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Great Lakes Hearings in August

Clean Wisconsin urges all Wisconsin citizens who care about the Great Lakes and our special places to take the time to attend one of four public hearings held in August on a pair of initiatives � the Great Lakes Water Resources Compact Agreement and the Great Lakes Regional Collaboration Restoration Strategy.

The hearings � to be held in Superior, Ashland, Green Bay and Milwaukee � offer citizens the chance to learn about the plans and provide comments to the DNR and the governor. Each hearing will feature a presentation on the two initiatives followed by time for citizens to provide their comments.

This will be the second summer that residents have the opportunity to provide feedback on the Compact. The Compact is a �responsibility pact� designed to protect the Great Lakes by putting strict limits on the diversion of water outside the Great Lakes basin. The Restoration Strategy is out for its first and only public comment period.

If fully funded it would begin the process of cleaning up and restoring the Great Lakes by addressing such issues as invasive species, polluted runoff, toxic pollutants and wetlands.

Hearing schedule:

Superior, Aug. 4 from 6:30 to 9 p.m., Barker's Island Inn, 300 Marina Drive. Hosted by representatives of the Great Lakes Regional Collaboration.
Ashland, Aug. 8 at the Northern Great Lakes Visitor Center, U.S. Highway 2 and County Highway G. Open house at 4 p.m. Presentation and public comment starts at 4:30 p.m. DNR sponsored.
West Allis, Aug. 22 at Wisconsin State Fair Park Youth Center, 640 S. 84th St. Enter Gate 5. Open house at 6:30 p.m. Presentation and public comment starts at 7 p.m. DNR sponsored.
Ashwaubenon, Aug. 29 at Ashwaubenon Village Hall, 2155 Holmgren Way. Open house at 5 p.m. Presentation and public comment starts at 5:30 p.m. DNR sponsored.

DNR has the full information on the Annex and Restoration hearings up at its Great Lakes office websites http://dnr.wi.gov/org/water/greatlakes/annex2001/
and
http://dnr.wi.gov/org/water/greatlakes/regional/

Cleanwisconsin.org and greatlakesforever.org have the documents and e-letters to the Governor

Derek Scheer
Water Policy Director
Clean Wisconsin
(Formerly Wisconsin's Environmental Decade)
122 State Street, Suite 200
Madison, WI 53703-2500
P: 608.251.7020 F: 608.251.1655
W: www.cleanwisconsin.org

Fighting Bob Fest IV, 2005
�The Vote At Risk: 40 Years After the Voting Rights Act�

From http://www.fightingbobfest.com/index.htm

Voters have come to doubt the fairness of our democracy and the accuracy of our voting methods in light of a series of questionable presidential elections and computer-paperless voting. We have an obligation to protect our voting rights.

It�s a long tradition. During �Fighting Bob� La Follette�s term as Governor, Wisconsin became the model of voting reform by becoming the first state in the nation to implement the open primary system for state office. The party bosses were replaced by the people, their hold was effectively broken, and government began working for the people.

Now it�s our turn. Since the Progressive Era, the power of money has eroded La Follette�s many reforms and Wisconsin finds itself, once again, with a reputation of corrupt politics. Fortunately, as they say, our future is still our own!

Join us in Baraboo, Wisconsin on Saturday, September 10, 2005 where we will celebrate the 150 th birthday of Robert M. �Fighting Bob� La Follette. We�ll also welcome the grassroots excitement of The People�s Legislature, and plan a course of action for reform. There will be speakers, music, and an enthusiastic crowd of progressives looking for new ways to improve upon the �experiment in democracy� that is Wisconsin.

Read article about speakers for Fighting Bob Fest IV

MOSES: Nominations Sought For 2006 �Organic Farmer of the Year� Award

The Midwest Organic and Sustainable Education Service (MOSES) has issued a call for nominations for the 2006 �Organic Farmer of the Year� award. This prestigious award has been presented annually since 2003 at the Upper Midwest Organic Farming Conference in La Crosse, Wisconsin. More than 1800 people attended the conference this past February. Previous award winners have been vegetable producers Martin and Atina Diffley of Eagan, Minnesota, community supported agriculture pioneers Richard De Wilde and Linda Halley of Harmony Valley Farm in Viroqua, Wisconsin, and cash grain and hog producers Carmen and Sally Fernholtz of Madison, Minnesota.

Those that seek to nominate a farmer or farming operation for the award must complete and return the Nomination Application form, available from the MOSES office (715-772-3153) or at www.mosesorganic.org. The deadline for nominations is October 15, 2005.

For more information Read the article at WisBusiness