Sustainable Business Network
of Bainbridge Island

Join Our Mailing List
Email:

 

The 2009 Sustainable Holiday Guide is now online or as a PDF file. Happy Holidays!

America Unchained Day* is November 21. Communities around the continent will be urged to "unchain" for just that one day- to maximize the impact of their dollars and inject potentially millions more into the local economy through joining other residents to do their shopping, dining out and other business only with locally owned independent businesses.

SBN sponsored their second "get to know SBN" event on October 12th! If you missed our first or second gathering, you can still join anytime! Read about membership below, download the membership pledge, and simply mail it to us.

 

 

What is SBN?

The Sustainable Business Network of Bainbridge Island (SBN), currently under the umbrella of Sustainable Bainbridge, is a new, membership-based network of locally owned businesses, organizations and engaged citizens, dedicated to strengthening our local economy through education, networking, marketing, and the promotion of business practices and policies that are socially, environmentally and economically responsible.

SBN is a member of the Business Alliance for Local Living Economies (BALLE), an organization that has been leading and supporting the growing number of independent, locally owned businesses around the world that are actively engaging in building sustainable local economies.  SBN adheres to BALLE’s principles of a “local living economy” (see below) and is founded on the belief that businesses can thrive while being accountable to stakeholders, community well-being, and the environment.  More than employers and profit-makers, business people are also neighbors, community builders, and the starting point for aligning commerce with the common good.  

SBN’s long-range goals are to facilitate sustainable economic development by:

  • Building the number and prosperity of local businesses that creatively address environmental and societal challenges.
  • Increasing awareness about the personal, community and economic benefits of choosing local, independently owned businesses FIRST.
  • Advocating for public policies that strengthen independent local businesses.

The first project of SBN will be to partner with the Bainbridge Island Downtown Association and the Bainbridge Island Chamber of Commerce to develop a unified, island-wide, “Buy Local” campaign. Other ideas include working with Sustainable Bainbridge to launch a Zero Waste campaign and the Bainbridge Island Energy Challenge.


SBN Membership

We are proud to announce our first SBN members, including three sustaining members! Many thanks for being a part of this exciting new network!

Businesses, organizations, and individuals can become members of SBN! Membership is free! Simply fill out our Membership Pledge and watch us grow!

  • Business: For businesses that are located on B.I., locally-owned, and independently operated (*see below). Also for non profit organizations with a business component.
  • Affiliate: For businesses that are not locally owned, community members, and other organizations that want to participate in SBN’s educational and networking opportunities.

Consider becoming a Sustaining Member!
Help SBN get off to a great start! For a $500 a year, tax-deductable donation, Sustaining Members are promoted (and thanked!) in our, website, email announcements and at all our member events.  Additionally, you will receive free entry for up to three fee-based workshops /events per year, and will have the satisfaction of knowing you have contributed to the development of this important network.  Write check payable to Sustainable Bainbridge (address here), or contact us for more information.

* Local, independent businesses can answer yes to all of the following questions:

  • Is your business privately held (not publicly traded)?
  • Do the business owners with controlling interest, totaling more than 50% of the business ownership, live in Kitsap, Jefferson, King, or Pierce County?
  • Is your business registered in the state of Washington, with no corporate or national headquarters outside Kitsap, Jefferson, King, or Pierce County?
  • Do you have full autonomy to make your own independent decisions regarding your unique business and its purchasing, operations and distribution, as well as the name and look of your business?
  • Do you pay your own marketing, rent and other business expenses (without assistance from, or payment to, a corporate headquarters)?

SBN Membership Benefits

BUSINESS MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS

Benefits include:

  • Listing on our web page at Sustainable Bainbridge (soon to be our own website!).
  • Networking events.
  • Cooperative marketing opportunities such as “Buy Local” campaign.
  • Use of the SBN name for your business cards, shelf tags, advertisements, website, etc.

Future benefits may include (and will be informed by the needs of our members!):

  • Access to programs to help you become more sustainable in your business practices (e.g.  Zero Waste)
  • SBN Window Decal - displayed by members to publicly emphasize the importance of supporting members that make sustainable commitments to support our community.
  • Member-to-member email announcements.
  • Member to member discounts.
  • Annual all members meeting.
  • An opportunity to be profiled through SBN campaigns and promotions.
  • Organizational newsletters. 
  • Cooperative purchasing programs.

AFFILIATE MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS

Affiliate members receive all the benefits of business members with the exception of marketing and promotional support.  Affiliate members will be listed as individuals or organizations.


Get Involved!

We encourage, and in fact, count on member participation in SBN! Spend a lot of time with us - volunteering hours to develop the organization, or spend less - attending events to learn or share, or simply providing monetary support.  Other ideas include: membership development; events (either organize, help run, or provide the space); and In-kind services (graphic design, materials, food for events, advertising, technical writing, etc.).

