Green San Miguel
By Atención staff

Last week Director of Ecology, Donald Patterson, and members of the Fondo Verde technical board inaugurated the Second Sustainable Construction local entrepreneurs exhibit at the Club Verde (Building Green Club) headquarters.

The Club Verde network unites entrepreneurs who offer products, services and solutions related to sustainable alternatives in San Miguel de Allende. General Manager, Patricia Gonzalez, received recognition from Ecology director Patterson for leading this sustainable business group to participate in the week-long World Environment Day celebration.

The objective of Club Verde is to position the city of San Miguel as a model of sustainability in the Mexican Republic. They seek to build community consciousness about the responsibility and need to live in an ecologically sustainable way and to provide new technologies that allow for the comforts of modern life while minimizing the impact on the environment. One of their principal initiatives is to prove that an ecological way of life doesn’t have to be rustic.

Club Verde seeks to create a global consciousness, where each individual is a fundamental part of the group. They aspire to be a link of support and dialogue between individuals, state and commerce, and to be a firm and united voice before the government.

Club Verde seeks funds to propel social development and take these alternative technologies to rural communities. Within the scheme of social and educational activities, they offer workshops, conferences and round table dialogues in San Miguel and its surrounding areas.

The Fondo Verde Board, integrated by three members of the Municipal Government and three independent citizens, will focus on the protection, preservation and sustainable utilization of natural resources with professional management practices, financial transparency and project continuity, regardless of political parties.

Fondo Verde citizen members contribute their specialty knowledge to San Miguel in various ways. Erika Briones is an environment impact consultant who evaluates the use of land for planning and restoration. Miguel Gil, a municipal and state funding program facilitator, draws from his knowledge of land worms, green housing and LED lighting systems. Enrique Orvañanos specializes in strategic development and project management, working with rain water systems and solar energy.

Fondo Verde’s first activities include evaluation of funding initiatives, approving budgets for projects and measuring actual results, improving communication between government and citizens, as well as confirming financial transparency and effective project management.

The Fondo Verde governance model and Club Verde entrepreneurs network are great news for our community. They demonstrate how government, entrepreneurs and NGOs can work together to improve our environment and life quality.

Club Verde is located at Salida a Celaya 24, inside the restaurant Kuni Doni.