November 29, 2017 / Issue 254 

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OUR SPONSORS & PARTNERS
Tucson Electric Power
The Fairfax Companies
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Seaver Franks




 
 Bookmans
 
 
 






FRESH START IN 2018
4 Questions to Get Going!

This newsletter I am inviting you to think about sustainability from the very core of your being - not in a heavy way but in a light "something fresh to think about" kind of way. I am inviting you to take some time to reflect and think about what a fresh start for the New Year looks like for you. I am inviting you to put some thought into what you want your life to look like next year and to get in touch with what sustains you, what feeds your soul and inspires you. And, hopefully, it's about inspiring you to continue doing what works, what makes you happy, what feeds your mind, body and spirit, what makes you laugh and what makes you feel great about making a difference.
 
Where did this come from? Before I got out of bed this morning, ideas for newsletter content started popping into my head. What kept coming up is that it's close to the end of the year which for most of us is a time of reflection. Lots of questions started surfacing - ones I believe worthy of sharing and worthy of asking yourself. The good news is that you get to choose because in Mrs. Green's World, we don't tell you what to think, we just want you to. So...what kind of year was it?  What worked for you and what didn't? What would you like to change? What would you like to do more of? What are you missing? Do you really need Amazon in your life? (Yup - that question came up!) Read on please...
 
1.   What worked for you and what didn't? Did your commitment to eating healthier and getting outside more work? Are you younger this year? What small steps can you take to make "it" work in a way that matters to you? In terms of your personal time, are there groups or organizations you are a part of that you would like to take a break from or feel that they no longer serve you? Are you ready to move on and invest your time, brain cells and energy into something that excites you or challenges you or that you really want to know more about? Or are there ones you are a part of where you want to pump up the volume -- to get more involved with and not just staying linked to out of habit? Your time matters and you get to decide how and where to spend it. There are TONS of organizations that need, want and would appreciate your involvement. Think about it, look around and take a leap if you are ready. As for me? I miss being active in my Rotary Club. I love the people, I love the causes Rotary supports and it is a kick-ass fun club! I miss it and hope that my schedule allows me to jump back in.
 
2.   What would you like to do more of? Did you get outside enough? Did you get to spend as much time reading some good books and less time on social media as you had intended? Were you successful in making dates with yourself for alone time if that was a priority for you? Did you spend as much time at the gym or hiking or taking as many long walks as you would have liked? Did you make some more great memories with family and friends - being present, doing things you like to do with them? What makes you smile when you reflect and how many more smiles would you like to reflect on at the end of 2018? What got in the way or was 2017 the year of doing just what you set out to do in January? What would "something fresh" look like for you in the weeks and months to come? Once again, we are all worth it and we let lots of things get in the way of our own happiness.
 
3.   How can you make a difference? (Assuming you want to make a difference!) With #GivingTuesday just behind us, it's not too late to make a difference with your dollars. Shameless plug? I invite you to support the work of Mrs. Green's World. If you are reading this newsletter, you probably like and support what we do. We need your help now more than ever to expand our reach, to purchase new equipment that allow us to do remote broadcasting/recordings, to strengthen our impact and to add more staff time at a time when so much of what we believe in is being threatened or destroyed. You are one click away and we, I, urge you to help us if you can. 
 
Already financially committed for 2017? Not a problem. Your sweat equity and passion for whatever you care about in the world are needed - trust me. Two organizations that pop into my mind that can use your help? Any Habitat for Humanity near you. Why this group? Because they fully comprehend that the only way to end poverty is to get people out of it and they do. "Hand up, not a hand out" is enough for me. They need volunteers for all kinds of things including their ReStore/HabiStore locations. Secondly, any organization that has anything to do with the four-leggeds always need more hands on deck. They need homes for abandoned pets, they need volunteers for events, they need people to walk the animals that are in their shelters, they need food, used blankets, toys for pets while in the shelters and the list goes on. To learn more about one organization's commitment to our four-legged friends, have a listen!

MOST IMPORTANT QUESTION TO ASK: Will "it" make you happy? Will it bring you joy and feed your soul? Bring joy to your world!
 
