October 1 ASK ME ABOUT MY EV

On Sunday, October 1, La Crosse area electric vehicle owners and enthusiasts will host an event to allow community members to get their questions answered about what driving and owning an electric vehicle is really like at the ASK ME ABOUT MY EV event from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. at the La Crosse City Hall Parking Lot, 400 La Crosse Street, La Crosse. The event is part of the 13th annual National Drive Electric Week (NDEW).

National Drive Electric Week, a coast-to-coast celebration of electric vehicles (EVs), will be held Sept. 22 through Oct. 1, 2023, and is expected to include more than 200 online and in-person events.

There are now more than three million EVs on the road in the United States, and a recent survey from Cox Automotive found consumers considering purchasing an EV for their next vehicle is at an all-time high. The increased interest in EVs makes NDEW events important to educating the public about the incredible benefits of owning an EV, from cost-savings on maintenance and fuel to improved air quality, convenience and performance.

The La Crosse event will include electric car and bike owners plus information about EVs, charging, tax credits, and more. This is expected to be the first of a series of fall “pop-up” EV outreach and information events in the La Crosse area. EV outreach and education is one of the City's climate action plan goals as it works to reduce community-wide carbon emissions.

Owners of plug-in electric cars and e-bikes, as well as those who are considering making the switch to electric vehicles (car or bike) or who just want to learn more, are welcome to sign up to show and talk about their vehicles. Participants and visitors may sign up at tinyurl.com/Fall23LaxEV or by calling or texting 608-315-2693.

https://www.facebook.com/events/994259485190262

Oktoberfest ends on September 30 this year.

Tuesday at 5 p.m. A Walk in the Refuge

REMINDER!

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 5:00 to 6:30 P.M. A WALK IN THE REFUGE at the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge Visitor Center, N5727 County Rd Z, Onalaska. Join Sierra Club friends and Refuge Visitor Services Specialist Katie Julian on a guided walk through the Brice Prairie Visitors Center trails. The trails, paved and gravel, wind through a prairie filled with life and color between the Center and Lake Onalaska. For more information about the center, see tinyurl.com/BricePrairieCtr

Bring your camera and enter the annual Share the Experience amateur photo contest for photos taken on public lands, including those managed by the U.S.  Fish and Wildlife Service! Learn more about the contest at www.sharetheexperience.org

To find the refuge, from highway 35 go west to Brice Prairie. The Center is on County Road Z just north of its intersection with County Road ZN.

 

 

 

September Newsletter

 

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 5:00 to 6:30 P.M. A WALK IN THE REFUGE at the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge Visitor Center, N5727 County Rd Z, Onalaska. Join Sierra Club friends and Refuge Visitor Services Specialist Katie Julian on a guided walk through the Brice Prairie Visitors Center trails. The trails, paved and gravel, wind through a prairie filled with life and color between the Center and Lake Onalaska. For more information about the center, see tinyurl.com/BricePrairieCtr

Bring your camera and enter the annual Share the Experience amateur photo contest for photos taken on public lands, including those managed by the U.S.  Fish and Wildlife Service! Learn more about the contest at www.sharetheexperience.org

To find the refuge, from highway 35 go west to Brice Prairie. The Center is on County Road Z just north of its intersection with County Road ZN.

NATIONAL DRIVE ELECTRIC WEEK     National Drive Electric Week is September 22 through October 1. There will be at least two electric vehicle education and outreach events in the Coulee Region.

On Saturday, September 30, electric car owners will gather at the Prairie Cinema, 1205 Prairie Street, in Prairie du Chien between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. to talk and learn about electric vehicles. Anybody and everybody who is curious about EVs is welcome to attend this free event. Electric Vehicle Association-Wisconsin Chapter will be there, too.

On Sunday, October 1, between 12:30 and 2:30 p.m., electric car and ebike owners will gather in La Crosse to show off their vehicles, talk about EV ownership, and provide information about EV and charging incentives available.

