SDDIA in Action and Advocacy-Political Action, Local Social Action, Progressive Climate, Nurturing DIA members for change

Click here for contact links and numbers for Sen. Johnson, Sen. Thune, Rep. Noem, Gov. Daugaard, state and local elected officials.

Read about our 2010-2011 SDDIA accomplishments

SDDIA supports Progressive Political Climate

Democracy in Action has taken the following position regarding Bear Butte: 
Democracy in Action supports efforts to preserve Bear Butte and protect it from commercial encroachment because it is a significant sacred cultural site for indigenous people and an endangered National Historic Landmark for everyone.

Members of the DIA-RC Education Task Group prepared this opinion piece, published June 7, 2008 in the Rapid City Journal on the education funding discussion. Education funding was be a major issue for the 2009 Legislative session. It continues to be a problem.

SDDIA supports Environmental Action

Download and share the 2011 edition of Recycling in Rapid City: How, What & Where, an SDDIA-RC publication.

In cooperation with Materials Recycling Facility (MRF) at the Rapid City Landfill and Solid Waste Operations Superintendent Karl Mersbach and his staff,  Democracy in Action produced this third edition. Watch for it at the RC Homebuilders Show and online at RCMRF website.

DIA honored member Hiromi Altman for her contribution to the Recycling Rapid City project by collecting contributions for our sister city, Nikko, Japan, to help refugees of the massive earthquake and tsunami. See the article in the Rapid City Journal. 

•Thank you Penn. County Commissioners for passing the Septic OrdinanceDemocracy in Action members worked with other supporters to support this ordinance. CongratulationsPlanning, Prevention, Protection—that's the goal!
    •    Congratulations to Karen Hall and Jim Coleman elected as Planning and Zoning Commissioners.
 

•“Our Green Future” events at the Dahl offered both family fun and serious grass roots engagement about Rapid City’s future on March 20, 2010. RC Green Task Force Panel present  exhibits and the work of 8 subcommittees (Education, Water, Recycling, Energy, Land Use, Transportation, Local Food, and Natural Assets –parks, wildlife, etc) and take public input. Members of the task force are Roger Hall, Eirik Heikes, Suzanne Martley, Jessica Miller, Timothy Roach, Cynthia Matson, Aaron Sanders.
A puppet show with Sue Hey and Leonard Running and Mollie O Krafka and Heather Krafka Rederth reading their “green” children’s book offered activites for kids. l Local high school students and Donna Robinson, Recycling Facilitator for the Rapid City Schools, plan displays and activities.

City Council member Patti Martinson was available for listening and conversation. Mayor Hanks made opening remarks. Snacks included cheese by Black Hills Milk, buffalo hors d'oeuvres by Jill Maguire of Wild Idea Buffalo Company and grass fed beef by 34Ranch Meats. The March 20, 2010 forum was one of a three part series sponsored by the Dahl Arts Center and DIA.

•At the Rapid City Home Show and again Earth Day at WDT, DIA members staffed the DIA booth on Recycling and Green City Task Force booths on Local Foods. Members moderated and participated in GCTF forums.

•We advocate responsible environmental stewardship and our Position Statement on the Environment “supports mandatory recycling by residential, commercial, industrial and government entities.” Read the letter we sent July 2, 2009 to Public Works Director Robert Ellis, The Mayor and City Council members.

•DIA-RC, in cooperation with The Journey Museum and other sponsors, hosted a public Greening Rapid City Forum at the Journey Museum on May 3, 2009. Public Works Director Robert Ellis, Growth Management Director Marcia Elkins and council members Aaron Costello, Karen Gunderson Olson, and Patti Martinson presented findings from the Green Cities Conference in Portland that they attended in mid-April 2009  Displays by local "green" and recycling businesses and non-profits offered lots of re-use recycle information. All participants received Recycling in Rapid City-2009 edition.

Letter to Mayor Hanks
July 11, 2007
Dear Mayor Hanks:
Democracy in Action members congratulate you on your election as mayor.
Our organization has a strong interest in local government, and we would like to open discussions with you on how we can work together to address the following DIA environmental goals:
• Making recycling mandatory
• Protecting the Rapid Creek floodplain from future construction
• Using city rights to Rapid Creek water in lieu of pumping from underground aquifers
• Conserving water
• Working with the Pennington County Commission to address septic tank issues not covered by city ordinance
• Funding stormwater drainage and treatment appropriately
• Using city resources to support and promote the Farmers’ Market
• Addressing global warming by becoming a Cool City -- www.coolcities.us/
Democracy in Action is a local nonpartisan political action organization and PAC that promotes progressive values. We sponsor public forums, support candidates for political office, serve on boards and commissions, research issues, and provide information on public policy to our membership. We welcome opportunities to participate in city government and look forward to developing a productive working relationship with you.
Please contact me to discuss how we can work together on the above issues.
Sincerely yours,
Shirley Frederick, Coordinator, DIA E-group