2011 clean wisconsin annual report
inside
4 Program Strength 6 Political & Social Capital 8 Financial Strength 10 Looking Ahead 12 Staff & Board 14 Thank You
Photo Credits Front Cover: Lake Michigan at Point Beach State Forest | Amanda Wegner Inside Front Cover: Lake Monona, Madison | Amanda Wegner Page 5: Brownstone Falls at Copper Falls State Park, Mellen | Melissa Malott Page 12: Keith Reopelle | Amy Lynn Schereck; Sam Weis | Nick Berard Page 15: Tyler Forks | Mario Quintana
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A yearfrom ofthefortitude executive director As the environmental voice for thousands of Wisconsin families, Clean Wisconsin’s job is twofold: We must fight hard to strengthen environmental policies when opportunities exist, and we must fight even harder to defend those policies when our leaders threaten to weaken or eliminate them.
Even with more than four decades of experience working to protect and preserve Wisconsin’s air and water, we saw an unprecedented number of environmental attacks in 2011. Luckily, with the help of our supporters, we were able to fight back many of the attempts to weaken protections for our natural resources.
Together we helped save Wisconsin’s recycling program and stopped efforts to effectively ban new wind farms in the state. We fought off attempts to delay innovative phosphorus rules and built a case against a dangerous mining bill that would have left our water at risk.
In addition to successfully defeating attempts to weaken Wisconsin’s environmental laws, we worked to strengthen our organization by implementing a new three-year strategic plan. Through this plan, Clean Wisconsin will become even more effective in our advocacy work for the environment by bolstering our program strength, building political and social capital, increasing our financial strength and improving operational excellence. On behalf of everyone at Clean Wisconsin, thank you for supporting our important work fighting for clean air, clean water and clean energy. Without you, none of our victories would have been possible. Thank you for all that you do, Mark Redsten Executive Director
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1n 2011, the environmental attacks came early and often.
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A year ofprogram defense strength With our strong presence in the Capitol, coupled with our new science and legal departments, Clean Wisconsin was prepared to stand up for Wisconsin’s environment.
We defeated the wind ban
During a special legislative session in January, Gov. Scott Walker proposed a bill that set standards on new wind farms that were so stringent it would have effectively banned new wind energy here. By implementing a large media and lobbying campaign, Clean Wisconsin was a major force in defeating this legislation, which was the only bill in the special session package that didn’t pass.
We restored Wisconsin’s recycling program
In a move that shocked residents across the state, Gov. Walker proposed to completely cut funding for and eliminate the state’s recycling program during the biennial budget debate. With hundreds of Clean Wisconsin members sending letters to their representatives, a strong media campaign and long hours spent in the Capitol, Clean Wisconsin helped convince legislators to save the recycling program and restore 60 percent of the program’s funding.
We protected our phosphorus rules
Every year, dozens of Wisconsin lakes and rivers turn green with smelly, dangerous algae blooms that ruin summer days and can make people and pets sick. Luckily, an innovative set of rules, called the phosphorus rules, gives communities the tools needed to address the problem at its root: excessive phosphorus pollution. When Gov. Walker proposed delaying these vital clean water rules in his budget, Clean Wisconsin sprang to action to keep these rules in action.
We maintained strong mining laws
Clean Wisconsin worked tirelessly to educate the public, media and legislators about the dangers of the bad Assembly Mining Bill. With the help of our members, we sent thousands of letters to elected officials asking them to oppose this bill, which would have rolled back environmental protections, silenced the voice of the public and eliminated accountability for mining companies. Our work came to fruition in the opening weeks of 2012 when the state Senate voted down this terrible bill by a single vote. clean wisconsin2011annual report
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Many voices, taken together, are a powerful thing. To be an effective voice for clean air, clean water and Wisconsin’s special places, Clean Wisconsin is assembling an engaged community of voices. With a strong, active base of support that we can quickly call on to send messages to legislators on the issues we all care about most, we are building social and political capital to defend our issues and move important and innovative new policies forward. That clout allows us to be an effective voice for the environment and weather any political storm. Throughout 2011, we seized many opportunities to build the strength of our voice.
21,000+
messages sent via our email Action Network
3.5x
increase in online supporters in 2011
334
Clean energy business allies around the state
To join our email Action Network or to get involved with Clean Wisconsin, email Becky Bains at bbains@cleanwisconsin.org.
