For Immediate Release: November 2, 2023
Contact: Cassie Steiner, cassandra.steiner@sierraclub.org, (262) 930 3963
Sierra Club Celebrates Environmental Leaders with 2023 Awards
Annual awards celebration uplifts volunteers’ dedication and impact through Sierra Club work
MADISON - Yesterday, the Sierra Club Wisconsin Chapter presented its 2023 Chapter Awards to volunteers and community leaders for outstanding service and accomplishments on behalf of Wisconsin’s environment. Seven awards were presented at a virtual celebration to volunteers from new activists to lifetime achievement awards for long-standing leaders. We want to acknowledge their amazing efforts and accomplishments. This year, award winners included issue team members and Group leaders, and the external awards were granted to Citizen Action Wisconsin and Vernon County Energy District.
“These environmental leaders have worked tirelessly to expand clean energy, improve access to the outdoors, decrease racial disparities in energy burden, and protect wolves. Stopping climate change, improving environmental justice, protecting natural resources and enjoying the outdoors are central to the work that these individuals and organizations do, and I’m so thankful to work alongside them,” stated Elizabeth Ward, Chapter Director for the Sierra Club in Wisconsin.
This year's award winners are:
Caitlin Moeller of Port Washington received the New Activist Award. Caitlin has made a huge impact on the Wildlife Team, particularly with her graphic design and social media work, which has brought the team’s campaigns to life and brought in new volunteers. She’s been a big part of the success of organizing around the Wolf Management plan and the recent Wolf Awareness Week, and is celebrated by her teammates for her dedication, the time she puts into this work, and for taking on less visible tasks that make a big difference.
Jenny Abel of Milwaukee received the Wildflower Award. The Wildflower is given to leaders within the chapter who exemplify all that is wonderful in the environment and the club, and Jenny’s enthusiasm, dedication, care, intellect, and more make her a perfect fit. She is chair of the Great Waters Group, where she has worked tirelessly to push her local and global communities to be less racist and fight against the worst effects of climate change. Jenny has brought new people into the group, is a wonderful relationship builder, and has dedicated herself to issues from energy burden to public transportation. She was also involved in Sierra Club before moving to Wisconsin, helping to shut down a coal plant and pass a 100% renewable electricity resolution in Virginia!
Linda Frank of Shorewood received the Merit Award for her dedication to climate and environmental work with teams, committees and groups spanning every level of the organization in Wisconsin. Linda helped the Milwaukee climate and equity plan cross the finish line: serving on committees to help write the plan, helping make sure it passed and co-creating Our Future Milwaukee coalition to assure its suggestions are implemented. She has also been engaged in the energy burden coalition to stop unjust electric rate increases, increase energy efficiency opportunities and decrease racial disparities in energy burden in Milwaukee. As if that’s not enough, Linda has been engaged with both the Lands Team and Water Team, focusing on protecting Kohler Andrae lakeshore from development and protecting water from nitrate pollution from Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations. Her work has made a huge impact!
Maureen McCoy of Madison received the LD Rockwell Award. This award is presented to an individual for their political or electoral work with the chapter. Maureen is a member of Sierra Club’s Lands Team, and is being recognized for her contributions to holding legislators accountable to their promises, especially on the Every Kid Outdoors legislation, which would increase access to state parks. In this work, she has contacted legislative committees, bill sponsors and other legislators about the legislative process and ensured Every Kid Outdoors is staying on track to pass.
This year, two groups were recognized with the Good Citizen Award.
Citizen Action of Wisconsin was recognized with the Good Citizen Award for their work across the state. In Milwaukee, Citizen Action of Wisconsin is a leader and strong advocate on energy burden work, especially focusing on racial disparities in energy burden in Milwaukee. They have also engaged in the We Energies rate case, the PIPP (percentage of income payment program) docket, and public awareness building. On the other side of the state, Citizen Action of Wisconsin has also been a partner in our clean energy work focused in Western Wisconsin, where we’ve been organizing with electric coop members to push their utilities to invest in renewable energy and move away from fossil fuels. Their work spans many issues and they’ve been an impactful player in climate and justice work, as well as a wonderful partner to Sierra Club Wisconsin.
Vernon County Energy District was presented with the Good Citizen Award for their advocacy in Western Wisconsin, particularly Vernon County. An energy district is a non-profit that serves a specific county and helps develop clean energy given the local context, needs and barriers. Vernon County Energy District has been doing amazing work in - you guessed it - Vernon County! Ranging from home audits, energy efficiency, and education to advocating for clean energy on a large scale, VCED has made a major impact in their area. They have also been a wonderful partner to both Sierra Club’s Coulee Region Group and to the state chapter in our shared clean energy work, particularly in pushing local utilities to take advantage of electric cooperative funding offered through the Inflation Reduction Act.
The chapter’s highest award, the JJ & Pat Werner Award was presented to Carol and Kevin Olson of Baraboo. Carol and Kevin have led the River Touring Section for years, which encourages enjoyment of recreational waterways, promotes safety when paddling, fosters appreciation for these activities and inspires a desire to protect our rivers and lakes. In doing this, Carol and Kevin have coordinated countless paddling trips and outings over the years, advocated internally for sensible outings policy and championed connecting people to the outdoors. Many Sierra Club volunteers point to outings like these as key factors in why they got involved in the organization and as an experience that helped build their love for the outdoors. Thank you to Carol and Kevin for all of their work over the years!
###
Founded in 1892, the Sierra Club is America’s oldest, largest, and most influential grassroots environmental organization. The Sierra Club’s mission is to explore, enjoy, and protect the wild places of the earth. The Sierra Club – Wisconsin is made up of 18,000 members and supporters from throughout Wisconsin working to promote clean energy and protect land and water resources.