4.   Do you really want or need Amazon in your life? Yes - this is a question I would really love for you to ask yourself. Let's face it, to some extent the answer is going to be a resounding yes! But this one I am asking you to give some serious thought to. At MGW, we are on a mission to encourage, inspire, ask people to do the good thing - not just the right thing but the good thing. And Amazon is clearly about one thing: making money. Yes, I order from Amazon. No, I don't know anyone who doesn't. But I assure you that I am ordering less and less, that I am committing to be inconvenienced when I want to make a purchase, that I am committing to finding more ethical, socially responsible companies - especially during the biggest buying season of the year. So what's wrong with Amazon other than it is putting small businesses out of business at an astonishingly rapid rate? Take just a moment and read about the most recent expose in the UK. This is only one of many articles written about them and their working conditions and practices. It makes me cringe and I know it is naïve and stupid to think Amazon can be stopped. But wouldn't it feel good to know you did your best to not contribute to their billions of dollars in profit - earned at the expense of living, breathing human beings? And wouldn't it feel even better if you knew that you went out of your way this holiday season to do the good thing and support ethical and socially responsible companies who have GREAT things for you to purchase?


 
Once again, the MGW team decided we wanted to be the change we wish to see in the world when it comes to holiday shopping. We wanted to create a mindful and eco-friendly opportunity for us and our families and for you. We wanted to encourage people to think of going somewhere besides Amazon to make this year's purchases. So we reached out to companies we know and have created our own opportunity for you to join us in being a #DisruptorForGood. We have made the choice to do the good thing easy for you by showcasing our favorite eco-friendly companies who were excited and eager to partner with us AND who are generously offering discounts for your holiday shopping! We hope you will check them out and get as excited as we are about being the change you wish to see in the world - so excited that you find some great gifts AND spread the word to family and friends. You are only one click away from doing something fresh and meaningful. 
 
We would love your feedback - about your fresh start, about what you are saying yes to for 2018, and what you think about our "Giving More by Giving Less" campaign. Because we always want to know what you think...
 
AND THE WINNERS ARE!
 
Drumroll please! We are so very proud to announce the winners of Arizona's Greenest Workplace Challenge for 2017. The statewide panel of judges choice for Arizona's Greenest Workplace was the Food Conspiracy Co-op in Tucson, Arizona. Their commitment to sustainable practices included local sourcing of food, energy efficiency, and all things green and beautiful for over 45 years is impressive beyond words and they are so very deserving of this honor. 
 
Equally as exciting is the People's Choice Award winner:  Sunnyside Unified School District, also in Tucson, Arizona. Voters were impressed with their commitment to long-term sustainable practices through energy-saving improvements, student programs, and many other efforts in this arena.
 
Our sincere congratulations to both of these great organizations making a difference for our community and for the planet. And a very warm, sincere thank you to all of you who stepped up to vote because you cared enough to do "just one thing" and let your voice be heard.
 
DID YOU KNOW?

Did you know that Gourmet Girls Gluten Free Bakery/Bistro was started by two amazing women, Mary Steiger and Susan Fulton, who met in a business networking group and discovered that they were kindred spirits who loved creating (and eating!) delicious, healthy foods and shared an interest in alternative forms of wellness care? The rest is history. They are now the proud owners of Gourmet Girls. They have successfully created a warm, inviting atmosphere, safe from cross contamination and their food is truly delish! And their secret is out! They're not just for those following a gluten-free lifestyle. Their gourmet menu selections and bakery treats will bring a smile to your face every time. Don't be surprised if there's a Mrs. Green sighting when you visit. It's one of my absolute favorite places to meet and eat in Tucson.

UPCOMING SHOWS 

December 5
Conservation Leadership: Staying the Course
Dave Chadwick, Executive Director and Bill Geer, President of the Board, Montana Wildlife Federation
The Montana Wildlife Federation is Montana's oldest, largest and most effective conservation organization. Since 1936, they have led efforts to protect Montana's abundant fish and wildlife, their natural lands and waters, and public access for hunting, fishing, and other outdoor recreation. Over the years, MWF has secured some of the Treasure State's most important conservation victories, including the best stream access law in the West, a ban on confined wildlife farms, and protection of some of Montana's most important wild lands. As true conservation leaders, they are committed to keeping public lands in public hands and to promoting voluntary efforts on private lands. Join us to learn more about this most impressive organization committed to habitat, wildlife and access - because they all matter. This show made possible due to the generous support of The Fairfax Companies.
 
