Sunday, November 1, 2026

November Newsletter

 

CHAPTER AWARDS WATCH PARTY! NOVEMBER 17     Each year the Chapter recognizes volunteers and community members for outstanding service and accomplishments on behalf of our state’s environment. At a time when the journey toward a sustainable future seems daunting, it is inspiring to be reminded of all the impactful work being done, often behind the scenes, to make our world better.

Join CRSC friends and members for an Awards Watch Party from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Nature Place, Myrick Park, La Crosse with pizza, conversations, and celebrations for this year’s winners, including the La Crosse Area Planning Committee and City of La Crosse agencies for their work to support active and public transportation in the region! Please RSVP at https://tinyurl.com/crsc-chawardsparty or 608-315-2693 so we’ll know how much pizza to get. (If you would like to bring a dessert or snack, please do!) ALL ARE WELCOME - bring a friend!

CRSC ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION GRANTS     Every year, the Coulee Region Sierra Club offers grants of up to $200 each for environmental education programming for students in grades K through 8. Teachers, schools, and programs that serve students in the eight-county CRSC area (Crawford, Grant, Jackson, La Crosse, Monroe, Richland, Trempealeau, and Vernon counties) are eligible to apply. The deadline will be January 8, 2027. Learn more at https://sierraclub.org/wisconsin/coulee/education.

CRSC hopes to promote student exploration, protection, and enjoyment of the natural environment. Projects must provide hands-on experience for students to learn about and explore the natural environment, promote a world which allows all life forms to live and prosper, show students that they can make a difference in their environment, whether rural or urban; and be completed within the school year. A follow-up report will be due upon completion.

Grant recipients will be asked to send us pictures and/or write an article for this newsletter, be open to presenting about the project at a local Sierra Club meeting, and be accessible to local media if desired. 

To apply, visit the link. For questions, please email CRSierraClub@gmail.com or call or text 608-315-2693. Please help spread the word in your community! 

CRSC BOARD ELECTIONS      The Coulee Region Group is guided by a board of seven directors elected from the region’s membership. The board usually meets monthly online to discuss club priorities and plan activities and events for our group. Three directors’ terms expire at the end of the year. We will hold elections from November 24 through December 

To nominate someone to serve from 2027 through 2028, please email CRSierraClub@gmail.com with name, contact information, and a short statement about the nominee’s background and why they would like to serve. Please email by November 20 if possible. If you aren’t a member, you can join at https://tinyurl.com/crsc-join.

OUR CLUB IN OCTOBER     By Dorothy Lenard, CRSC Board member    A gathering of Sierra Club members and friends attended an outing at the new ORA Community Trail farm located on October 1. Josh Hein, Trail Farm Project Manager, was our host. Josh was a wealth of information as he told us the history of the project from the start and then led the group on a hike around the property to show us the impressive progress they have made. ORA has reached out to numerous local groups for collaboration including college students, which makes this truly a community project. There are many trails already established and plans for a large community garden in the future. Recently, ORA was awarded a $1.15 million grant from the Knowles-Stewardship to assist in funding work on the farm. The evening concluded with a campfire and s’mores!

By Kathy Allen, CRSC Board Chair     On October 2, Kathy Allen, CRSC Board President and a La Crosse County Board Supervisor participated in the Week Without Driving Ride with Local Leaders hosted by the La Crosse Area Planning Committee and the City of La Crosse. About 30 leaders and bicycle advocates rode the six-mile loop from the Black River Beach House, to the Bud Hendrickson Trail and Bridge, up to the Onalaska Library, and back along Rose Street. We heard about transportation challenges, projects, and plans from representatives of the La Crosse Area Planning Committee (LAPC), the City's Planning Department, WISDOT, and Onalaska's mayor. Leaders on the ride included State Senator Brad Pfaff, La Crosse City Council member Chris Kahlow, French Island Village Trustee Mike Stolpa, and representatives from the offices of Senator Tammy Baldwin and Representative Van Orden. CRSC board member Cathy Van Maren also participated.

Several club members participated in our annual fall Highway Clean-up on October 14. Road construction reduced the coverage area, so the clean up was thorough and quick!

By Colleen Gnabasik, CRSC board member     On October 21, 15 Sierra Club members and some friends toured the Green Circle Recycling Center, 2800 Larson Street in La Crosse. Zach Harter, one of the founders of the company, led the two-hour tour through the plant and then the mattress recycling plant. With great passion, facts and industry insights were relayed. 

Green Circle Recycling is a single-stream material recovery facility, commonly referred to as a MRF. They receive commingled recyclables and separate them into commodity streams for baling and sale. It was impressive to see the baled plastics, aluminum, white paper, and cardboard bundled and ready to be transported so that they could morph into a different form by other companies. Green Recycle is able to process 92% of the received materials and send them out to mostly domestic processors, including some in Wisconsin. 

Another impressive sight was the "Chutes and Ladders" way that material flies, rolls and shoots through the maze of levels for sorting. Sorting is accomplished by robotic sorting arms, optical sorting, bypass belts, and recirculation. This is done to improve bale quality for sale.
Health and safety is also an area of concern for Green Recycle. They have air monitors in place that collect dust measurements, Emplify comes in once a year for a hearing test and the mattress facility is a no-touch facility. This contributes to the low employee turnover rate. Green Circle has a three year retention rate.

