Green Drinks and eco-business networking events tend to open to all — or at least all who can pay the few dollars cover for these mixers. This invites anyone with an interest in environmental issues — even if they’re not yet working or involved in green sectors — to join the party.
That works pretty well for me, but apparently, some seek a more serious-eco-people-only event. For those who want a more exclusive networking night out, we’ve now got a green event with a strict guest list: The Eco Forum (PDF).
Not only do you have to pay $75 to get into The Eco Forum’s events, you also have to fill out an application form. Admission’s granted only to “C-Level Executives, Business Owners, CSR Executives, Sustainability Executives & Non-Profit Leaders.”
Why would you want to go through this trouble? In addition to hors d’oeuvres and cocktails made with 360 Vodka,The Eco Forum promises “powerful resources for growth, advancement and fulfillment”:
By bringing together innovative thought leaders, business entrepreneurs and senior executives from disciplines that intersect within the green space; the eco-forum presents a new approach to the realization of tangible business results.
Apparently, enough green people seek such exclusive events that the first event in New York sold out. Now, two more events are planned, one each in Los Angeles and New York:
>> Los Angeles: Thurs., Nov. 12 from 6 pm – 9 pm at Tesla Store Los Angeles, 11163 Santa Monica Blvd., Los Angeles, CA
>> New York City: Wed., Nov. 18 from 6 pm – 9 pm at Rouge Tomate, 10 East 60th St., New York.
Interested? Sign up now (PDF). And rest assured that the $75 fee won’t be charged to your credit card until you’re granted admission. Sad you don’t qualify — or can’t afford — The Eco Forum? Drown your sorrows at the next, more plebeian Green Drinks.
As the co-founder of the Eco-Forum, I would firstly like to say that I have attended & sponsored many Green Drinks events and have always been a supporter. The reason we started the eco-forum is that recently we found that at many green networking events; the experience was more of a job fair and or a sponsor sales or solicitation effort with little or no high-level industry executives present. Thus the eco-forum was created to bring together high level professionals in a more formal environment without the pressure of job seekers or sales pitches from sponsors. Additionally, each event has a keynote educational presentation from a recognized thought leader in the sustainable space.
Comment by Bradford Rand — October 23, 2009 @ 2:22 pm
You sound v. defensive, Bradford, but I have nothing against Eco-Forum’s existence. Mostly, I just find it funny that there are apparently people who willingly self-identify as “C-Level Executives” :P
Comment by Siel — November 2, 2009 @ 6:52 pm