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Coulee Partners for Sustainability

SPRING Newsletter 2013

Living respectfully, responsibly and reverently with one another and with Earth.

“Go Green in 2013!” on April 21st from 11am to 5pm at the

5th annual Earth Fair presented by Coulee Partners for

Sustainability, the La Crosse Area Family YMCA, and the

Earth Fair Committee, held at Myrick Park and the

EcoPark! This FREE event will feature childrenʼs activities,

live music and performances (including Hans Mayer!), and

Grand Green Prizes! There will also be “green” vendor

booths and a farmersʼ market, eco presentations,

interactive displays, and so much more!

For details on Earth Fair 2013 and coinciding event, the

Recycling Fair, visit www.EarthFairLaCrosse.org and

follow event updates on Coulee Partners for

Sustainabilityʼs Facebook page!

This is the 5th Annual Earth Fair put on by Coulee Partners

for Sustainability (CPS). CPS is a non-profit organization

that formed in 2007 with the purpose of increasing

environmental awareness in the Coulee Region through a

variety of educational events.  CPSʼs aim is to involve

people of all ages to share and spread the knowledge of

environmental issues and discuss ways in which we can

better our society and create a sustainable community.

For more information on CPS, visit www.cpslax.org.

Earth Fair at Myrick Park and the EcoPark

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The La Crosse Area Family YMCA (the Y) is a cause-driven organization that is for youth development, for healthy living, and for

social responsibility because a strong community can only be achieved by investing in our kids, our health, and our neighbors.

The Y works to empower people of all ages to be healthier in spirit, mind, and body. For more information on the Y, visit

www.laxymca.org.

What: Earth Fair 2013

Date: Sunday, April 21, 2013

Time: 11:00 am to 5:00 pm

Where: EcoPark, 789 Myrick Park Drive, La Crosse, WI

Websites: www.cpslax.org; www.earthfairlacrosse.org

Exciting Activities:

First 500 families receive a reusable bag from Fowler & Hammer! Spin-to-win door prizes throughout the day! First-of-the-season

farmers market! Green vendors! Food vending by Peopleʼs Food Co-op, The Root Note, and Crepe Jean Luc! Live Music by Dan

Sebranek and Jane & Kevin! Drum Circle by Drums for Peace! Green Machine Team Musical Performed by Summit!

Environmental School 4th & 5th Graders! Bike valet and free bike inspections by Bikes Limited!

Grand Green Prizes:

Free two-week use of a Honda Civic GX from Honda Motorwërks (including CNG fuel)

Free Organic Valley products for a year Childʼs bicycle from Bikes Limited

Workshops, Demonstrations, and Outdoor Activities:

Live Raptor Demonstration * Live Amphibians Display * Marsh Walk * Bird Identification Walk * Seed Lending Library Workshop

Qigong and Tai Chi for Adults * Repair Café * EcoBelly Local Food Demonstration by Gundersen Lutheran, EcoPark, Fifth Season

Cooperative

Childrenʼs Events and Activities:

La Crosse Family YMCA Healthy Kids Booths & Games and Earth Day Dash (Dash in Myrick Park; 10:30am to 11:30am)

Hans Mayer Concert * Storytelling by Michael Scott * Backyard Fishing * Recycled Arts and Crafts * Trail Building Activity

Live Worms Interactive Display * Electricity Demonstration Bicycle * Qigong and Tai Chi for Children * Face Painting *

Letʼs Go Outdoors! Program

Bring non-perishable food item(s) for WAFER food pantry.

A complete schedule of the Earth Fair available Coulee Partners for Sustainability website at www.cpslax.org and on the Earth Fair website at www.earthfairlacrosse.org and available by “liking us” on

Facebook: www.facebook.com/CouleePartnersforSustainabilityLaCrosse.

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Erica Black, Michelle Jerome and Vicki Miller

The People Behind theEarth Fair

Erica Black

Are you a CPS member and how long have you been involved with the Earth Fair?

I am a member (I think...I might need to re-up?). I've been involved with the Earth Fair since CPS took over the event--2008.

How many hours would you say you have volunteered for Earth Fair 2013?