This is a worthwhile tour for anyone to see and learn. It is free and Zach Harter genuinely wants people to visit, learn and ask questions.

CRSC OCTOBER ACTION GATHERINGS     By Chris Miller, CRSC Board member     Our October 16 Action Gathering in La Crosse was all about voting and getting out the vote! 
We reminded people of early voting options and of the very helpful site : https://myvote.wi.gov. At this site one can find out what is on your ballot. It is also the place to check to be sure you are correctly registered to vote. 

We emphasized the importance of not only oneself voting, but also engaging and motivating others to vote. Our main action was signing 125 GET OUT THE VOTE postcards.
If you want to be a poll observer, you can go to this  League of Women Voters site: https://my.lwv.org/wisconsin/employment-and-volunteer-opportunities-league. 

We  discussed the Sierra Club’s endorsed candidates. View the list at https://www.sierraclub.org/wisconsin/sierra-club-wisconsin-chapter-s-2026-endorsements.
Finally, we sent postcards to Governor Evers to ask him to take a stronger stance against Line 5 - revoke Enbridge’s Line 5 permits, halt construction on the line, shut down the pipeline, hold Enbridge responsible for the multiple spills, and conduct independent investigations.

We gathered around pizza to sign our cards. We were very inspired by the age range of participants - from over 90 all the way to the two students from UWL. We were inspired by the questions and the enthusiasm. 

Thank you to all who showed up to facilitate GETTING OUT THE VOTE. 

We will report on our October 29 Viroqua Action Gathering in the December newsletter.
There will be no Action Gathering in November, but please consider attending our Chapter Awards Watch Party!

SOLAR CELEBRATION NOV. 12     First Congregational Church in La Crosse will host a Solar Installation Open House on Thursday, November 12, from 4:00 to 5:30 pm. at 2503 Main Street. The congre-gation is committed to caring for the environment and their neighbors.  Per the invitation, “We support the La Crosse Climate Action Plan and are pleased we can do a part in reaching a net zero carbon emission. A member of the La Crosse Climate Action Plan will briefly speak on how individuals and organizations contribute to the success of the plan. Our creation care and solar team members will all be in attendance to share our journey.  This event is for all ages.  Santa and Mrs. Claus will be helping with the ribbon cutting.  There will also be mini solar panels to explore. ALL ARE INVITED. 

INSPIRING SUSTAINABILITY     Congratulations CRSC members Alysa Remsburg and Pat Wilson who were honored at the La Crosse Sustainability Institute’s 2026 Inspiring Sustainability awards event on October 27 where individuals, organizations, agencies, and businesses dedicated to sustainability and climate action network, celebrate, honor leaders, and rededicate their energies for future work. Other winners included Roz Schnick, Ethos Green Power Co-op, and Dynamic Recycling!

FOCUS ON ENERGY AWARDS     Congratulations to the La Crosse School District which was honored by Focus on Energy as one of their 2026 Energy Efficiency Champions at a ceremony at the State Capitol on October 15. District representatives and CRSC member Alysa Remsburg, representing Solar on La Crosse Schools, joined other honorees for the ceremony which included remarks by Governor Tony Evers. Learn more about the awards and the event, and find a link to the La Crosse School District video at https://tinyurl.com/26foeawards 

SOLAR ON LA CROSSE SCHOOLS HONORED     Solar on La Crosse Schools (SOLS) was a grassroots group started by CRSC members in 2020 after the club had successfully worked to pass a “Ready for 100” carbon reduction resolution in the La Crosse City Council. in 2019. The group initially asked the La Crosse School Board to pass a similar pledge and plan, but soon morphed into an effort to help raise funds for and support district installations of solar panels to immediately reduce the schools’ carbon emissions (and energy bills) and provide proof that dedicated climate action was good for the district, the students, and the future.

After six years, five major district installations plus some smaller initiatives, and many programs, SOLS disbanded earlier this year with the district’s pledge to include renewable energy in its future plans and create its own climate action plan. 

La Crosse Public Schools nominated SOLS for the Wisconsin Association of School Boards’ 2026 Business Honor Roll program for their support of the school district. SOLS will be officially recognized at the School Board’s November 2 regular meeting. 

Here is the district’s award submission:
SOLS has played a pivotal role in helping the School District of La Crosse embrace renewable energy. Through community fundraising, advocacy, education, and collaboration, SOLS helped bring six solar projects to life, leveraged nearly $1 million in project funding, and demonstrated that solar is both financially and environmentally beneficial for schools. Perhaps most importantly, SOLS helped shift the district's long-term approach to facilities planning, making solar energy and sustainability a standard consideration for future school construction and renovations.

The School District of La Crosse cannot thank the SOLS group enough for its dedication, vision, and unwavering support. The impact of SOLS will be felt for decades to come, and the district is committed to carrying this momentum forward until every school has the opportunity to generate clean, renewable solar energy.