The Sierra Club is one of the national sponsors of National Drive Electric Week. To learn more about these events, visit driveelectricweek.org

SUPPORT OUR TEAMS!     There’s still time to support Wisconsin Sierra Club Teams, volunteers from around the state who work on issues important to us all. Donations help us promote events and actions, connect with allies, and communicate with decision-makers. Donate by Sept. 8 at https://teamsierrawi.rallybound.org/Static/Team-List

CLEAN TECH, NOT NTEC!     We’re at a turning point when it comes to fossil fuels and climate change. The science is clear: we cannot keep funding dirty energy for the sake of our communities’ health, safety and planet. Excitingly, President Biden has committed to ending federal subsidies for fossil fuel energy resources, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is offering $9.7 billion to rural electric coops for their transition to clean energy.

This is great news, but at the same time, the USDA is still considering a subsidized loan worth hundreds of millions of dollars for Dairyland Power Co-op to build the proposed Nemadji Trail Energy Center (NTEC) fossil gas plant, which would be located in Superior, Wisconsin. This is a major contradiction in the face of crystal-clear science. Right now, the USDA is going through an environmental review process that will inform whether or not they approve Dairyland’s loan application, and you can weigh in!

Join us in sending a strong message to the USDA that uplifts our opposition to a new gas plant and its negative contributions to climate change, public health, and the local economy: https://addup.sierraclub.org/campaigns/no-new-fracked-gas-plant-near-lake-superior/petition

 BOARD ELECTIONS     We are seeking candidates for the Coulee Region Sierra Club board. At least one seat is open for 2024. Elections will be in December. New terms begin in 2024. The board meets monthly and plans club activities and events.

If you are interested in serving your club, please email CRSierraClub@gmail.com OR call or text 608-315-2693 with your name and a statement about why you are interested in being on the board and your pertinent experience. We encourage club members living outside the La Crosse area to self-nominate, but everyone is welcome to run.

We will publish candidates’ statements in our November newsletter which will be mailed, along with information about voting by mail and online in December.

If you might like to run but need more information, please email, call or text us!

SHOW YOUR SOLAR!     Every October, the American Solar Energy Society hosts the National Solar Tour. This is an opportunity for people to visit with those who have installed  solar at their homes or businesses and get more information about installers, benefits, and incentives.

If you have solar, consider signing up to be a stop on a local tour, or, if there is no local tour, consider signing up to host one.

There will be a Solar La Crosse Tour for the first time on Saturday and Sunday, October 7 and 8, co-sponsored by the Coulee Region Sierra Club, the City of La Crosse, and the Climate Alliance for the Common Good. We are seeking tour stops; if you live in La Crosse and have a solar installation, please sign up at www.nationalsolartour.org/tourmap/solar-la-crosse-tour

There is also a solar tour in Trempealeau on Saturday, October 7 organized by the Trempealeau Renewable Energy Municipal Producers. Learn more at www.nationalsolartour.org/tourmap/tour-trempealeau-and-meet-the-tremps

2024 CALENDARS     It’s time to order your Sierra Club calendars! Wall calendars are $19 each and engagement calendars are $20. 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

Other Sierra Club items including prints, note cards, books, clothing, gifts, and more may be found at store.sierraclub.org/storefront.aspx

WOLF HUNT HEARING     The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is taking public comments on the draft rules around a wolf hunt if wolves were to be delisted from the Endangered Species Act. RSVP to attend the hearing and we'll send you talking points, tips and tricks for testifying, and more background on the rule. RSVP at tinyurl.com/wiscwolfhearing

MORE SEPTEMBER EVENTS

9/ 2-4: Ho-Chunk Nation Powwow, Andrew Blackhawk Memorial Pow-Wow Grounds, Black River Falls. www.blackrivercountry.net/event/ho-chunk-nation-pow-wow/

9/ 6: Ground-nesting bees with researcher Danielle Hudson, 7 p.m. The Nature Place, Myrick Park, La Crosse
https://natureplacelacrosse.org/calendar/enviro-wednesdays-2-2023-09-06/

9/ 6, 13, 20, 27: Hiking for Fitness, 5:15 p.m. Black River Falls. www.jacksoninaction.org/hikerfitness

9/ 9: Cassville Mushroom Foray 9:30 a.m. Registration required: mississippivalleyconservancy.org/events/cassville-mushroom-foray-0 

9/ 9: Prairie Enthusiasts trip to Holland Sand Prairie  10 to noon, theprairieenthusiasts.org/events/

