IRA PROGRAM RESCHEDULED: Our September program about the Inflation Reduction Act had to be canceled because of last minute schedule conflicts. But, we have a new meeting scheduled, with Sidney Scott, a staff member from U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin’s office, at 1:30 p.m. on Thursday, October 13. Please register by October 10 at tinyurl.com/CRSCIRAQuestions. If you registered for the September meeting, the zoom link is the same. Submit a question when you register or email CRSierraClub@gmail.com. The White House has created an interactive site to provide more information about the bill at tinyurl.com/IRAExplained.
INDIGENOUS PEOPLE'S DAY You are invited to recognize Indigenous People’s Day on Tuesday, October 11 by joining an online Sierra Club screening of the film, Manzanar, Diverted: When Water Becomes Dust. After the film, hear from a panel that includes Emmy Award-winning filmmaker Ann Kineko, producer Jin Yoo-Kim, Lone Pine Tribal Historic Preservation Officer Kathy Bancroft, and Sierra Club Senior Director of National Energy Campaigns Monica Embrey. Filmed over five years, the poetic portrait follows an intergenerational defense of land, history, and culture. Learn more about the film and register to attend at tinyurl.com/SCFilm-101122.
ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP AWARD Congratulations to RoseMary Greany, a senior at La Crosse Logan High School, winner of our first annual High School Environmental Stewardship Award. At a September 21 ceremony at the La Crosse Public Library, Greany received a check for $300 and a certificate from CRSC Board President Kathy Allen and Treasurer Nancy Hartje.
The award was established to promote environmental stewardship through enduring, fair, and equitable action among high school youth, and to recognize the achievements of a student who demonstrates leadership, action, and environmental stewardship, and who understands the importance of civic engagement in protecting our environment.
Ms. Greany is an environmental entrepreneur, turning a passion for crochet into a business that produces “slow fashion” items from recycled yarn and other materials. She is a member of Logan High’s Interact Club, a Rotary International service club for youth whose projects have included river clean-ups and tree-planting initiatives. She volunteers for the food pantry at First Free Church that helps keep food from our landfill. And, she is pursuing a Global Education Achievement Certificate with an emphasis on climate consciousness.
Funding for the grants comes from a grant the club receives annually from the Paul E. Stry Foundation, from calendar sales, and from individual donations. More details about these grants and awards can be found at sierraclub.org/wisconsin/coulee/education
ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION GRANTS For spring 2022, CRSC will offer grants of up to $200 each for environmental education projects to schools or community organizations involving young people at the elementary and middle school level within the CRSC region: Crawford, Grant, Jackson, La Crosse, Monroe, Richland, Trempealeau, and Vernon counties.
Applications may be completed online, emailed or mailed. The deadline for applications will be early January 2023. For more information, visit sierraclub.org/wisconsin/coulee/Education
Funding for CRSC environmental education programs is possible thanks to an annual grant from the Paul E. Stry Foundation, shared dues from Sierra Club memberships, and donations made by community members. Email us at CRSierraClub@gmail.com to learn how to donate.
The Coulee Region Sierra Club will hold elections for three seats on its board of directors in December. The board meets monthly to plan events, coordinate with the state Sierra Club, and network with local and regional partners and allies on Sierra Club issues.
If you would like to nominate someone, including yourself, please email the name and contact information for the nominee along with a paragraph describing the nominee’s qualifications for the board to CRSierraClub@gmail.com by November 19, 2022.
Qualifications include Sierra Club membership and past work or interest in outdoor activities and/or environmental issues. The board is especially interested
in adding members who live outside of the La Crosse area, but anyone is welcome to nominate. If you have questions, please email or call 608-315-2693.
CRSC BOARD NOMINATIONS The Coulee Region Sierra Club will hold elections for three seats on its board of directors in December. The board meets monthly to plan events, coordinate with the state Sierra Club, and network with local and regional partners and allies on Sierra Club issues. If you would like to nominate someone, including yourself, please email the name and contact information for the nominee along with a paragraph describing the nominee’s qualifications for the board to CRSierraClub@gmail.com by November 19, 2022.
Qualifications include Sierra Club membership and past work or interest in outdoor activities and/or environmental issues. The board is especially interested in adding members who live outside of the La Crosse area, but anyone is welcome to nominate. If you have questions, please email or call 608-315-2693.
