Join Colleen's Green Team!

Before my feature comes out in Sierra magazine, I would like to take this opportunity to tell all my friends about my plans this season on the beach.  As you all know, I moved to California to pursue my beach volleyball career.  I dream of being more successful on the beach than I was indoor which takes lots of work, money, and ideas.   

During six weeks of  the 2007 summer, I stayed with my friend, Cory Tixier, founder of Pure Habitat NYC, a green cleaning and consulting business.  Cory brought to my attention the areas of my life that could use a little green makeover.  I could use less water while doing dishes, I could take shorter showers, I could air-dry my hands in public bathrooms instead of using paper towels, I could buy produce from local markets to reduce the demand on the transportation of goods, I could ride my bike more often and develop some damn sexy legs, and of course, I could tell my friends about the easy changes I am making in my life to prevent our Earth's resources from getting used up. 

I started thinking more about living in a greener world and thought about the beaches I play volleyball on.  If global warming persists at the rate us earthlings are consuming, some predictions state that by 2100 the sea level will rise up to 6 meters!  Just to put this into perspective, that is 3 Colleens!  This made me realize that perhaps I could make a bigger difference than just making changes in my life; while on tour, I could encourage others to make changes in their own lives. 

A friend of mine designed a temporary tattoo for me and I am going to wear it at one meter on my body which is just below where my bikini bottom meets my thigh.  This mark is going to represent where the sea level may rise to during my lifetime. 

I really enjoy talking to kids and want to get their ideas on living greener.  I am going to encourage them, their parents, and other adults to join my green team.  In order to do so, they must promise me to change one aspect in their lives to contribute to a better greener world.  Upon making this promise, they will be provided with a token to keep their word: a temporary tattoo, a re-usable shopping bag, or a 1-meter magnet to stick to their fridge.  All kids  will receive an extremely cool storyboard from Pixar artist, Nick Sung, just to give them some ideas how they and their friends can live greener lives. (THANK YOU NICK FOR YOUR GENEROUS VOLUNTEERMANSHIP!!!)

The very best ideas from all of the people I encounter are going to be featured on this very website with their bright and shiny mugs to accompany their awesome ideas.

The only thing missing now is an environmental teammate to help me execute my vision.  I have the budget to keep my website, talk and listen to great green ideas and make temporary tattoos, but the rest requires more money than I have. 

If you know of anyone willing to help me out, please let me know!

Peace out, Colleen

Comments

[howardgr]

I heard about your efforts via Steve Crandall. I'm going to have this discussion with my kids. They have an uncle who's 6'7" so tall is usual in our family, but the tattoo idea is a great visual representation and conversation starter. I've never been one to like athletes making their bodies into billboards with logos, but this seems very worthwhile.
I applaud you in your efforts.

[Nancy White]

Hi Colleen - I'm Nancy, Steve and Erin's friend, so we have two wonderful people connections. Have you considered teaming with a local grocery store for the shopping bags? Here in Seattle, we just passed a law that will require you to pay 20 cents for any disposable bag starting next Jan, so our stores are all into designing their bags. I could see a store loving the association with you. Whole Foods?

In the meantime, I volunteer to sponsor 5000 temporary tattoos. Email me on how I can get you the money, ok?

[Fernando Pereira]

Hi Colleen:

I'm a friend of Steve's and a fanatic skier. Global warming destroys the mountain world that I love so much. Like you, I just moved to California recently. I just PayPaled a donation for your Green Team program. It's a great idea!

-- Fernando

[Trudy Johnson-Lenz.com]

Hi Colleen, I'm yet another friend of Steve's. Earlier I noodled some ideas in a comment here, but they seem to have disappeared, so I'll try again -- much more briefly.

For "branding," how about always wearing a green bikini when you compete and when you talk with kids and others about your Green Team? With publicity, people will hear about and remember that cool woman in the green bikini who's passionate about sustainability and global warming.

Think of a fun nickname: Green Colleen or maybe Colleen, the Gentle Green Giant.

See if you can link the tattoos to a call/campaign to "Save the Beaches." Even the AVP could get behind that ;-).

For your recyclable bag that kids of all ages get for joining Colleen's Green Team, how 'bout including a sheet with one of those many lists with 50 ways to save the planet, 25 ways to go green, 20 ways to reduce your carbon footprint and go on a low-carbon diet, or whatever. You can find lots of 'em on the Web. Pick one you like and that you think will inspire the kids and their families you talk to. Print and copy.

I like the idea of including a CFL, especially as they're inexpensive now. You might be able to get Home Depot or your local utility to donate some, or at least coupons for one.

And be sure to include a card or flyer of some sort about Colleen's Green Team and what it means to be part of it, along with a great picture of you, with tattoo, in your green bikini. Maybe Nick Sung has already done this for you.

Best wishes!

[Jheri]

I very much want to make a difference but worry the Greens upset too many people by telling them how they are supposed to live. This is much better. I like the idea of exciting kids and getting them thinking and Colleen is just the right person for this!

I'm going to make a donation and feel very good about that.

[rebecca]

Hi Colleen,

I was sent to your site by the amazing and motivated Steve and it looks just wonderful.
If I can think of ways to help out, I would love to.
Keep up the good work!

Best,
~ rebecca