9/ 9: Friends of the Black River Paddle - Hatfield Whitewater Release. Noon. Please RSVP. www.blackrivercountry.net/event/friends-of-the-black-river-2023-paddle-events/2023-09-09/

9/16: 75th Birthday Party - Wildcat Mountain State Park 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Hikes, talks, contests, food, more. https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/events/76146

9/16: Driftless Dialog - Not another DAM talk! 9:30 a.m. Kickapoo Valley Reserve. http://kvr.state.wi.us/Events/Calendar

9/17: Intro to Birding,  7 a.m. Kickapoo Valley Reserve. http://kvr.state.wi.us/Events/Calendar

9/19: Choose to Re-use: Making Sustainable Choices at Home with Natalie Heneghan, Habitat for Humanity. 2 p.m. Black River Falls Public Library, 222 Fillmore St.  www.blackrivercountry.net/event/choose-to-reuse-making-sustainable-choices-at-home/

9/22-24: Jackson in Action Fall Hiking Series at Wazee Lake. More info/register: www.jacksoninaction.org/fallhike

9/23: Astronomy Day at Riverside Park in La Crosse (near the cannon) Solar observing - 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Night observing - 8 to 10 p.m. http://www.lcaas.org/

9/23: Become a BarBERRIAN - Invasive plant removal. 9 a.m. to noon. Wildcat Mountain State Park. https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/events/71421

9/26: La Crosse Climate Action Plan ACTION Kick-Off, 10 to 11:30 a.m. La Crosse Center.

9/28: Gardening in a Changing Climate with Melinda Myers, 2:30 p.m. at Black River Falls Public Libary OR online: https://youtu.be/8URCF0C4bxc

BE A POLL WORKER     The Wisconsin League of Women Voters is offering Poll Worker Training for people wishing to ensure safe, free, and fair elections in our state in 2024.

If you're looking for a way to make an impact in 2024, becoming a poll worker is one of the most vital roles you can play. A poll worker helps people vote safely and ensuries as many people as possible can cast their ballot. Poll workers are important because they:

• Create an accessible and inclusive environment where voters feel empowered and safe throughout the voting process.
• Serve their community. More poll workers mean more polling places. This keeps lines short and efficient for their neighbors.
• Play a vital role in upholding our democratic processes. And, they get hands-on insight into our safe, fair and free elections.

Visit powerthepolls.org/lwvwi and enter your information so your local clerk knows that you are interested in becoming a poll worker.

PROJECT 2025     Several news outlets, are reporting on the Heritage Foundation’s comprehensive plans for a Republican presidential win next year. The “battle plan” covers the first 180 days of the transition, with lists of pre-vetted individuals for administration positions and a “policy playbook” that includes every federal program and department.

The Guardian reports that the plan calls for

• Elimination of three Department of Energy agencies that are working on the energy transition;
• Blocking renewable energy from the grid
• Reducing the funding and scope of the Environmental Protection Agency;Vastly expanding gas infrastructure.

Inside Climate News quotes a former NOAA official and public policy expert who notes that, “Project 2025 marks a fundamental shift, where instead of federal agencies obliging their duty to public health and environmental protection, they instead work to help the industries they’ve been tasked with overseeing.”

Read more at tinyurl.com/ICN-Proj2025

August Newsletter

 

"There's a lot more in the pipeline, unless we reduce the greenhouse gas amounts. These superstorms are a taste of the storms of my grandchildren. We are headed wittingly into the new reality. We knew it was coming." - Dr. James Hansen, former NASA scientist, whio warned the U.S. Senate in 1988 about the climate crisis.

___________________________________________________________________________

The Coulee Region Group mourns the loss of Don Frank this past month. Don was one of the founders of the Coulee Region Group in 1972 and the second group president in 1973 – exactly 50 years ago. Don and his wife Barbara originally joined the Sierra Club to protect the Red River in Clarksville, TN, where Don was working for the Trane Company. They brought their passion for environmental causes back to La Crosse when Don returned to Trane here. Through the many years they have maintained their support for the Sierra Club, at the local, state, and national levels. Don will be greatly missed. Read more about Don here: https://tinyurl.com/DonFrank2023  

If you would like to honor Don's memory and commitment to the environment, please consider a donation to the Sierra Club's Wisconsin Chapter in Don's name. https://tinyurl.com/Donate-WI-SC

___________________________________________________________________________

CONTACT YOUR REC      Are you a member of a rural electric co-op? Dairyland Power Cooperative, the utility that provides the majority of electricity to local co-ops in Wisconsin, has the opportunity to apply for major grants and low-cost loans for clean energy through the New ERA program. This would reduce customer prices and have a positive impact on our environment.

