August 2022 Newsletter

Happy Summer RE-AMPers!

We hope you’re enjoying wonderful weather and getting plenty of vitamin D playing out in the sun! It’s been a busy summer in our Network as well with the Annual Meeting approaching, new members joining, and gearing up for implementation of membership dues for 2023. Read more in Connections.

In Collective Strategy, we share RE-AMP’s State Level Collaborative grant application, a funding opportunity through Midwest Building Decarbonization Coalition and the launch of a new group- Increasing Democracy at Rural Electric Cooperatives. We also thank two of our outgoing Steering Committee members, Peter Skopec from WISPIRG and Susan Hendershot from Interfaith Power & Light.

We’re thrilled to be working with Service Never Sleeps to offer an Allyship Training and to open applications for an Emerging Leaders Peer Learning Circle in Capacity Building. Catch up on other Network events there!

Have a story to share? Contact Director of Community Management Sarah Ann Shanahan at sarah@reamp.org

Connections

Annual Meeting

The 2022 RE-AMP Annual Meeting is next month! This year’s Annual Meeting is grounded in our Network’s strategic priorities- we’ll be exploring issues that intersect between them, consider ways to leverage federal funding in support of our priorities, and share the exciting work members are doing to equitably eliminate greenhouse gas emissions from the Midwest! More information about the agenda will be available next month.

The Annual Meeting will take place September 21-23rd online and registration will open up at the end of August. A benefit of membership is that registration for your first attendee is free. If you have any questions, please contact Director of Community Management, Sarah Ann Shanahan at sarah@reamp.org.

New Members

Unitarian Universalist Association, Full Member

Many of you may know Rachel Myslivy as a RE-AMP Steering Committee member or as a frequent Network participant. She recently accepted a new position with the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) as the Climate Justice Organizer and couldn’t wait for them to join the RE-AMP family!

Why did UUA want to be a member? “Historically the climate justice focus has been on keeping fossil fuels in the ground. We are now expanding our Climate Justice strategy to include Clean Energy as a Human Right and Thriving Communities. Engaging with RE-AMP will help the UUA adopt a Midwestern approach to equitable deep decarbonization/Clean Energy as a Human Right. We have congregations all across the Midwest and see opportunities to mobilize congregations in response to movements within the REAMP network, especially in regard to Energy Democracy.” To find our more or to connect with them reach out to primary contact Rachel Myslivy at rmyslivy@uua.org

RE-AMP Implements Membership Dues for 2023

Beginning in 2023, RE-AMP will be implementing a sliding scale fee that considers budget and membership status. For the past three years, the RE-AMP Steering Committee and Membership Committee have been developing a policy, based on substantial member input, to implement dues for membership to the RE-AMP Network. Membership dues will help support numerous benefits our Network offers to members including:

Full and Ally Members are able to send one person to the Annual Meeting and/or Issue Summits for free or greatly reduced cost which includes registration, meals, and eligibility to receive travel assistance. Beginning in 2023, full members will receive priority in registration and travel assistance requests for RE-AMP events
Full and Ally Members have access to our online collaborative platform, the Commons, our monthly newsletter and our Zoom accounts.
Full and Ally Members are eligible to participate in capacity building opportunities for free or greatly reduced cost like the RE-AMP Systems Thinking Academy, Collaborative Leadership Program or the Modeling Boot Camp. These programs include registration cost, meals, and eligibility to receive travel assistance. Beginning in 2023, full members will receive priority in registration and travel assistance requests for RE-AMP event.
Full Members are eligible to apply for grant opportunities including Rapid Response Fund, Action Teams, and State Level Collaborative work.
Full and Ally Members have access to consultation and facilitation services with professional staff.

For members joining during the calendar year, dues will be prorated. Dues go into effect January 1, 2023, coinciding with the annual membership renewal. Members will have the opportunity to pay at the time of renewal or request an invoice. No member will be turned away for inability to pay. Members who are experiencing financial hardship will be able to apply for a dues waiver. Members will also be invited to contribute more than their dues amount to support the participation of groups experiencing financial hardship.

