2010 Annual Report OMEGA annual report 2010 In 2010, more than 23,000 participants shared stories of transition, strength, creativity, and courage. Since 1977, Omega Institute has been a pioneering and trusted source at the forefront of lifelong learning. Our programs help people unlock their potential to live with greater connection, inspiration, purpose, and health. With the year 2010 marked by major shifts in our shared societal and economic climate, we have seen that Omega’s mission is vitally relevant, our outreach is growing, and our impact continues to expand. In 2010, more than 23,000 participants shared stories of transition, strength, creativity, and courage. They gained hope and healing that will serve them over a lifetime and can be shared with their communities back home. As Omega strengthens its learning and outreach opportunities, we continue to provide an ideal environment where people can grow and flourish. In 2010, the Omega Center for Sustainable Living (OCSL) became the first building in the United States to achieve both LEED Platinum® and Living Building Challenge™ certification. It was also selected for the American Institute of Architects Committee on the Environment (AIA/COTE) Top 10 Green Projects Award. The OCSL is helping to set a benchmark for sustainable design and demonstrates new ways for all of us to be in relationship with our planet. News about the OCSL followed just days after a major announcement from the Women’s Institute at Omega. We have received an extraordinary gift that is facilitating the evolution of the Women’s Institute into the Omega Women’s Leadership Center (OWLC) over the next several years. This focus strengthens Omega’s long history of programs for women and will bring new depth, community, and outreach to all who come and share in future programs. We look forward to keeping you informed as plans unfold. We invite you to explore a broad spectrum of Omega’s courses and workshops; experience a unique learning environment that nourishes your mind, body, and spirit; and engage with people from all walks of life who come to Omega to learn and recharge. We also encourage you to deepen your involvement in this great endeavor. With your participation, we create innovative experiences that inspire us all to take action in our lives and join with others in building a more balanced and sustainable world. Robert “Skip” Backus Chief Executive Officer OMEGA omega center for sustainable living ocsl “The Omega Center for Sustainable Living is a model for water stewardship and regenerative architectural design....It has much to teach all of us about the potential for sustainable design.” —Laura Lesniewski, project principal at BNIM Omega Center for Sustainable represents our deep commitment throughout the year included New Models for Sustainability Programming OCSL Capital Campaign Moves Living (OCSL) Receives Highest to understanding our own the Vassar College Environmental As an environmental steward, Omega is dedicated to teaching others Closer to Its Goal Sustainability Honors environmental impact and Research Institute, SUNY Ulster, how to adopt sustainable living practices. This year, we took a new Omega has reached $2.6 million In 2010, the Omega Center for models some of the best ways Putnam/Northern Westchester approach to our sustainability programming, scheduling eight programs toward the $3.2 million capital Sustainable Living (OCSL), a forward,” says Robert “Skip” Backus, BOCES, Kingston American in three distinct categories: affordable, experiential programs, such as campaign goal for the Omega state of the art environmental chief executive officer at Omega Association of University Women, Join the Canvolution! with Audra Center for Sustainable Living. education center and water and general project manager for New Paltz High School, and Wolfe; nature and spirituality We are grateful for the many reclamation facility, was the first the OCSL. Adirondack Hiking Club. workshops, such as Mindfulness generous gifts we have received green building in America to In addition, a short film about In July, the New York State Energy Meditation in Nature with Mark and are proud to be the recipient achieve both LEED® Platinum the OCSL’s Eco Machine™ was Research and Development Coleman; and conferences, of a $250,000 grant from the and Living Building Challenge™ included in the exhibition Why Authority (NYSERDA) sponsored including the annual Design by Dormitory Authority of the State certification. It was also selected Design Now? at the Smithsonian’s a daylong training at the OCSL Nature conference with Dayna of New York. This is the state’s for the American Institute of Cooper-Hewitt, National Design for K–12 educators interested in Baumeister, Bob Berkebile, Laura Lesniewski, Penny Livingston-Stark, first direct funding grant to Architects Committee on the Museum in New York City. applying energy-based curriculum Dana Levy, Jason F. McLennan, and John Todd. All three sustainability Omega and helped to offset costs Environment (AIA/COTE) Top 10 in the classroom. In