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A year of clout political & social capital We gave a voice to clean energy businesses
Wisconsin businesses are creating family-supporting jobs and increasing local revenues with clean energy. Katy Walter, Clean Wisconsin’s clean energy organizer, worked diligently to build a strong group of business leaders and clean energy advocates, which is now 330-plus strong. By bringing these businessmen and women together, we helped magnify their voices with decisionmakers on clean energy policy. In 2011, we rallied their support for Focus on Energy, which was rolled back in the early weeks of the legislative session, and brought key business allies to the table for our nonpartisan candidate education project, which runs through 2012.
We grew our base
Clean Wisconsin is a leader in the social media sphere. From the humble beginnings of our Facebook page in November 2009, we now have an online supporter base of 15,000, including Facebook fans, Twitter followers and email Action Network members, up from 4,300 on January 1, 2011. Through these outlets, we engage and educate our supporters, while calling on them to take action when it matters most; in 2011, we sent more than 21,000 messages to state legislators. With ambitious and aggressive goals to grow our online community of supporters in 2012, we are already seeing those numbers grow exponentially.
The Capitol was our second home
There is no doubt that 2011 was a challenging year for environmental policy. But thanks to the strength of our bipartisan relationships in the Capitol and state agencies, we were able to prevent some of the most egregious attempts to roll back environmental programs and work with key decision makers toward commonsense approaches to natural resource protection. From the massive efforts to stop the mining bill, which was written by and for out-ofstate mining companies at the expense of our environment, to helping save the recycling program and keeping uniform wind siting rules and phosphorus rules in place, the work of our government relations team, and the strong support of our members and activists, made a huge difference. Our efforts in the Capitol, informational meetings with key legislators, and the strong support of our base helped prevent some of the worst attacks on our environment from becoming reality. clean wisconsin2011annual report
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We made your donations and support go further.
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A year of diligence financial strength Clean Wisconsin is fortunate to receive financial support from an array of sources, including members, donors, foundations and businesses. In 2011, we worked to keep some of the worst bills the environmental community has ever seen from becoming reality. Those extraordinary efforts, combined with the changed political landscape and the fact that Clean Wisconsin works on a two-year grant cycle, challenged our bottom line. Yet we prevailed.
We focused on long-term stability
We made a strategic effort to bolster our long-term financial stability with an emphasis on increased legacy giving and bequests, diversifying our financial resources and securing in-kind support and services. Thanks to the bequests we received in 2011, we created a $350,000 Legal Defense Fund, which gives us the flexibility to respond to unforeseen threats. In 2011, it allowed us to analyze proposed legislation and hold the line on the terrible mining bills we encountered in the Capitol.
It was all hands on deck
All staff worked diligently to find new funding sources and in-kind services to support our vital work, including grants from Patagonia and the Environmental Protection Agency. By increasing our legal department and building our scientific expertise, we successfully obtained resources to intervene in a number of cases at the Public Service Commission. We were committed to operational excellence to be more efficient and fortify our financial strength as well. From a new, energy-efficient office and cost-sharing measures to setting our sights on priority issues that have the greatest impact, we continue to be an effective voice for the environment, even in tight times.
Clean Wisconsin is committed to financial strength and security and making your donations and support go further in our fight for clean air, clean water and special places. clean wisconsin2011annual report
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A new year looking ahead Our work continues with evermore importance and fortitude. With 42 years of experience fighting in the Capitol on behalf of Wisconsin’s environment, we are ready to protect and preserve Wisconsin’s air and water, regardless of the challenges ahead.
We are educating candidates on clean energy
Clean Wisconsin staff are traveling around Wisconsin, educating candidates for state office about voters’ perceptions of clean energy issues. Educating our future leaders today, helps ensure that we can move environmental policy forward tomorrow.
We are cleaning our waters
Clean Wisconsin is busy using existing laws to clean up our air and water. Our staff is working with farmers and municipalities across the state to implement the first-of-its-kind phosphorus rules to help make sure Wisconsin’s lakes, rivers and streams remain swimmable and fishable for residents and visitors alike.
We are staying vigilant
While the bad mining bill failed to pass in the Senate, new attempts to weaken environmental protections for mining could spring up at any point. Clean Wisconsin will remain vigilant and prepared to fight any attempts to weaken mining laws. Additionally, we will explore new threats to Wisconsin’s environment including frac sand mining and push for new protections where they are necessary.
