May 30 at 5:30pm
Community Bike Ride

More information at Traverse Alive

Join your neighbors and friends on a group bike ride through Traverse City. Feel the fun at a pollution free zero gallons per mile. Respect the earth, our community, and contribute to your good health. Join us behind the former State Hospital. MORE INFORMATION

June 1st - June 8th, 2007
Traverse City Smart Commute Week

Find out about Smart Commute Week

The goal of Smart Commute Week is to promote alternative ways to get around town. Smart commuting includes bicycling, walking, carpooling or taking BATA. The purpose of Smart Commute Week is to promote alternative transportation and to educate area residents of the benefits of a smart commute. Smart commuting includes many benefits for your health, for the environment and for your pocket book. Smart Commuting increases our mobility with less pollution.

NMEAC “Profiles in Courage” Award Recipient: Acme Township

Meijer hadn't counted on Acme's Bill Boltres

Every uprising begins with one man or woman standing up and saying "enough." In Acme Township, that was Bill Boltres. The 72-year-old township treasurer lit a fuse back in 2006 when, after suffering two heart attacks and numerous sleepless nights over lawsuits filed against him by Meijer, Inc., he fought back. During depositions related to his counter-suit it was revealed that a law firm hired by Meijer had paid a public relations agency more than $30,000 to secretly orchestrate a failed recall election against the Acme board in 2007. A report done for Meijer also indicated the company made illegal contributions to a 2005 referendum on halting big-box development. The findings from the Boltres depositions prompted a blistering attack on Meijer's goonish tactics from across the state, Boltres not only didn't back down, he filed his own suit and Meijer was sent reeling. Boltres has since sued the Village at Grand Traverse LLC, the corporation behind the Village at Grand Traverse, claiming Meijer-like illegal harassment. Now other Acme officials are contemplating their own lawsuits. Bill Boltres didn't go looking for a fight. All he wanted was to serve his township, help guide development and keep the books balanced. Meijer, though, decided to declare war. MORE

Meijer Actions in Acme Township Causes Investigation

Meijer Inc. has acknowledged it probably violated state law by donating to an effort to recall seven elected Acme Township officials who objected to the chain's development plans, and by failing to report its activities. In a letter to Michigan Secretary of State Terri Lynn Land, a Meijer attorney said the company also may have illegally contributed to a 2005 ballot initiative that overturned a moratorium on big-box store construction in Acme. Rich Robinson, executive director of the nonpartisan Michigan Campaign Finance Network, said what sets this case apart, is the apparent extent of Meijer's behind-the-scenes involvement in Acme Township politics. The company's role is detailed in documents made public in a lawsuit against the company. "For a corporation to secretly finance a recall campaign is pretty unique," Robinson said. [Editor: Acme Township was the recipient of this years NMEAC Profiles in Courage Award.]
READ THIS STORY | VIEW AWARD

Elk Rapids to Honor NMEAC “Environmentalist of The Year in Education” : Kip Knight

The NMEAC Environmentalist of The Year in Education Award Winner Kip Knight will be bringing his students to the Elk Rapids Village Council Meeting on May 19th to be recognized by the village. Kip and the students will set up water quality testing stations at the village hall as part of the evening. It seems these awards keep going and going and going spreading good will and education along the way.

Rewarding Project: Teacher among winners

TRAVERSE CITY RECORD EAGLE—Kip Knight has seen the benefits of engaging students when it comes to the environment. It took about a year for the Lakeland Elementary teacher to organize a day-long field trip for 85 fifth-graders to study water quality in downtown Elk Rapids. But the students' smiling faces as they stood knee-deep in the water was all he needed to know that his efforts weren't in vain. "They are discovering, thinking, wondering. You realize that it is all worth the anxiety of pulling something like this off," Knight said. "My reward is seeing the kids taking it on and knowing they will benefit from this now and hopefully later on." Knight received another reward Friday when he was named Environmental Educator of the Year by the Northern Michigan Environmental Action Council... MORE

Great Lakes Conference and Environmentalist of the Year Awards — Huge Success

Photo Taken by M'Lynn Hartwell from Lectern

Traverse City—When the Northern Michigan Environmental Action Council was only seven years old, it presented the first “Environmentalist of the Year” award to local activist Clarence Kroupa.

That modest beginning has grown into a standing-room-only day-long annual conference that local activists and conservationists consider a highlight of the year. “It’s our signature event,” says Greg Reisig, president of the group. “It is inspiring and uplifting for everyone in the region to celebrate the achievements and honor our heroes.” This year was the 20th anniversary of our prestigious annual ceremony, and NMEAC is pleased to have received a record number of nominations for the 2008 "Environmentalist of the Year" Awards.

Thank you from the Board and Staff of NMEAC for making 2008 conference the most sucesssful ever!

The 2007-2008 Environmentalists of the Year

Achievement Over a Lifetime	VIEW NOMINEES
Clarence Kroupa Award Reg Bird For a lifetime commitment to environmental causes, including land use and land preservation.
Lifetime Achievement Award Bob Carstens For many years of service on the Northern Michigan Environmental Action Council board.

