A Recipe for Earth Day 2011

April 22^nd will mark Earth Day, the largest environmental event worldwide. It began as an environmental awareness event in the U.S. and has grown to an event celebrated or acknowledged by over 170 countries.

What is Earth Day? Earth Day is a day that is intended to spread awareness and appreciation for the world we live in. It should be a catalyst for change and provides an opportunity for positive actions and results. Some examples of celebrations include garbage pickup, eco festivals, river valley clean up, energy fasts, etc.

I have had the following idea in my head for years (scary) and have always felt that it would be an appropriate way to spend Earth Day. It is a recipe for success because you are combining the act of giving with fellowship = magic. Please….enjoy and yes, you may steal my idea!

Find a project - call around to non-profit organizations, etc. and identify a "project" that you participate in. Perhaps it is painting a clubhouse for the soccer association, or cleaning out the flowerbeds of the local seniors home. The important thing to remember is that the project must be designed to be completed that day. A project that can be started and finished in one day fosters a feeling of accomplishment.

Now that you have identified a project you need to.....

Come up with a guest list - write down a list of individuals whom you could invite to participate in this project. Make sure you will have enough to complete the project as promised.

Send out the "invitations" - Go to the local Home Depot or hardware store and purchase work gloves. These will become your invitations for the event. Hand deliver only one glove to each invitee. Write on the palm of the glove, the details of the event, i.e. time, date, etc. You can explain that they will receive the other glove when they show up that morning.

"Lend a hand to celebrate Earth Day"

April 22nd

Time

Location

Project

When everyone arrives at the project site, hand out the second glove to participants. Arrange to have a member of the organization that you are supporting be there to explain the project and what the contribution means.

Post Project Picnic (love alliteration!) - You can either have a post project picnic at the site, or you can invite the participants over to your home for a barbeque. If you give them an hour to freshen up with the promise of a cold beer or glass of wine, they will be sure to attend. Psst....try to make it local beer or wine

Pictures!! Make sure that you take lots of pictures during the project. A group photo is really important because you will want to send each participant one as a great keepsake and thank you!

I hope you have a wonderful Earth Day!