Good Morning Lowcountry

Drinking environmentally

Jason Cronen is a 27-year-old entrepreneur whose tiny business (he has one employee) places advertising on environmentally friendly plates, cups, napkins and packaging.

His products are made from recycled paper and "green plastics," which come from plant sugar.

His biggest contract lately was the CNN/You Tube-sponsored Democratic candidates' debate at The Citadel.

He provided "green" plates, forks, cups and packaging to about 3,000 people there.

But that's not why GMLc called him on the phone.

We called him to find out about the latest drinking-for-a-cause group in the Lowcountry — Green Drinks Charleston.

The discussion group Drinking Liberally Charleston, whose motto is "promoting democracy one pint at a time," started about a year and a half ago.

Cronen and Charleston green builder Dean Johnson founded Green Drinks Charleston last fall.

Green Drinks Charleston is part of Green Drinks International which has chapters of environmental networkers in 252 cities worldwide. Green Drinks was founded by a London designer in 1989 after an impromptu pub chat.

For almost a year, Cronen and Johnson had the usual stops and starts in getting the group organized.

"You start a new community venture, especially in a place like Charleston which has more traditional offerings, and you're gonna encounter a little organizational headaches," Cronen said.

But Green Drinks, which settled on The Trusted Palate on King Street as a meeting place, now has 150 people on its mailing list, 60 of them active members (there are no dues).

The meeting last Wednesday night brought out 40 people, Cronen said. "We had a professor from the College of Charleston, somebody from S.C. Sea Grant (Consortium), somebody from the (S.C.) Aquarium. It was pouring rain outside. I was really, really impressed that we had that kind of turnout in the rain.

"The point is to network ... We will create talking points for our meetings — on U.S. green building issues and green design, or community redevelopment, or land stewardship and land preservation issues. It's a collective group of people who bring together their experiences on a variety of topics."

"You've got to make it clear to people that it's not all about partying," he added. "We're not here to get drunk. If I want to get drunk, I'll go to a Jimmy Buffett concert. Not everything in Charleston has to involve alcohol."

Well, Charlestonians might debate that point. But moving on ...

Cronen, a New England native who is a few hours short of a degree from College of Charleston, said he plans to keep doing business in the Lowcountry.

He said he's getting ready to start a transportation company, and he wants to work on a nonprofit effort to encourage green building and sustainable communities here.

"I am heavily interested in taking big risks now," he said. "I want to partner on dozens of projects for the benefit of the community. There is the opportunity for a green New Deal in this country."

He said Green Drinks will soon start meeting twice a month (instead of once), in downtown Charleston and west of the Ashley.

Meanwhile, the next monthly meeting of Green Drinks Charleston is Oct. 10, 7 p.m., at the The Trusted Palate, 563 King St. For more information, see greendrinks.org.

Talk like a pirate

Today is International Talk Like A Pirate Day. You know what to do.

Fetch me that horizon, you scabrous dogs.

Talk Like A Pirate Day was dreamed up (possibly under the influence of rum) by Americans John Baur ("Ol' Chumbucket") and Mark Summers ("Cap'n Slappy"). Why? "Because we're guys and because we can," they say on their TLAPD Web site.

Here Be Books at 4650 Ladson Road in Summerville will celebrate the day with free "How to Talk Like a Seafarin' Hearty" guides. Pirate-talkin' will earn you a 10 percent on used book purchases. See herebebooks.com for the scurvy details.

GMLc
Call 937-5564. Write gmlc@postandcourier.com. Find the blog at gmlc.typepad.com.