A Brief History of Alliance Efforts
The Early Years of AFS
(1994-2005)
The early years were filled with educational luncheons and evening programs on sustainability. We published a lively newsletter and were guided by a 21-24 member board, representing business, government and educators.
Pie & Politics and the Local Living Economy Summit
(1997 – 2020)
Pie and Politics is the Alliance's largest annual (and free) event at the Big Top Chautauqua. It began as an evening presentation with entertainment and conversation, and free homemade pies. Our speakers have included mayors, authors, international leaders, farmers, and community activists in the field of sustainability. Today we draw 300-700 people annually. In 2012 Ben Hewitt author of "The Town that Food Saved" help us explore how we can build a stronger local food network. The evening was followed by our 1st Annual Local Living Economy Summit hosted at WITC the nest day. The theme for 2013 was“Local Living Economies" featuring Judy Hicks author of“Good Morning Beautiful Business”. Pie and Politics 2014 will celebrate 'Prosperity for ALL" as local speakers set our community on fire with their own home grown inspirations.
The Sustainable Chequamegon Initiative
(2006-2011)
The Sustainable Chequamegon Initiative was a Strategic Plan adopted in 2006. As a result, volunteers were able to raise funds for an office and Coordinator, and sponsored Study Circles to read The Natural Step for Communities. The Alliance supported eco-municipality resolutions in Ashland, Washburn, Bayfield and La Pointe and helped launch an eco-municipality movement in Wisconsin. Successes and gaps in the plan were reviewed in September of 2011. The Alliance began sponsoring the “State of the North Country Series” as a vehicle to keep the community in conversation on a strategic planning level on different initiatives.
Campaign Sustain
(2007-2008)
Campaign Sustain was a door-to-door effort to reduce energy consumption and promote the use of public transportation. Interns spoke with over 4,000 area residents, traded CFLs for incandescent bulbs, and distributed free passes for the BART public transit system.
The Green Team Network of Early Adopters of Sustainability
(2007-2010)
The Green Team Network was a coalition of 18 businesses who formed “Green Teams” and received training that helped them “green” their day-to-day operations, reduce waste, conserve water and energy, and save money. Green Team Network partners have demonstrated the economic benefits of
sustainable operating practices. Included in this network were manufacturers, retailers, schools, governments, and local tribes.
A Sustainable Business Conference
(2008)
The Sustainable Business Conference was held in Ashland and attracted hundreds of attendees from around the State. Bob Willard from IBM was
our keynote speaker.
Energy Independent Communities Pilot Project
(2009)
The Energy Independent Communities pilot project allowed the Alliance to coordinate one of ten state pilot projects with support from the Office of Energy Independence. Nine local government partners underwent an in-depth energy assessment process, established baseline information and identified ways to reduce energy use in government facilities, while promoting the use of renewable energy. Partners saved thousands of taxpayer dollars and leveraged hundreds of thousands of dollars in state and federal grant funds.
Home Energy Audits
(2011 -2012)
Home energy audits were funded through a grant from Xcel Energy that allowed student intern energy efficiency specialist from WITC to provide free home energy audits and low-cost efficiency recommendations to 18 area resident while gaining hands-on experience and on-the-job training. All audit homeowners received a full report, along with thermal images from the audit, and a synopsis of the survey results.
State of the North Country Series
(2011 – 2013)
State of the North Country series are community presentations and dialog sessions that evolve our local sustainable community development strategic plan into a living, breathing community endeavor in which all are welcomed as change agents. To date, presentations have included the economics of happiness, building local economies, and what’s next in growing a sustainable future for all.
ReSource ReUse Store
(2013 to 2024)
Working in collaboration with the Greater Chequamegon Bay Area Habitat for Humanity Chapter , the Alliance opened the ReSource ReUse Store in the Summer of 2013, Located in Washburn, WI , ReSource is a home improvement store and donation center that sells gently used and surplus building materials and home products to the public at a fraction of the retail price.
Going Forward
The Alliance for Sustainability is currenltymproviding nonprofit support to local area initiatives.
