Methow Valley Citizens Council

Smoke-Ready Community Workshop
2020-11-02 18:30 - 19:30 UTC | WA
Imagine us a “Smoke-Ready Community…”
• With safe, clean indoor air for everyone during oppressive wildfire smoke such as suffered this September.
• Where everyone understands how to access and interpret air quality data, and apply it for decision making in their lives.
• Without smoke from unnecessary burning.
• Taking measures to protect everyone’s health so living with smoke from wildfire and forest health initiatives didn’t feel so hard.
Your participation is requested to develop a plan to create this community. Clean Air Methow, the Okanogan River Airshed Partnership, the Colville Reservation Air Quality program, EPA, FEMA and the Federal Reserve Board of San Francisco have collaborated to host this interactive workshop.
Presentations will lay a foundation to describe our current sources of smoke and air pollution and forecast what we can expect with hotter, drier, and smokier summers to come. We’ll define a “smoke-ready community” then break into small discussion groups to solicit community input to drafting and implementing a plan to get there.

Please join us! Copy this link to your calendar and click to join on Nov. 2nd.
https://epawebconferencing.acms.com/smokeready2020/

Annual Members Meeting
2020-06-25 16:30 - 17:45 | WA
We encourage everyone to pre-register for the event. You can register via Zoom, bitly.com/2020mvcc
Join MVCC staff, board, and fellow members at our first-ever virtual annual membership meeting. We are honored and excited to announce that Hilary Franz, Commissioner for Washington State’s Public Lands, will be our keynote speaker, and will discuss her recently unveiled Plan for Climate Resilience which lays out a framework for managing state forests and wildfire response in the face of a changing climate.
In addition, MVCC staff and board members will provide an update on the state of the organization, programming priorities for 2020 and beyond, and how members can continue to engage and support our work. There will also be opportunities for attendees to engage and ask questions, so please come prepared to actively participate!
This is a member’s only event so we encourage you to become a member today! mvcitizens.org/membership
Event Details:
Date: Thursday, June 25th
Time: 4:30pm to 5:45pm
Registration: bit.ly/2020mvcc

Save the Date for a virtual Earth Day Celebration!
2020-04-17 16:00 - 17:30 | WA
The 50th Anniversary of Earth Day is going virtual on Friday, April 17th, from 4-5:30pm.
This Earth Day marks the anniversary of the birth of the modern environmental movement on April 22, 1970.
Join the Methow Valley Citizens Council and Methow Arts for an online celebration kicking off the beginning of Earth Week.
The event will include:

An interview with Denis Hayes, National Coordinator of the First Earth Day in 1970. Conducted by Liberty Bell and Independent Learning Center High School students.
Inspiring video clips of Methow Valley students sharing their vision for the future
Live interview with Xiuhtezcatl Martinez, inspiring & nationally-recognized climate activist and hip hop artist.
State of the Nation Expert Panel Discussion with Michael Gerrard of Sabine Center for Climate Change at Columbia Law. Michael Furze of WA State Dept. of Commerce, and Amelia Marchand of the Colville Confederated Tribes, moderated by Jasmine Minbashian.
Live music & video with Luc Reynaud and poetry reading by WA State poet laureate. Claudia Castro Luna.

Register for the FREE event here!

POSTPONED: Earth Day's 50th Anniversary Kick-Off Celebration
2020-04-17 - 2020-04-18 | WA
The health and safety of our Methow community and all who come to visit is our most important priority. Given the developing Coronavirus news in the last 24 hours, Methow Valley Citizens Council and Methow Arts believe it is no longer appropriate to hold a large public Earth Day celebration in mid-April. Hosting an event that aims to draw hundreds together in close proximity is contrary to the global priority to contain and avoid further spread of the Coronavirus.
On March 11th, the World Health Organization officially announced that Coronavirus is a global pandemic. With Washington State at the epicenter of the national outbreak, Governor Jay Inslee also announced that he is prohibiting gatherings of over 250 people in King, Pierce and Snohomish counties. Lastly, Okanogan County is encouraging people to follow the state’s recommendations and voluntarily avoid large gatherings. With the prospect of transmissions growing, and the serious health implications, it is has become clear that if we held the event, we could exacerbate the problem.
With that in mind, we have decided that the responsible decision is to postpone the two-day 50th Anniversary Earth Day celebration to a later date (stay tuned). All planned events on both Friday and Saturday events, including performances by Xiuhtezcatl Martinez and Son Luna y Jóvenes Zapateadores will be postponed.

