like it. Miller also pledged to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 18 percent per barrel between 2001 and 2006 and joined a number of global corporations in signing the Declaration on the Millennium Development Goals on 31 July 2007.

So how are they doing? Well, using performance indicators including electrical and fuel consumption, wastewater discharges and waste recycling, among others, the company’s first Sustainable Development Report was impressive.

ClimateBiz reported on Tuesday that Miller Brewing Co. had “trimmed carbon dioxide emissions 10 percent per barrel in the last two years and used less water, aluminum and fossil fuels to produce its beer.” The breakdown: 10 percent less CO2, 196 gallons of water conserved and 6.1 percent less fossil fuel per barrel of beer, 622 tons of aluminum less and reports 99.3 percent of brewery waste is recycled or reused. ClimateBiz also noted that the company’s Milwaukee brewery is powered by wind power and other facilities rely in part on biogas.

I say that’s a hefty effort and it seems Miller is taking sustainability seriously with steps that make a difference. If they’re cold, then bottom’s up.

Still thirsty?

• Miller Brewing Co. Discloses Progress on Sustainability Goals at ClimateBiz
• Miller Brewing Co. Sustainable Development Report (PDF)

Post from: EveryJoe

Miller Time