Please reach out to your local co-op board asking them to support Dairyland’s application for a strong New ERA package! Email Jadine at jadine.sonoda@sierraclub.org to learn how to find your REC board members, how to contact them, and what information you can share. 

SUPPORT OUR TEAMS     Sierra Club - Wisconsin's volunteer teams are currently raising funds to support our work -- including our legislative and grassroots advocacy. Donate to one or more teams at https://tinyurl.com/WI-SC-Donate-Teams.

CHAPTER AWARD NOMINATIONS    The Wisconsin Chapter is accepting nominations of outstanding volunteers and partners for Chapter Awards. Don’t worry if you don’t know all the form details, just share a few sentences about why your nominee deserves to be celebrated! Submit your nomination at https://tinyurl.com/WIChapterAwards23 by August 15!

CRSC BOARD    If you are a CRSC member, you are eligible to run for the board. Board members meet monthly, online or in person, to discuss club and chapter business, including finances; programs, activities, and events; membership; education and outreach; and more. You do not need any special skills or credentials to be on the board. More information will be available next month. Please consider serving on the board!

CRSC board meetings are open and any member may attend and observe. The next board meeting will be held over Zoom on Tuesday, August 29 at 6:30 p.m. If you would like access information, please email CRSierraClub@gmail.com or call 608-315-2693.

VERNON COUNTY ENERGY AND EVs     By Sam Skemp      The Vernon County Energy District (VCED) helped sponsor the Drive Electric Earth Day event on Saturday, April 22 from 9 a.m. to noon at the Viroqua Food Co-op.

Drive Electric Earth Day is an annual campaign for sharing information about driving electric vehicles (EVs) and for encouraging people to buy them. The event included EV test drives along with other Earth Day activities.

Vernon County Energy District is a 501(c)(3) organization with a mission of promoting local energy production and ownership (solar, wind, and hydro), encouraging energy conservation, and reducing our dependence on fossil fuels.

To learn more about VCED and how to become a member, go to their website: www.VCED.energy.

PHOTO CONTEST     Friends of the Refuge Headwaters is celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Mississippi River Refuge by hosting a photo contest. All photos must be taken at or of the Upper Mississippi River Wildlife and Fish Refuge.

The deadline for submissions is October 27, 2023 with judging completed by January 1, 2024. Winning photos will become part of an exhibit displayed at public events throughout the Refuge in 2024. Cash prizes will be given for top entries. For more information, visit www.tinyurl.com/RefugePhotoInfo

EVENT VOLUNTEERS     Seeking helpers for September National Drive Electric Week event(s) in La Crosse area and to help organize early October “Know Your Solarhood” tours in the La Crosse and Onalaska areas. If you would like to help organize, contact potential participants, help with publicity, etc. please email CRSierraCluba@gmail.com or call 608-315-2693.

ROUTE ZERO IN LA CROSSE     On July 27, Wisconsin Secretary of State Sarah Godlewski and La Crosse Municipal Transit Director Adam Lorentz joined other community leaders for a press conference to rally public support for a transition to a zero-emission transportation future, including calling for the strongest possible federal clean car standards.

Major federal investments have been made in charging infrastructure, battery manufacturing, and consumer tax incentives. These efforts are propelling the shift to zero-emission vehicles. The Environmental Protection Agency’s draft safeguards for the next round of clean car standards for (model years 2027-2032) lay the groundwork for an estimated 67% of all new car sales to be EVs by 2032.

Secretary of State Sarah Godlewski highlighted the signi-ficant impact on sustainable development and local economies. The City of La Crosse has been ahead of the curve on recognizing the benefits of zero emission vehicles and preparing for an EV future.

Watch the event at tinyurl.com/LaXRoute0 

SUMMER READING     Several new books are out or due out that talk about taking climate action.