We wanted to communicate this decision as soon as we made it, even while we are still working through the logistical implications. We will update you with further details as they develop. We are hoping that some of the scheduled programming will still be able to occur during the week of Earth Day – in another format, perhaps as a livestream conference. Please stay tuned on Methow Arts’ Earth Day calendar page to stay up to date on the rescheduled events and activities for Earth Day: http://www.methowarts.org/earth-day2020/.
In the meantime, please accept our sincere apology. We are truly inspired by the spirit and resilience of this community – and the way we can come together for a good cause. We look forward to celebrating our valley – and our Earth – with you when the time is right!

Many thanks,
Jasmine Minbashian, Amanda Jackson Mott
Methow Valley Citizens Council Methow Arts Alliance

Resilient Methow: Workshop on Adapting to Local Climate Impacts
2019-11-19 17:45 - 21:00 | Methow Valley Community Center, 201 South Highway 20, Twisp, WA, 98856, United States
You’re invited to help develop a Community Climate Action Plan for the Methow Valley!
For the past year a group of concerned community leaders – comprising the health, economic, infrastructure, natural systems, and agriculture sectors of our valley – have joined together to convene a Climate Action Task Force. The Task Force has been evaluating impacts from the changing climate in our valley – and finding potential solutions.
Identifying and prioritizing potential climate impacts and solutions is the first step to developing a Methow Climate Action Plan. Now we need your help to ensure we have identified all potential impacts and start the process of determining what impacts are the most urgent and important to the Methow Valley community. The Task Force invites you to join us on Tuesday, November 19th to start the process of developing a Methow Climate Action Plan.
We will be joined for a short presentation by Dr. Amy Snover, Director of the UW Climate Impacts Group as well as community leaders, elected officials, business owners and more. Dr. Snover’s presentation begins promptly at 6pm, please arrive on time.
Pizza, refreshments and childcare will be available at the event. Please RSVP to reserve your childcare slot.

Keeping Your Cool in Smoke Season: Community Conversation RSVP
2019-11-12 18:00 - 20:00 | Methow Valley Community Center, 201 South Highway 20, Twisp, WA, 98856, United States
2019 was a blessedly smoke free summer, but we all still recall our 40 consecutive days of unhealthy air quality during the 2018 fires. 2017 was also a terrible smoke year. The Methow Valley Clean Air Project has been listening to what smoke season feels like to you – not just headaches, sore throats, and wheezing – but also the high stress of being cooped up indoors, feeling alone and isolated, wondering when the smoke was going to clear, and whether this is simply our “new normal” for summers in the valley.
As we see right now in California, this is not just a local issue, but one people are grappling with all over the world – how do we care for ourselves and each other during the mental stress of wildfire smoke? We can wear respirator masks and try to stay inside in cleaner air, but how do we stay mentally strong through prolonged smoke episodes?
Please join the Methow Valley Clean Air Project for a discussion to better understand what smoke season felt like, and what helped make it better. We are partnering with the University of WA to develop a tool kit for our community to use, to help share information on coping during smoke season. Small focus groups will be led by local health and wellness providers to hear your concerns and solutions. From your input, the toolkit will be developed, shared back with you, and widely distributed in the community prior to the 2020 smoke season.
We know there are A LOT of these types of listening sessions going on in the valley this fall; thank you for taking the time to participate in this unique effort to build our resilience to wildfire smoke.
Dinner and quality, fun childcare provided!
Space is limited – please RSVP to annah57@uw.edu and liz@mvcitizens.org

Respire: Yoga Fundraiser for Clean Air Methow
2019-11-08 18:00 - 21:00 | WA
Join Clean Air Methow and Motive Yoga for an evening of yoga with DJ Mantis to raise funds and awareness for Clean Air in the Methow Valley. Tickets are $40 and your ticket purchase automatically enters you into a raffle with the chance to win a HEPA Air Filter valued at $100, Motive Yoga goodies and more!!
Directions to Heli Barn at Freestone Inn: Heli Barn at 31 Early Winters Dr, Mazama, Wash., on the Wilson Ranch adjacent to the Freestone Inn & Cabins, 1.5 miles west of the Mazama Junction off Highway 20.