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Mark Redsten Executive Director
Keith Reopelle Amber Meyer Smith Senior Policy Director Director of Programs & Government Relations
Melissa Malott Water Director
Becky Bains Development Director
Katie Nekola General Counsel
Elizabeth Wheeler Staff Attorney
Ezra Meyer Water Specialist
Katy Walter Clean Energy Specialist
Tyson Cook Staff Scientist
Sarah Shanahan Midwest Clean Energy Coordinator
Sam Weis Communications Director
Amanda Wegner Creative Director
Tracy Marks-Geib Grant Manager
Jenny Lynes Membership Coordinator
David Vitse Office Manager
Mary Coughlan Accounting Manager
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Roger Sneath Chief Financial Officer
Behind the scenes staff, board, interns & volunteers Board of Directors Members
Officers
Belle Bergner, Milwaukee Phyllis Dube, McFarland Sue Durst, Verona Shari Eggleson, Washburn Luke Fairborn, Whitefish Bay Scott Froehlke, Montello Paul Linzmeyer, Green Bay Chuck McGinnis, Middleton Lucia Petrie, Milwaukee David Wandel, Madison
Chair
Carl Sinderbrand, Madison
Vice Chair
Margi Kindig, Madison
Secretary
Gary Goyke, Madison
Treasurer
Gof Thomson, New Glarus
Board Emeritus
Kate Gordon, Washington, D.C.
Interns, Externs & Volunteers Legal Department
Communications
Vanessa Wishart Ryan O’Hara Erika Padgett Karen Thimke Martin Schroeder
Ella Schwierske Daniel Mostaza Sarah Witman Julian Holtzman Laura Green
Development & Membership Jake Immel Jackie Csedo
Water Department Taylor Lundberg Casey Peacock
Science Department Hannah Grooms
we believe
everyone deserves clean air and clean water our mission is
to protect and preserve Wisconsin’s air and water and to create a cleaner environment by being the leading voice for environmental protection
with special thanks to our members and supporters
your generosity makes this possible thank you clean wisconsin2011annual report
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Thank you donors & supporters We cannot thank you enough for your generosity.
Funders Charles Steward Mott Foundation Clean Water Fund Energy Foundation Garfield Foundation Joyce Foundation Kresge Foundation Madison Community Foundation MAC Philanthropies McKnight Foundation Oberweiler Foundation Patagonia Public Service Commission of Wisconsin State Environmental Leadership Program
Business Sponsors ($500 & up) Axley Brynelson, LLP Sustainable Engineering Group
Other Support Community Shares of Greater Milwaukee Community Shares of Wisconsin
Pro Bono Services Axley Brynelson, LLP Cullen Weston Pines and Bach, LLP Mary Beth Collins
SneathGroup Mario Quintana Derek Johnson
2011 Silent Auction Donors Aldo Leopold Nature Center, Monona | Alterra Coffee, Milwaukee | Amanda Wegner Yoga, Madison | Jake Barns | Bergner Associates, Milwaukee | Birchwood Lodge, Sister Bay | Canvas on Demand, canvasondemand.com | Capital Brewery Co., Inc., Middleton | Chocolate Shoppe Ice Cream, Madison | Shari and Mark Eggleson | EZ Office Products, Madison | Carol and Luke Fairborn | Food Fight Restaurant Group, Madison | Fresco and John Jerabek, Madison | Scott Froehlke | Green Bay Packers | Holland’s Family Cheese, Thorp | Ian’s Pizza, Madison | Jamie M. Swanson Photography, Fond du Lac. Landmark Theatre, Milwaukee. Hans Meyer. | Milwaukee Brewers | Milwaukee County Zoo | Overture Center for the Arts, Madison | Pete and Lucia Petrie | Keith Reopelle | Returning Home Reiki, Marcia Halligan, Viroqua | Rivergate Gardens, Cazenovia | Schonheit Gardens, Sun Prairie | Shoo Inc., Madison | Vermont Valley CSA, Blue Mounds.
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634 W. Main Street, Suite 300 Madison, WI 53703 608-251-7020 Printed on 100-percent recycled paper. Š Clean Wisconsin, June 2012