I honestly thought my home team would welcome me with open arms.  Well, I was wrong.  I had to earn my way onto this team, and it wasn’t going to be easy.

Over 100 “green-minded” and influential professionals came to L.A. Green Drink’s “Victory Reception” in celebration of EcoTrek surpassing 10,000 miles in our truck fueled by POET cellulosic ethanol.

I thought this group would welcome my message enthusiastically.  Nope! But, they did even better.  They challenged me with probing questions and constructive cynicism that helped me hone my skills. 

You see, all of us preservationist have been seduced, then burned by false promises pitched by companies that green-washed their message to make us think that they’re actually helping our environment.  Some of us have unknowingly gotten behind such messages, only to be embarrassed by our naive overzealousness.  This has made us pursue deeper knowledge of so-called environmental products.   Such was the case with the Green Drinks crew.

They asked amazingly insightful questions that required honest, intelligent answers.   Some delivered their pitch and then peered at me waiting for a sign of uncertainty.

But, instead of cowering from the intense questioning, I felt myself growing stronger.  Like a minor league ball player being called up to the Big League, I faced an All-Star line-up and swung for the fences.   My time in training during the past months with teams from all over the country prepared me for each curve ball and wild pitch that was flung at me.   I swung away at each question.

Did I hit a home-run?  Not with each answer.  But, I knew I was helping my team as the applause grew.  Most rewarding, was when some of the toughest players shouted out “Thank you” during my delivery.  After all I had been through during the past months; it was incredibly rewarding to know that my hometown team supported me.   It’s nice to know you have a solid team behind you during those long road trips.

Nathan Schock of POET introduced me to Green Drinks while I was in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.  Since then, Green Drinks chapters have hosted me throughout the country.  If you enjoy socializing with fun, environmentally-conscious people, look for a Green Drinks chapter in your area.

A special thanks to Line-X (www.linex.com), Elizabeth Zampolli (www.lagreendrinks.org), Trisha Prezioso (www.nashevents.com ), Wide Planks Flooring (www.wideplankflooring.com) and Propel Fuels (www.propelfuels.com) for making EcoTrek’s Victory Reception such a huge success. 

And, thanks to POET (www.projectliberty.com) for making our 10,000-mile journey, fueled by POET cellulosic ethanol, possible.