Green Drinks networking for local change

Sitting at a table, stirring his drink, Tom Baker peers into a crowd he never expected to see.

Baker dines at The Trusted Palate because he loves the food, but on Wednesday night, he stumbled upon Green Drinks, a smattering of local entrepreneurs, civic personnel and regular residents who are all interested in the environment and who meet to network and socialize about making a difference.

The organization exists across the globe, and of the 386 total Green Drinks chapters, Jason Cronen said, Charleston's is one of the fastest growing. Cronen helped create the Charleston chapter in 2006, and since then, he's helped more than 540 people become active members.

The group operates primarily by word-of-mouth, with no pressure to attend meetings. It's organized informally, and people are there because they want to be.

"The whole thing with the environment and the growing green movement is that they've become popular buzzwords for things people have been doing for a long time," Cronen said. "People have for so long felt these ideas are hippie, but they're not."

Maren Anderson, one active member, said she remembers the first day she heard about Green Drinks. She owns Global Awakening, a fair trade and green goods shop on King Street.

"When I first got the store opened, it was actually one night when I was in here, feeling stressed out," she said. A passer-by stopped by the store and invited her along to Green Drinks to network. Before long she was hooked.

"Just when you get stuck in your own little business setup, you can go and learn about other green things in the city," Anderson said. "It's growing and every Wednesday is different. I feel like every time I go it gets bigger."

Ian Johnson, owner of The Trusted Palate and member of Green Drinks, opens his restaurant as a monthly venue for the organization.

"So there are some people who are here on different levels," Johnson said. "For me, the premise is that this is a good thing to support — this is a great thing to do. These people aren't afraid of conversation and they're great for my business." Since the chapter opened in Charleston, other South Carolina cities followed suit: Columbia, Beaufort, Greenville and, starting in August, Daniel Island.

Cronen describes it as a robust database of people interested in specializing their skills and lifestyles. They include developers, city officials, business owners and students all adjusting their approach to business and life to accommodate a growing green generation.

When the Charleston Battery hosted its first "Go Green Day" in March, Green Drinks helped it organize behind the scenes. And when the Democratic debates took place in July 2007, Green Drinks helped make the event as environmentally friendly as possible by helping to provide corn-based cups, recycled napkins and potato-based cutlery.

Kenda Sweet attended Wednesday night's meeting after hearing about it through her friend, Beth Warner. Cronen said that's sort of how it works: People hear about it through word-of-mouth, they come to a meeting, and they click.

"This is my first meeting," Sweet said. "I'm looking for areas where I can get involved with other people who are interested in being green and sustainable."

Tanja Nielson sits next to her. "I found out from Kenda," Nielson said. "And I am just feeling like our society is on the cusp of a different lifestyle — long in coming, but timely — and I just want to be a part of it."

Back at his table, Baker grows curious. He's listened to the conversations and learned what it's all about. He confesses an interest in returning.

"It's certainly a topic that's very interesting," Baker said. "I drive a Honda Insight that since 2000 has averaged 52 miles a gallon, and we recycle more than anyone else on the block. So yeah, we're interested."

Reach Chase Purdy at cpurdy@postandcourier.com or 937-5709.

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