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New technology gives local company ‘green’ edge

CAREFREE — In an effort to capitalize on the public’s emerging eco-consciousness, a “green” startup is selling a unique blend of soy-based paints and stains as an alternative to traditional building materials.

The bread-and-butter product for Earth Born is a new oil-dispersion process that allows soy oils to mix with water more effectively than competing products, says Katie Groebe, a company spokeswoman.

Traditional paints that have now become more eco-friendly typically use 30 percent solid content. But this means consumers may have to apply an extra coat or use a primer layer to get the paint to stick.

Earth Born’s new product uses 60 percent solid content, meaning that only one coat is needed for complete coverage. Their unique soy-based recipe does not contain any toxins or produce any volatile organic compounds (VOCs). These contribute to air pollution and are an unfortunate bi-product of many traditional paints.

“Our paints are different because we use soy oil dispersion. We use all natural ingredients that allow the product to seep into walls, floors and concrete, like a sponge,” Groebe says.

The company’s concrete stains and sealants contain no acid, yet they permeate the surface up to a quarter of an inch so that if the surface is scratched, the stain is still there. The products are virtually odorless, and unlike many household paints and oils, they may face few special requirements for disposal.

“There is a stigma attached to green products that the quality is bad and it’s more expensive,” says Groebe. “Our products are less expensive than the high-quality water based paints and you save time and money by not needing primer and multiple coats.”

The paints work well indoors or outdoors because soy is a living, breathing element that reflects heat, Groebe says. It has a lifespan of about 10 years and can hold up in high-traffic areas of the house, she adds.

Products can be ordered online and shipped anywhere in the U.S. Locals can find them at the Earth Born showroom in Carefree. Company staff also offers installation services.

“We wanted to stay on top of technology by offering a website that offers all product information and is easy for people to use,” Groebe says. “We realized that we could cater to the nation even if we weren’t up and running at a physical location in that particular city.”

However, she adds, “we realize that there’s a need to have a physical presence in local areas and so we want to have a balance between localized sales and our website.”

If consumers respond, watch for more “green” products and Earth Born locations in the future. Groebe says the company’s tentative growth plan is to add two stores per year in cities that encourage “green” developments. Possible future locations include the cities of Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego, Denver, Austin and Chicago, she says.

“We are taking the research and development path with this product,” Groebe says. “We want to work closely with the manufacturer and find out what else soy dispersion can be used for.”

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>>Email the editor at aklaw@zoniereport.com.

‘Out the Vote’ courts gay voters before fall elections

PHOENIX — A voter registration drive geared toward gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transgender voters is ramping up in the face of an electric presidential contest and a statewide ballot measure to ban gay marriage.

Dubbed “Out the Vote” by its proponents, the campaign started as a response to the concern of community activists wanting to get people involved in politics. Its backers say it is nonpartisan.

"People get disengaged with politics because they feel that no one specific party represents them," says Annie Loyd a community leader of Out the Vote. "We just want to simplify the voter registration process and get people voting."

The campaign focuses on providing the resources, education and information for people to register to vote or host registration drives at their businesses.

"We had a similar program in 2004 for the election, and we registered 2,500 to vote from bars alone," says Sam Holdren, a representative of Equality Arizona. "We want to reach out to people, including those who aren’t around the typical bar scene."

The campaign relies on word of mouth promotion, along with the support of GLBT community publications such as Echo and In Touch magazines to reach people who overlook the bars. It is funded by community donations and free advertising from both publications, and it is not endorsing any candidates or positions, Loyd says.

Community leaders insist that this citywide voter registration drive is completely separate from the issues facing the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community and exists primarily to educate people how to register.

"The Legislature and politicians are out of touch with the people in Arizona," Holdren says. "The only way to change that is by changing who is sitting in the legislative seats. We encourage people to sign up, vote by mail, be familiar with their polling places."

But the fact remains that there is a lot at stake for this voting bloc – namely a ballot measure that would essentially ban gay marriage in Arizona and a sizzling presidential race.

