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Gearing Up For Localism- Eco All Stars August Challenge and 200 Points!

This one is for the Greenies in the Real Estate Industry over at the Eco All Stars Group! If you are a Greenie and not a member..well, JOIN!

We succeeded reaching our July Challenge and we now have over 700 members! Yeah!

janeAnne, Mary Bigelow and I had an interesting email conversation the other day about how the New Localism will be and how Eco All Stars can be involved. What did we decide?

Well, how about an August Challenge. Let's get the Greenies involved. The Guys have set out some criteria for what is 'acceptable' content and in the end, it is for the consumer. Well, let's give the consumer what they want!

Let's figure out how green fits in to the Localism Picture!

So, for the August Challenge we are giving a Gold Star a Day in the Group!

Do you need some ideas?

Well how about these:

Local stores that sell products
Local Parks
Co-Ops and Farmers Markets
Organic/Green Restaurants
Green/LEED Hotels or getaways
How to set up a compost bin (Jeff:)
Installing solar panels
Rain Water Harvesting
Organic Gardening in your area
An Arboreteum
Let's find more!!!!

Let's roll around some ideas and find out what is going to work in Localism and give some really awesome content to people in our area and/or people wanting to move to an area. Green is HOT right now, let's help our communities have the tools they need to learn more and find out about the benefits of what is Local!

Sorry guys, no points unless the AR guys want to Ante-up ;0) Rich has so Graciously hopped in and donated points! So here are the guidelines and Point Breakdown!

The post must qualify for the New Localism Content. Read this post by Rich to help you, just remember it's about talking with the consumer not to the consumer and not really Real Estate related. See my suggestions above. Use this as an opportunity to get out, Network, meet new people and businesses and find something new! Also, the post must:

Be 250 Words or more
Have Local and Pertinent Pictures to Associate
Be tagged Properly. Meaning, the location, subject AND 'Eco August Challenge' so we can find it
Put a link here also to help us find your post
AND even though we will be giving away Gold Stars everyday, your entry must be in no later than Noon CST on August 31st. Winners to be announced on September 3rd..at the latest.

This means we need Judges!!!!! Volunteers anyone? We need 3.

Here is the point breakdown:

You get an Additional 200 Points for Entering: (200 points for writing + 200 = 400) When the Winners are announced:

3nd Place= 200 Points
2nd Place= 300 Points
1st Place= 500 Points Plus a Shiny Gold Star on the Big Board (AR Feature)

Rich, You are awesome! ;0)

For a little more info on what the judges will look for:

Everything I mentioned above
Well written with Grammar and Spelling
Interesting and attracts Local, Local, Local
Unique and different
Bonus if it is an interview or otherwise and the local business, etc. comments on the post. Remember, the end goal of Localism is to get the community involved..i.e. YOUR Community

Posted by Stephanie Edwards-Musa, Realtor ® Spring/Woodlands, TX Real Estate on 07/31/2008 05:47 PM

Comments (67)

eco august challenge

Post is included in group: ECO-All-Stars~ GREEN Resources, Trends & Friends

67 Comments on Gearing Up For Localism- Eco All Stars August Challenge and 200 Points!

JUL

If you write a post for this contest, post a link here or 'tag' it with 'eco august challenge' so we can find it. :)

Okay, I will have my August Challenge in a few days. I definitely want a "good star", since being a former teacher, I love those things. LOL

;>)

Hi Ann-Marie, :) Yes, we like teacher like stuff in the group. It's fun.

Stephanie--I am not in the greenie group anymore but here's an idea for those of you with huge state fairs and local county fairs in the summer...There is a whole eco friendly building with tons of Green ideas at the MN state fair....Bet it is the same for others and most are coming up soon!

Thanks Teri, that's a good idea!

Hi Stephanie,

Great stuff and I know you will make the most of this! But for the life of me, I can't figure out how everyone has the time to do this???

Lynda, How's everything?

How we do this? It's called getting very little sleep. Actually, I think the bed is calling me right now. ;0)

Sounds like a good challenge and a great way to broaden awareness of green businesses in a community. I look forward to the task.

JUL

What a great idea! I look forward to contributing!

We would be honored to ante up. What's a reasonable prize, point wise?

Rich!!!!!!!

