Saturday, March 24, 2018

Park Rapids: A MN GreenStep City?

To learn more, come to the free program Thursday, April 19, 6 pm at Northwoods Bank in Park Rapids.  Sponsored by the League of Women Voters of the Park Rapids Area, Mellissa Birch, Central Coordinator for Clean Energy Resource Teams, will be the featured speaker.  Light refreshments will be served.


Starting in 2007 with statewide listening sessions, the idea was raised of creating a free sustainable cities program that would challenge, assist and recognize cities that were "green stars." In 2008 the Minnesota Legislature directed the MPCA and others to recommend actions cities could take on a voluntary basis. Representatives from dozens of cities, non-profit organizations, businesses and state government agencies provided the outline for what has been developed as the Minnesota GreenStep Cities program in 2010.  Over forty percent of Minnesota citizens presently live in a total of 120 GreenStep Cities, mostly in the metro areas but also scattered throughout rural Minnesota.

Simply put, Minnesota GreenStep Cities is a free and voluntary program that provides a simple pathway to help cities achieve their sustainability goals through implementation of best practices focused on cost savings, energy use reduction, and innovation.  The program provides a list of twenty-nine best practices, divided into the categories of Buildings and Lighting, Transportation, Land Use, Environmental Management, and Economic and Community Development.   The twenty-nine best practices are further divided into more than 170 more specific best practices which can be chosen by a city as fits into the particular city’s needs.  But, what’s this “Step” business?
When a city government formally joins the GreenStep program through a city resolution, it is considered a Step One City. Cities that implement a minimum number of best practices of their choice will be recognized as Step Two Cities.  Completion of a few high-priority actions merits Step Three recognition.  Measuring city performance metrics will garner Step Four and Step Five recognition.  Cities will be credited for sustainability actions completed prior to joining the GreenStep program. 

GreenStep Cities receive peer recognition at the League of Minnesota Cities Annual Conference.  Accomplishments of member cities will be visible on the GreenStep web site, the most comprehensive web site in Minnesota devoted to city sustainability.  But best of all, citizens of GreenStep Cities know that their city is using best practices to achieve among other things, energy and cost saving strategies, natural resource preservation, efficient city growth, walkable and bikeable neighborhoods, well managed urban forests, good water quality, community resiliency, and sustainable economic development. For more information: www.mngreenstep.org. 

If you have any questions about LWVPRA activities, events or on how to join LWVPRA (not for women only), email  lwvparkrapids@lwvmn.org. Follow our activities, events on our website: http://lwvparkrapidsarea.blogspot.com/

Sunday, March 4, 2018

Concerned about our Election Intregrity?

Join us to hear Steve Simon,  Minnesota Secretary of State, as he explains what is happening with elections in Minnesota..



A citizen’s most powerful tool in civic engagement is the right to vote.

It is important that we all  learn how to protect that right.  Tuesday, March 13 (1 pm at Park Theater), LWV PRA and Headwaters Center for Lifelong Learning will present a joint program on Election Integrity with Steve Simon, Minnesota’s Secretary of State. As Minnesota’s chief elections administrator, he has pledged to “work with anyone, of any political affiliation, from any part of our state” to protect, defend and strengthen the right to vote in Minnesota.
    According to Simon, Minnesota has rigorous safety measures in place before, on and after Election Day to ensure elections are fair and secure. Voting integrity is an important cornerstone of democracy.
    Simon will address the questions of: What are the safeguards for our election system? Can we be hacked? What does hacking exactly mean? How do we make sure there is no fraud in our registration and voting system?   What do we need to do to improve our voting system? What are our responsibilities as citizens to maintain the integrity of our elections? Is the legislature putting forth any bills with changes for our election system in 2018?

League of Women Voters Park Rapids Area (LWVPRA) is a non-partisan volunteer organization, whose mission is to encourage informed and active participation in the community through education. Please direct any questions about LWVPRA activities, events or on how to join LWVPRA (remember it's not for women only) by emailing lwvparkrapids@lwvmn.org. Follow League activities, events at http://lwvparkrapidsarea.blogspot.com.