Although Arizona voters rejected a similar measure to ban gay marriage in 2006, the law is alive and well after the Arizona Senate voted to place it back on the November ballot in an extremely heated and lengthy legislative session in late June. Senate President Tim Bee, R-Tucson, cast the deciding vote.

The presidential race features Illinois Democrat Barack Obama versus Arizona Republican John McCain. Both men have stated that marriage should be between a man and a woman but argued against a federal law banning same-sex marriages. McCain is on record saying it’s a state-by-state issue and endorsed Arizona’s 2006 ballot measure that voters ultimately rejected by a 2 percent margin.

Supporters of Out the Vote, meanwhile, are casting a wide net for new voters. The campaign is reaching out to GLBT-supported businesses, churches, event promoters and organizations and providing them with the resources to get their peers interested and registered to vote.

"I think there’s a feeling of ‘one vote doesn’t matter’ but it’s different when it’s a community effort," says Patrick Roland, editor of Echo magazine. "Most gay people don’t live in a box and interact with just gay people. We want to get everyone involved."

The next Out the Vote event is the "Out the Vote Summer Chill" Gala at the Wrigley Mansion on Aug. 16. Participants are invited to stop by and register if they haven’t already done so by logging on to servicearizona.com.

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>>Email the editor at aklaw@zoniereport.com.

Scottsdale charity lends ‘helping hands’

It took Kathy Donaldson 17 years of working in law enforcement to have what she described as her most memorable day. It was May 15, 1991.

That’s when Donaldson was serving a traffic warrant on a man who “went berserk,” and she broke her back in three places.

The crushing blows forced her to retire and re-evaluate her life’s purpose and religious beliefs.

“I was depressed and considered suicide after the incident,” Donaldson says. “I just didn’t see that God had everything planned. I was meant to give back to the community, I didn’t just want to sit around and play golf.”

Donaldson, 52, had relocated to Arizona and started Arizona Helping Hands, a statewide nonprofit that helps needy families. It offers crisis intervention, help for pregnant teens and more, including support for the largest holiday toy drive in Maricopa County.

“She doesn’t separate her personal life from the work she does with Arizona Helping Hands,” says Chris Espinoza, an AHH boardmember. “She really opens her heart to people.”

In 2006, the organization’s revenues topped $1.4 million, according to tax documents filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Those records show AHH brought 250,000 toys to about 40,000 families in the county, delivered lunch to 900 needy school kids for seven weeks and helped another 350 learn to read. It also provided eye exams and scholarships.

Donaldson says her goal is to expand the organization to Flagstaff and Tucson in the near future while keeping the overhead low so that the money can go where it’s needed most.

SMALL STEPS TO SUCCESS

Donaldson got her start in community work with the Phoenix Chamber of Commerce, Boys and Girls Club and the Paradise Valley School District.

“She has an unbelievable willingness to help anyone,” says Renie Scibona, a local newspaper reporter who has covered community organizations Donaldson helped. “She was instrumental in opening the North East Phoenix Boys and Girls Club branch.”

To help fund a National Honor Society seminar for school kids in Paradise Valley, Donaldson founded the Paradise Valley Volunteer Parents and raised $100,000 for a week-long event.

“If you have no ulterior motives, money comes rolling in,” Donaldson says. “But I realized the need was greater than just one school district, and that’s when we founded Arizona Helping Hands.”

A PROMISE MADE

After working with Paradise Valley Volunteer Parents, Donaldson created Arizona Helping Hands based on a promise she had made to her sister, who was diagnosed with cancer at age 28 and given six months to live.

She died five years later, but not before she gave Donaldson some advice from her deathbed.

“The day before she died she told me to do a good deed everyday and to not take credit for it,” says Donaldson.

Donaldson is still an integral part of AHH. Today, the organization sends children to camp with all of the supplies they need and offers dental care for low-income families.

When she is not in the office, Donaldson lives in Scottsdale and likes to spend time with her husband and co-founder of AHH, who is in hospice care.

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>>Email the editor at aklaw@zoniereport.com.