Beginning with the June 2007 Boston meeting, our initial efforts include:

1.	Recycling meeting attendee nametags.

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	Networking is an important function of CEE meetings and name badges allow for easier introductions. Many members attend more than one CEE meeting throughout the year and have historically received a new name badge each time. Rather than buying and printing name badges for each meeting, CEE would like to collect badges – including the plastic holder and elastic cord – and hold them for future meetings. Participants who return to the next CEE meeting will receive their personal name tag. This effort is more than a symbol of reusing resources; having member name badges maintained at CEE will provide a sense of continuity, reduce CEE expenses for new materials, and cut down on our meetings' contribution to the waste stream. Please look for the name tag drop-box at the next meeting, and leave your whole nametag (plastic case and paper insert) with us.

2.	Offering members some options to offset their travel through various carbon offset organizations.

3.	Converting our hard copy meeting books into PDFs, which will be distributed via e-mail.

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Beginning in June, 2007, CEE will send the meeting book in PDF format to confirmed meeting registrants. Members are encouraged to print (and bring to the meeting) only those pages of interest to them. Through this effort, CEE will save money, reduce carbon emissions associated with paper use, and help members customize the meeting book to suit their interests. Please share any feedback you have on this approach with CEE staff and on your meeting evaluation forms.

4.	Contracting, when possible, with hotels that have a commitment to energy efficiency and other green practices.

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	When possible, CEE will contract with hotels that have a commitment to energy efficiency and other green practices. When this is not feasible, CEE staff will work with the hotel staff to inventory the hotel's current environmental and energy policies and, where appropriate, partner CEE members and/or ENERGY STAR® with the hotel. We are pleased to announce that the Hyatt Harborside, our June meeting hotel, has notified us that it has been awarded an ENERGY STAR label for 2007.

CEE hopes to improve and possibly expand these efforts for future meetings. We welcome any suggestions from CEE members on other ways we can reduce the environmental footprint of our meetings.