Forest Stewardship Council celebrates first international FSC Friday

Published on September 28, 2009 in Partner news by Ashley. 0 Comments Tags: , , , .

FSC Friday 2009Here at Rivanna, our partnership with the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) is one of our most important relationships. All of our wood plaques and awards are crafted from FSC-certified wood, and we also offer FSC recycled products, such as our PaperStone™ awards. Why did we choose FSC certification? Well, in addition to their strict environmental standards, FSC also has guidelines protecting indigenous peoples’ rights, workers’ rights, and the social and economic well-being of local communities. You can read more about our FSC partnership in the responsible forestry section of our site.

In an effort to promote these responsible forestry standards worldwide, FSC celebrated its 1st International FSC Friday on September 25, 2009. FSC Friday began in the UK in 2008 and was broadened this year to reach internationally. Events were planned at FSC International Center in Bonn, Germany, as well as in Russia, India, and all over the UK and featured FSC product showcases, expert talks, and forest walks.

In Bonn, FSC held an “Open Door Day” and offered meet-and-greets with FSC staff, talks about the impacts of FSC and various FSC initiatives, and a walk through a certified city forest.  The World Wildlife Federation in India celebrated FSC Friday with their launch of an FSC-certified awareness poster conveying the need to protect our forests. FSC Chain-of-Custody certification is taking off in India – more and more companies are applying for certification. In Russia, FSC also held an “Open Door Day”, and opened an online forum for communication about forest certification standards.  The celebration of forests was biggest in the UK, where parks, forests, and community organizations hosted events all over the country spreading awareness for the necessity of forest certification programs. From bike rides and hikes through forests to talks at local schools, as well as discounted FSC-certified products at many retailers, FSC UK offered something for forest revelers of all types.

We at Rivanna are big supporters of FSC and encourage you to learn more about the economic, social, and environmental benefits of FSC certification. Why no FSC Friday in North America, you ask? We’re not sure. In Charlottesville, where we are headquartered, Fridays are BIG. The city has First Fridays, when the local galleries throw their doors open to the public and offer hors d’oeuvres and cocktails to the art enthusiasts, as well as Fridays After 5 (free music at the Pavilion, the outdoor music venue). At Rivanna, we like Fridays, We’d love to participate in an FSC Friday. Wouldn’t you? We’ll check it out and let you know what we learn.

Rivanna holds first annual Rivanna Serves event

Published on September 14, 2009 in Rivanna news by Ashley. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , , .

We all remember where we were during the tragic events of September 11, 2001. That date in history also has a special significance for us at Rivanna – it was the day we hired our first coworker. To honor the importance of that day in our nation’s history, as well as that of our own company, we held the first annual Rivanna Serves event, as part of National Day of Service and Remembrance.  Rivanna coworkers across the country rolled up our sleeves (some literally) and set to work participating in service projects in our communities.

The Rivanna team in San Jose, California endured what turned out to be a very hot day while setting up for the Alzheimer Association’s Memory Walk® on September 12. The volunteers set up the start/finish venue for the 1500 walkers signed up to participate. The San Jose race was one of 600 others taking place around the nation to raise funds and awareness for Alzheimer’s care, support, and research. To get involved in a Memory Walk® in your area, whether to help out or strut your stuff, visit ww.alz.org.

A little further south in Encinitas, California, we spent the afternoon reading to children and educating parents about early literacy through the national Reach Out and Read® program. Volunteers are placed in pediatric medical facility waiting rooms and are encouraged to read aloud to children and talk with parents about the importance of reading in a young child’s intellectual development. To learn more about Reach out and Read®, visit www.reachoutandread.org. Introducing a child to the fascinating world of fiction is a great way to donate your time – and a great way to remember what it’s like to be a kid.

Charlottesville Trail Map

Back in Charlottesville, our HQ team donned long pants and boots and set off to help clean up a creek behind a local housing project. They were joined by Charlottesville mayor Dave Norris and Congressman Tom Perriello, along with about 40 others. After spending the morning picking up trash and clearing the trail (and miraculously avoiding poison ivy), the group enjoyed a small reception, during which Congressman Perriello honored local volunteer Kaitlin Smith with a Congressional Gold Medal for her service in the community.

Rivanna Serves 2009 was a success! We enjoyed our work and hope we’ve inspired you to get involved in your own community – whether just for a day or as an ongoing commitment to service. If you need help finding a project near you, visit www.serve.gov.

Welcome!

Published on September 13, 2009 in Uncategorized by Ashley. 0 Comments Tags: .

Welcome to the Rivanna Review, the official blog of Rivanna Natural Designs. Exciting things are happening every day in the world of environmental responsibility – from innovative green materials to fascinating books to ground-breaking corporate initiatives. We’ll discuss them all here. Plus, we’ll keep you up to date on what’s happening at Rivanna with employee and company news. We encourage you to join the conversation and welcome your comments. Happy reading!