Mid-fall brings the social investment industry’s annual convention: SRI in the Rockies (SRIIR). This year’s event runs October 25-29. I thought it might be interesting to offer readers of this blog a little insight into what we are doing and what we hearing at one of the most important annual events in social investment industry.

This convention, as its name implies, traditionally takes place in resorts located throughout the Rocky Mountains. However, as interest in socially responsible investing has grown, the event has been challenged to find Rockies-based locations that can host the gathering. This has lead to a “stretching” of the Rockies moniker. This year’s convention is taking place in Whistler, British Columbia, Canada (2010 host city for the Winter Olympics)–only the second time this event has been held outside the United States. (Next year the convention will be held in Tucson, Arizona–perhaps the “speed bumps to the Rockies?”) SRIIR 2009 will draw nearly 700 financial planners, mutual fund companies, community investment organizations, institutional investors, activist organizations, and (increasingly) corporate representatives. The convention is organized by the US Social Investment Forum (www.socialinvest.org) and First Affirmative Financial Network (www.firstaffirmative.com), the nation’s largest network of SRI-focused financial advisors.

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