Geez...so far maybe 50?

If you could add one more activity or program to Earth Fair 2013 what would it be?

We are pretty booked, but maybe some other physical activity...yoga class or the like.

How do you like using the EcoPark as a venue for Earth Fair activities?

I think it just makes sense to have the fair at the EcoPark. They have a great setting and lots of room for our tents and activities.

Any advice for other people that want to get involved with Earth Fair (or Living Green Expo)?

Just let us know! Even a small commitment can make a big difference!

Michelle Jerome

Are you a CPS member and how long have you been involved with the Earth Fair?

No, but I have joined with them on multiple projects. I have helped with various aspects of the marketing of Earth Fair for the last few years.

How many hours would you say you have volunteered for Earth Fair 2013?

Quite a few, but so many others have contributed so much.

If you could add one more activity or program to Earth Fair 2013 what would it be?

Multi-terrain playground built at the Park that day by volunteers. Instead of a sand castle building contest, there would be non-competitive nature playground building instead. The project would use reclaimed materials to save them from waste.

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How do you like using the EcoPark as a venue for Earth Fair activities?

The view of the nature surrounding it is like a big hug. The grounds provide numerous opportunities to expand the festivities while maintaining symbiosis.

Any advice for other people that want to get involved with Earth Fair (or Living Green Expo)?

Yes. Contact CPS. There are several opportunities available.

Vicki Miller

Are you a CPS member and how long have you been involved with the Earth Fair? 

I am a CPS member.  This is my 5th year of being involved in the Earth Fair as co-chair.

How many hours would you say you have volunteered for Earth Fair 2013?  

Planning for the Earth Fair starts in the fall, so many hours are put into planning by the time Earth Fair comes around in the Spring.  Our Earth Fair committee usually starts with a meeting once a month, then every other week as we get closer to the event and many "sub-committee" meetings in between!

If you could add one more activity or program to Earth Fair 2013 what would it be?

Because the Earth Fair committee/CPS's mission is to collaborate with organizations and individuals in putting on educational events and activities related to sustainability, we are fortunate that we have had so many fun and educational activities at the Earth Fair provided by area organizations and individuals.  This year we are thrilled to have the La Crosse Area Family YMCA become a "Celebrating Partner" and providing a variety of excellent activities including an "Earth Day Dash" for kids!  We are also excited that the La Crosse Public Library will have a tent with various activities and will also have a workshop on their new "Seed Library" - the first one in Wisconsin!

For the past five years we have partnered with the La Crosse Public Library to hold an Earth Fair poster contest for elementary school students.  This year we had over 300 students participate, thanks in part to a grant we received from theLa Crosse Community Foundation for the first place winner's class receiving a trip to the National Eagle Center in Wabasha, Minnesota.  In the future, I would like to see other contests held for middle and high school students - hopefully next year!  

How do you like using the EcoPark as a venue for Earth Fair activities?

What an ideal location for celebrating "Earth Day"!  A beautiful park overlooking the marsh and bluffs, plus having the EcoPark building to hold workshops and demonstrations, the restored barn and the playscapes area - it really doesn't get much better than this!

Any advice for other people that want to get involved with Earth Fair?

We have a fantastic Earth Fair committee and the Earth Fair would not be possible without their involvement and commitment  - some members have been on the committee for five years!  If anyone is interested in joining our committee or helping out the day of the  event, please contact me at vicki@vsm5.com or Erica at ericaablack@yahoo.com.

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A Special Thank You to These Volunteers

Shannon Havlik * Sue Weidemann * Kassidy Cable * Donna Anderson * Katie Bittner * Matthew Brantner * Chris Degnan * John Fergus * Jason Larsen * Dorothy Lenard * Curtis Miller * Cindy Mischnick * Nick Nichols * Tiffany Olson * Wayne Olson * Jamie O'Neill * Nathan Patros * Emily Rainey * Patrick Schmidt * Barbara Strohm * Libby Thorson * Tom Thompson * Rachel Wozniak

In 2009, documentary filmmaker Harry Lynch and geologist Dr. Scott Tinker set out to make a film on our energy transition. The goal was not to advocate for one technology over another, not to suggest how the transition should happen — but to try to determine how it actually would happen, based on scientifically-sound investigation and the practical realities of the world of energy as we discovered them. The result, is Switch.