 

Founding Members

Morley Horder, President
Morley is the owner of Eagle Harbor Book Co, 1997 to present. He previously worked 15 years in the nonprofit world with focus on marine environmental education and leadership training with youth aboard tall ships, and was the founder and executive director of the nonprofit Sound Experience, 1988‐1994. Morley has a BS degree from the Huxley College of Environmental Science and graduated from the Certificate Fundraising Program, University of Washington.

Susan Taylor, Vice President
Susan Taylor founded The Traveler, a retail store specializing in travel books, maps, luggage and accessories, in 1995. She has been a board member and President of the Independent Travel Stores Association. She is currently a board member of the Bainbridge Island Downtown Association.

Sarah Wren, Secretary
Sarah Wen opened a women’s clothing shop on Bainbridge Island in 2005. She sits on the Board of the Bainbridge Island Downtown Association where she helped to launch the THINK BAINBRIDGE BUY LOCAL campaign in 2008. Sarah moved to the community with her husband in 2004 from Orange County California, where she was Marketing Manager for a national managed care company. Before her work in marketing, Sarah worked for an environmental engineering firm as Project Manager for California Industrial Storm Water Permit Compliance. Sarah studied business, marketing and environmental studies at both Sierra College and the University of California at Irvine.

Barbara Tolliver, Treasurer
Barbara Tolliver has lived on Bainbridge Island since 1975 and is  the co‐owner of The Traveler. She is a former President of the Bainbridge Island Downtown Association and has served on various City committees relative to downtown planning and development. During a long career as a public library practitioner and administrator she held leadership positions in state, regional and national professional organizations.

Kat Gjovik
Kat is an activist, community builder, and “integrator,” currently active on the boards of
Sustainable Bainbridge and Community Energy Solutions. She has been active in affordable
housing, civil rights, peace, sustainability, Conversation Café, and Earth Charter, and currently works with David Korten on The Great Turning and New Economy initiatives.

Paul Hanson
A Professional Bookseller since 1989 and General Manager of Eagle Harbor Book Co.
since 1997, Paul has served on the Board of Directors for the Pacific Northwest Booksellers
Association since 2005, currently as Past President, and on the Booksellers Advisory Committee for the American Booksellers Association. He has appeared on numerous panel discussions, workshops and presentations educating booksellers, authors, and publishers on various aspects of the publishing industry and the role of independent bookstores.

Els Heyne
Els is an entrepreneur and business owner of the bicycle shop "Classic Cycle" on
Bainbridge Island. She recently graduated with an MBA in sustainability from the Bainbridge
Graduate Institute. She is one of the co‐founders of Sustainable Bainbridge and serves on the board as Treasurer and currently also serves on the board of One Call for All in the same function.

Neva Welton
Neva is an author, activist, and co‐founder of several nonprofit organizations including Sustainable Bainbridge, Sustainable Communities ALL Over Puget Sound (SCALLOPS), and Kitsap Citizen Action Network. She is currently on the Board of SCALLOPS and Sustainable
Bainbridge.

 

Living Economy Principles

  • A local living economy ensures that economic power resides locally to the greatest extent possible, sustaining vibrant, livable communities and healthy ecosystems in the process.
  • Living economy communities produce and exchange locally as many products needed by their citizens as they reasonably can, while reaching out to other communities to trade in those products they cannot reasonably produce at home. These communities value their unique character and encourage cultural exchange and cooperation.
  • Living economy public policies support decentralized ownership of small businesses and farms, fair wages, taxes, and budget allocations, trade policies benefiting local economies, and stewardship of the natural environment.
  • Living economy consumers appreciate the benefits of buying from living economy businesses and, if necessary, are willing to pay a price premium to secure those personal and community benefits.
  • Living economy investors value businesses that are community stewards and as such accept a "living return" on their financial investments rather than a maximum return, recognizing the value derived from enjoying a healthy and vibrant community and a sustainable global economy.
  • Living economy media provide sources of news independent of corporate control, so that citizens can make informed decisions in the best interests of their communities and natural environment.
  • Living economy businesses are primarily independent and locally owned, and value the needs and interests of all stakeholders while building long-term profitability.
    For more information contact SBN@sustainablebainbridge.net

Why Shop Local?

  • Economic Strength and Stability: Dollars spent in locally-owned businesses have three times the impact on our community as dollars spent at national chains. When shopping locally, you simultaneously create jobs, fund more city services through sales tax, promote and make our community more resistant to downturns in the global economy.
  • Environmental Sustainability:  Buying local can reduce carbon emissions and petroleum use. Local goods require less packaging, waste, and less shipping.
  • Builds Community: Local purchases are more likely to be social interactions as well as business transactions- it's great to know your local merchant. Local businesses contribute more to our schools and community events.
  • Personalized Service: Local businesses have more flexibility to respond to the needs of their customers and community.
  • Local Decision-Making: Local ownership means important decisions are made by people who live in the community and feel the impacts of those decisions.
  • Protect Local Community Character: Bainbridge citizens take pride in the unique character of our community. It’s the small, unique and diverse local businesses that help to create this special flavor that is enjoyable for residents and visitors alike.