ASK ME ABOUT MY EV More than a dozen electric cars and their owners joined e-bike owners and the La Crosse MTU electric bus at the National Driver Electric Week (NDEW) event, Ask Me About My EV, on Sunday, September 25 at Copeland Park in La Crosse. The Sierra Club is one of four national sponsors of NDEW which helps those interested in switching from fossil fuel vehicles learn about them from neighbors with personal experience.
The La Crosse event included a mix of newer and older EVs and e-bikes from traditional styles to family cargo bikes. Solar installers, Xcel Energy, and the Sierra Club were also on hand to provide information about incentives and benefits of fuel-switching.
If you would like to talk to an EV owner to get answers to questions, please email CRSierraClub@gmail.com and we will try to connect you with someone in your community or area.
On October 1, there is an NDEW event in Prairie du Chien from noon to 4 p.m. at the Prairie Cinema. For more information about electric vehicles, events, incentives and more, please visit driveelectricweek.org/event?eventid=3392.
2023 SIERRA CLUB CALENDARS It’s time to order your Sierra Club calendars! Wall calendars are $15 each and engagement calendars are $16. Calendar sales help us fund our education grants and awards! If you are interested, please text or call Maureen Kinney, 608-787-9442 or email Maureen@JohnsFlaherty.com For more Sierra Club items and gifts, please visit store.sierraclub.org/storefront.aspx
KUDOS! Congratulations to CRSC board member and past president, Pat Wilson! Pat received a Water Hero Award from the Wisconsin River Alliance at their September River Rat Chat in Trempealeau. Pat and Friends of the La Crosse River Marsh board member John Sullivan were recognized for their work protecting waters in Southwest Wisconsin.
CRSC members, Cathy Van Maren and Pat Wilson, are nominees for the 2022 Sustainability Institute’s Inspiring Sustainability Award. Award recipients will be announced at an in-person event on October 25 at the La Crosse Distilling Company. For more details about all nominees, and to purchase tickets for the event, visit tinyurl.com/SI-ISA2022
FALL HIGHWAY CLEAN UP Calling all CRSC members wishing to help clean up our adopted portion of River Valley Drive! Meet up at the La Crosse Pumping Station just northwest of the intersection of River Valley Drive and Gillette Street (Highway B) at 5:30 p.m. on Monday, October 10 to get gloves, vests, and bags. Bring your camera! Not only is this section of roadway near the beautiful marsh but you might find something interesting during the clean up. Call Pat with questions: 608-788-8831.
VOTE The state chapter’s 2021-22 Legislative Scorecard is at tinyurl.com/WISC2122Scorecard.If you plan to vote with an absentee ballot in the November 8 election, please be sure to fill out the envelope completely: sign and date it as the voter and have your witness sign and enter her/his full address. Return your ballot in person or mail it no later than November 1. Visit myvote.wi.gov for more information about your ballot and voting.
MORE OCTOBER EVENTS
10/ 8: Moonlight Hike at Wildcat Mountain State Park. 7 p.m. dnr.wisconsin.gov/events/57796
10/11: Midwest Environmental Advocates Bill Iwen Environmental Justice Awards program. 7 p.m. Online. midwestadvocates.org/2022-environmental-justice-awards
10/12: Sierra Club virtual volunteer night at 6:30 p.m. tinyurl.com/WISC-1012vol
10/14-16: Jackson in Action Fall Hike at Wazee Lake in Brockway. www.jacksoninaction.org/fallhike
10/15: Driftless Dialogue - Walk With Me, The Echos of My Ancestors 11 a.m. Kickapoo Valley Reserve, La Farge. tinyurl.com/kvr-ancestorstalk
10/15: Evening Sky Prairie Walk.Tunnelville Cliffs State Natural Area. 7 p.m. tinyurl.com/mvc-tunnelvilleskywalk
10/22: Black River Trail Classic. Black River State Forest. nurun.co/brtc/
11/ 1: Sierra Club Virtual Book Club: Once There Were Wolves. 7 p.m. tinyurl.com/WISC-WolfBook
Find Wisconsin Sierra Club paddling events at tinyurl.com/WISCWater