SOLARSHARE     SolarShare Wisconsin Cooperative provides an opportunity for regular people to invest in local, community-scale solar farms. Member contractors develop, build, and maintain solar projects, returning dividends to investor members and keeping our energy dollars in the state. Lear more at solarshare.coop

ORDER 2027 CALENDARS!     It’s calendar time! Wall calendars are $19, engagement calendars are $20. Calendar sales help pay for our Environmental Education grants and High School Environmental Stewardship awards. Contact us at CRSierraClub@gmail.com or call 608-315-2693 to order yours.

GREAT ENVIRONMENTAL NEWS!     The state chapter reports this great news:

  • The Wisconsin Natural Resources Board, the policy-setting body for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) approved regulations on PFAS in groundwater. This is a big win for all of us who drink water in Wisconsin! 
  • Dairyland Power Co-op announced the final cancellation of the NTEC gas plant. Read more here.
  • The state chapter’s settlement with the DNR  has led to a statewide comprehensive environmental review of data centers. This could create a 'pause' on permitting, depending on how the future DNR Secretary sees it.

YOUTH ACTION     Saanvi Muduganti is a student at Onalaska High School who is very interested and active in local youth climate action and environmental initiatives. We’re delighted that she will help inform us about local student environmental events and actions through monthly columns!

Voices for Plant-Powered School Meals

Saanvi Muduganti, a member of the Plant Powered Meals Coalition, is working to expand access to nutritious, delicious plant-based meals in schools. At her school, she has advocated for options such as the Impossible Burger, encouraging students to explore plant-based alternatives and promoting greater choice in school cafeterias. Through YouthGenHealth, her initiative to empower young people through health education, Muduganti also promotes informed food choices that support personal well-being and environmental sustainability. Plant-based meals can provide essential nutrients and, when thoughtfully planned, may help reduce the environmental impact of food production.

Policy changes are creating new opportunities for schools to offer more diverse meals. In April 2024, the U.S. Department of Agriculture finalized updated school nutrition standards that give schools more flexibility to accommodate students' dietary preferences, including vegetarian and vegan diets.

How can students help bring more plant-powered meals to their schools?

  • Start a conversation. Students can contact their school's food service director to discuss adding appealing plant-based options to cafeteria menus.
  • Share resources. Climate-Friendly Plant-Based Recipes for Schools, published by Friends of the Earth, offers ideas that school nutrition teams can explore.
  • Advocate for policy change. Students can contact their representatives or senators to ask them to support the Plant Powered School Meals Pilot Act, which proposes a pilot program to expand plant-based meal options in schools.

Muduganti's work highlights how young people can help shape school food systems through education, advocacy, and collaboration. By working with school nutrition teams and advocating for more diverse meal options, students can make nutritious, plant-powered meals more accessible while contributing to a healthier, more sustainable future. 

Veganuary
Every January, Veganuary, a global campaign that encourages people to try a vegan diet, invites people worldwide to try eating vegan for the month by exploring plant-based foods and recipes. The initiative encourages people to discover new meals while learning about the potential benefits of plant-based eating for animal welfare, personal health, and the environment.

For students, Veganuary can be an opportunity to explore nutritious, delicious alternatives in everyday meals and encourage schools to offer more plant-based options. Small steps, such as trying a new plant-based lunch or sharing a favorite recipe, can help build awareness and make sustainable food choices more accessible to everyone.

Check out this recipe for Impossible Bugers from Mandy Applegate

    

MORE NOVEMBER EVENTS

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Friday, October 16, 2026

Wolf Awareness Week!

The annual Wolf Awareness Week is October 18-24! Every year we host daily events with a special Wolf Awareness Week sticker that fits our theme. Everyone who signs up gets a coveted sticker and daily emails with lots of great activities. 

Our theme this year will be “Wolf families” using a different lens each day to examine Wisconsin wolf families - how wolf families survive together and the challenges our Wisconsin wolf families still face today. 

Sign up here

How it works: By signing up for our educational week, you will receive an email for each day with fun content, an opt-in activity you can do on your own, as well as invitations to join us for special virtual evening events throughout the week. 

Perks of the Pack: By signing up, you will automatically receive a special 2026 custom Wolf Awareness Week sticker in the mail and also be entered to win a 1,000-piece wolf jigsaw puzzle by Sam Zimmerman / Zhaawanoogiizhik, an Ojibwe artist whose work we featured during Wolf Awareness Week last year! 

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Thursday, October 1, 2026

October newsletter

 

OCTOBER 16 at 5:30 p.m. CRSC Action Gathering - Elections     Join us at 5:30 p.m. on Friday, October 16, for pizza, education, and action. This month, we’ll be back at the UU Fellowship on West Avenue. This month we'll be talking about the upcoming election - how can we help strong pro-environment candidates get elected, and what should we encouraging our officials to act on once they're elected! Please email CRSIerraClub@gmail.com or call or text 608-315-2693 with questions about this event. EVERYONE IS WELCOME!

VOTING HAS STARTED!     Request an absentee ballot from your municipal clerk now and return it to an official drop box or your clerk’s office. Absentee in person voting is October 20 through October 30. Get more information about voting at myvote.wi.gov. Voters will see three proposed amendments to our state constitution on their ballots. Please research these referendums before voting.  See the Wisconsin Chapter’s Election Center here: https://tinyurl.com/wisc-26electioncenter. 