(1994-2005)
The early years were filled with educational luncheons and evening programs on sustainability. We published a lively newsletter and were guided by a 21-24 member board, representing business, government and educators.
Pie & Politics and the Local Living Economy Summit
(1997 – 2020)
Pie and Politics is the Alliance's largest annual (and free) event at the Big Top Chautauqua. It began as an evening presentation with entertainment and conversation, and free homemade pies. Our speakers have included mayors, authors, international leaders, farmers, and community activists in the field of sustainability. Today we draw 300-700 people annually. In 2012 Ben Hewitt author of "The Town that Food Saved" help us explore how we can build a stronger local food network. The evening was followed by our 1st Annual Local Living Economy Summit hosted at WITC the nest day. The theme for 2013 was“Local Living Economies" featuring Judy Hicks author of“Good Morning Beautiful Business”. Pie and Politics 2014 will celebrate 'Prosperity for ALL" as local speakers set our community on fire with their own home grown inspirations.
The Sustainable Chequamegon Initiative
(2006-2011)
The Sustainable Chequamegon Initiative was a Strategic Plan adopted in 2006. As a result, volunteers were able to raise funds for an office and Coordinator, and sponsored Study Circles to read The Natural Step for Communities. The Alliance supported eco-municipality resolutions in Ashland, Washburn, Bayfield and La Pointe and helped launch an eco-municipality movement in Wisconsin. Successes and gaps in the plan were reviewed in September of 2011. The Alliance began sponsoring the “State of the North Country Series” as a vehicle to keep the community in conversation on a strategic planning level on different initiatives.
Campaign Sustain
(2007-2008)
Campaign Sustain was a door-to-door effort to reduce energy consumption and promote the use of public transportation. Interns spoke with over 4,000 area residents, traded CFLs for incandescent bulbs, and distributed free passes for the BART public transit system.
The Green Team Network of Early Adopters of Sustainability
(2007-2010)
The Green Team Network was a coalition of 18 businesses who formed “Green Teams” and received training that helped them “green” their day-to-day operations, reduce waste, conserve water and energy, and save money. Green Team Network partners have demonstrated the economic benefits of
sustainable operating practices. Included in this network were manufacturers, retailers, schools, governments, and local tribes.
A Sustainable Business Conference
(2008)
The Sustainable Business Conference was held in Ashland and attracted hundreds of attendees from around the State. Bob Willard from IBM was
our keynote speaker.
Energy Independent Communities Pilot Project
(2009)
The Energy Independent Communities pilot project allowed the Alliance to coordinate one of ten state pilot projects with support from the Office of Energy Independence. Nine local government partners underwent an in-depth energy assessment process, established baseline information and identified ways to reduce energy use in government facilities, while promoting the use of renewable energy. Partners saved thousands of taxpayer dollars and leveraged hundreds of thousands of dollars in state and federal grant funds.
Home Energy Audits
(2011 -2012)
Home energy audits were funded through a grant from Xcel Energy that allowed student intern energy efficiency specialist from WITC to provide free home energy audits and low-cost efficiency recommendations to 18 area resident while gaining hands-on experience and on-the-job training. All audit homeowners received a full report, along with thermal images from the audit, and a synopsis of the survey results.
State of the North Country Series
(2011 – 2013)
State of the North Country series are community presentations and dialog sessions that evolve our local sustainable community development strategic plan into a living, breathing community endeavor in which all are welcomed as change agents. To date, presentations have included the economics of happiness, building local economies, and what’s next in growing a sustainable future for all.
ReSource ReUse Store
(2013 to 2024)
Working in collaboration with the Greater Chequamegon Bay Area Habitat for Humanity Chapter , the Alliance opened the ReSource ReUse Store in the Summer of 2013, Located in Washburn, WI , ReSource is a home improvement store and donation center that sells gently used and surplus building materials and home products to the public at a fraction of the retail price.
Going Forward
The Alliance for Sustainability is currenltymproviding nonprofit support to local area initiatives.