September, programming models were a great success on our Rhinebeck campus. associated with the construction Green Projects Award for 2010. OCSL Is Host to Educational the Northern Dutchess Alliance of the OCSL. The building was featured in Tours & Public Events held an important public forum at New Challenge Grant for Sustainability Curriculum Announced numerous national publications, the OCSL, Water and Wastewater: $3.2 This year, more than 1,500 people To further advance Omega’s sustainability programs, a private funder including Fast Company, Maintaining Quality and Supply, 3.1 toured the OCSL, where they has initiated a challenge grant to support planning and development 3.0 GreenSource, E – The Environmental featuring representatives from 2.9 observed the Eco Machine™ of new sustainability materials and curriculum. Omega will receive one Magazine, and many more. the Village of Red Hook, the DEC 2.8 treating wastewater without dollar for every new or increased gift dollar designated for this program, 2.7 Hudson River Estuary Program, 2.6 “We are thrilled about the AIA/ chemicals and got a close-up up to $100,000. the Dutchess County Water 2.5 COTE award, which recognizes look at the solar and geothermal 2.4 and Wastewater Authority, and 2.3 the integration of leading- systems that provide energy, Sustainable Design at the Chazen 2.2 edge green technology and heating, and cooling for the 2.1 Companies. 2.0 the earth’s natural processes in building. Dozens of tour groups 1.9 architecture. For Omega, the OCSL 1.8 1.7 2 3 women's institute at omega Cintia Bolio “I represent Justice & Germany Argentina as a macho (sexist male) saying ‘Happy women’s day, old ladies’ and you can see the Mexico Egypt Japan graves of women of states where femicides are usual thing.” —Cintia Bolio Mexico Toshiko Nishida Rasha Mahdi Japan Marlene Pohl Egypt Argentina & Germany Firoozeh Mozafarri Argentina USA Australia IranIran Artists From AroundAna the Von Globe—A Rebeur Women’s Cartoon Exhibition Liza Donnelly Argentina Liza DonnellyUSA USA The Women's Institute Evolves The Omega Women’s Leadership The Women’s Institute Women & Power Conference Inspires HundredsCathy Wilcox to Special thanks to the following Australia For more than three decades, Center (OWLC) is dedicated to Presents During The Women’s "Be the Leaders We Have Been Waiting For" organizations for their support Omega has offered innovative Omega’s bedrock belief that Conference® & the Launch of More than 400 people participated in this year’s conference, Women of Women & Power: opportunities for women. In women’s leadership can and will TEDWomen & Power: Our Time to Lead, including groups of students from Kean 2002, we created the acclaimed change the world for the better. At The Women’s Conference® College, SUNY Stonybrook, and Vassar College. Scholarships were Women & Power conference Women who speak from their own organized by Maria Shriver in awarded to 120 students and community leaders. Inspiring speakers series featuring women change voice, who trust the validity of Long Beach, California, in October, at this year’s event included NASA scientist Mae Jemison; founder of agents from around the globe. their experience, and who exercise Omega cofounder Elizabeth Women for Women International Zainab Salbi; and New York Times op- The inspiration and creativity power “from the inside out,” will be Lesser delivered a keynote address ed columnist Gail Collins. The conference also featured the wonderful generated at these conferences important agents of change in the and conducted an interview with international exhibit “Artists From Around the Globe—A Women’s resulted in the creation of the 21st century. Their leadership is Sally Field. The event included Cartoon Exhibition,” curated by New Yorker cartoonist Liza Donnelly. Women’s Institute at Omega in essential to creating a sustainable talks from First Lady Michelle society that nurtures mutual 2005. At this year’s Women & Obama, Supreme Court Justice The Women’s Institute Travels to Rwanda Power conference, we announced relationships, healthy families and Ruth Ginsberg, and former Carla Goldstein, director of the Women’s Institute at Omega, and Edit a major growth opportunity for communities, and a peaceful and Supreme Court Justice Sandra Schlaffer, founder of Women Without Borders, attended the International the Women’s Institute that will just world. With funding of $9 Day O'Connor. Lesser was also Forum on the Role of Leadership In Gender Equality and Women’s culminate in the launch of the million already committed and an a featured speaker during the Empowerment in Kigali, Rwanda, on May 17–18, 2010. The event was Omega Women’s Leadership advisory council being formed of launch of the groundbreaking designed to share the largely untold story of how Rwanda has worked to Center (OWLC) during the 2012 some of the top women leaders TedWomen Conference in overcome its recent history of genocide and become a global leader in Women and Power Conference, in their fields, the OWLC will be Washington, DC, in December.