OCT. 1 - ORA TRAIL FARM TOUR     We hope to see you at 5:30 at the new ORA Trail Farm, W5723 HWY 33, for a talk, hike, and camp fire! Josh Hein, Trail Farm Project Manager, will be our guide! RSVP (optional) by calling 608-315-2693 or here:  https://tinyurl.com/crsc2ora-rsvp and consider carpooling (use this link: https://tinyurl.com/crsc2ora). 

OCT. 14 - HIGHWAY CLEAN-UP     Our fall clean-up of River Valley Drive will be Wednesday, October 14 at 5:30 p.m. Meet at the Gillette Street pumping station to get bags and vests. If you have questions, please call Pat at 608-788-8831. 

VERNON ACTION!  You're invited to talk about data centers with the Coulee Region Group on Friday, October 29 at 5:30 p.m. at the Vernon County Historial Society, 410 S. Center Avenue, Viroqua. Pizza will be provided!

WEEK WITHOUT DRIVING - OCT. 1-8!     How do you get around? What if you couldn’t drive? How do limited transportation options affect individuals’ access to full lives? How do car-centric policies affect greenhouse gas emissions, pollution, family finances, health, and safety? Learn more at https://tinyurl.com/wwdlacrosse.

OCT. 21 - TOUR HARTERS RECYCLING     At 3 p.m. on Wednesday, October 21 join CRSC members and friends for a tour of Harter’s Quick Clean Up Material Recovery System Recycling Center, 2850 Larson Street, La Crosse. We’ll tour the recycling facility and mattress recovery center. Optional happy hour after! Consider carpooling - use https://tinyurl.com/crsc2harters. If you drive, use the lot at 2800 Larson Street or along the long brick wall at 2850 Larson Street or the gravel lot behind 2831 Larson Street. Please RSVP so we can contact you if there are changes: https://tinyurl.com/rsvp-crsc2harters or call 608-315-2693. Consider bringing ear plugs.

OCT. 6 - FILM: VS. GOLIATH - PORT ARTHUR     Join us at 7:00 p.m. on October 6 for a virtual screening of VS GOLIATH: Port Arthur. What happens when ordinary people take on billion-dollar industries? Port Arthur, Texas is the biggest oil and petrochemical hub you’ve probably never heard of. John Beard Jr. worked in an oil refinery there for decades, as did his father before him, in the refinery town of Port Arthur, Texas. After retiring, John watches Port Arthur get hollowed out economically, while his neighbors die from pollution-related illness, as more dirty plants appear and expand. Experiencing the climate-driven devastation wrought by Hurricane Harvey, John is called to fight back. He becomes a leading opponent of fossil fuels in his community, as he takes on the latest extractive frontier threatening Port Arthur and the world: liquid natural gas export terminals. Following the film, join Bill McKibben, and others for a live Q&A. Screening link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aUVGcqyVHtA

WOLF AWARENESS WEEK - OCT. 18-24     Our theme this year is “Wolf families,” using a different lens each day to examine Wisconsin wolf families - how wolf families survive together and the challenges our Wisconsin wolf families still face today. Sign up for our educational week and receive an email for each day with fun content, an opt-in activity you can do on your own, as well as invitations to join us for special virtual evening events throughout the week. You will automatically receive a special 2026 custom Wolf Awareness Week sticker in the mail and also be entered to win a 1,000-piece wolf jigsaw puzzle by Sam Zimmerman / Zhaawanoogiizhik, an Ojibwe artist whose work we featured during Wolf Awareness Week last year! Learn more and sign up here: https://www.sierraclub.org/wisconsin/wolvesaction

OCT. 21 - CHAPTER BOOK CLUB: WOLFISH     This month’s book club falls within Wolf Awareness Week, so we will be discussing Erica Berry’s book Wolfish: Wolf, Self, and the Stories We Tell About Fear. WOLFISH blends science, history, and cultural criticism in a years-long journey to understand our myths about wolves, and track one legendary wolf, OR-7, from the Wallowa Mountains of Oregon. While charting OR-7’s record-breaking journey out of the Wallowa Mountains, Erica simultaneously details her own coming-of-age as she moves away from home and wrestles with inherited beliefs about fear, danger, femininity, and the body. Sign up for the book club by calling 608-315-2693 or visiting https://tinyurl.com/wisc-wolfbook1026. 

CRSC BOARD ELECTION     The Coulee Region Group is guided by a board of seven directors elected from the region’s membership. The board usually meets monthly online to discuss club priorities and plan activities and events for our group. Three directors’ terms expire at the end of the year. We will hold elections in December. To nominate someone or yourself to serve from 2027 through 2028, please email CRSierraClub@gmail.com with name, contact information, and a short statement about the nominee’s background and why they would like to serve. Please email by October 31 if possible. If you aren’t a member, you can join at https://tinyurl.com/crsc-join.

OCT. 27 - SUSTAINABILITY INSTITUTE - INSPIRING SUSTAINABILITY AWARDS     Join our local sustainability community in-person at a mix & mingle celebration as we recognize local organizations and individuals who have inspired sustainable action within our community. Advance tickets are required. Ticket sales close October 19th at 8 p.m. Learn more here: https://sustaininstitute.com/upcomingevents.