I'm sure this will make the group happy. ;0)

janeAnne? What do you think?

I think this group loves a challange as much as I do. My reward is going to be all the referrals this brings the group.

JUL

Looks like a great time and should challenge each of us who choos to participate.

Just joined your group. Hope to join in on the green fun!

What an excellent contest...I'm in!!!

I am in on this one:) I even have two idea's and I knew there was a reason I saved this building for just the right time. Las Vegas does not have much yet, but they are working at it:)

Hi Sabrina, I hope you come back to see the fantastic changes to the challenge! :)

Hi Jeff, I hope you are one of those that choose to participate. It should be great fun!

Hi Antoinette! We have a great time over in the group. Our monthly challenge is always exciting and different. I'm really looking forward to this one.

Hi Beth, I can't wait to read your entry!!

Hi Chris, Can't wait! :) You should post both and put one in the contest. It's about getting good content on Localism and getting in the spirit. My mind is overflowing with ideas for the new localism now that I get it. As a matter of fact, I made some calls today. :)

To Everyone- This one is all about getting in to the spirit of Localism. So, think of something out of the box, out of the ordinary....and remember that it is all about eventually getting the public involved in Localism. (Thus, the Bonus for getting them on to comment on your post)

It's about building relationships in the community, not just real estate. If you participate in a community service activity, we want to hear about. Anything. Opportunities are wide open here.

I'm going to have some fun with it, I hope you do too!!

Okay -- Even before an announcement of points, I went to work on a post for this contest. Here is the link http://activerain.com/blogsview/618026/Nashua-New-Hampshire-Best. It was a lot of fun and I really enjoyed doing this post.

I'm terrible at writing Green posts, but I'd be happy to be a Judge.

Great idea to kick-start the new Localism with some valuable content. And seeing 'green and gold' together here reminds me that football season is right around the corner -- Go Pack, Go! I know I won't be writing about Rain Water Harvesting here in Las Vegas, but there have been a couple of new solar projects announced that deserve some attention.

Stephanie, If any of the posts for this contest contain a lot of personal photos, they would be great for my new group, PHOTO MeMe's. It just depends on how it's written. But since I started the group (last week-LOL), I'm seeing a lot of posts and blogging ideas that can serve a dual purpose =)

AUG

Stephanie~

I will be happy to act as a judge of this Eco-All-Stars sponsored contest and August Challenge. I canhardly wait to come back here and see the links to posts. What a great way to give Localism a nice "green" boost...and watch it grow. =)...Here's a Big Green Thumbs Up to ALL who enter....

Wow,

I'm just tring to process how this all works.

How do you do it, JaneAnne?

NeighborJohn

Sounds like a great idea, thank you for making it happen. Giving Localism a boost like this will be a great thing!!! I look forward to the challenge :-)

ONE QUESTION.... can i submit more than ONE post for this challenge? There are so just many interesting things that could be covered and I'm having a hard time narrowing it down to one. thanks

This sounds like a lot of fun and right up my "compost alley". I already went out this morning to take a photo of "compost alley," and started working on my entry.

Stephanie:

I have a couple of good ideas already! Thanks.

Good challenge. I will have to join the group and submit something. Can we submit more that one post?

Hi All, I'm back for a minute.

Ardell and janeAnne, Thanks for volunteering!! We need one more judge!

All of my Asheville friends up there..this came across my twitter updates today and I'm so jealous that you all fun stuff like this to do:

http://www.citizen-times.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=200880801014&source=rss

I'd love to see pics. :)

Hi Pam, we usually do only one per person...but you can submit all you like to the group. Actually, we would love that. :)

Stephanie....perfect timing for me as I am just getting my Eco Broker Designation and joined our area "Green Council"....I'll be like a sponge learning as much as I can and if I feel I have a good idea, I will submit a post for you! Great idea!

Just Joined the Group, I am so excited, I have so much to contribute. This is Great!!!

I can't wait to see the entries! This will be a hot month!

I too just joined the group I live in what should be one of the "Greenest" areas of the US - Lake Tahoe. I can't wait to write my first "Green Blog"

AUG

Just joined the group, thanks and look forward to seeing the GREEN posts:-)

AUG

OK, here's one of my posts. I think I'm supposed to note it here:

http://activerain.com/blogsview/630477/A-green-walk-down

I did tag it with "'Eco August Challenge" as directed, also. Home it's the kind of thing you have in mind.

