May 23, 2012

Happy Walk Ride Week everyone!

In this newsletter be sure to check out updates on our Walk Ride Day Corporate Challenge, how the Boston Public Schools have been celebrating Walk Ride Day, and other great Green Streets news. 

This Friday marks the third month of the Walk Ride Day Corporate Challenge, which means it is nearly at the half-way point!  Millenium Pharmaceuticals and Unitarian Universalists have maintained the lead for March and April in their respective categories. Is this the month that your organization takes their spot for May?  

Here are some resources to increase participation in your organization and to get yourself moving:

• Learn more about why participating in Walk Ride Day and our Corporate Challenge is not only good for the environment, but benefits YOU!  
• If you live in Cambridge and are thinking of hopping on the bike to get to work, the city of Cambridge is hosting FREE workshops to those who are interested in bike commuting.  
• Read about Bill Baron of Volpe's inspiring and amazing 29 mile walk to work for April's Walk Ride Day.

 …for this Friday's Walk/Ride Day! Checking in just takes a few minutes, is our evidence that this really works, and is the way you can win raffle prizes and help your organization win the Corporate Challenge! This month's check-in raffle prizes include retail and restaurant gift certificate options. See all the options here.

If you haven't already done so, check out April's Leader Board, and see how your company compares!

These lucky participants won Green Streets umbrellas for their participation in the Corporate Challenge in April:

• Becca Freer of Walk Boston
• Kimberly Reardon of Unitarian Universalists
• Cheryl Browne of NMR Group
• Nadine Cohen of Greater Boston Legal Services

A Quick Note About Raffle Prizes

We here at Green Streets have changed our approach to our monthly raffle prizes for the Corporate Challenge.  From now on we are going to raffle off only one great prize for a single participant randomly chosen from the winning organizations. In addition all participants in the Walk Ride Day Corporate Challenge will be entered in the general check in raffle.  That means that ALL  participants in the Walk Ride Day Corporate Challenge will have TWO chances each month to win. 

The Corporate Challenge prize is a $75 gift card to the Beehive, a fabulous dining and nightlife destination in Boston's South End! Learn more at beehiveboston.com

As for the general check in prize, we're raffling off lunch for 2 at Darwin's Ltd. 

Walk Ride Day in Boston Public Schools

Many schools in Boston celebrate Walk Ride Day, read more on how the Curley School and Mason Schools get their Walk Ride Day groove:

• Curley School Joins National Walk/Ride Day  On Wednesday, May 2, Jamaica Plain's Curley K-8 school celebrated National Walk to School Day with Green Streets and Safe Routes to School.  Science teacher Stephanie Selznick and Guidance Counselor, Susan Trotz, accompanied a group of 25 students on their walk home from school.   Waving the Green Streets Initiative banner proudly, the group walked to the Jackson Square MBTA stop on… Read more
• Mason School in Roxbury Celebrates Walk Ride Day! The school grounds at the Mason School in Roxbury was abuzz with Walk Ride Day excitement.  Michelle Wilkins, Walk Ride Day coordinator at Mason, delicately balanced recording students commute and stamping their hands with the signature Green Streets logo.  Over 40 students participated by either walking, biking or by taking a popular commuting option, the scooter. Everyone is… Read more

In other news:

Green streets is looking for VOLUNTEERS!  Help spread the joy of Walk Ride Day with your special talents and skills. 

Our MBTA Poster Contest Ceremony is tonight at the Boston Public Library, if you are interested in attending, you can register here, and stay tuned to learn about our winners! 

We are co-hosting a networking night for our Walk Ride Day Corporate Challenge participants with Green Drinks Boston!  More details to come!