"No Impact Man": Albany Roundtable

An Evening with Colin Beavan: Tuesday, May 18, 2010, 6:00 - 8:00 p.m.

The event is open to the public, and will be held at the historic University Club of Albany, 141 Washington Avenue at Dove Street. The reception will take place from 6:00 - 7:00 p.m., and will feature a social hour with cocktails and hors d'oeuvres. A short update on the Albany Roundtable Civic Luncheon Series and a presentation by the visiting speaker will begin at 7:00 p.m.

Tickets are $35, but you may provide additional support to the Albany Roundtable by purchasing tickets at the Knickerbocker ($50), Shaker ($100) or Patroon ($200) levels.

Colin Beavan is the author of No Impact Man (Farrar, Straus & Giroux, September 2009). Beavan describes himself as an author who "got tired of listening to himself complain about the world without ever actually doing anything about it." Thus, in November, 2006, Beavan launched a year-long project in which he, his wife, his two-year-old daughter and his four-year-old dog went off the grid and attempted to live in the middle of New York City with as little environmental impact as possible.

Beavan has a Ph D in electronic engineering from the University of Liverpool. He spent several years as a consultant to philanthropic organizations such as social housing providers, drug treatment agencies and hospitals. He is director of the No Impact Project, a visiting scholar at New York University, an advisor to the University's Sustainability Task Force, and sits on the board of directors of New York City's Transportation Alternatives and on the advisory council of Just Food.

The Albany Roundtable was founded in 1979 to provide a forum for the exchange of ideas and information among people active in business, the arts, education, not-for-profits, governments, neighborhoods and other urban activities. The Albany Roundtable has long embraced the ideals of sustainability, as well as civic and personal responsibility. To be better citizens, we must all grapple with the question Colin Beavan asked at the beginning of his book: 'Is it true that a guy like me can't make a difference? Or am I just too lazy or frightened to try?'"

Tickets for the reception must be purchased by Friday, May 14. Invitations and RSVP forms can be viewed and printed by following these links. For more information, email albanyroundtable@yahoo.com or call Colleen Ryan at 518-428-9348.