AUG

Here's another for today. It's tagged with "Eco August Challenge" and the post is:

http://activerain.com/blogsview/633167/What-You-Learned-From

AUG

Here is one for the challenge. It is a post on the upcoming Maui Sustainable Living Expo hosted at Maui Community College.

Maui Sustainable Living Expo

AUG

This is a great idea. I am on it and will have something within the week! Thank you for the challenge!

OK, here's another:

http://activerain.com/blogsview/636822/Desert-location-no-well

And a second:

http://activerain.com/blogsview/636648/Corrales-NM-is-truly

(I was in a writing mood today!)

AUG

New post:

http://activerain.com/blogsview/641852/Green-Community-Location-Landfill

BTW, where are all the gold stars? There should have been 14 gold-starred posts since the first, but I don't see them appearing on anyone's posts.

Hi Laura, we were keeping up with the starts...but there haven't been very many posts submitted total...you are doing awesome though! Saw yours on the big board. :)

We'll have to send out a reminder to the group about the contest..

AUG

Stephanie~

I will send out a reminder today...

When I got janeAnnes group email I didn't have a clue what I was going to do. But my brain is working on it!

AUG

Here's another:

http://activerain.com/blogsview/644815/Green-Community-or-Toxic

AUG

Here's one more:

http://activerain.com/blogsview/654805/Local-honey-green-and

AUG

Hey, y'all, I'm still not seeing where those "green stars" each day are??

Still trying though, Here's a new post:

http://activerain.com/blogsview/656913/Albuquerque-s-Mesa-del

AUG

O.K. Guys,

Here are a few that I have written in the past few days. Let me know what you think. I can take it!

http://localism.com/blog/wa/vancouver/felida/posts/660810/The-Green-Haus-in

http://localism.com/blog/wa/vancouver/felida/posts/662137/A-New-Park-in

http://localism.com/blog/wa/posts/662178/Green-Drinks-in-Vancouver

AUG

I forgot to add my post here I hope you like it:)

http://activerain.com/blogsview/655463/Is-Flashy-Las-Vegas

I am still learning the blog platform here so if it does not look exactly right please forgive me:)

AUG

Here's another:

http://activerain.com/blogsview/666096/My-green-2-mile

Ok guys, Here is another.

http://localism.com/blog/wa/vancouver/felida/posts/665833/Another-Green-Home-at

I hope I am not too late to get in on the eco-local cross-over blogging party!

Vickie's Place, Swarthmore, Delaware County, PA -- A great spot in a Green Power Town

AUG

I'm.... trying.... to .... get... post.... together. GASP

Heres the link to mine. Getting it together at the last minute.

http://activerain.com/blogsview/667341/Land-Conservation-and-Albemarle

AUG

Great Idea ... My first contest entry; hopefully I followed all the rules......... and here it is.

http://activerain.com/blogsview/667993/Commons-at-Mt-Burdell

Thought I will also post something about our awesome Recycling Service..

http://activerain.com/blogsview/668119/How-to-Achieve-Highest

Sylvia

Here's my post about desert landscaping in Henderson Nevada: http://activerain.com/blogsview/668050/Henderson-Nevada-Colors-of

Since I missed the boat, here's a link to an article ... The Energy Doctor (Steve Blake) in Honopou Maui. He has monthly workshops on how to build and design your own off grid system.

GO GREEN!

SEP

I read your post today stating you extended it until the 6th. I am going to look around for ideas . . .

Hi Everyone,

If you are following this Challenge, you may want to read the Update:

Hi Everyone, just to keep you all posted on what is going on..here is my comment on the updated post.

------------------------------------------------------

Our initial reaction was for just the original entries to get in on the tie breaker..and we are still kind of going back and forth...

But, I'm kind of thinking (and I hope Mary and janeAnne hop in) that Eco All Stars is about raising awareness in the community and writing good stuff. We hope that all members of the group will go out and get the community involved to raise awareness and hop in to comment not just for the challenge but from here on out.

I am not opposed to new entries. Also, if the entrant feels that we didn't pick the post they wanted, I can change that also.

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