Environmentalists enjoy 'Green Drinks'

Green goodwill: environmental networking.

Pittsfield Green Drinks follows the model of “meet-ups,” which are local gatherings open to anyone interested in a particular subject.

Since October 2006, Pittsfield Green Drinks meetings have been held on the third Tuesday of each month at 5:15 p.m. in the Pittsfield Brew Works on Depot Street. No reservations are required, and there is no fee.

The Pittsfield Green Drinks events were started and are co-sponsored by the Center for Ecological Technology and the Berkshire Environmental Team (BEAT).

"Basically it’s an opportunity for people to get together and talk about environmental issues," said James Cahillane, a staff member at CET and one of the organizers.

The local Green Drinks is independent, but is loosely affiliated with an informal international network of similar gatherings (www.greendrinks.org). Currently there are Green Drinks held in 307 cities around the United States and many other countries, including a group in Great Barrington.

The subjects that come up include land-use and preservation, recycling, solar power and other forms of alternative energy, green building methods, pollution and other topics concerning the environment and sustainable living.

Cahillane emphasized that participation is totally open and fluid, and there are no dues or membership requirements. There is also no meeting agenda or pre-determined subjects. "Basically we’ve set up a time and place to meet," he said. "We see who shows up and then we all talk among ourselves."

He noted that there is a regular core of about a dozen people who attend regularly, in addition to others who come less frequently.

"The size of each gathering varies," he said. "On individual nights we’ve had as few as four people or as many as 22 come. It doesn’t really matter how many are there, because it’s basically a conversation."

He added that the attendees include people who are active in environmental issues professionally or through volunteer work with organizations, as well as individuals who have a personal interest.

Cahillane said Green Drinks serves several different purposes. One is the opportunity to meet and socialize with others who share the same interests. It is also a venue for networking among individuals and groups.

"There is a lot of information and idea sharing," he said. "It’s also an opportunity for participants to tell others about their activities and to promote events they are involved with."

The gatherings have also provided opportunities for organizations to join together on projects or initiatives.

"Some great collaborations have come out of this," said Tom Tyning, a professor at Berkshire Community College and a regular attendee. He cited a recycling program that was started at BCC in conjunction with CET that resulted from conversations at an early Green Drinks meeting.

There is also a less tangible benefit of meeting with kindred spirits.

One regular participant said he appreciates the opportunity to get together with people who share his interest in alternative energy.

"Often, in other settings if I mention solar power, people tend to shy away from the subject because they think it’s impractical or too expensive," he said. "So it feels good to come here and be with people who also appreciate why it;s practical and important."

For information, e-mail jamiec@cetonline.org or call 445-4556 ext.14.