Amazing Volunteers	VIEW NOMINEES
Environmentalists of the Year (General) John Richter For his leadership of Friends of the Jordan River Watershed, his efforts to stop gas and oil drilling within the boundaries of the Jordan River Natural Area, and for valuing and protecting this wonderful natural resource as his life’s work.
Environmentalists of the Year (Volunteer) M’Lynn Hartwell For her diligence in striving to correct environmental problems by treating them as the basic human rights issues they are. Rev. Hartwell works locally, nationally, and worldwide; with politicians, organizations, and individuals to benefit the environment. M'Lynn also developed and maintains "World Water Wars" a web site dedicated to freshwater education and the challenges we face everywhere in protecting this most precious resource. Locally she manages "We Are Traverse City" a citizens resource devoted to regional sustainability.
Environmentalist of the Year (Grassroots Organization) Traverse Bay Watershed Greens For conducting dialogues and building bridges between area organizations and government entities, and for giving the region a viable, third-party choice with the environment being a top priority.
Environmentalist of the Year (Student) Jack Kerby-Miller For organizing a local Focus the Nation event at Glen Lake Schools, and drawing interested local experts to put on a workshop for the general public.

Dedicated Professionals	VIEW NOMINEES
Environmentalist of the Year in Business Local Plates, LLC – Beth Collins For efforts to bring efficient and dynamic approaches to building healthy bodies, minds, and communities by reconnecting whole foods with the people who grow them.
Environmentalist of the Year in Education Kip Knight For urging students to explore the aquatic life and ecosystems of the Grand Traverse Bay, and incorporating information and activities about the Grand Traverse Bay Watershed into his classroom as part of his yearly curriculum.
Environmentalist of the Year in Journalism and Communications Bob Allen-Interlochen Public Radio For consistent and thoughtful reporting on issues ranging from groundwater contaminants to land use abuses, and for his many years of dedication to the northern Michigan environment.
Environmentalist of the Year in Public Service or Public Office Tom Ulrich-Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore For his outstanding commitment to the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore park, the environment, and the public.
Environmentalists of the Year in the Professional category Amy Beyer-Conservation Resource Alliance For fostering collaborative land use solutions that preserve and develop land in a positive manner, so that the natural habitat and beauty remains for all to enjoy.

Special Awards	VIEW NOMINEES
Environmentalist of the Year in Education through Music Song of the Lakes For being “Great Lakes Ambassadors” for over 25 years.
Golden Beaver Award Sarna Salzman For working behind the scenes on many valuable environmental projects.
Golden Bulldozer Award Meijer Corporation (Hall of Shame) For most egregiously placing our regional ecosystem in harms way from development / sprawl.
John Nelson Award for Watershed Stewardship The City of Traverse City Engineering Department & Tim Lodge For researching and installing water filtration systems to the City’s waste water before it enters the Bay, and for installing pervious surfaces at City parking lots to control and purify storm water run-off.
Profiles in Courage Award Acme Township Board and the Acme Township Planning Commission TOWNSHIP BOARD: Wayne Kladder - present supervisor, Dorothy Dunville, Bill Boltres, Ron Hardin, Paul Scott, Eric Takayama, Frank Zarafonitis, Bill Kurtz - retired supervisor TOWNSHIP PLANNING COMMISSION: Matt Vermetten, Bob Carstens, David Krause, Claire David, Ron Hardin, Doug White, Linda Wikle, Pat Yamaguchi, Jay Zollinger CONCERNED CITIZENS: Denny Rohn, Eric Takayama For staying true to the township master plan, which encourages wise land use along the M-72 corridor. Many of these individuals endured personal lawsuits and great hardship due to attorneys representing develpers..

In the News

May 8 - What if you lived by the largest body of fresh water in the world but could no longer afford to use it?

May 6 : Michigan at Center of Nation’s Coal War

Apr 26 - Earth Day Celebration/Parade in Traverse City

April 4 - Gov. Granholm denies Elsenheimer's request to act on Alba well

Mar 27 - Army Corps of Engineers fueling toxic algae growth

Mar 27 - List tells you what Great Lakes fish to buy to help the environment

Mar 27 - Group seeks to stop discharge of lead bullets into Lake Michigan

Mar 26 - Pending Great Lake Water Bill Doesn't Go Far Enough

Mar 26 - Area unions should fight, not aid, BP air pollution

Mar 11 - State Rep. Kevin Elsenheimer’s request to Granholm on revoking the application permit

more headlines >>

The Story of Stuff

Have you ever wondered where the stuff comes from that we buy and where it goes when we throw it out? Must watch.

Click Here

Our Current Priorities

Transportation and land use. Growth is the greatest single issue affecting the environment of Northern Michigan. NMEAC is active on several fronts to help local officials to curb sprawl development and avoid its devastating impacts on wildlife habitat, clean air, clean water and quality of life. NMEAC is a founder of, and leader in, The Grand Vision, a $1.6 million, six-county regional planning process that is involving several thousand residents of Northern Michigan in defining our future. We encourage NMEAC members to find out more about the project by clicking The Grand Vision logo.

Contamination cleanup. Northern Michigan has scores of contaminated sites left over from industrial activities dating back as far as the 1800s. We are pressing local and state officials to accelerate efforts at cleaning these up.

Inland Lake Initiative. We've begun engaging riparian property owners, public officials, lake association members, and others in focused discussions revolving around our region's inland lakes. These finite and land-locked resources face many threats, from over-development to invasive species to poor water quality. NMEAC aims to head up an umbrella group of inland lakes champions and collaborate with water-based partners to implement real strategies for protection. Be sure to check out our Inland Lakes page to stay up-to-date on recent inland lakes activities!