Tuesday, August 8, 2017

August newsletter


AN INCONVENIENT SEQUEL: TRUTH TO POWER WILL BE SHOWN AT THE MARCUS THEATER (Ward Ave. La Crosse) BEGINNING ON FRIDAY, AUGUST 11. This film drew two standing ovations when it was screened at the Sundance Film Festival. It’s an update, including the election of Donald Trump, to the award winning film, An Inconvenient Truth.

If you can, please attend (and take your friends, family, and neighbors). Find show times and get tickets at tinyurl.com/aislax (Friday before 5, seniors are $5)


OPEN STREETS IN LA CROSSE SEPTEMBER 3   As part of the annual Labor Day weekend La Crosse Bike Fest, the City of La Crosse will host its first OPEN STREETS event on Sunday, September 3 from noon to 4 p.m. La Crosse Open Streets is a partnership between the Wisconsin Bicycle Federation and Explore La Crosse with support from Downtown Mainstreet, Inc, the City of La Crosse and the La Crosse City Vision Foundation. The Coulee Region Sierra Club is also a sponsor.

Open Streets events create car-free spaces where people and families can exercise and play; at the same time, neighborhood businesses and vendors can engage the community and visitors in new ways. In La Crosse, the closed area will include Main Street from Ninth Street to Fifth Avenue South, Fifth Avenue from Main Street to King Street, and King to Fourth. The park-to-park event (from Burns Park on the East to Cameron Park on the west) will include artists, musicians, food vendors, retail activity, non-profit organizations and neighborhood groups. (And the Coulee Region Sierra Club!)


In addition, there will be a PROTECTED BIKE LANE (PBL) demonstration on Main (between Ninth and Seventh Streets) where people can see why PBLs are increasing in popularity around the world by providing bikes-only street lanes buffered from motorized vehicles by posts, blocks, planers, parked cars and/or other barriers, (This project is seeking
volunteers! Please email lacrossebybike-owner-at-yahoogroups.com


Open Streets is a worldwide movement modeled after Ciclovia, which began in Bogota, Columbia. Closing streets to car traffic promotes biking, walking and active living in the communal spaces that are otherwise dominated or made unsafe or unhealthy by moving and parked cars. Open Streets events are designed to be recurring and we hope that
this will be the first annual La Crosse Open Streets. 


If you would like to be involved as a volunteer, vendor, or sponsor, please contact Carolyn Dvorak (608 709-2945). You can follow updates at the event’s Facebook page: tinyurl.com/laxopnstrts

STILL Seeking BRF area members to help host Sierra Club display at the September 9 Green Life Expo in Black River Falls. Email crsierraclub-at-gmail.com

JOHN MUIR CHAPTER EXECUTIVE BOARD REP  Dave Wulf volunteered to represent the Coulee Region group on the state’s executive board but has had to step back temporarily due to health issues. Avery Van Gaard has stepped in to represent our group for now. The position may be shared once Dave gets back on his feet. Thanks to both for volunteering for this important position.

OCTOBER WATER ISSUES PROGRAM  The state Sierra Club  Water Team has released five papers highlighting Wisconsin’s most serious water problems (find them at sierraclub.org/wisconsin/protecting-water-resources). The Coulee Region group is working on a water quality program in October. More details in our September newsletter.

JULY'S BLACK RIVER CANOE TRIP  Thirty-eight kids and 'kids at heart' paddled, played, swam, camped on a sandbar, hiked up a waterfall, swam again, rolled down a sandbank, saw an eagle, learned a few things, paddled, swam, and played some more. Perfect weather. Fine water levels ranging from 1400 cfs to 1100 cfs. Sing-a-long, s'mores, and dramatic cloud displays, too. Thanks to Pat and Bobbie for organizing and leading this trip!!

COULEE REGION GROUP APPLAUDS MAYOR'S READY FOR 100 SUPPORT  In an August letter to Mayor Tim Kabat of La Crosse, the executive board of the Coulee Region group thanked the mayor for his support of the Sierra Club’s Ready for 100 initiative and offered total support to help make La Crosse a 100% renewable city as quickly as possible. We hope the mayor will work with the Sierra Club and other environmental organizations and agencies in the area to work out an action plan and timeline.

CONNECT WITH US! online at tinyurl.com/crsierra, cr-sierra.blogspot.com, or crsierraclub-at-gmail.com. If you know of an environmental event or outing in your area of the Coulee Region group, please let us know so we can include it in our calendar. If your area needs support for an environmental issue, please contact us so we can activate our members.

Thursday, August 3, 2017

MREA Energy Fair in St Paul September 9-10

Dear Friend,
We are thrilled to announce an inspiring lineup of speakers & film screenings for the new Minnesota Energy Fair, September 9-10, with a Solar Professional Day Sept. 8. By popular demand, we will be screening the June 2017 Energy Fair address by JB Straubel, Co-Founder of Tesla, on both Saturday and Sunday at 10:00 a.m. See speakers below, and stay tuned for the music lineup coming soon!
Devon Cupery
Engagement Manager, MREA
Announcing the Keynote Speakers!
(All Access Pass required - Adult $15/day. Order here)

Tara Houska

National Campaigns Director, Honor the Earth
Saturday, September 9 at 6:00 p.m.
Tara Houska (Couchiching First Nation) is a tribal attorney based in Washington, D.C., the National Campaigns Director of Honor the Earth, and a former advisor on Native American affairs to Bernie Sanders. Learn more

Michael Noble

Executive Director, Fresh Energy
Sunday, September 10 at 1:00 p.m.
Michael Noble is a 30-year energy leader, well-known for shaping and driving the major public policy innovations that are speeding Minnesota and the Midwest’s transition from fossil fuels to clean, renewable energy. Learn more

Jason Edens

Director, Rural Renewable Energy Alliance
Saturday, September 9 at 1:00 p.m.
Jason Edens is the founder and Director of the Rural Renewable Energy Alliance (RREAL), a national nonprofit organization dedicated to fighting energy poverty with solar power and ensuring that solar energy is accessible to all. Learn more

Special Film Screenings!
(All Access Pass required - Adult $15/day. Order here)

Screening of JB Straubel, Co-Founder of Tesla

Saturday and Sunday at 10:00 a.m.
Watch a video of the keynote address by Tesla Co-Founder JB Straubel from our Custer, Wisconsin Fair in June 2017! JB Straubel is the Chief Technical Officer and co-founder of Tesla Motors. Learn more

'Look & See: A Portrait of Wendell Berry'

Sunday, September 10 at 3:00 p.m.
LOOK & SEE is an award-winning Sundance documentary and powerful cinematic portrait of Wendell Berry—farmer, activist, and undoubtedly one of America’s most significant living writers. More

'Sweet Land' movie

America's first carbon neutral film!
Saturday, September 9 at 4:00 p.m. 
Sweet Land is the first carbon neutral film in the U.S., produced locally in Minnesota! It's a story of unlikely immigrant lovers whose struggle for integration in 1920’s America. Learn more

Workshops are now online!
FREE Admission to
80+ Workshops and 60+ Exhibits
Access to 20+ Solar Professional Workshops with All Access Pass

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Sustainable Living, Solar, Community Resilience, Electric Vehicles & more!

NABCEP and DLI Credits*Approval Pending
All Access Pass required ($15/day)

All Access Passes include Keynote Speakers, Film Screenings, Music & Entertainment, and Solar Professional Workshops

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Adult rate: $25/weekend or $15/day
Senior/Student rate: $18/weekend or $10/day
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and receive a free All Access Pass!