The Climate Book: The Facts and the Solutions by Greta Thunberg. “In The Climate Book, Greta Thunberg has gathered the wisdom of over one hundred experts – geophysicists, oceanographers and meteorologists; engineers, economists and mathematicians; historians, philosophers and indigenous leaders – to equip us all with the knowledge we need to combat climate disaster.”

The Heat Will Kill You First: Life and Death on a Scorched Planet by Jeff Goodell, a New York Times best-selling author and 2020 Guggenheim Fellow who has been reporting on climate issues for more than two decades for Rolling Stone Magazine. “An explosive, completely new understanding of heat, the lethal force which threatens every living cell on Earth. ... a deeply-reported examination of the impact that temperature rise will have on our lives and on our planet, offering a vital new perspective on where we are headed, how we can prepare, and what is at stake if we fail to act.”

Our Fragile Moment: How Lessons from Earth's Past Can Help Us Survive the Climate Crisis by Michael E. Mann, due out in September. “In this sweeping work of science and history, the renowned climate scientist and author of The New Climate War shows us the conditions on Earth that allowed humans not only to exist but thrive, and how they are imperiled if we veer off course.”

MORE AUGUST EVENTS

8/ 3: Bats at the Trempealeau National Wildlife Refuge Outdoor Wonder Learning Center at 7 p.m. https://explorelacrosse.com/event/bats-at-the-refuge/

8/ 4: Shakespeare in Wildcat Mountain State Park at 5:30 p.m. dnr.wisconsin.gov/events/76411

8/ 5: Love the Land Party, Dance, and Fundraiser for Crawford Stewardship Project at Lions Park, Soldiers Grove from 6 p.m. to midnight. www.facebook.com/events/6255718281193759

8/ 5: Native Plants & Insects at 10 a.m.,The Nature Place, Myrick Park, La Crosse strive2thrivecr.org/event/native-plants-insects/

8/ 5: Geology Hike at Wildcat Mountain State Park 10 a.m. dnr.wisconsin.gov/events/78076

8/ 6: Shakespeare in Perrot State Park at 1 p.m. dnr.wisconsin.gov/events/76421

8/ 8: Drop in on Bears at the Castle Mound Shelter in the Black River Falls State Forest from 1 to 3 p.m. tinyurl.com/BRFBears

8/12: Friends of the Black River Paddle at Hatfield Whitewater Release. Please RSVP www.friendsoftheblackriver.org/category/paddles/

8/12-20: Jackson County Bike Week Challenge JacksonInAction.org/jcbikeweek

8/12:  Astronomy & Star-Gazing at Wildcat Mountain State Park Ampitheater,  8 to 11 p.m. dnr.wisconsin.gov/events/73071

8/19: Prairie Pollinators Walk at the La Crosse Bluff-lands North, Cty FA Trailhead, La Crosse at 10 a.m. explorelacrosse.com/event/guided-pollinator-walk-offered-at-la-crosse-blufflands-prairie/

8/23: International Crane Foundation - Learn about Cranes 6:30 p.m. Trempealeau National Wildlife Refuge Outdoor Wonder Learning Center
explorelacrosse.com/event/international-crane-foundation/

8/23: Bluff Bash 6 to 9 p.m. Upper Hixon Forest Parking Lot

8/23: All Things Slithery at Brockway Park in BRF at 9:30 a.m. www.blackrivercountry.net/event/all-things-slithery/

8/24: Monroe County Invasive Species Working Group Field Day from 1 to 5 p.m. at the Wisconsin Cranberry Research Station, W8510 County Road O, BRF. tinyurl.com/MonroeCtyInvasives

8/26: Friends of the Black River River Clean-Up and Paddle from 8 a.m. to noon at Al Young Park tinyurl.com/FOBR823Paddles

July newsletter

 

 

JULY HIGHWAY CLEAN-UP    Help us keep the CRSC stretch of River Valley Drive free
of litter! Meet at the pumping station near the intersection of RV Drive and Gillette St. at 6 p.m. on MONDAY, July 17. We will provide vests, gloves, and bags. Email  CRSierraClub@gmail.com or call 608-315-2693 with questions.