Pay What You Can- The criteria for this level includes:

Full or Ally Member with a budget less than $100,000 or with no paid staff
Individual members

$250- The criteria for this level includes:

Full or Ally Member with a budget between $100,000 and $999,999

$500- The criteria for this level includes:

Full or Ally Members with a budget between $1 million and $1,999,999
Ally members with a budget more than $2 million

$750- The criteria for this level includes:

Full Members with a budget over 2 million

For more information about dues please review the Membership Dues 2023 document. If you have any questions or concerns please let Director of Community Management, Sarah Ann Shanahan at sarah@reamp.org.

Want to introduce a partner of yours to our Network? We’re always happy to talk, just let Director of Community Management Sarah Ann Shanahan know at sarah@reamp.org.

Collective Strategy

State Level Collaborative Grants

The RE-AMP Network has opened applications to fund collaborations of RE-AMP members within a state to connect with each other, set collective strategy, and collaborate on equitably eliminating greenhouse gasses in the Midwest. Applications are due August 25, 2022.

Proposals will cover activities from Oct. 1, 2022 through Sept. 30th, 2023. The maximum award is $50,000.Priority will be given to proposals that:

Build on previous RE-AMP investments: The committee will prioritize work that stems from state-level collaborations previously funded by RE-AMP (i.e. RE-AMP funded State Tables)
Have broad RE-AMP member participation: Include at least 50 percent RE-AMP members
Are state-focused: Describe organizing or policy campaigns that would make a significant difference for a state

Proposals should answer three key questions:

What is the work you propose to do over the next year and how does it relate, if at all, to RE-AMP’s strategic priorities of agriculture, buildings, energy democracy, integrated voter engagement, and/or transportation (see below for details)?
How will your resources (your time and budget) be allocated to achieve your goals?
How does the proposed work live into the Network’s values of collaboration, community, democracy, equity, justice, and scientific rigor?

Selection Criteria:

Criteria #1. Authentic and effective collaboration: How well does the proposal demonstrate collaboration within the state that is both authentic and diverse? Note that collaboration that includes at least 50 percent RE-AMP members will be prioritized.
Criteria #2. Acting in Community with the RE-AMP Network: How well does the proposal demonstrate being an active part of the RE-AMP community? For example, are participants also contributing to/ participating in Hubs, Action Teams, Peer Learning Circles, Annual Meeting sessions or building on a previous RE-AMP investment in state-level collaboration?
Criteria #3. Centering equity: Is there an equitable distribution of resources within the grant budget and project leadership? Are people and perspectives from impacted communities included in the group’s work?
Criteria #4. Potential to drive state-level impact on RE-AMP’s Strategic Priorities of agriculture, buildings, energy democracy, integrated voter engagement, and/or transportation: How well does the proposal demonstrate a plan to drive impact within a state? Please see below to ensure you understand the ways RE-AMP is working on these priorities.

See the full RFP on the RE-AMP Network funding page for complete application details. For questions, contact RE-AMP CEO Melissa Gavin at melissa@reamp.org.

Thank you Peter and Susan for serving on the Steering Committee!

It is with deep gratitude (and some sadness!) that we say goodbye to two long serving RE-AMP Steering Committee members, who were term limited this year. Susan Hendershot, President of Interfaith Power and Light, and Peter Skopec, former Executive Director of WISPIRG. Both Susan and Peter began their terms on the Steering Committee over six years ago and initially represented the former Faith Caucus and Transportation Working Group, respectively. With their support and leadership, RE-AMP navigated a structural transition in 2017, ultimately emerging stronger from the process. During their tenure on the Steering Committee, the Network has taken key steps to center equity in our work, updated our North Star goal, adopted a strategic framework, and last fall, adopted a new set of five strategic priorities. Susan and Peter have been here for it all, and we wouldn’t be the same without them. We will miss their steadfast leadership, exemplary collaboration, and good cheer. Thank you, Susan and Peter!

Increasing Democracy at Rural Electric Cooperatives

Following a number of robust discussions with people across the Midwest who are working to increase democratic authenticity of rural electric co-ops (RECs), we decided to make a dedicated time and space to foster collaboration on this topic. The time is the 4th Tuesday of the month at 2 CT/3ET (register here). And the place is the new group on the Commons. It’s a very welcoming space for all who want to see democracy thrive in energy decision-making. On our next call, we’ll be learning from Sharnell Seaboy at North Dakota Native Vote regarding their efforts to recruit co-op members to run in their board elections.

