<html xmlns:v="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns:st1="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40"> <head> <meta http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=us-ascii"> <meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 11 (filtered medium)"> <o:SmartTagType namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="PlaceType"/> <o:SmartTagType namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="PlaceName"/> <o:SmartTagType namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="City"/> <o:SmartTagType namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="State" downloadurl="http://www.5iamas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"/> <o:SmartTagType namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="place" downloadurl="http://www.5iantlavalamp.com/"/>  <style>  </style>  </head> <body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple> <div class=Section1> <![if !vml]><a href="http://www.lightenupontario.ca/"><img border=0 width=205 height=240 src="cid:image003.gif@01C6B7BD.C0187C90" align=left hspace=12 v:shapes="_x0000_s1030"></a><![endif]><a href="http://www.lightenupontario.ca/"></a><o:p></o:p> Lighten Up is now live! <a href="http://www.lightenupontario.ca/">www.lightenupontario.ca</a> <o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Lighten Up is now live online, and in Beer Stores across <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:State w:st="on">Ontario</st1:State></st1:place>.  And that’s just the start.<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> My goal is to sign up 1% of <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:State w:st="on">Ontario</st1:State></st1:place> homes on the pledge by year’s end – 40,000.  That’s a tall order for one organization, but I believe it is possible for a conservation movement.<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> And after all, this is what we are trying to do: build a stronger conservation movement in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:State w:st="on">Ontario</st1:State></st1:place>.<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Can you help?<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> <o:p> </o:p> <o:p> </o:p> 1.  Make your personal pledge today.  – individuals <o:p></o:p>  Let’s seed the site with several hundred pledges right from the start.<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Go to <a href="http://www.lightenupontario.ca/">www.lightenupontario.ca</a> and make your pledge.  After you have done so, you will be taken to your own personal pledge page, where you can update your consumption data and actions over time, and set new priorities for yourself.<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> <o:p> </o:p> 2.  Spread the word  (“tell two friends”) – individuals and groups Help sign up others.  Later today I will be circulating an open letter to all Ontarians.  Please forward it to your friends and colleagues, or you can send your own message.  Be sure to let them know you have already made your pledge. <o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> If you have a group membership, you can either send the open letter or a brief request for your members to make a pledge.  This is especially valid for the non-environmental groups who are able to reach a broader audience. We all use electricity, and we can all conserve.<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> The Federation of Cottagers’ Associations (FOCA) and the Professional Writers Association of Canada (PWAC) are two groups that have made an early commitment to promote the campaign to their members! <o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Use the logo at the bottom of this page as a signature line for your e-mails, or as a link on your website.  You can also use the photo at the top of this e-mail, which is available on the artwork page on the website <a href="http://www.lightenupontario.ca/artwork.asp">http://www.lightenupontario.ca/artwork.asp</a>.<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> <o:p> </o:p> 3.  Adopt the campaign – groups, retailers, municipalities etc.<o:p></o:p> Lighten Up is designed as an initial and long-term commitment to conservation. As such, it supports and can be integrated with any other conservation program, including those of the Conservation Bureau, distribution companies, municipalities, and provincial and local groups.  We want you to adopt and adapt the campaign to help promote your services, programs, and products.<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Here are some suggestions:<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Local distribution:  The 11x17 poster can adapted to include a logo and message from a distribution partner.  If you can get your local stores, library, etc. to display the poster and pledge cards, we will send you a personalized series of posters.  (If you wish, you can also add a sticker to each of the pledge cards.)<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Integration:  Use Lighten Up as a way to co-promote your own programs or services.  For example Project Porchlight will be connecting Lighten Up with their distribution of CFL bulbs in <st1:City w:st="on">Ottawa</st1:City>, EcoSuperior will promote their conservation services (including the Energuide for Houses audit) in <st1:City w:st="on">Thunder Bay</st1:City>, as will the Rideau Environmental Action League in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Smith</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType w:st="on">Falls</st1:PlaceType></st1:place>.  We are also encouraging retailers, municipalities and LDCs to adopt and integrate the campaign with their own programs.<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Tracking <o:p></o:p> Let me know if your group, business, or municipality can help.  We will include you in the list of campaign partners.  <a href="http://www.lightenupontario.ca/our-partners.asp">http://www.lightenupontario.ca/our-partners.asp</a> <o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> When people make their pledge, we ask them where they heard about the campaign.  This way we can track how effective the various avenues are for signing up pledges.  And, down the line, if we can convince the Province to pay a bounty for the conservation pledges and results you all achieve, we’d like to make sure your group is included!<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Thanks<o:p></o:p> Thanks to all of you for your support and help!  <o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> And a special thank-you to The Beer Store and Colin Mochrie for making this campaign happen!<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> <o:p> </o:p> All the best,<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Chris Winter<o:p></o:p> Executive Director<o:p></o:p> The Conservation Council of <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:State w:st="on">Ontario</st1:State></st1:place><o:p></o:p> <a href="http://www.weconserve.ca/">www.weconserve.ca</a> <o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> <o:p> </o:p> <o:p> </o:p> <img border=0 width=131 height=96 id="_x0000_i1025" src="cid:image002.jpg@01C6B7BD.714DE4B0" align=baseline><o:p></o:p> <a href="http://www.lightenupontario.ca/">www.lightenupontario.ca</a><o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> </div> </body> </html>