ConventionSouth Magazine features the Gastonia Conference Center as a charming site around town:

http://conventionsouth.epubxp.com/i/65018/44

We are bombarded with artificial light, noise from TVs, IPods and video games, and the whir of electrical appliances. Studies have shown that not spending time in nature can be detrimental to your health, while spending time in the great outdoors can have a positive impact on your overall health and well-being. Richard Louv wrote a book in 2005 called “Last Child in the Woods” which addressed what is referred to as Nature Deficit Disorder. He describes it as “the human costs of alienation from nature, among them: diminished use of the senses, attention difficulties, and higher rates of physical and emotional illnesses." Sound familiar?
Please for the sake of your families health and well-being, spend time outdoors in a park, on a lake, or somewhere primarily blue and green. Leave your electronics at home. Soak up the music of nature, feel the breeze on your skin, and look up and smile. You will be amazed at the impact this will have on your sense of inner peace.
Read more about the positive effects of simply enjoying the great outdoors:\
Connecting Kids With Nature
Last Child in the Woods
Benefits of Outdoor Exercise Confirmed
Health Benefits of Children Being Outdoors
Outdoor Health Benefits
Psychological Benefits of Nature Experiences
 

(Charleston, SC) -- April 2012 – At the recent annual conference of the International Association of Conference Centers, IACC-Americas President Peter J. Stockmann presented the prestigious Pyramid Award to Kristin Kurie, President of The Wilderman Group for her commitment to education in the conference center industry.

The Pyramid Award

IACC’s Pyramid Award was presented to Kurie for her 25+ years of service to the hospitality/conference center industry.  The Pyramid Award is IACC’s highest educational honor.  The award was established in 2000 to shine the spotlight on members who show a true and long-lasting commitment to IACC education.  “Kurie is widely acknowledged and respected” said Stockmann, “as one of the top gurus of conference center sales and marketing.”  Kurie has been a frequent presenter at the IACC Annual Conference and is the author of the IACC Sales Course. 

She served actively on the IACC Marketing Committee for a number of years and as a member of the IACC Board of Directors.  She is recognized as one of the early voices of “sustainability “and was highly influential in establishing the IACC Sustainability Committee in 2006. 

Kristin Kurie is a long-time veteran of the hospitality sales and marketing discipline, having served as director of sales and marketing at Doral Arrowwood Resort & Conference Center, considered one of the nation’s premier conference centers. Her experience covers a wide range in the hospitality and meetings industries and has a national reputation for her expertise in conference center management and consulting.

Kristin served for six years as Vice President of New Business for The Wilderman Group, where she managed the overall sales and marketing strategies as well as sales training and the pursuit of new business opportunities.  As President, she concentrates on the day-to-day operations of the business and continues to oversee the development of new business opportunities for the company including three conference centers in the Southeast.

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The Wilderman Group is a woman-owned hospitality management company that provides focused services both customized and cutting edge with a concentration in the Carolinas and the Southeast. They specialize in civic and community developments and creating effective and productive environments for meetings and conferences. Based in Charleston, South Carolina, TWG is a full-service hospitality management firm with a team of industry experts in all areas of hospitality including operations, sales and marketing management, food and beverage, and environmental programs. They are steadfast in their commitment to environmental stewardship and are proud and active members of the US Green Building Council’s Charlotte Chapter, the South Carolina Chapter, the Georgia Chapter, and the International Association of Conference Centers. Visit The Wilderman Group at http://thewildermangroup.com.

Electronics contain lead, mercury, and other dangerous materials for the environment, and we throw out a lot of them. Recycling your eTrash, any waste with plugs or batteries, is called eCycling. Electronic recycling is relatively new, which makes me wonder just how many dot matrix printers are hanging out in our landfills. Companies that specialize in these types of recycling efforts have to break down these machines into their smaller parts. It can be a labor intensive feat. Parts are often repurposed or refurbished to extend the life of elements that require a great deal of energy to create. As our culture gets more and more eco-savvy, eCycling options are becoming easier and easier to find.
To find recycling options in your areas, please visit Earth911.com.