It might seem strange that a network focused on climate change would make democracy a focus of work. But we’ve seen that state-level policies seldom make a dent in emissions from the largely unregulated RECs, even though REC members want clean, affordable, and reliable energy. In theory, as member-owners, they ought to be able to shape REC policies, but the democratic traditions of RECs have long since been replaced in most cases by opaque rules and an in-club calling the shots.

One of our strategic priorities is Energy Democracy. RECs are a great place to revive a democratic tradition, and enable people to transform their energy supplies and invest in efficient buildings and farms, as well as develop the capacity to electrify transportation. Interested? Join us!

Picking Your Brains for Climate Campaigns by Kim Hunter, Engage Michigan

One of the groups in Michigan I am working with is the Michigan League of Conservation Voters. Like many of you may be, they are trying to use the crisis of recent setbacks by the Supreme Court and the senate as an opportunity to drum up activism for MI Gov. Whitmer’s Climate Plan. My question to you other Midwesterners is are there similar efforts going on where you are or efforts you know about working to pivot/focus on statewide efforts to go to renewables in an equitable way?

If you have any insights please reach out to Kim Hunter at kim@engagemichigan.org.

Capacity Building

Allyship Training with Service Never Sleeps

Service Never Sleeps’ (SNS) virtual Allyship training is an intensive, two-day fast-paced webinar series designed to explore how to use individual and collective areas of privilege to advance racial justice in an intersectional context. Using SNS’ CLAIM framework (Care, Learn, Act, Influence, Maintain), this workshop will explore what it means to adopt an allyship lifestyle. This workshop will equip you with tools to be an active ally for racial justice through methods of naming white privilege, centering people of color, navigating intersectionality across identities, influencing others, and continuing your own self-work journey. You’ll leave this workshop committed to the Allyship lifestyle, and prepared to facilitate change in your own workspace.

Participants must be available for both training days, plan to attend the 2022 RE-AMP Annual Meeting, and join a small group conversation following the Annual Meeting to reflect on your practice. We are proud to offer this opportunity for free to our members as part of our work to act equitably.

Allyship Training Part 1 | Tuesday, August 30th | 10a-1pm CT/11am-2pm ET
Allyship Training Part 2 | Wednesday August 31th | 10a-1p CT/11am-2pm ET
RE-AMP Annual Meeting: September 21-23rd
Small Group Conversation | September 28th | 11a CT/ 12p ET (optional)

This training is free for RE-AMP members. Space is limited to the first 50 people. Register today.

Emerging Leaders Peer Learning Circle August 2022

We are proud to announce the launch of a new peer learning circle that will strive to connect emerging leaders in climate spaces forstaff of RE-AMP member organizations who hold 0-4 years of full-time experience in climate work. From late August -February, the cohort will navigate through programming to expand knowledge, build connections with peers, and increase empowerment as young leaders. Specific focus will be given to systems thinking exercises, facilitation, and relationship building skills. For more details, check out the information document and reach out to erica@reamp.org with any questions. Please share widely with younger staff of your organizations!

Executive Directors Peer Learning Circle

RE-AMP is thrilled to support the climate movement through our inaugural Executive Directors Peer Learning Circle. Twelve participants were selected to participate in this year’s Executive Directors’ Peer Learning Circle which has been designed to support and strengthen Midwest climate leaders through peer and professional coaching, skills building, and community building.

The RE-AMP Executive Directors Peer Learning Circle will run September 2022 – June 2023. In addition to monthly cohort calls to explore sticky issues, participants will be partnered with a peer colleague for more personal support and will be provided a stipend of up to $2,500 for executive coaching. We will bring participants together in spring 2023 for an in-person gathering to continue the learning, build community, and deepen our work. There is currently a waiting list for this program and due to significant interest, we expect to run the program again in 2023. For more information contact Melissa Gavin at melissa@reamp.org

Events

Agriculture and Food Systems Hub Monthly Call | August 14 | Register here

Increasing Democratic Authority in Rural Electric Cooperatives | August 23 | Register here

Transportation Hub Monthly Call | 4th Tuesday of the Month | Contact gail@reamp.org

RE-AMP Annual Meeting | September 21-23