CRSC ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION GRANTS     Every year, the Coulee Region Sierra Club offers grants of up to $200 each for environmental education programming for students in grades K through 8. Teachers, schools, and programs that serve students in the eight-county CRSC area (Crawford, Grant, Jackson, La Crosse, Monroe, Richland, Trempealeau, and Vernon counties) are eligible to apply. The deadline will be January 8, 2027. Learn more at https://sierraclub.org/wisconsin/coulee/education.

CRSC hopes to promote student exploration, protection, and enjoyment of the natural environment. 

Projects must:

  • Provide hands-on experience for students to learn about and explore the natural environment.
  • Promote a world which allows all life forms to live and prosper.
  • Show students that they can make a difference in their environment, whether rural or urban.
  • Be completed within the school year.  A follow-up report will be due upon completion.

Grant recipients will be asked to: 

  • Take pictures and write an article for the CRSC newsletter
  • Be open to making a presentation to at a local Sierra Club meeting
  • Be accessible to local media if publicity is desired

To apply, visit the link. For questions, please email CRSierraClub@gmail.com or call or text 608-315-2693. Please help spread the word in your community, too!

SEPTEMBER ACTION GATHERING REPORT     We gathered at the First Congregational Church on September 18. Chris Miller, CRSC board member, presented an outline of the program and showed an excellent video that explains why so many cities are clogged with dangerous car traffic and how some cities have tackled these  traffic jams by challenging conventional wisdom with the goal of highlighting effective strategies for sustainable public transportation and urban mobility that truly serves the needs of a "sustainable city." Watch the video here: https://youtu.be/M8Tobzn1qeM?si=pSodOYXGWExxvZ7t

Cathy Van Maren, CRSC board member and organizer of La Crosse’s Week Without Driving event, talked about why we even need a week without driving, since non-driving is the natural state of humans. We looked at the history of cars and car infrastructure, the role of marketing and lobbying in maintaining this car-centrism, and the very real problem of “car brain” or motonormativity.

In the city of La Crosse, the Wisconsin DOT estimates that 40% or more of residents (more than 20,500 people) do not drive cars. In our state, it’s about 31% of residents. Yet, most transportation funding and planning prioritizes cars. We then looked at some of the challenges non-drivers have in our area.

The Scenic Mississippi Regional Transit service, that provides rides from La Crosse to Tomah, Viroqua, and Prairie du Chien, will stop at the end of this year, leaving a gap for many non-driving students, workers, patients, and travelers. Even though La Crosse’s city bus system is one of the best in the state, service is slow, infrequent, and not 24/7. Many neighborhoods are not served by this bus. There are other connections in our area, but sometimes they are hard to get to. For bicyclists and walkers, conditions vary. Some improvements are nixed for budget reasons or because decision-makers are reluctant to replace parking spaces with safe biking spaces.

Week Without Driving is supported at all levels by the Sierra Club because goals align. The Sierra Club’s Outdoors for All and Transit to Trails initiatives bring attention to the need for more and better public transit in order for everyone to access wild, natural, and green spaces, from national parks to city recreation facilities. Reducing car emissions by improving and supporting cleaner travel options is key to the Sierra Club’s climate action goals. Fewer cars also mean less air and water pollution from exhaust and tire wear, another important Sierra Club priority. And better transportation options mean that everyone, no matter their age, income, ability, or status, can get to their lives which is an important goal of the Wisconsin Chapter Transportation Access and Equity Team.

Several personal action items were presented, from pledging to try going a week without driving, to completing a WWD Bingo Card or participating in local WWD events. Chris prepared a letter to state legislators in support of Regional Transit Authority enabling legislation, a way for local governmental units to join together to effectively fund and administer regional transit systems that connect communities and provide a more comprehensive non-car travel network.

Learn more about Week Without Driving at https://tinyurl.com/wwdlacrosse. View the Powerpoint presentation at https://tinyurl.com/crscaction-0926wwd and the updated informational handout at https://tinyurl.com/WWDCRSCActionHandout. If you would like to email your state legislators encouraging them to support RTA enabling legislation, find a template here: https://tinyurl.com/crsc-rtaletter.

YOUTH ACTION     Saanvi Muduganti is a student at Onalaska High School who is very interested and active in local youth climate action and environmental initiatives. We’re delighted that she will help inform us about local student environmental events and actions through monthly columns!

This summer, Wisconsin’s Children's Trust's Corps Coordinator Saanvi Muduganti advocated for federal climate action by writing to Representative Mark Pocan in support of the congressional resolution, the Children's Fundamental Right of Life and a Stable Climate System. These efforts paid off when Representative Pocan became one of the 90 cosponsors of the resolution, recognizing the government's responsibility to protect young people's right to a safe, livable future. 

She also joined youth plaintiffs from Dunn v. Wisconsin Public Service Commission on a virtual congressional meeting with Senator Tammy Baldwin’s staff to share their climate harms and urge her to cosponsor the resolution. 

Now, join the fight for children's climate rights! Call or email Senator Baldwin at www.baldwin.senate.gov/contact and urge her to cosponsor the Children’s Fundamental Rights to Life and a Stable Climate System resolution (S.Con.Res.18)! 

