Voter Center Honors Will Steger, Other Leaders With Awards

News Topic(s): What's New*   Recycling   Land Conservation   Climate   Conservation Heroes*   

10/27/09 - Polar explorer and global warming educator Will Steger is one of four Minnesotans honored with 2009 Conservation Leadership Awards by the Conservation Minnesota Voter Center. Also honored Monday night, Oct. 26, were State Representative Paul Gardner (D-Shoreview), a leader on recycling and waste reduction issues; Mike Kilgore, Chair of the Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council, who has led the Council to a successful start on a quarter-century of fish, game and wildlife habitat protection; and Sheila Smith, executive director of Minnesota Citizens for the Arts, who was instrumental in the success of the 2008 Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment.

Polar explorer and climate change educator Will Steger and Conservation Minnesota Voter Center board member Nancy Gibson with Will's leadership award at the Oct. 26 reception in Minneapolis.

“These awards recognize outstanding conservation commitment by Minnesotans,” said Voter Center Executive Director Paul Austin. “Thanks to the people we’re honoring, Minnesota is a better place to live, work, and raise families.”

Will Steger:  A world-famous explorer of the Polar Regions, Steger has been an eyewitness to the effects of global climate change and has championed efforts to deal with the issue.  Throughout his long career he has educated tens of thousands of young people on the environment, climate and outdoor adventure.

Rep. Paul Gardner: Rep. Gardner has been a leader in promoting legislation on solid waste, recycling, composting, and groundwater protection. In 2008, his bill passed that promotes common-sense water conservation by requiring a conservation rate structure for water rates. In 2008 and 2009, Gardner authored successful legislation that will promote greater diversion of food and yard waste from our landfills into high quality compost that can sequester carbon. Gardner has also pushed the publishers of telephone directories to create effective opt-out systems for unwanted phone books. He is currently working with publishers of the white and yellow pages to create a voluntary opt-out program that works, and Conservation Minnesota is leading the campaign to gain public support and awareness. Gardner was also instrumental in the passage of the state’s nation-leading electronic waste recycling bill in 2007.

Mike Kilgore:  When the Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council was formed, all eyes were on the group of citizen experts. The council had no program, no process and a short timeline to send its recommendations to the legislature. Mike was elected unanimously by the council members and quickly got the Council in shape to present a remarkably good package of projects to the legislature. His efforts have put the council on track for 24 more years of success.

Sheila Smith:  A united coalition was critical for passing the Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment in November 2008, and Smith was instrumental in bringing together the hunting and fishing, environmental and arts groups and building a strong coalition based on trust and respect. She traveled the state as part of the campaign and was among the best spokespersons in making the case for clean water to her members and to the public.

The Conservation Minnesota Voter Center is a non-partisan organization that puts dependable information at the public’s fingertips and makes it easy for citizens to evaluate the performance of elected leaders.

Be the first to comment on this page. Post a Comment