GreenMark Public Relations®, Inc.

GreenMark Public Relations congratulates Illinois Senator Barack Obama for becoming president-elect of our great country after an Election Day victory. Obama offers change and hope for America, including in the areas of energy and the environment. President-Elect Obama has said that he plans to help create five million new jobs by investing $150 billion over the next 10 years to catalyze private efforts to build a clean energy future. He also wants to put one million plug-in hybrid cars, built in America, on the road by 2015. He ensures that 10 percent of our electricity comes from renewable sources by 2012, and 25 percent by 2025. We’ve all heard promises for change over the past two years from both parties, now it’s time for us all - Republican and Democrat - to join together and help take responsibility for that change to happen. We believe it can.

At the 2008 Democratic National Convention, AlGore said, “We are facing a planetary emergency, which, if not solved, would exceed anything we’ve ever experienced in the history of humankind.” While oil companies continue to make soaring profits, scientists predict that the North Polar ice cap will be completely gone by summer 2009. Among the increase in frequency of natural disasters such as fires, earthquakes and floods, scientists predict the very web of life is endangered by an unprecedented number of extinctions.

Gore says the climate crisis is intertwined with “the other two great challenges facing our nation: reviving our economy and strengthening our national security.” The solution? End our dependence on carbon-based fuels and invest in American innovation.

Thomas Edison said, “I’d put my money on the sun and solar energy. What a source of power!” He continued, “I hope we don’t have to wait until oil and coal run out before we tackle that.”

In 2008, we have all the materials to do what Edison implied, not only in harnessing solar power, but wind energy, geothermal power, conservation and efficiency.

The only way to solve this is by turning, “Yes we can” into “Yes we are!”

Abby Mandel Meyer was the founder of Chicago’s 10-year-old Green City Market – and GreenMark’s first client. I’ll never forget the first time I met her. She didn’t know me but greeted me with her famous ear-to-ear smile and a hug. She felt strongly about the importance of eating sustainably and about supporting local farmers and local chefs. Abby believed food should be respected and celebrated. She created a wonderful fresh food oasis for us to enjoy two days a week. But she was also creating a sustainable food network in Chicago that celebrated the abundance of the earth. Abby took great joy in watching children at the Market. She believed that they are the future of sustainability. Those of us who also believe that must continue what she started and ensure that her legacy of belief in the protection of the earth, the support of small family farms and the health of human beings continues.

Rest in peace, Abby.
Fondly,
Sue Markgraf

Click here to visit Greencitymarket.org.

Chicago-area based GreenMark Public Relations™ welcomes integrated marketing specialist Beth Burdin to its client services team. As marketing communications senior associate, she will contribute to the expansion of GreenMark’s integrated service offerings

Burdin has 20 years of marketing experience, most recently as the owner/manager of Marketing Works Unlimited. She will be responsible for marketing strategy and implementation for GreenMark’s environmentally-conscious clients, and will assist in new business growth.

As a green collar media relations firm, GreenMark Public Relations is dedicated to the true champions of green. The firm exclusively serves clients making a difference in the fight to protect and preserve the environment and conserve natural resources.

“Beth brings time-tested marketing experience to GreenMark Public Relations. Her understanding of environmental and sustainable issues will uniquely contribute to our clients’ initiatives,” said Sue Markgraf, president and co-founder. “Her skills complement GreenMark’s media relations services, as well as those we offer through our Web development and sponsorship marketing partners.”

If you were to open up the June 30, 2008 edition of Crain’s Chicago Business, you’d see this big, bright ad:

GreenMark PR will participate in the first global Earth Hour by shutting down its virtual offices, equipment, and lights for one hour on 3/29/08 from 8:00PM to 9:00PM CST. Not to our surprise, Chicago is a partner city for this World Wildlife Foundation sponsored event, so we are looking forward to witnessing our city “turn off” for an hour!

For more information on Earth Hour (and some cool “before” and “after” photos), please visit www.earthhour.org.

GreenMark is happy to hear that certain industries are working hard to further define “green” for their customers:

“The first organic standard for the U.S. beauty and personal care market has launched with the support of 30 founding members including Aveda, Estee Lauder, L’Oreal, and Origins, according to the Organic And Sustainable Industry Standards, or OASIS.”

Americans believe there should be one meaning for personal care products labeled “green”, “organic” and “natural”. According to the new standards, OASIS will require 85 percent certified organic content - which will likely increase as “green chemistry” continues to evolve.

Click here to read the full article at EnvironmentalLeader.com.

Environmental Leader reports on Getty Images’ recently released 2nd MAP Report, which finds there may be a backlash against green marketing images brewing. It seems too many companies have adopted the environmentally-friendly color in their marketing materials, therefore creating less of a visual impact. Getty predicts colors will soon move towards “the mucky, the messy, the colorful”.

Read the full article here at EnvironmentalLeader.com.

WGN aired a “Green Holidays” segment on 12/03/07 that gave tips for celebrating the holiday season in earth-friendly ways. A few of the ideas:
- Wrap presents in newspaper or gift bags
- Use natural materials and live plants for indoor decorations
- String LED lights on the tree

We love that some Chicago-area residents are doing their part during one of the most wasteful times of year. What will you be doing to stay green this holiday season?

Click here to see the full video segment

With the unveiling of our new web site at www.greenmarkpr.com, we’ve received several questions regarding the GreenMark Public Relations logo. “I like it, but am I supposed to know what it is?” writes a GreenMark friend and media member.

To answer this question, Sue Markgraf writes:

“You’re not really supposed to understand it, which allows us to explain! It’s organic - a green mark like a blade of grass or the edge of a leaf. Like no two flowers are the same, our logo is individual - and that’s how we approach each of our clients.”