December 12
Meet the Climate Scientist
Dr. Katharine Hayhoe, professor in the  Department of Political Science and director of the   Climate Science Center at Texas Tech University
Dr. Hayhoe is a climate scientist which means she studies this amazing planet on which we live. She crunches data that tells us it is warming. She helps people prepare for a changing climate. And she believes that together we can fix this because many of the solutions are already in our back yards. Dr. Hayhoe also likes to answer questions like how do we know climate is changing? Why do scientists think it's humans this time, and not just natural cycles like it's been before? Wasn't it warmer way back when? She likes to share her thoughts about people who think scientists are cooking the data. I have had the honor and privilege of hearing Dr. Hayhoe speak in person. She is brilliant, she is armed with facts and she is really funny. I can't wait to have her all to myself for an hour! This show made possible due to the generous support of The Chapman Automotive Group

December 19
BEST OF SHOW:  Celebrating 10 Years of Making an Impact
Gina Murphy-Darling, Founder & CEO Mrs. Green's World
Ten years ago, Gina Murphy-Darling said "yes". She stepped into a role that she felt called to fulfill - being a vessel of education, inspiration, activism and leadership for the preservation of the planet...for the health of us all. Join us as we turn the tables on our Mrs. Green and put her in the guest seat. Kelly King, COO and Executive Producer for Mrs. Green's World will be our show host as we enjoy a dialogue about a dynamic journey. We will reveal the lessons learned; delve into the issue at hand and explore the map of where the next ten years may take us. This show made possible due to the generous support of all the Mrs. Green's World Sponsors, Partners, and Sustainers.
 
December 26
BEST OF SHOW:  The Public Face of Seafood Watch
Ryan Bigelow, Program Engagement Manager, Monterey Bay Aquarium
Imagine having to manage all of the public facing aspects of the massive Seafood Watch Program including their consumer pocket guides, their website, their social media, special events and their network of more than 125 Seafood Watch Conservation Partner organizations. What is the  Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch® program? On what do they base their recommendations for what's sustainable and what's not? And how does the program's vision drive those recommendations? More and more people are turning to Seafood Watch to make their choices about what seafood to order when dining out as well as what to purchase from the grocery store. Join me to learn from Ryan how the entire process works and the challenges Seafood Watch faces to assure consumers that their assessments can be trusted because of rigorous assessments they use to make their decisions. Sound fishy? It's not! This show made possible due do the generous support of the Chapman Automotive Group.

January 2
Defender of the Wet and Wild!
Kathleen Dean Moore, philosopher, nature writer, public speaker and defender of all that is wet and wild
I have had the pleasure of spending an entire morning with Kathleen (I believe friends call her Kathy!) and she is really all that and more - much more. Clearly she is devoted to an unrelenting defense of the future against those who would pillage and wreck the planet. Kathleen's growing alarm at the devastation of the natural world led her to focus her writing on the moral urgency of action against climate change and habitat destruction. She has addressed audiences ranging from 350.org activists to Nobel Conference scholars to Disney World executives and students all over the country -- Alaska to Texas, New York to California -- calling people to clarity and moral courage as they confront the forces that would wreck the world. On top of all that, Kathleen has a way of delivering her message like no other. I cannot wait for you to join me to learn more about someone who is the change I want to see and be in the world. This show made possible due to the generous support of The Fairfax Companies.
 
January 9
Live Well, Live Your Best Life
Greg Horn, author, innovator, and thought leader
Greg Horn is a leading innovator in sustainable business, with two decades of experience in developing and managing companies associated with personal health, nutrition and environmental sustainability. Greg holds a very special place in my heart because his first book, Living Green, was one of the very first books I read when I started my Mrs. Green journey. It was a shocking eye opener for me and it has honestly been like a bible to me ever since. Greg has now written another book called Living Well - another winner! Living well is a book for anyone who wants to get the most out of life, with clear answers about health, diet, exercise, and personal habits that can make all the difference. Join us to hear about Greg's program that incorporates all of the elements of good health into one plan. Now I ask you? Who doesn't want to live their best life? Please join us. This show made possible due to the generous support of The Fairfax Companies
 
LISTEN TO MRS. GREEN'S WORLD
 
Mrs. Green's World podcasts are available 24/7 on iHeart Radio, MrsGreensWorld.com, Speak Up Talk Radio Network, and SoundCloud.
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