Agenda

Co-op Power Sustainability Summit
May 11: Co-op Power will host its ninth annual Sustainability Summit at Hampshire College from 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Keynote speaker Halina Brown, of Clark University and the Sustainable Consumption Research and Action Initiative, will lead a session on “Transitioning to the New Economy,” an exploration of the interface between material consumption, human fulfillment, lifestyle satisfaction, and technological change. Attendees will connect with activists, thinkers, green professionals, and organizations involved in promoting justice and sustainability. The summit will feature workshops on a diverse array of topics, from cooperative development to sustainable heating options. Workshops include “Connecting to Small Business Success,” “Investing Your IRA Funds Locally,” and “Equity as a Key Issue in Sustainability.” The summit will also feature an exhibitor area with live music and representatives from green businesses and grass-roots organizations. Lunch, snacks, and beverages will be provided. The cost is $45 for the general public, $35 for Co-op Power members, and $15 for students and low-income individuals. This year, Co-op Power’s annual meeting/potluck will take place as part of the summit from 4 to 6:30 p.m. Members will make decisions about cooperation and autonomy among the decentralized network of local organizing councils. All are welcome to attend. Register online at www.cooppower.coop or call (877) 266-7543 or e-mail [email protected] for more information.

EASTEC 2013
May 14-16: EASTEC, the premier manufacturing exposition in the Northeast will be held at the Eastern States Exposition in West Springfield on May 14 and 15 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on May 16 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The event will offer a variety of exhibitors, educational offerings, tours of nearby facilities, and much more. For more information and to register to attend, visit www.easteconline.com.

Life Is a Cabaret
May 18: HospiceCare in the Berkshires will hold its Annual Gala on May 18 at the Pittsfield Country Club. This year’s theme, “Life is a Cabaret,” reflects HCIB’s commitment to helping families and patients live the best and fullest life possible in the time they have remaining. Cabaret Performers at this year’s Gala include Dr. Marcella Bradway, Jeff Cook, Mary Farley, Gary Freifeld, Pam Rich, and Laurie Schiff, led by Artistic Director Sherri James Buxton and Music Director Bob Shepherd. Proceeds from the event will be used to expand and continue community programs of bereavement services, complementary therapies, and care coordination. Tickets cost $125 per person and may be ordered by calling the HospiceCare office at (413) 443-2994 by May 10. For more information about HospiceCare in the Berkshires, visit www.hcib.org.

Wine Gala and Auction
May 18: Berkshire Museum’s ninth biennial Wine Gala and Auction will be held at 5 p.m. This festive evening of wine tastings, live and silent auctions, and a sumptuous dinner is a fund-raiser for the museum’s education programs, which last year provided more than 16,000 educational experiences for students and teachers from the wider Berkshires region. The event is a highlight of the Museum’s 110th-anniversary celebrations. “The Berkshire Museum Wine Gala and Auction only happens every other year, and the wine lots and lifestyle packages at the auction have been attracting collectors and enthusiasts for nearly two decades,” said Van Shields, Berkshire Museum’s executive director. “The event is a marvelous opportunity to acquire some great and rare wines as well as enjoy good company and an excellent dinner. It’s a classic kickoff to summer in the Berkshires.” The evening’s guest of honor is Riccardo Illy, owner of the Mastrojanni Winery in Tuscany, Italy, and president of the Illy Coffee Co. of Europe. Auctioneer Marie Keep of Skinner Wine Auctions will lead the live auction of more than 30 lots of rare and fine wines, unique vacations, and exclusive dinners. Sponsorships and tickets are now available. For more information or to make reservations, call (413) 443-7171, ext. 37, or visit www.berkshiremuseum.org/2013winegala.

40 Under Forty
June 20: BusinessWest will present its seventh class of regional rising stars at the annual 40 Under Forty gala at the Log Cabin Banquet & Meeting House in Holyoke. The event will feature music, lavish food stations, and introductions of the winners, who were profiled at length in the April 22 issue. Look for event details in upcoming issues of BusinessWest, or call (413) 781-8600, ext. 100 for more information.

Western Mass. Business Expo 2013
Nov. 6: Planning is underway for the Western Mass. Business Expo 2013, a day-long business-to-business event to take place at the MassMutual Center in downtown Springfield. This fall’s show, the third edition of the Expo, which is again being produced by BusinessWest, will feature more than 100 exhibitors, seminars on timely issues of the day, special Show Floor Theater presentations, breakfast and lunch programs, and the wrap-up Expo social, which has become a not-to-be-missed networking event. Details of the specific programming will be printed in upcoming editions of BusinessWest and can also be seen online at www.wmbexpo.com or www.businesswest.com. For more information on the event or to reserve booth space, call (413) 781-8600, ext. 100.