By Rita Hart

Staff writer

FORT PIERCE - Treasure Coast residents now have the opportunity to meet friends over drinks while at the same time learning how to be more "green." And it's got nothing to do with St. Patrick's Day.

John O'Neill, of Port St. Lucie, is an independent distributor for Infection Control Technology, while Jeffrey P. "JP" Gellermann is the growth management agent for the University of Florida's St. Lucie County Extension, Institute of Flood and Agricultural Sciences.

Together, the two friends traveled to West Palm Beach with their wives to attend a meeting of people interested in sustainability, or self-sufficiency options for the future. While there, they sat next to a member of Boca Raton's Green Drinks International. They were "blown away" by what they learned that evening, and decided to form the first Green Drinks International organization on the Treasure Coast.

Their first meeting was held on Tuesday, Jan. 29 from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at Alumni's International Grill in downtown Fort Pierce.

"We would have been excited if 15 people came," said Mr. O'Neill. "But 115 people showed up."

Green Drinks has more than 315 chapters worldwide. According to their Web site, "These events are very simple and unstructured, but many people have found employment, made friends, developed new ideas, done deals and had moments of serendipity. It's a force for the good."

Mr. O'Neill said the informal atmosphere allows people from all walks of life to mingle in a relaxed atmosphere, sharing ideas both simple and large and getting everyone personally and professionally involved in a sustainable future.

"It brings everybody to the same level and tremendous things happen," said Mr. O'Neill. "Powerhouses speak with local government officials. These are people who might never come into contact with each other."

At the first meeting last month, Fort Pierce Mayor Bob Benton, members of the planning staff of St. Lucie County and members of the St. Lucie County School Board all mingled with local residents and business leaders. There were five speakers at the event, with each being allowed just five minutes to talk about their ideas for going green. The speakers are advised to stay away from politically charged discussions.

"It's a win-win," said Mr. Gellermann. "If you are green, you are going to save money and make money."

The group plans on meeting the last Tuesday of every month. Next month's locale will again be at Alumni's International Grill beginning at 6:30 p.m. This time, however, everyone who arrives with one fluorescent light bulb will receive one free drink. In exchange, Alumni's International Grill will donate those light bulbs to area non-profit organizations that need them, such as Habitat for Humanity.

One outcome of last month's meeting resulted from a simple conversation between a local environmental service business owner and the owner of Alumni's International Grill.

"The business agreed to take the leftover grease from the restaurant and use it on their farm," said Mr. O'Neill. "That's exactly the kind of thing we want to see happen."

Mr. Gellermann agreed that individuals who share stories of what they are doing to be more environmentally friendly and sustainable is what Green Drinks is all about.

"We love to hear some crazy, out-of-the-box type of things. We'd love to have that happen," he said.

And, perhaps, make a few new friends along the way.

Green Drinks International meets the last Tuesday of every month.

The next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, February 26 at 6:30 p.m. at Alumni's International Grill, 122 North Second St., Fort Pierce. Those interested in attending should contact John O'Neill at activteck@aol.com.

For more information on Green Drinks International, visit www.greendrinks.org.