KEY FACTS• Filmed in 11 countries• 27 world-leading energy sites for all energy types• Includes 53 expert interviews• 24 renewable energy specialists• 19 fossil energy specialists• 11 plant managers for all energy types• 10 of the world's leading energy experts in government and academia• 9 CEOs of international energy companies, fossil and renewable• Switch took 2 years to film using 2 primary and 8 additional cameramen, shooting more than 500

hours of footage• Switch took over 1 year to edit (for the film and the web videos), using 2 primary and 7 additional

editors• Dr. Scott Tinker has given over 450 invited lectures on energy in the past 10 years

Coulee Partners is sponsoring screenings at:

University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, 1309 Centennial Hall: April 23, 2013 at 7:00PM

Western Technical College, Lunda Center April 22, 2013 at 1:00-3:00PM

  Viterbo University, RM 122 Brophy Center April 25, 2013 at 7-9PM

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Hello NWEI Partners! We are looking forward to our Bi-Annual Conference in La Crosse, Wisconsin this summer. We hope you will join us to share inspiration, stories and resources around leadership and sustainability. We invite you to register today at the early bird rate, and save $50. Early bird registration lasts until March 31st. Please visit our page on the  University of Wisconsin-La Crosse conference website to access all the information you need to know about this year's conference, You Don't Need a Title to be a Leader - Cultivating A Community of Leaders.  We are excited to announce the following additions to our program: Tia Nelson, Executive Secretary, Board of Commissioners of Public Lands for the state of Wisconsin and daughter of former Senator and pioneering conservationist Gaylord Nelson will speak about Earth Day and Beyond. Lucy Slinger, Ph.D., Sustainability Degree Coordinator at Viterbo University, and Ecological Advocate of Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration will be facilitating an Awakening the Dreamer Workshop. Bill Mains is the Leadership Lecturer in the Undergraduate Business Programs Office at Santa Clara University and will be presenting on the Contemplative Leadership and Sustainability Program at SCU. We will be offering continueing education credits for K-12 educators and people pursuing a teaching degree through the University of Wisconsin -LaCrosse. For more information, please click here. Please visit  http://www.uwlax.edu/conted/nwei to see our current list of speakers, workshops, and breakout sessions. Stay tuned in April for more announcements too. We hope you can join us!

 Deborah McNamaraDirector of Organizational Partnerships(503) 227-2807Celebrating 20 years of change for good.

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Become a Member of:

Coulee Partners for SustainabilityLiving respectfully, responsibly and reverently with one another and with Earth.

NAME: ______________________________________

ADDRESS: ______________________________ City: ________________ STATE: ______ ZIP: _______________

PHONE: _______- _______- _____________

EMAIL ADDRESS: _________________________________

_______$15 Individual _______$25 Family _______$100 Business/Institution _______$10 Student

Would you like to get involved in CPS sustainable projects? (please check all that apply)

_____Occasionally for specific projects! ______Planning or Administration

Study Circle Facilitating: _____The Natural Step _____Northwest Earth Institute_____Film/Other Books

Join a Committee: _____ Local Foods & Sustainable Agriculture (LASA)

! ! _____ Neighborhoods/Housing Task Force

! ! _____ Business/Green Economy Task Force

Suggestions for CPS: ____________________________________________________________________________

Go to: www.cpslax.org (PayPal button on the website for the membership form)

CPS is a 501-C3 non-profit, organization. All contributions are tax deductible.

Purpose: Promote sustainable practices in the Coulee Region.

Business: Advocate Natural Step Principles:• Educate• Foster and showcase sustainable practices• Facilitate “Green Group” networking

With the realization that human welfare is directly dependent on the health of the planet and that our welfare cannot be achieved at the expense of the planet. Coulee Partners for Sustainability will work with individuals, environmental organizations, educational institutions, businesses and governmental bodies to educate and create environmentally sustainable practices.