About Greensburg GreenTown

Office Location
204 West Florida
Greensburg , KS 67054

Office Hours
By appointment

Contact Us
620-549-3752
info @ greensburggreentown . org

Vision

Greensburg GreenTown exists to:

• Make it easier for residents to ascribe to, and adhere to, green practices and to make green living appealing to residents.
  
• Engage as many residents as possible in the enthusiastic pursuit of making Greensburg a model green community.
  
• Establish incentives in order to maximize the participation of businesses and residents in rebuilding Greensburg as a model green community.
  
• Bring in resources and support from around the country to make the dreams of Greensburg as a model green community a reality.
  
• Make it easier for builders, building supply companies and all local businesses to do business as green as possible.
  
• Work to spur economic development with a green emphasis.
  
• Serve the residents in an unbiased consumer advocate capacity, striving to get them the best value for their money as they rebuild their homes and businesses.
  

Programs undertaken by Greensburg GreenTown are in service to the mission of providing the residents of Greensburg, Kansas and the surrounding area with the resources, information and support they need to rebuild Greensburg as a model green community. Greensburg GreenTown is a grassroots community owned organization that represents the townspeople as Greensburg rebuilds in a sustainable fashion.

Consulting by Staff and Volunteers - GreenTown will provide technical assistance and support for individuals, businesses, nonprofits and government offices seeking to build and operate programs guided by green principles. This will be done through a volunteer matching program as well as through staff consulting.

Energy Rater - We work with Certified Energy Rater Brian Wendland to assist homeowners to maximize energy savings in their homes. This professional is available to both new and existing homeowners.

Library - We will stock and maintain a library of materials so that people can educate themselves in the green building/living process.

Educational Materials - We write and distribute information that assists people in making their decisions easier. There is a great quantity of information already available which we sift through, making the best available to Greensburg residents.

Educational Series - We provide a series of classes and speakers addressing issues related to green. These classes are taught at locales in and around Greensburg as well as through online and telephone courses for those residents with telephone and computer access.

Website - This is a place where people find information about happenings related to the green initiative, extensive resources for those seeking education and links to other helpful websites. A wellness section provides helpful articles and support to residents as they recover and rebuild their lives. There is also a forum where questions about all aspects of green building and living is posted and responded to.

Outreach - We interview residents as a means of gathering information about what is most important to them in the green rebuilding of their community. During the interview process we share information about how a model green town might look. We currently are circulating a survey to gather data on residential construction.

Model Home - The model home will be a showcase of green building and living located in Greensburg in or near downtown. This home will be a central repository of information for all aspects of green building and green living. This space will be staffed during business hours to assist residents seeking information and support. Multimedia presentations will be available for educational purposes. This building will initially serve as a place where residents can see appliances, alternative energy systems and products or services related to green living that they may wish to incorporate in their homes or businesses. The model home will also serve as a hands-on museum of green and sustainable living, showcasing the latest technologies for energy efficient and environmentally beneficial living.

Planning - Greensburg GreenTown will work in concert with the other parties interested in moving forward with the green initiative in Greensburg and the surrounding area. GreenTown serves as eyes and ears of the city leadership in carrying out the vision of Greensburg as a model green community.

Fundraising - GreenTown will bring in funds from outside the community to support innovative programs and infuse the efforts with energy and resources.

Show and Tell Registry - In order to provide the best examples to residents of what "green" means, a registry has been established to list those in the area that already have in place the latest in sustainable or green technologies.

Meet the Greensburg GreenTown staff

Daniel Wallach (Director) and Catherine Hart have been residents of rural Stafford County (their home is 35 miles northeast of Greensburg) since 2003. Before moving to Kansas they founded the Colorado Association of Nonprofit Organizations (name has since changed to Colorado Nonprofit Association). Daniel developed many innovative programs in the five years he led that organization. He was also active in the development of the association of nonprofits movement nationally. All told, Daniel has developed several businesses and nonprofit organizations in his career. In 2004 Daniel started a natural and local foods co-op in Pratt that, for two years, served two dozen Pratt and Greensburg families.

Catherine Hart (Program Director) has had a passion for green living since the 1970s, when she coordinated a project to develop an alternative energy curriculum for classroom teachers. She has a master’s degree in social work, has worked as a counselor, and has developed and facilitated all sorts of workshops and educational events pertaining to health, wellness, and living life fully. In the 90s she published a newsletter, On Balance, which offered readers ideas for healthier living. She loves visiting with people about the green initiative, and is especially interested in the "personal green" aspect of the greening of Greensburg: How do we apply these principles of respect and caring for resources to our own lives?

Alanna Goodman (Assistant to the Director) has lived in Greensburg for the past five years. She managed a vintage clothing store on Main Street, called Snootie Seconds, for three years, and volunteered at the Twilight Theatre as a projectionist every weekend until the May 4th tornado. Having been interested in a green sustainable lifestyle for several years, she was excited to hear Greensburg's Mayor (Lonnie McCollum) make the announcement that following the disaster of May 4th, Greensburg was going green. Alanna served as Vice Chair of the GreenTown board, but has now resigned her position to join the GreenTown staff.

Anita Hohl (Website Specialist) was born and raised in Greensburg, Kansas, a fifth generation resident and  a third generation graduate from Greensburg High School. She has always had a passion for nature and living in harmony with it, for gardening, and learning about sustainable living. After many years of retail management, she is now a stay-at-home wife and mom, home schooling her 9-year old son. She shares the excitement with the rest of the GreenTown staff and committee members at the plans being made by the people and government of Greensburg. She has joined Greensburg GreenTown because she would like to help share with people that green living isnʼt all new age gizmos and gadgets, but it is also simple, self-sustained living.

Lesa Sanford (Development) is a fourth-generation Stafford County Kansan who farms and ranches with her husband, Doug, near Sylvia. Lesa brings a wealth of experience to GreenTown, including many years in sales.

Greensburg GreenTown's Board of Directors

Dea Corns - Greensburg
Wylan Fleener - Greensburg
Jack McCawley - Pratt
Jackie Robertson - Greensburg
Bob Mosier - Greensburg