OTHER OCTOBER EVENTS:

2027 CALENDARS!     It’s calendar time! Wall calendars are $19, engagement calendars are $20. Calendar sales help pay for our Environmental Education grants and High School Environmental Stewardship awards. Contact Maureen Kinney at CRSierraClub@gmail.com or call 608-797-8442 to order yours.  

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Tuesday, September 1, 2026

September newsletter

CRSC ACTION GATHERING -  September 18 at 5:30 p.m. - First Congregational Church, Main & Losey [NOTE NEW LOCATION!]   Join us at 5:30 p.m. on Friday, September 18 at the First Congregational Church, Main & Losey, for pizza, education, and action. [NOTE NEW LOCATION!] This month’s CRSC Action Gathering will focus on transportation access and equity in preparation for national Week Without Driving (WWD), October 1 through 8. WWD brings attention to our current car-centric transportation systems and how that affects those who can’t or do not drive and our environment and climate. We’ll learn more about what we can do to participate in WWD and take action for more and better transportation choices in our area and state. Please email CRSIerraClub@gmail.com or call or text 608-315-2693 with questions about this event. EVERYONE IS WELCOME!

LUNCH & LEARN: ALDO LEOPOLD'S LAND ETHIC - September 9 at noon - Online    Join us for a Lunch and Learn on Aldo Leopold’s Land Ethic on September 9 at noon. In his classic work A Sand County Almanac (1949), Aldo Leopold called for an ethic that respected land as “a community to which we belong.”  That land community included “soils, waters, plants, animals, and people.” Curt Meine will explore Leopold’s legacy for the emerging water ethic here in Wisconsin and beyond. Call 608-315-2693 for access information or visit https://tinyurl.com/wisc-aldotalk to register.

THE ROADLESS RULE ACTION HOUR - September 14 at 5:30 p.m. - Online     Join us on Monday, September 14 at 5:30 p.m. for an online program that includes a screening of "Why We Need the Roadless Rule" along with some discussion and time to write comments for the Roadless Rule. Visit https://tinyurl.com/wisc-roadless to register for the link.

VS. GOLIATH - GREATER CHACO - September 1 at 7 p.m. - Online     Join us at 7:00 p.m. on September 1 for a virtual screening of VS GOLIATH: Greater Chaco. What happens when ordinary people take on billion-dollar industries? The sacred Greater Chaco region of New Mexico, ancestral homeland of the Pueblo and Diné peoples, is under siege from a relentless surge of oil and gas extraction. After a life-changing call to Standing Rock, young Sandia Pueblo leader Julia Bernal returns home to confront the same forces threatening her own community. Uniting with Diné elder Daniel Tso and an intergenerational coalition, they lead a powerful fight to defend tribal sovereignty and protect Chaco for future generations. The screening will be followed by a panel discussion with Julia Bernal and Daniel Tso, the protagonists of the film, and will be moderated by Judith LeBlanc, Executive Director of the Native Organizers Alliance. Register here: https://tinyurl.com/sc-chacofilm

AUGUST ACTION GATHERING REPORT     by Chris Miller, CRSC Board Member
We gathered at the Unitarian-Universalist Fellowship on August 21. Our initial discussion focused on updates about the Data Centers in Wisconsin. Please see the brief power point at https://tinyurl.com/crsc-dcupdate826. The action step was to sign a letter to gubernatorial candidate, David Crowley, expressing our support of a moratorium on Data Centers...not forever...but for now until a more robust guidelines can be developed in managing data centers. Kelda Roys’ plan for working with data centers was reviewed and will be included in the letter to David Crowley.

We then had an outstanding presentation by Carol Wesley. She is a prominent director and leader for Lights Out Wisconsin. She also works closely with the Kickapoo Valley Dark Sky Initiative. She covered the science behind dark sky lighting; the money saved by dark sky lighting; and how to fashion your residence with dark sky lighting. The actions taken were 1) the personal commitment to use dark sky lighting; 2) personal commitment to spread the word; and 3) several participants will join with Carol to engage and motivate Kwik Trip’s exploration of dark sky lighting. 

She spoke of her concern with the recent approval from the FCC for the Reflect Orbital Space Mirror Project. This is a 60-foot-wide mirror that will be sent into space. The mirror will be capable of reflecting the sun to earth during the night. There are major groups not in favor of this including: professional and amateur astronomers; dark sky advocates, aviation and public safety experts; legal scholars and spatial activists. The action was to engage and motivate Sierra Statewide Chapter to act against this FCC decision. 

Carol has provided these summaries of her presentation and the issues we discussed.

THE VALUE OF DARK SKIES FOR ALL LIFE ON EARTH

Outdoor lighting is necessary for a productive modern society. However, there are penalties we are paying with increased light pollution which causes glare, light trespass and sky glow. 
Light scattered through the atmosphere brightens the night sky, making stars and planets difficult to see due to the reduced contrast. Light pollution also prevents the human eye from fully dark-adapting and reaching its maximum sensitivity. Sometimes, the more light there is at night, the less we can see. Light pollution tends to be most acute in urban environments, have pronounced ecological effects, and potentially influence human circadian rhythms. Light pollution also disrupts ecosystems, wastes energy, increases impacts of climate change and can have adverse health effects in humans. 

