April has been a busy month for CURE!
April RIVERVOICE
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Upcoming Events

When: Thursday, May 7 at 7 PM 
Where: Beth El Synagogue, Saint Louise Park, MN

When: Thursday, May 7, 5 PM to 8 PM
Where: Windom Community Center, Windom, MN

When: Saturday, May 9, 11 AM to 3 PM
Where: Moonstone Farm, Montevideo, MN

When: Saturday, May 23, 8 PM to 10 PM
Where: Lac qui Parle Lake, Upper and Lower State Park, Watson, MN


 

At CURE's 23rd Annual Meeting, the organization honored Governor Mark Dayton with the Gary Kubly Good Government Award. CURE's Board of Directors selected Governor Dayton because of his commitment to advance clean water goals, primarily through his steadfast support for the Buffer Initiative. CURE members Pat Kubly and former state representative, Andrew Falk, presented the award.

 

Read more here >

Water Program


 

Though there was a flurry of activity in early March when the buffer bills (HF 1534 and SF 1537) were introduced, since then, much of the public legislative activity around buffers has stalled. A hearing in the House Environment and Natural Resources Committee went nowhere, and while the Senate Bill was passed out of the Environment and Energy Committee with ease, it was never heard in the Senate Jobs, Agriculture, and Rural Development Committee, the next stop on the train. While the Senate bill author John Marty did offer an amendment intended to clarify concerns of the opposition, it didn't take. Since then, no formal legislative actions have been taken on either bill. 

 

However, that is no reason to give up hope.

 

Read more here >

Energy Program
Graphic by Fresh Energy.

Over the past 4 months, the CURE Energy Program has been hard at work organizing support for increasing the state's Renewable Energy Standard. In February, we brought grassroots supporters from western Minnesota to the state capitol. We invited citizens to town hall meetings with state lawmakers in Morris, Granite Falls, Moorhead, and Willmar. Farmers, business owners, and students spoke in strong support for increasing the Renewable Energy Standard to create jobs and self-reliance for rural Minnesota. Unfortunately, broad citizen support for renewable energy in rural Minnesota has not translated into support from state lawmakers.

Education and Leadership

To kick off CURE's Annual Meeting Day of Engagement, more than 50 people discussed and debated the issues surrounding Growing Clean Water: Connecting Agriculture and Stewardship. This was the second convening of CURE's Minnesota Rural Progressive Roundtable Series.

Events and Adventures

CURE is pleased to serve as a promotional partner for the next installment of the Inspiring Minds Speaker Series on Thursday, May 7th, at Beth El Synagogue in Saint Louis Park. Jean-Michel, Celine and Fabien Cousteau will help open up our minds to a world of sustainability, conservation, stewardship and innovation. Living and teaching the legacy of their father and grandfather Jacques Cousteau, the Cousteau Family will share with us the beauty and diversity of the oceans-the source of all life on our planet.  Seating is limited.  More information and tickets are available at www.besyn.org/cousteaus or by calling 952-873-7300.


We are doing something we have never done before - attempting to paddle the entire Minnesota River in a single day. Can it be done? We are not sure, but we are joining forces with the Department of Natural Resources (MN DNR) and three other partners to sponsor a "Public Paddle Day" on Saturday, June 13.


If you are trying to get your kids out of the house and away from the television, the Minnesota state parks and trails have launched a new statewide geocaching challenge. Earth Day 2015, the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) unveiled their "Call of the Wildflowers" Challenge. This new challenge is designed to engage the public in learning more about Minnesota's wildflowers and pollinators while having fun.

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