Twitter-thon for Milo's Upcoming International Speaking Tour a Terrific Success!

Thank you to each and every one who participated in Milo's recent fundraiser- hosted by People Report/Black Box Intelligence (PRBBI).

Over $3,000 was raised toward the overall goal of $25,379.

Thanks, also to the businesses which donated prizes and funds: Ted's Montana Grill, Boston's, Glass Dharma, Macaroni Grill, and PRBBI.

A very special thanks to Sarah of PRBBI for organizing, hosting and orchestrating the fundraiser - we are that much closer!

We will be holding several fundraisers in January at interesting and exciting venues - stay tuned!

Blue Turtle Swims to Australia

It was an honor to receive this Blue Turtle award from the hands of Jean-Michel Cousteau and an honor to pass it along to Trevor Keightley, award-winning film producer and all-around terrific guy, for his important work for the environment.

Safe journey, Little Blue!

Updates on Little Blue's journey to come...

Milo Presents at People, Profits, Planet Conference

The People, Profis, Planet - Best Practices Conference in Dallas TX on Nov 7th, 2012, was a fantastic experience!

(photos courtesy of PRBBI)

I was invited to speak at the annual conference attended by the leaders of the largest restaurant chains in the US, as well as the Nat'l Restaurant Assoc., and others.

I was invited to give a presention about my project, Be Straw Free. 

I encourage restaurants to OFFER straws to customers instead of serving one with every drink autoamtically, and I encourage customers to order their drinks without a straw if they don't need to use one.

(There are paper straws and many reusable options -glass, bamboo, stainless steel, etc. for those who want or need to use a straw - many come with their own carrying case, too.)

Participating restaurants LOVE this project because, as they have reported back to me, they find that 50-80% of their customers choose not to take a straw when offered. And, anyone who wants a straw still gets one.

This simple step saves restaurnts money and keeps a lot of needless plastic waste out of landfills and our oceans. (We use enough straw here in the US to fill more than 46,400 large yellow school buses per year!)

Independently-owned restaurants around the world are already particiapting in this project, but this was the first time I've gotten a chance to pitch the idea to the largest restaurant chains in the US.

My presentation was received with a generous standing ovation and enthusiasm.

George McKerrow, CEO of Ted's Montana Grill, was the first to sign the pledge to adopt the offer-first policy in his chain of restaurants. 

Suzy's Swirl signed on next.

Representatives of several other chains pledged to take the proposal to their borads for approval.

This is one small step for each restaurant, one giant leap for the planet!

Thanks to all who gave me such a warm welcome in Dallas! I appreciate your time and interest in my project. And thank you to PRBBI for igiving me the opportunity me to give my presentation to this audience.  

Mr. Cousteau Awards Milo Coveted Blue Turtle Award

Headlines: 

Milo Speaks at CU Boulder and Receives Award from Jean-Michel Cousteau...

Milo was an invited speaker at the 2nd annual Making WAVES Conference at the University of Colorado in Boulder, on October 21st, 2012. Keynote speaker, Jean-Michel Cousteau, son of Jacques Cousteau, awarded Milo the Turtles of Change award for his work with Be Straw Free. It was not only a surprise, but a thrill and an honor  to receive.

The Turtles of Change, from Blue Turtle.com, is "an award program recognizing carefully selected organizations and individuals that have accomplished something significant for the community or planet that will educate and serve as a model for others around the world. The primary goal is to promote the individual or group that is receiving the award. The award is an actual small handmade bronze statue of a turtle, created by internationally known artist Nikola Kosic from Montenegro."

Milo must now select and present the coveted bronze sculpture to the next deserving recipient. This difficult decision will be announced here shortly!

Stay tuned... Next week Milo is invited to speak at the annual Best Practices Conference: People, Planet, Profit in Dallas,Texas, where he will address leaders of the restaurant industry and leaders of the largest restaurant chains in the US.