June 11-13, 2008 West Greenwich, Rhode Island
Build a community of value chain researchers and practitioners.
The Sustainable Food Lab, World Wildlife Fund, and Society for Organizational Learning are offering another opportunity for business and NGO leaders to develop their knowledge about the development of healthy value chains—ones that provide triple bottom line benefits for producers, the environment, and companies. We’ll be presenting several cases of innovation for discussion, and the meeting offers attendees the chance to share their procurement challenges and receive peer and expert coaching. Peter Senge will moderate the meeting.
Whether in the food, textiles, or energy industry, today’s businesses face similar challenges. How do we source the materials we need while minimizing our impact on the environment and providing benefits to farmers and other actors in value chains?
The Food Lab, WWF, and SoL convened a group of NGO and business leaders last summer to begin sharing what experience and research tells us about healthy value chains. This year’s meeting will build on what we learned in Boston last year, as we continue to develop a community of practice that advances our work.
“By coming together from a number of industries,” says Peter Senge, “We can help each other see the systems in which we operate, both the realities we face and the opportunities before us.”
Not a conference in which speakers talk and others listen, this will be a hands-on clinic in which we’ll roll up our sleeves and support each other in addressing the real challenges we face in developing ethical and environmentally sustainable value chains.
On Wednesday afternoon, a small planning group will meet to discuss the future of this network and to continue building a toolbox of cases, tools, and methods. Limited space for others may be available; please let us know if you are interested in attending this meeting.
Meeting details
There are two parts to this meeting. The first is a Tools and Methods Planning Meeting to discuss the tools and methods we need to develop as a community of practice for experienced practitioners. The second part is the Healthy Value Chain Clinic which is open to business and NGO leaders involved in creating sustainable value chains.
Part 1—The Tools and Methods Planning Meeting will begin with lunch on Wednesday, 11 June at 12:30 and conclude at 17:00 that afternoon.
Part 2—The Clinic will begin with dinner on Wednesday, 11 June at 18:30 and end at 14:00 Friday afternoon, 13 June. In the morning session, Jason Clay of WWF and others will speak to current trends, provide updates on last year’s cases, and present new cases illustrating how specific companies have addressed value chain challenges. Thursday afternoon and Friday will be spent in clinics: small group sessions in which attendees present their challenges and receive coaching from their peers and several value chain experts.
Location: (Meeting and Sleeping Accommodations)
Whispering Pines Conference Center
401 Victory Highway
West Greenwich, RI 02817-2158
Telephone: (401) 397-3361 ext. 6056
Fax: (401) 397-6540
www.uri.edu/ajc/wpines/index.php
Participants will be responsible for their own travel and meeting expenses. The meeting cost is $250. In addition, the rate of $225 per night (single occupancy) and $165 per person per night (double occupancy) includes sleeping room and all meals per day beginning with dinner on your day of arrival. If you are coming to Part 1 of the meeting or arriving earlier because of travel needs, etc. you will be charged for extra meals accordingly.
To Register for the Meeting: Please go to http://foodlab.wufoo.com/forms/registration-for-healthy-value-chains-clinic/ and complete the form.
Reservations: Sleeping room reservations may be made when you register for the meeting on the web site or by emailing LeAnne Grillo (leanne@reospartners.com). Space is limited at Whispering Pines, so reserve early (by May 10 at the latest—and of course earlier is better). Hotel payment will be made directly to Whispering Pines once you arrive.
Cancellation: Rooms are subject to full payment after May 10.
Travel: The most convenient airport is Providence, Rhode Island’s TF Greene Airport (PVD), which is about 20 minutes from the Conference Center. You can take a local taxi to Whispering Pines from there. Boston’s Logan International (BOS) is about 90 minutes away so if you fly into Boston, you may rent a car Train service from Boston is also available. As we expect many to leave right after the meeting on Friday, taxis back to the airport may be shared fairly easily and we will coordinate those arrangements at the meeting.
Directions to Whispering Pines may be found at http://www.uri.edu/ajc/wpines/directions.php
Weather: West Greenwich Rhode Island is comfortable in June with temperatures ranging from the mid-70’s Fahrenheit (24–26 Centigrade) during the day to the mid-50’s (Fahrenheit) (14–16 Centigrade) at night.
Dress: Dress is casual. We will be both indoors and outdoors during the meeting. There is air conditioning, but all the windows do open. We will also be walking outdoors between buildings so wear comfortable walking shoes and bring a rain jacket. There are walking trails all around the 2300 acres.
Internet access: There is high speed wireless internet access throughout the property.
Other: If you have any dietary or other special needs, please email LeAnne leanne@reospartners.com no later than 1 June with those requests.
Please direct any logistics questions to LeAnne Grillo leanne@reospartners.com or +1-617-532-0906.