PLASTIC FREE JULY.  Plastics, mostly single-use, proliferate our daily existence, environment, and ecosystems. Tiny microplastic particles are found in the air we breathe and the water we drink, exposing us to a multitude of toxic substances. And the production of these products are polluting our communities, often Black, Brown, and low-income. We must act to regulate plastics at all levels—from production, to transportation, to use, to disposal. The era of single-use plastics in our everyday lives is one that needs to be relegated to the past—and quickly.

Our current methods of extracting natural resources, turning them into products and packaging used for ever shorter periods of time, and then discarding them is not sustainable! This "use & throw" culture contributes significantly to a wide variety of negative impacts such as forest and open space destruction, ocean pollution, litter, water and air pollution, and climate

Our government can act to help solve this crisis by passing the Break Free from Plastic Pollution Act, which was first introduced in 2021. This ambitious bill will tackle single-use plastic waste and production. Learn more about the Break Free from Plastic Pollution Act and how you can support it at www.sierraclub.org/act-for-our-climate-environment-health-supporting-break-free-plastic-pollution-act

SAVE MONEY WITH RENEWABLES    The Inflation Reduction Act lowers energy costs for consumers and small businesses while creating good-paying jobs as America’s clean energy economy and manufacturing sectors grow. Learn how you or your family can save on utility bills, get support to purchase electric vehicles and energy-saving appliances, and access the economic opportunities of the clean energy future at www.whitehouse.gov/cleanenergy

From making home weatherization and efficiency upgrades, to installing new electric appliances, to purchasing an electric vehicle or rooftop solar system – learn how the Inflation Reduction Act will help cover the costs and save you money each month on your bills.

The list of incentives to save energy, reduce carbon emissions, and save money is extensive, covering transportation, heating and air conditioning (not just heat pumps), appliances, sealing and insulating, upgrading electrical service and more. Now is the time to act.

CELEBRATE 100 YEARS OF THE UPPER MISSISSIPPI REFUGE!  Friends of the Refuge Headwaters is celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Mississippi River Refuge by hosting a photo contest. All photos must be taken at or of the Upper Mississippi River Wildlife and Fish Refuge.

The deadline for submissions is October 27, 2023 with judging completed by January 1, 2024. Winning photos will become part of an exhibit displayed at public events throughout the Refuge in 2024. Cash prizes will be given for top entries. For more information, visit www.tinyurl.com/RefugePhotoInfo

JULY BOOK CLUB    Join us on July 11 at 7 p.m. for an online discussion of  "Bitter" by Nigerian writer Akwaeke Emezi. This young adult novel explores both the importance and cost of social revolution--and how youth lead the way. When you register, you will automatically receive an email that includes the link to join the call. tinyurl.com/WISC-Bitter

MORE JULY EVENTS

7/ 1: Friends of the Black River Paddle at Lunda Park Pond 4 to 6 pm www.blackrivercountry.net/event/friends-of-the-black-river-2023-paddle-events/

7/ 1: Wildlife in Your Back Yard at Perrot State Park Nature Center, 7 to 8 pm dnr.wisconsin.gov/events/78901

7/ 4, 11, 18, 25: Frog Walk Tuesdays at the Kickapoo Valley Reserve. 7:30 to 8 pm kvr.state.wi.us/Events/Calendar/

7/ 8: Friends of the Black River Paddle Hatfield to Halls Creek at noon www.blackrivercountry.net/event/friends-of-the-black-river-2023-paddle-events/

7/ 8: Plant ID Hike at the Kickapoo Valley Reserve. 9 am to noon kvr.state.wi.us/Events/Calendar/

7/15: Bugs in the Garden  10 am  The Nature Place at Myrick Park  strive2thrivecr.org/event/bugs-in-the-garden-2/

7/15: Friends of the Black River Paddle Lake Wazee Beginners 11 am www.blackrivercountry.net/event/friends-of-the-black-river-2023-paddle-events/

7/22: Nocturnal Insects 7:30 pm Villa St. Joseph – Franciscan Sisters W2658 WI-33  strive2thrivecr.org/event/nocturnal-insects/

EVENT VOLUNTEERS    Seeking helpers for September National Drive Electric Week event(s) in La Crosse area and to help organize early October “Know Your Solarhood” tours in the La Crosse and Onalaska areas. If you would like to help organize, contact potential participants, help with publicity, etc. please email CRSierraCluba@gmail.com or call 608-315-2693.

