SDDIA in Action and Advocacy-Political Action, Local Social Action, Progressive Climate, Nurturing DIA members for change
Here are some ways we promoted quality of life:
•Civil Public Dialog
Read DIA's letter to Mayor Kooiker listing some issues on which we hope to partner with his administration.
•Promoting Local Foods•••Dakota Local Food Network
If you want to buy more local food, believe in supporting our local farmers, and want the best nutrition for yourself and your family, this website is for YOU. This is an interactive website and everyone is invited to participate. So ask your questions, contribute to our posts, send us additions and updates, and help us continue our long South Dakota tradition of protecting our resources and being good neighbors.
Contact Shirley Frederick.
•Reduce Reuse Recycle
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 prepared a third edition. Watch for the print edition at the Home Builders show.
Thanks to the sponsors of our print edition: A to Z Shredding, Inc., Ace Steel and Recycling, Inc., Affordable Computing Solutions, Inc., Computer Village, Home Technology Services, Karen Raben, Kieffer Sanitation, Rapid City Metro Lions Club, Rapid City Municipal Recycling Facility (MRF), Red River Waste Solutions of South Dakota, Solar Sound, Corp./Lighting Maintenance, Co., The UPS Store 1881 – West Main.
•Advancement of the arts
DIA sponsored "Fresh Literary Voices in Western South Dakota:"Women Writers Read," a salon of listening and conversation with 8 writers, moderated by Karen Hall. The fund-raiser, held March 25, at Emmanuel Episcopal Church parish Hall, celebrated Women's History Month. Please learn more about these talented area writers in the program. Visit us on Facebook to see photos of the event.
• Invest in kids - - Learn more!
Go to Rapid City Starting Strong Initiative. Let's work together for this scholarship program so that every child from a low-income family has a chance for pre-school.
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.
The Greening Rapid City forum sponsor/exhibitors included Ace Steel and Recycling, A-Z Shredding, Inc., Computer Village, FourFront Design, Inc., Dioten Engineering, Interstate Batteries, iSoldIt/Micro Solutions, Lighting Maintenance, J Scull Construction, Karl’s TV and Appliance Inc, Kiefer Sanitation/Waste Connection, Office Depot, Habitat Re-Store, Rapid City Solid Waste Operations and SD Waste Management Association plus several local environmental groups
SDDIA supports Political Action and Progressive Candidates•2010 Elections • Congratulations Bonny Petersen. DIA-endorsed and supported Bonny for City Council Ward 5: SDDIA held a succesful fall fund-raiser featuring TRASH, Truly Rational And Sane Humans (off stage) Sat. Oct. 23, 2010 in 50 minutes of musical comedy. Post-performance salon featured desserts and great political conversation. The TRASH benefit was our PAC fund-raiser. Laughter brought us together— the best "medicine" for election year stress. Democracy in Action endorsed and supported the following candidates for election on Nov 2, 2010: Scott Heidepriem for Governor, Ben Nesselhuf for Secretary of State, Tom Katus for Treasurer, Nyla Griffith for State Senate District 31, Julie Garreau for State Senate District 28, Jay Pond for State House District 35, Mathew Murray for State House District 32, Wanda Valandra for Meade County Commission District 5 •2009 Elections DIA hosted T.R.A.S.H. on Friday, Feb. 20, 2009 in John T. Vucurevich Event Center at the Dahl Arts Center. The benefit performance by T.R.A.S.H was DIA’s principal annual fund raiser. DIA has real “trash” on its agenda in 2009 with promoting recycling and sponsoring community education about solid waste issues as a major objective. The 2009 edition of Recycling in Rapid City: How, What & Where, an SDDIA-RC publication was distributed at the benefit. •2008 Elections •DIA produced and circulated Voters Guides in 2008. •June 2, 2008 Rapid City election, DIA hosted an online forum with City Council Candidates •DIA hosted a pre-election forum for School Board Area 1 & Area 2 Candidates Wednesday, May 27, 2009. Here are DIA's questions. DIA member Suzan Nolan was elected.
2007 Elections Patti Martinson elected to Rapid City Council. Congratulations, Patti! |
