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Gaia Gathering Updates :)

Posted on Aug 6th, 2008 by Gaia Team : Gaia Team Gaia Team
Hello All,

Jessica here.

Oooh!

I am giddy with anticipation. We're only a few days away from Global Gaia Gathering Day, August 9th. I am really looking forward to it because I'll be at the beach with Julie! It's not too late to connect to Gaia members in your area. If there isn't already an event in your town, simply visit the Members Section, choose "Location" from the dropdown menu and type in your city and invite a new friend to coffee. It's easy! Remember, all of August is Gaia Gathering Month and thus fair game. And, of course, I'm here to help. Just send me a message and I'll coach you through and answer any questions I can :) We also have this set of tips to get you started. And, remember to blog and post photos to share about your experience and tag it with GGG2008.

I'm proud to annouce the Gatherings planned so far:

On Global Gathering Day, August 9th:


Other August Gatherings


As I've said, connecting with Gaia members in person is magical. But, you don't have to take my word for it though. Just ask Morningstar, who was at the Oregon Gathering this past weekend and blogged the event in detail. 

Some have been on a Gathering tour, visiting Gaia members along the west coast and it sounds like it's been incredible. In the words of Morningstar:

I’m sitting here on the balcony of my hotel room, not quite ready to put the food I just bought in my mini fridge, but instead allowing myself a few moments to check out the gorgeous view of the Pacific Ocean—and to shed a few tears.

I’m not sad, however, but happy…full of joy, in fact. The reason: the experience I’ve had over the past few days with two of the coolest people I’ve ever met—Paul and Shazz, real-life Gaians extraordinaire. He’d been my friend on Gaia for six months or so before this meeting and now, just a few days ago, I got to know both him and his wonderful wife in person, becoming offline friends…special ones who I feel privileged and honored to know. More...

Wow. See what I'm saying...magical :)

Let us know about your Gaia Gathering in the comments section below.
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Tagged with: gaia, gathering, community, meet-up, connections, event, global gathering day, Oregon, Morningstar, GGG2008

Tell Us About Your Gatherings :)

Posted on Aug 13th, 2008 by Gaia Team : Gaia Team Gaia Team
Hello All,

Jessica here.

Last Saturday was Global Gaia Gathering Day. Connections were made and friendships blossomed. Gaia members met face-to-face, sharing inspiration, swapping their favorite books, listening to live music, breaking bread and cuddling with snakes. Yipes!

People were celebrating in Chicago, Seattle, Southern California, Boulder and more. I was in Hungtington Beach and had the honor of connecting with such beautiful people. We shared delicious food, inspirational quotes and talked about our experience of Gaia and community as well as the difference it had made in our lives. I am truly excited about building the friendships that began and were nourished on Saturday. There are Gatherings planned throughout August (our Gathering Month) and you still have time to plan yours! Let us know if you need any help :)

Aren't these Gaia members beautiful?

Huntington Beach Party, Sarah, Liza & Reed


Hang on to your hats from Julie's post


Seattle Gathering, from C4Chaos


Our organizers did an amazing job, so I want to send a big thank you to everyone who helped plan as well as all of those who participated. Coming together can nourish our souls. Here are some words of wisdom and love from a few who reached out and planned Gatherings of their own:

The difference between meeting someone in person versus online is profound.  As those of you who have experienced this for yourselves know, an online relationship, while fulfilling in many ways, isn't the same as meeting face to face, giving and receiving those special hugs that Gaians seem to be famous for, and sharing the life-changing conversations that somehow are much more meaningful in person.  Online communication is a boon and to be encouraged, but face to face encounters come closer to the sacred sharing of soul space via shared experience and the process of being together and knowing the other person more intimately.  There is no substitute for this.
- Julie, Waterbearer

I believe that, by connecting with the loving energy of other Gaians, I traveled deep into the heart of the Gaian organism, of that collective consciousness of caring and being. And as a result of that, I feel like I’m more of myself, but changed on a core level in some way. I was healed while I was healing and that chain, already in existence via online, become more real and more powerful in person….
- Lisa, Morningstar

Do you have a Gathering experience to share? Let us know by tagging your Gathering blogs, photos and videos with GGG2008 and check out this link to find more GGG2008 blogs: http://www.gaia.com/blog/tags/ggg2008

And, don't forget about our upcoming Gaia Gatherings for August and beyond:

  • Idaho 8/16/08, Contact Michelle
  • New England, Contact Mary (for future Gatherings)
  • New York, NY / New Jersey, Contact Carolyn
  • San Francisco, CA, Contact Dennis
  • Already happened: Hebden Bridge, England, Contact Nicole
  • For September: Montreal, Canada, Contact Nicole


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Could we win Co-Op America's People's Choice Award?

Posted on Aug 18th, 2008 by Gaia Team : Gaia Team Gaia Team

Siona's turn. :)

Guess what?

We just learned that Gaiam (including us!) is eligible for Co-Op America's Upcoming People's Choice Awards. I know it's a bit of coattail-riding on our behalf, as Gaiam's the one that did the hard work in growing a truly green and socially-responsible business, but today I consider us part-and-parcel of the company as a whole, and winning would be a lovely feather in our collective cap. People's Choice! How much more "community" can you get? :)

It might be obvious, but for me the eligibility alone is a big deal, in part because Co-Op America is one of those non-profits that I deeply respect. They serve a wonderful function in a world where 'greenwashing' is becoming more and more common: their screening criteria are stringent and they're serious about what they do. Businesses listed in their Green Pages must demonstrate that they:

  • Actively use their businesses as tools for positive social change;
  • Run "values-driven" enterprises that operate according to principles of social justice and environmental sustainability;
  • Are socially and environmentally responsible in the way they source, manufacture, and market their products and run their offices and factories; and
  • Are committed to developing and employing extraordinary practices that benefit workers, customers, communities, and the environment.

Not bad. 

Obviously, I'm proud to be part of a company that's shown all this (especially one that's grown from a baby business into a big one without losing its soul; I can't think of many companies that have gone public and made themselves available for others to invest in while still remaining true to a triple bottom line), and proud, too, to be sharing the news with you. And, of course, I'd be even more giddy if it we get enough nominations to be listed in the run-offs in September.

So if you'd like to help, just go here and fill out three quick fields:

Company name: Gaiam, Inc.
Location: Boulder, CO
(Optional): Why we should win. (Feel free to give a nod to our community here ;)

And then your contact info (we don't want any hanging chads...). 

Please please please consider submitting a nomination (I'll extend my undying gratitude in response). Again, it'd be wonderful if we could add that little award to our About page, and such a nice reminder about the role we place within an organization that believes in walking its talk. 

Big hugs, and more soon. (And if you don't nominate us, well, at least wish us luck. This group seems to have a way of contributing positive energy in a way that makes a difference. :) 


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