Spotlight on Sustainability

This month the first-ever “Train the Trainer” program was conducted by GMIC (Green Meeting Industry Council), on the University of Maryland campus in Baltimore. Five faculty members instructed the 16 ‘trainer - trainees’ attending the 2-1/2 day course. Each trainer received a thorough orientation of ‘how’ to introduce the imminent ASTM/CIC Environmentally Sustainable Meetings, Events, Trade Shows and Conferences Standards to the Event Industry at large. I played an active role in the development of these new standards, which are in the final stages of peer-review and edits by ASTM (American Society for Testing and Materials). In many respects, fate handed me the unique position and opportunity to experience the ‘trainer-trainee’ course with a view from both sides of the socially responsible event management curriculum.

After seeing the culmination of three years of work on these sustainable event management standards, my time in Baltimore was rewarding yet filled with impending apprehension. Could this first-ever class of 2011 'Standards Bearers' take to the streets armed with the work from hundreds of volunteer stakeholders who toiled thousands of man-hours building these Event Standards? Based on firsthand experience, I am confident these Trainers can move their work forward in a manner which will make all those who contributed to them very proud. The mix between organizers and suppliers attending the class made for a well-balanced room and was in line with the way the standards are also positioned. It’s fair to surmise both organizer and supplier must contribute an equal amount if each shall achieve and consequently ascend to and through every level of sustainability in the field of event management.

There are four levels of achievement for each of the nine sectors. The faculty as well as all the stakeholders who contributed to these Standards have always emphasized the focus must initially be on helping both event planner and supplier complete Level 1. And, of course, progress is truly much more important than perfection.

Critical to this journey is each organizer and supplier’s honest assessment of where they are currently relative to the Standards – tantamount to establishing a ‘basecamp.’ In many ways it makes the relationship much like true mountain climbing. Together (as any good mountain climber knows) organizer and supplier ascend in pairs as they tackle each level. Neither organizer nor supplier may ascend “Sustainability Mountain” without a partner who is just as fully engaged, honest and hungry for the knowledge. No one climbs if both can’t climb in unison.

So what’s in store for future Train the Trainer classes? There will be a number of additions to the overall 'style' of their orientation. After completing the course, the Class of 2011 was asked by faculty to share their view of how they’d improve the format. It’s probably a given each successive class will improve on the prior group’s classroom ‘experience.’ Concurrently, technology will move forward and in all likelihood increase the need to be
adapted to this dynamic curriculum.

Given the depth and breadth of the current standards and armed with the knowledge these trainers have had much more exposure to them than the average person, a greater focus may be needed on the skills and tools necessary to communicate, lead and assist in implementation to individuals and organizations with less exposure and experience in sustainability. Based on all the experiences leading up this moment, I’m very excited to witness (and participate in) the evolution of this program and its impact on the future of the event industry. I truly feel it is fair to write only the best will possibly come for all those who challenge themselves to find sincere, trustworthy partners as they travel the path together. There are no slaves and masters as we begin our trek towards producing our most socially responsible events. Rather, there's fertile soil for true collaboration and mutually beneficial growth. The Trainers will guide us as we begin our journey together and as the old Buddhist proverb reminds us “the teacher arrives when the student is ready.”

I’m betting you’re ready.

Scott McKye is president of KLEERTECH, a N.A. manufacturer of event products. He has more than 25 years experience in the tradeshow and meetings industry and is a member of:

• Communication Co-Chair APEX/ASTM Green Meeting and Event Practice Panel, Standards Writing Initiative
• American Society of Association Executives (ASAE)
• International Association of Exhibitions and Events (IAEE)
• Meeting Professional International (MPI)
• IAEE’s Committee of Environmentally Responsible Exhibitions and Events
• American Society of Testing and Materials (ASTM)
• Elected to the Board of Directors for Green Meeting Industry Council
• International Society of Sustainability Professionals
• Member of the U.S. TAG (Technical Advisory Group) being formed through ASTM to work on ISO /PC 250 Sustainability in Event Management Standards
• Founding Member and Member of the Board of Directors of the Green Products Association
  

Scott is also the Communications Committee Co-Chair for GMIC’s Green Meetings & Events Practices Apex Panel. He has received Trade Show Executive magazine’s 2008 Innovator of the Year Award and has participated in several green meeting events as a featured speaker or expert panelist.