 

Grants for Grazing

North Crawford's grazing program receives a boost

During the initial stages of developing the North Crawford Community Pastures Program, CSP and our employee, Joseph Childs, decided to chip in for the labor and materials cost so that the school district would not be saddled with additional expenses.  However, since the program has been approved, we have been able to obtain grants from Food, Faith and Farming Network as well as Wisconsin Rural Coalition totaling $3,500.  These resources are being used to offset labor costs, purchasing fencing and water materials, as well as put on an open house event for the program including a lunch and an opportunity for grazing professionals and educators to speak to the public.  This event will take place on June 17, 2023 @ 10:30 at North Crawford Schools.

June newsletter

 

Tuesday, June 27, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Summer Potluck Get Together, Shelter #3, Goose Island County Park, Highway 35 just south of La Crosse     Make something delicious to share, bring your own plate and utensils, and join us on Tuesday, June 27! The club will supply beverages. The shelter is near the river, so bring your bug spray, too! We’ll have horseshoes (adult and child), as well as information about upcoming events and environmental news. Maybe we’ll even have a little volunteer task! If you are driving, consider using this link to sign up to ride or drive with others: groupcarpool.com/t/8iyd7w or call 608-315-2693. The park is also accessible by bike. You do not need to be a Sierra Club member to attend, though the Sierra Club is doing some pretty important work and we welcome new energy! Bring friends and family, too, if you want!

HIGH SCHOOL STEWARDSHIP AWARD APPLICATION DUE JULY 1!    

ATTENTION CLASS OF 2024! The Coulee Region Sierra Club wants to recognize your environmental achievements with an Environmental Stewardship Award. We will award $300 to a high school senior who demonstrates leadership, action, and environmental stewardship, and who understands the importance of civic engagement in protecting our environment.

Eligible students are those graduating from high school in 2024 who reside in the CRSC region: Crawford, Grant, Jackson, La Crosse, Monroe, Richland, Trempealeau, and Vernon counties. The application includes essays and submission of a portfolio. The deadline for applications is July 1, 2023 with the award to be given in August. You do not need to be a CRSC member to apply! 

Visit www.sierraclub.org/wisconsin/coulee/education to lean more.

APPLY TODAY!!!!

Help the River Alliance of Wisconsin celebrate its 30th anniversary on Saturday, June 24, by paddling and learning about the Kickapoo River. Registration includes a guided paddle, river history talks, and a lunch, catered by Driftless Cafe, at Wildcat Mountain State Park. Gather at 10 a.m. at the launch and paddle to the park for lunch and speakers. Then, paddle to the take-out, arriving at about 4 p.m. Those who just want lunch and discussion at the park should choose the “lunch only” option when registering. Sliding scale fees make the event accessible for all. Learn more at www.tinyurl.com/RvrAllKickapo.

The Energy Fair in Custer, Wisconsin, near Stevens Point, is a world-famous gathering to learn about, discuss, plan, and advocate for a clean, sustainable world. The Wisconsin Sierra Club will table at this event and is seeking a few more helpers. To learn more about the fair, which will be held from June 23 through 25, visit TheEnergyFair.org. If you can help table, please email cassie.steiner@sierraclub.org. 

KNOW YOUR UTILITY     THANK YOU to everyone who joined the Wisconsin Chapter's virtual and in-person "Know your Utility" events in May to learn and share about your electric utility! Whether you're a customer of an investor-owned utility like Xcel, a rural electric co-op, or a municipal utility, we all can learn more about where our energy comes from and how
it could be greener. Stay tuned for more opportunities to learn and act this summer, as the Sierra Club and our partners urge Dairyland Power to apply for Empowering Rural America (ERA) funding for clean energy projects rather than building a new fossil gas plant! You can
watch a recording of the virtual Know Your Utility session at this link: https://youtu.be/XYPSVWEoRfY, and then learn more about the New ERA program at www.tinyurl.com/WISC-KYU

IMAGINE SOLAR EDUCATION     Join Solar on La Crosse Schools as it imagines an
outdoor solar classroom at Summit Environmental School on Thursday, June 29 from 9 to 10 a.m. In addition to viewing solar demonstrations, including a solar-charged battery and solar oven, participants will be invited to draw their ideals for how a planned solar canopy can expand and enhance students’ education. The Summit School solar canopy is one of two large projects SOLS volunteers are supporting and helping to fund in 2023. A solar array and mini-grid at the downtown La Crosse Polytechnic High School is expected to be completed this fall. Learn more about the group and the June 29 event at SolarOnLaCrosseSchools.org.

