The Sacramento Green Expo 2010 at Cal Expo April 24 was Sacramento’s first sustainable lifestyle expo.

There were almost 80 exhibitors whose business types included heating and cooling, building design, gardening, yoga, pet foods, state agencies, SMUD, restaurants, healthcare, conservation organizations, real estate, automotive, retail, services, home improvement and more.

One exhibitor was Sacramento Sustainability Forum. The forum is a monthly venue to connect businesses, organizations, government and interested citizens in the Sacramento region to promote and support a sense of community and movement toward a sustainable future in our region. SSF provides an unbiased venue for access to resources, insights, discussion and debate

SSF supports the definition that “Sustainable Development is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs,” according to the World Commission on Environment and Development (WCED).

Co-founder J. Richard Noss also runs a local business out of El Dorado Hills called GreenVision for Business, Inc. In addition to exhibiting SSF at Green Expo, he was there to represent a social networking group called Green Drinks, which meets from 6–8 p.m. on the first Thursday of every month. It was through Green Drinks that the founders met and formed SSF.

Co-founder Jacob Griscom said the SSF format started by reaching out to the community to build a network and supporters. If your business is not a supporter of SSF, it’s easy to become one. Supporters get a logo and link, and they help to get the word out about SSF through their networks. The city of Sacramento is the newest supporter. SSF aims to be an effective outreach tool for the city.

Griscom and Noss are ready to take SSF to the next level and be a real force of change and impact here in Sacramento, recently having started a multilayered sponsorship program.

SSF attendees were asked to sign a Sacramento SafeGround (associated with Loaves and Fishes) petition for pubic support for homeless communities, and for a fundamental change in policy, to allow camping on public land as well as private land with owner consent, and for the establishment of “safe ground” sites for homeless people.

Ben Phillips-Lesenana is SSF’s serial networker, looking for ways to support the community. As SSF’s website administrator, he also has the capacity to bring together aspects of the site. Phillips-Lesenana served as both moderator and panelist at this event. In addition to his involvement with SSF, he is active in multiple local chambers of commerce and serves as co-chair of the Sacramento Rainbow Chamber of Commerce’s Rainbow PLUS Committee. He is also co-founder and managing partner of eGreenItems.com, which markets directly to government.

The first panelist introduced was Heather Pollock, who sits on the board of the Rancho Cordova Chamber of Commerce in addition to her role of recycling coordinator and LEED green associate at Atlas Disposal, a Sacramento Sustainable Business that serves commercial businesses. Pollack said the Rancho Chamber has made its building very green.

Panelist Matthew Bodourian serves as membership director with the Sacramento Asian Pacific Chamber of Commerce. He said he sees the chamber as a bridge. It offers programs like its Supplier Diversity Program, advising members on how to get funding. There are so many definitions of green, but a common question is, “What is a green company?” In the chamber, an internal study mission is to have members talk to each other to define what green is.

Other chambers were sent invitations to the event, but were not represented.

The first question posed to the panelists was, “What sustainability programs are currently occurring in your organizations?”

The Rancho Cordova Chamber has a recycling ordinance, where businesses and residential complexes are required to recycle.

The Sacramento Asian Pacific Chamber’s first goal is to have members be a part of its program and internal study mission. Members take a local bus trip that goes around Sacramento to find and examine best practices.

The Rainbow Chamber has recently incorporated as a nonprofit organization. This year, members are helping to facilitate the Pride Festival in June and are making it more sustainable. At this big event, there are lots of things that go to waste, like programs used only one time. As far as the venue, they want to support those with green certifications.

Another question was, “What is the signature program we want to hit on today?”

The Sacramento Asian Pacific Chamber promotes seeing the best practices in the green industry throughout Sacramento. More green events are planned in the next year because the market is growing so fast.

The next question was “In terms of government stimulus programs, are the chambers seeing anything of benefit for member businesses participation?”

All of the chambers are trying to get in front of what the green industry is. Members said it’s important to contact your local chamber and let them know you want to be notified whenever they are doing something related to the green industry. If you get involved right now, you’ll be at the beginning of defining what the green industry is.

Call your local chamber. Tell them you want to get work in the green field. You want to benefit from new legislation. They have tools to help you. You have to use them. Ask them, “What are your sustainability plans at the chamber? How can I get involved?”

SSF is going back to its normal meeting schedule after this event, typically meeting from 7-9 p.m. on the third Thursday of each month starting in May, when it will have a speaker from an organization focusing on building community advocacy around climate advocacy and climate change.

More details can be found at http://sacramentosustainabilityforum.com.