Volunteers have always been the heart of the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). USGBC’s exponential membership growth is mirrored in the more than 75 local groups that make up USGBC’s chapter network. Through this chapter network, tens of thousands of volunteers work at the state and local levels to educate and engage both the building industry and the general public in promoting green building.

In fall 2007, USGBC asked its chapters to become the community-based partners for a very specific mission: Green schools for every child within a generation. The response was tremendous. Each chapter selected a volunteer to serve as the chapter’s “green schools advocate.” The council then brought the 70 volunteers to Washington, D.C., for an intensive two-day training in September, and in less than a year, chapters are discovering just how powerful volunteers can be in effecting change in their communities.

The USGBC Colorado Chapter, for example, has embraced the green schools initiative as its first “real” campaign, bringing together a mix of chapter volunteers and a cross section of the broader schools community.

In spring 2008, more than 250 people from across the state attended the chapter’s “Green Schools Summit.” Legislative, nonprofit, educational and environmental leaders, including representatives from 19 school districts serving 70 percent of all the K-12 students attending school in Colorado, gathered to discuss how to green Colorado’s schools.

The next step is to develop a Colorado-specific best practices database that will be available via the Web to schools, designers, builders — everyone involved in funding, designing and building schools. The chapter is also preparing to ramp up its educational outreach to school districts across the state.

The catalyst for the Colorado Chapter’s green schools campaign and its many successes is Annette Stelmack, who was at that USGBC training as the Colorado Chapter’s advocate. An interior designer who spent most of her professional life focusing on residential and hospitality projects, Stelmack leapt at the invitation of the chapter board because she knew that she wanted to do outreach that had a positive impact on kids. In fact, she had left her firm to create a sustainable design consulting practice.

According to Colorado Chapter Chair Tom Hootman, “At first we thought we should find a progressive schools person.” But then the chapter members thought about Annette, who is a founding member of the chapter and Tom’s predecessor as chair. Annette’s passion for helping children and her proven track record as an outstanding leader made her perfect for this new volunteer role.

Annette admits that her biggest challenge was “coming to terms with my own lack of specific expertise. The training (in Washington, D.C.) was so valuable in getting me over that. I learned that I don’t have to be the one that knows everything myself, but I do have knowledge of and access to the various people and resources that will make us successful, and that’s not a small thing.”

Key to getting the campaign started was taking the time to plan. “You really need to step back and organize,” Annette says. With the help of Chapter Executive Director Deb Kleinman and others, Annette assembled a core committee that reached beyond the chapter’s existing membership of building industry professionals and included a range of school community members: teachers, principals, parents, educational policy leaders and others.

Kleinman, who joined the chapter as executive director in September 2007, says that the campaign “is helping us learn how to make a difference as a chapter,” noting that activities are not limited to those of the green schools committee. Educational programs and advocacy efforts have also taken on green schools and reinforce the message that green schools are vital to Colorado’s future.

Key ingredients for the chapter’s success:

Leadership — Having a campaign leader who is committed and passionate about the campaign and its goals.

Planning — Building a roadmap that will help keep the campaign on track.

The right people — Being able to assemble a diverse group of stakeholders who bring different perspectives, are willing to pitch in and are not afraid to dream big.

Resources — Being willing and able to dedicate enough organizational resources (both people and money) to keep the momentum going.

Celebrate — Taking time to acknowledge people’s efforts and celebrate successes along the way.

As chapter chair, Tom is impressed by his team’s ability to develop a statewide plan with clear objectives that engages all the stakeholders. Tom notes that the summit has generated new interest. He sees the green schools campaign cultivating leadership in different parts of the state as they begin their school district-based outreach.

“This campaign changes the way you think about advocacy,” Tom says. “It’s not just about passing legislation and politics, but it’s about engaging people’s passion and imagination at grassroots level and then having them act on it in every way possible. It’s a much broader way of thinking about it.”<