JUNETEENTH at RIVERSIDE PARK, Sunday, June 18 from 11 to 7.     CRSC members are encouraged to check out this year's Juneteenth event where sustainability is a focus! The event will include community organizations sharing information, music, speakers, education, food, and more. Sustainability features include a staffed bike corral for those who ride to the event and a commitment to reduce plastic use by nixing plastic water bottles and offering bulk water in paper cups or for water bottles. Food vendors will use non-plastic foodware as much as possible, too. For more information, visit JuneteenthLaXWI.weebly.com

CELEBRATE 100 YEARS OF THE UPPER MISSISSIPPI RIVER REFUGE     Friends of the Refuge Headwaters is celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Mississippi River Refuge by hosting a photo contest. All photos must be taken at or of the Upper Mississippi River
Wildlife and Fish Refuge. The deadline for submissions is October 27, 2023 with judging completed by January 1, 2024. Winning photos will become part of an exhibit displayed at
public events throughout the Refuge in 2024. Cash prizes will be given for top entries. For more information, visit www.tinyurl.com/RefugePhotoInfo

CITIZEN SCIENTISTS - BIRDS!    This summer, the New York Times is partnering with the
Cornell Lab of Ornithology to gather observations about the birds around us, filling in data gaps and giving researchers a clearer picture of biodiversity in places that birders frequent less. Nearly half of all bird species worldwide are known or suspected to be in decline, and
climate change could accelerate this trend. You don’t need to be an expert or have special
equipment. Training is part of the project, which lasts through September, and apps will help with identification and reporting. To learn more, visit www.tinyurl.com/NYTBirdProject

MORE JUNE EVENTS

June 3 is WORLD BICYCLE DAY!

6/ 3: National Trail Day at Kickapoo Valley Reserve kvr.state.wi.us/Events/Calendar
6/ 3: Friends of the Black River Paddle Hatfield whitewater at noon. www.blackrivercountry.net/event/friends-of- the-black- river-2023-paddleevents/2023-06-03/
6/ 8: Gardening in a Changing Climate. 2:30 p.m. Black River Falls Public Library. www.tinyurl.com/BRFClimateGardening
6/10: Robinson Creek Preservation Society annual breakfast and paddle starting at 8:30 a.m. Please RSVP www.blackrivercountry.net/event/friends-of-theblack-river-2023-paddle-events/2023-06-03/
6/10: Plant I.D. Hike. 9 a.m. at Kickapoo Valley Reserve kvr.state.wi.us/Events/Calendar
6/10: All Abilities Stroll. 10 a.m. District 1 Community Center, BRF. www.jacksoninaction.org/abilities
6/14: Virtual Sierra Club Volunteer Night at 6:30 p.m. online www.tinyurl.com/WISC-0623Vol
6/14: Landmark Conservancy stewardship specialist Katie Hahn program on Land Trusts. 6:30 p.m. in The Hub at the Lunda Community Center, BRF. www,tinyurl.com/BRFLandTrusts
6/15: Family Hike at 3:30 p.m. Castle Mound Trail Head, BRF. www.blackrivercountry.net/event/hiking/

IRA HELPS YOU HELP THE EARTH    The Inflation Reduction Act’s many credits and
incentives to help people, non-profits, businesses, and governments move from fossil fuels to
renewable energy are extensive. Now is the time to learn what’s available and begin planning your own transition over the next several years. From appliances and vehicles, to energy efficiency and equipment upgrades, the Act can help transform our lives and, in many cases, save money. A good place to start is the state’s Focus On Energy page: focusonenergy.com/blog/ira-federal-tax-credits which describes the federal incentives and how they work together with state incentives. For example, in addition to federal tax credits for
solar, FoE offers a rebate of $500 per residential system, with many rural residents eligible for an additional $500.

NEWSLETTER EDITOR NEEDS HELP! Email CRSierraClub@gmail.com OR call 608-315-2693