Participants in Friday morning's monthly Gila Economic Development Alliance Roundtable made connections with like-minded people and heard what organizations and entities in the county are doing.

The featured speaker was Cissy McAndrew, executive director of the Southwest New Mexico Green Chamber of Commerce.

McAndrew moved to the area in 1996, because of the "quality of the community."

Her mantra is "Build Community; Respect Culture," she said. "I feel like I'm right back to what my experience is."

She has a background in urban planning and was a general contractor/designer and sales manager of an energy-efficient and solar products company and is certified as a residential and light commercial energy auditor. She has received awards in historic preservation and energy efficiency. McAndrew is the only EcoBroker and GREEN certified Realtor in southwest New Mexico."

Talk about forming a Green Chamber of Commerce began in 2009, with the Viva Verde Forum, hosted by the Gila Resources Information Project.

"We think of green as sustainability and what's best for people, what's best for the community and what's best for the planet," McAndrew said. "We're trying to make people realize you need to do what makes you feel good in your heart."

A group had done the groundwork for a green chamber and just needed to implement it, she said. "I took on the part-time executive director position at no salary and talked to the town and the county to get things going. I have a local board of directors. We're all about, as I said before, building community and respecting culture."

She said she and the board have tried to streamline things and get rid of duplication. The green chamber has created a curriculum in green jobs at Aldo Leopold High School.

"The Green chambers of commerce advocate for renewable energy. That's the difference between us and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce," McAndrew said.

She pointed out that New Mexico is top in the country for wind, solar and thermal renewable energy sources.

"The new governor tried to undermine renewable tax credits, but a grassroots effort managed to stop the state from pulling them," McAndrew said. "We're looking to young people to keep the pressure up."

The Green Chamber of Commerce also participates in the local foods movement, supporting farmers' markets and the second annual Farm-to-Chef competition last summer.

"We are promoting ‘Buy Local' Dec. 3-10," McAndrew said. "When local money is spent here, it recycles here, and fundraising from local businesses is easier, if they know you are supporting them."

She suggested people think about how nature operates the fittest survive; nature doesn't abuse resources; and there is sustainability.

She suggested people invest locally, instead of in the stock market. She gave the example of Gila WoodNet, which has developed a cellulose insulation product from the paper and cardboard waste stream at the landfills. They are preparing to build a plant to manufacture it.

At the end of August, the Southwest Green Chamber of Commerce took over fulfillment, and the Silver City Arts and Culture District took over the Visitor Center staffing, with volunteers, seven days a week.

An additional effort of the green chamber is eco-tourism. McAndrew also pointed out that anyone in the community could have publications at the Visitor Center, whether they are members or not.

"We will have Wi-Fi at the Visitor Center," she said. "Our advertising campaign is ‘Find your Self in Silver City and Grant County.'"

The green chamber also has a social networking component.

"And for my grand finale, Dec. 10, from 1 a.m. to 4 p.m., downtown will be the New Mexico Tamale Fiesta at the end of the ‘Buy Local' week," McAndrew said. "Vendors may have booths at no cost."

She said the rack card is being revised, and the green chamber will put out a visitor guide and relocation guide.

"We want to partner with everyone," McAndrew said.

Kim Clark, Board of Realtors and Prospectors member, asked how mining and agriculture fit into the green chamber.

"We have a brochure each on mining, Fort Bayard and Native Americans," McAndrew said. "We talk about the mining history of the area. We also have publications on farming and ranching. We wouldn't have had some of our fires, if we had grazing in the forest. A true rancher does not overgraze."

Arlene Schadel, Grant County Economic Development coordinator, said people think that those who are into sustainability are anti-ranching and anti-mining.

"We are not nixing our culture," McAndrew said. "The best ways to talk to people about the issues are one-on-one, especially with students. Our Number 1 challenge is education. Members are working with the Merchants' Association and the arts and culture district. We are coming together in the four-county area."

Jeremiah Garcia, Gila EDA board member and meeting facilitator, asked if the green chamber was working with ranches, perhaps for dude ranches.

McAndrew said Joe Kenneally has come up with a map, sort of a back-country bed and breakfast. He will go ahead and set up camp and have a gourmet meal ready for hikers when they get there.

"Dave Ogilvie is one of the best ranchers in taking care of the land," McAndrew declared. "We're trying to teach wise use of the land, which will be part of our eco-tourism push. We plan a workshop with MainStreet on how to set up cooperatives or get grant writers to get money to people."

Sammy Silva of New Mexico Workforce Connections pointed out his agency has money that isn't being spent. "You can connect green to almost anything. The money is available to individuals or businesses. We also have all this money to train people, but no places to train them. We have no green classes in the state. We need teachers. The money is already here money businesses can take advantage of."

McAndrew suggested he work through the Energy and Green Jobs Task Force in the four-county area. She pointed out that Western New Mexico University has new coursework in sustainability.

The reports from community members and organizations will be in a future article.