When properly designed and installed, dark sky friendly outdoor lighting has many benefits, including but not limited to:
•    Improves energy efficiency and Reduces carbon footprint
•    Preserves night skies and Enhances wilderness character
•    Provides for basic human safety and Enhances human health
•    Enhances historic authenticity and Reduces operational and cyclic maintenance costs
•    Minimizes impacts to wildlife and visitors
•    Provides opportunities for economic development through astronomy-based tourism

Dark sky friendly lighting fixtures provide immense practical, financial, and ecological value. By directing light strictly downward and using warm, low 1800-2700 Kelvin rated bulbs, they eliminate wasted energy, reduce electricity costs by up to 70%, and minimize glare. Additionally, they protect nocturnal wildlife and preserve stargazing visibility. 

WHAT’S WRONG WITH THIS PICTURE?

Reflect Orbital, a California-based space technology company, plans to test a satellite carrying a giant reflective mirror 59 feet by 59 feet. The company expects its inaugural test mission, Eärendil-1, to launch later this year and hopes to have 36 satellites in orbit by 2027.

By 2035, Reflect Orbital aims to launch up to 50,000 satellites to provide sunlight to Earth-based solar panels and to redirect sunlight back to Earth from low Earth orbit.
The demonstration mission aims to test whether sunlight can be reflected onto specific locations on Earth. 

The reflected light would illuminate an area around 3 miles wide, with the satellite repositioning its mirror roughly every 4 minutes as it circles the planet. The technology goal is to reflect sunlight back to Earth to illuminate streets and neighborhoods without electricity, enhance light exposure for agriculture, and to provide additional sunlight to data center and other industrial sectors solar energy farms  and other solar farms after dark, increasing energy generation. 

On August 6, 2026, several environmental organizations, including Earthjustice, DarkSky International, Environment America, Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility, and the American Bird Conservancy filed a petition for the FCC to rescind its approval.

Learn more here: https://darksky.org/news/darksky-and-allies-ask-the-fcc-to-reverse-its-approval-of-the-reflect-orbital-space-mirror

OWLS!  This spring, CRSC awarded several Earth Month environmental education grants. We received a bundle of delightful thank you notes from students at Southern Bluffs Elementary School in La Crosse. Their CRSC grant helped pay for a visit from an owl and educators from the International Owl Center in Minnesota. Here are their messages:

Dear Sierra Club - Thank  you for donating money so we could learn about owls. I like the owls. You should go to the Houston Owl Center. from Brooklyn

Dear Sierra Club - The most interesting thing I learned about owls is owls can spot creatures to eat from a mile away! Sincerely, Leo

To Sierra Club. Thank you for letting the owl come to our sckool.

Dear Sierra Club, the most interesting thing I learned about owls is that they grow really big and have hollow bones. Sincerely, Leighton

Dear Sierra Club. The most interesting thing I learned about owls is they grow really big. Sincerely Mallory

Dear Sierra Club, The most interesting think I learned about owls is that they grow really big. Thank you for supporting us! Sincerely, mav

Dear Sierra Club, the most interesting thing I learned about owls is that they grow really big and have hollow bones. Sincerely, wes

Dear Sierra Club. Thank you. I loved the owl. Bridget

WEEK WITHOUT DRIVING, OCT. 1-8     How do you get around? What if you couldn’t drive? How do limited transporta-tion options affect indiv-dual’s autonomy and ability to live full lives? How do car-centric policies affect carbon emissions, pollution, family finances, health, and safety? Consider signing up for the Week Without Driving experience. Learn and think about changes we can advocate for to make life better for everyone. Sign up here: https://weekwithoutdriving.org/join Learn about local WWD events at https://tinyurl.com/wwdlacrosse. WWD is supported at the national, state, and local levels by the Sierra Club.  

CLIMATE FELLOWS!     Sustainability Institute Climate Fellows Program is a cohort-based leadership and learning experience that empowers young adults to design, implement, and lead meaningful climate action projects in the La Crosse community. Through a partnership between the Sustainability Institute and City of La Crosse, this program looks to build on previous Youth Climate Action Fund (YCAF) success - taking what worked, tweaking what didn't and mixing in our wins from a past program - MPower.

Sustainability Institute Climate Fellows combines hands-on project development with collaborative learning, mentorship, and connections to local sustainability. Fellows will join the cohort to explore past projects, make connections to the City of La Crosse's Climate Action Plan, learn from local leaders, and ultimately develop/execute a climate action project in our community. By blending education, collaboration, and real-world action, Climate Fellows equips participants with the skills, confidence, and experience to discover their role in advancing a more sustainable and resilient future.

The Climate Fellows program is open to high school graduates ages 18-24 who are passionate about making a positive impact in their community through climate action. No experience is necessary! Learn more at https://www.sustaininstitute.com/cfp. Apply by NOON on September 23. 

MORE SEPTEMBER EVENTS 

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Thursday, August 6, 2026

Saving the Driftless

 From Wisconsin Conservation Voters:


In late 2025, residents of Grant County learned a $1 billion data center was being quietly planned near Cassville, a process conducted behind signed NDAs and zoning meetings with zero public comment.

