As part of the yearlong celebration of the circuit’s 25^th anniversary, Powerboat Superleague has decided to share the wealth through a giving back program with designated charities for three of our events: Marietta’s Riverfront Roar, Huntington’s Grand Prix Classic and Aurora’s A Roar of Thunder.  Our private charitable fund – the Ken Winkle Memorial Fund – has always been used as an internal vehicle to quietly assist those drivers/teams in need of help.  This year we will use the fund, with additional emphasis and donations to benefit the Susan G. Komen Foundation, the LiveStrong Foundation and a charity of Dana Tomes’ choice.  Both of the  (to date) named/public (tax deductible) institutions work to find cures and offer assistance to survivors of cancer – a disease that has personally impacted drivers, officials and the families of Powerboat Superleague.  

 How: Small banks will be placed at on-site registration and then at a few pit locations during the designated weekends to collect donations for the specified charity.  The pit locations will be announced to the public during the event and there will be a “bank” available near the officiating platform as well.

At the end of each event, banks will be collected and emptied by Superleague staff members and Ken Winkle Memorial Fund board members Janie Tilton and Marie Bremer.  Separate accountings for each designated charity will be kept and amounts for each will be logged; money will be deposited in the Ken Winkle Fund account.  Post event amounts will be published on the Superleague web site – both on Buzz and on the going green-giving back page.  At the end of the racing season – during the Superleague annual awards banquet – checks will be written to the designated charities for the total amount collected – per charity – over the racing season. 

Additional incentives:

• Passionately Pink t-shirts have been developed by Superleague’s media person and will be offered for sale to both league participants and the public.  Once cost of shirt has been covered (cost of garment plus printing – design costs are pro bono) all proceeds will be donated to the Pink Can collections.
• LiveStrong has donated yellow wristbands as a thank you for donations of more than $3 to the yellow can fund.

Powerboat Superleague has received a boost in the effort to go green.  Eco-First, Incorporated has signed on as an Operation Green Prop sponsor, providing recyclable and disposal assistance to teams and contributing $1,000.00 to the yearend points fund.

“When we introduced the going green initiative, we were met with plenty of skepticism.  In speaking about motorsports, ecological-friendly is not a term that is used.  However, we know that everyone has a responsibility to reduce, reuse and recycle as much as possible within the parameters of their individual businesses,” explained Superleague spokesman Sherron Winer.  “Once we established our core initiatives, it quickly became clear that it would be possible to reduce our carbon footprint both at the racing events and in the office.  Eco-first has made our initial efforts not only easier but also reduces, by recycling, waste created by teams that would normally go to a landfill.”  Eco-first will bring two waste-disposal barrels to all Superleague events.  One container will be used for materials such as oily rags, pads and other absorbent materials not suitable for local trash collection.  The other barrel will collect old gearcase oils, old fuels and other petroleum liquids – those products no longer viable for racing.  Eco-First will see that everything is recycled properly.

“Our company is excited about becoming part of APR Superleague’s Operation Green Prop initiative and we look forward to helping the league and the individual racers reduce the impact that racing has on the environment,” Ayers, Eco-First Operations Manager said.  “ECO-FIRST strives to be an industry leader in recycling efforts and we commend Superleague’s management and teams for working to help preserve nature’s race course.”      

Detailed information on Eco-First and their recycling efforts can be found by clicking on their web site: www.eco-first.com.   Continuing information on Superleague’s Operation Green Prop can be accessed by visiting www.aprsuperleague.com then clicking the menu tab: going green – giving back. Have an idea of how we can make our green efforts better?  Go to the contact us page on our web site and send your suggestions.  Powerboat Superleague is proud of their association with Eco-First, Inc. and we welcome them to our Operation Green Prop as the official environmental services provider.

Powerboat Superleague takes pride in announcing Operation Green Prop - the circuit’s green initiative for the 2011-racing season.  A joint effort between Superleague and Romesburg Media Group LLC (official television producer of Superleague), the “green prop” program not only highlights the existing green platform of boat racing but also extends to the owners personal belief in community responsibility.    Concern about the environment and the need to be responsible citizens in the cities where the circuit’s events are scheduled led Superleague management to take positive action by starting the process of reducing their carbon footprint and to take the lead by setting the going green example.

“We firmly believe in action not current buzz phrases, so we have created a pro-active plan that will work to minimize as much as possible and within the parameters of powerboat racing/ event production, our impact on the environment both in the office and at our race sites,” explained Sherron Winer, Superleague spokesperson.  “We want to employ responsible green practices and we want to encourage our venues and the teams to act responsibly.”

Reviews of business practices identified areas that specifically target the principles of reduce, reuse and recycle.

• Using only recycled paper
• Reducing the amount of paper generated in the office and on-site during the events
• Eliminating the use of plastic water bottles by supplying racing officials with permanent sports bottles and having a water cooler available for their use
• Using trash bin liners that are 100% biodegradable
• Supplying bins for trash and bins for recycling cans and bottles for teams

Superleague is encouraging fans and teams to think of additional environmental-friendly methods with a challenge at each 2011 race site.  Green cans – reusable and from recycled products – will be available for going green suggestions; the winner will receive a Superleague Operation Green Prop tee-shirt or sports bottle.

Kermit the Frog sang that it wasn’t easy being green but Powerboat Superleague knows that with a small amount of effort it won’t be that difficult to go green with the Operation Green Prop initiative.  Keep track of the progress and see suggestions on how you can join the circuit’s project to go green at their web site: www.aprsuperleague.com.  Additional Operation Green Prop efforts and media news can be found on the Superleague media site: www.superleaguemedia.com/green.   Watch the video by flowing this link: http://www.youtube.com/RomesburgMedia#p/a/u/2/vw2OtAfzQpw. Information on Romesburg Media Group LLC and their stable of programs plus production/distribution capabilities can be found by going to: www.rmgtv.us.