 

Across Wisconsin, tech giants are eyeing rural communities to build massive, energy- and water-hungry facilities. But local residents are rising up to defend the Driftless Area’s unique landscape.

 

As local resident Pete Moris put it: “These are decisions that will impact our area for generations to come. We are stewards here for a short time, and I do not want to be the generation that screws this up.”

 

▶️ WATCH THE PREMIERE: Saving the Driftless Area on YouTube

 

The real cost of Big Tech’s invasion:

  • Massive cooling demand uses tremendous amounts of water.

  • Shifting energy costs onto local families. As opponent Melodie Betts shared, “People cannot afford to pay for extra electricity… People can’t even afford the extra 20 or 30 dollars of gas in their gas tank.”

  • Developers use NDAs and secretive meetings to shut down community input.

“Our quality of life is way more valuable than any promises a data center developer is going to bring,” Moris said. “Putting people ahead of profits is what we’re seeing resonate with folks.”

 

Can a rural community stop Big Tech from reshaping Southwestern Wisconsin?

 

Watch the 10-minute video on YouTube, leave a comment, and share it with friends to help spread the word.

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Saturday, August 1, 2026

August Newsletter

 

AUGUST 4 FILM - VS. GOLIATH - APPALACHIA at 7 p.m. online. Deep in the hollows of the Appalachian Mountains, the construction of a fracked gas pipeline rips through mountaintops, forests, and streams, bearing down on rural communities across Appalachia. Russell, an Army veteran who once swore an oath to protect and serve his country, now finds his home, waters, and forests under threat. He enlists in the battle to defend his community. Russell joins forces with people along the pipeline route, including Georgia, an apple farmer in Virginia; Maury, a retired schoolteacher in West Virginia; and Crystal and Jason, Indigenous community leaders in North Carolina. Together, they form a movement that faces numerous setbacks as they take on the multibillion-dollar corporations behind the pipeline. When one of the nation’s most powerful politicians intervenes, the stage is set for a high-stakes showdown. After the film, stay for a live Q&A with questions via the chat feature. Register for link: https://tinyurl.com/scfilm-vsgolapp

AUGUST 4 WISCONSIN CHAPTER BOOK CLUB at 6"30 p.m. online. The Sierra Club Wisconsin Chapter’s book club will meet online from 6:30 to 7:30. This month’s book is Here Comes the Sun: A Last Chance for the Climate and a Fresh Chance for Civilization by Bill McKibben! Whether you’ve read the book or not, you’ll enjoy the conversation! Every eighteen hours, the world puts up a nuclear power plant's-worth of solar panels. At the same time, combustion continues to melt our poles, poison our bodies, and drive our global inequality. And it is no longer necessary: For the first time in 700,000 years, we know how to catch the sun's rays and convert them into energy. Bill McKibben tells the story of our sudden spike in power from the sun and wind, tracing the arrival of plentiful, inexpensive solar energy, which, if it accelerates, gives us a chance not just to limit climate change's damage, but to reorder the world on saner and more humane grounds. Register to participate: https://tinyurl.com/wisc826book

AUGUST 5 HIGHWAY CLEAN-UP at 6 p.m. The July clean-up didn’t work out, so we’re trying again on August 5. We’ll work on River Valley Drive, meeting at 6 p.m. at the pumping station just west of the intersection with Gillette Street, and then spread out to pick up litter. Bags and vests are available or bring your own. We’ll work for about an hour and then gather (optional) at Rudy’s on La Crosse Street for refreshments. 

AUGUST 21 CRSC ACTION GATHERING at 5:30 p.m. at 401 West Avenue South, La Crosse. Join us at 5:30 p.m. on Friday, August 21 at 401 West Avenue South for pizza, education, and action. This month’s CRSC Action Gathering will focus on a recent Trump administration grant of $19 million for the Columbia Energy Center, a coal-fired plant co-owned by Alliant Energy, Madison Gas and Electric and Wisconsin Public Service in south central Wisconsin. What does this mean for our clean air and water goals, for climate action, for the fight to end fossil fuel use? Please email CRSIerraClub@gmail.com or call or text 608-315-2693 with questions about this event. EVERYONE IS WELCOME! 

MORE AUGUST EVENTS

 
 
AUGUST 16 - WILD INSIDE film at 5:30 p.m. at the Rivoli in La Crosse. 

On February 2, 2023, Flaco — a male Eurasian eagle-owl, the largest species of owl in the world — was discovered missing from his cage at the Central Park Zoo in Manhattan. What follows when Flaco, who had lived his entire life in captivity, was released in New York City is a surprising story revealing the delight, concern, and fascination of millions in the city and beyond.

Join the International Owl Center to view and discuss the film at the Rivoli in La Crosse on August 16 at 5:30 p.m. Purchase tickets at https://tinyurl.com/816owlfilm

Note: contains themes and situations around animal death that may be troubling for very young children.

 

WISCONSIN CHAPTER TEAMS FUNDRAISER CONTINUES THROUGH AUGUST 12! Learn about our teams and how you can support them here: https://donorbox.org/wisconsin-summer-2026

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