Comment Deadline on Okanogan County Comprehensive Plan
2019-09-19 | WA
Please view our Comp Plan Update for information on what content to comment on. Below you will find the announcement by Okanogan County on the Extended Comment Period Deadline.
Notice of Okanogan County Comprehensive Plan DEIS Comment Period Extension
Notice is hereby given that the Okanogan County Office of Planning and Community Development has issued a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) which discusses environmental impacts of the proposed revisions to the 2014 Okanogan County Comprehensive Plan. The Comprehensive Plan proposal has been prepared in accordance with RCW 36.70 Planning Enabling Act, RCW 36.70A Growth Management Act, and other applicable case law and requirements. The Comprehensive Plan contains policies that inform other land use regulation in all unincorporated areas of the county. The proposed revisions to the comprehensive plan consider the medium range of population increase prepared by the OFM which projects that the population will increase by 2891 people (revised) by the year 2040. The revised comprehensive plan includes three alternative policy approaches for dealing with the projected population increase. The draft environmental impact statement considers a 4th alternative suggested during the scoping period.

The SEPA Responsible Official has reviewed submitted comments and has determined an extended comment period is warranted. The notice for the DEIS was published on July 17th and 18th , 2019. The deadline for submitting comments regarding the DEIS is extended to 5:00 pm, September 19, 2019. Date of publishing is August 28th and 29th, 2019.

Agencies, affected tribes, and members of the public are invited to comment on the DEIS and the revised comprehensive plan. You may submit your comments in writing or electronically to: cingle@co.okanogan.wa.us or mailed or delivered to 123 5th Ave N. Suite 130, Okanogan WA 98840.
Information regarding this proposal can be obtained from: Okanogan County Office of Planning and Development, Angie Hubbard, Interim Director of Planning, 123 5th Avenue North, Suite 130 Okanogan, WA 98840 509-422-7090 or ahubbard@co.okanogan.wa.us . A copy of the proposal and other documents may be viewed at www.okanogancounty.org/planning

Screening of Return of the River - Twisp
2019-08-09 19:00 - 20:30 | Methow Valley Community Center, 201 South Highway 20, Twisp, WA, 98856, United States
Return of the River follows a group of strong-minded committed people as they attempt the impossible: to change the public opinion of a town and eventually the nation to bring a dam down. The community comes to a consensus, setting the Elwha River free and showing the way to a more sustainable future. Amid grim environmental news, Return of the River is a film infused with hope.
The film will be followed by a facilitated discussion covering the Similkameen River, Enloe Dam, and the benefits of the restoration of the river.
As a ratepayer of Okanogan Public Utility District and/or a citizen of Okanogan County, we want you to be aware of how we all can assist the Okanogan PUD, federal and state agencies, and the county in taking responsibility for the restoration of the Similkameen River.
There will be coffee, tea, and light refreshments. Donations are welcomed.
This film presentation and discussion is sponsored by Columbiana.

March with us this Fourth of July in Twisp!
2019-07-04 10:30 - 23:30 | Twispworks, 502 S. Glover Street, Twisp, WA, 98856, United States
Save the date for the Town of Twisp’s Annual Fourth of July Parade! MVCC will be marching in the parade and we invite all our supporters to join us on Thursday, July 4th at Twispworks!
We encourage you to wear your MVCC t-shirts for this event. Shirts and tank tops for men, women, and children are available for purchase at the MVCC office in Twisp.
When: 10:30 am on Thursday, July 4th
Where: Twispworks Campus
Please RSVP by Monday, July 1st to Raechel Youngberg, raechel@mvcitizens.org

Rise & Shine for the Methow - MVCC's Annual Celebration!
2019-06-01 | WA
You are invited to bring a friend to Rise and Shine for the Methow!
Saturday, June 1
12:30 – 2:30pm
OSB Taproom (Twispworks campus)
Potluck and BBQ with local flavors
Everyone is welcome, kid-friendly!

Plus: Annual Board Election, Updates on MVCC initiatives to protect our land, air and water, and fun ways to get involved in our work.
Bring a friend who is not yet a member of MVCC – together we can plant the seeds of home-grown advocacy for generations to come!
HELP US RAISE A CROWD:
Come to one of our weekly phone banking events at the MVCC office (located at 305 E Hwy 20, Twisp) every Thursday in May from 6-7pm to encourage members to turn out for our Rise and Shine event!
Snacks and drinks are included to make this a festive task.
To attend these phone banking events or help from the comfort of your own home Sign up here.

Promenade for Protection!
2019-04-20 17:00 - 21:00 | Winthrop Barn, 51 N Hwy 20, Winthrop, 98862, United States
You’re invited to celebrate the Methow Headwaters Campaign on April 20th!
Come celebrate the passage of the Methow Headwaters Protection Act with us on Saturday, April 20th at the Winthrop Barn! More details to come.

Methow Climate March
2019-04-19 16:30 - 20:00 | Twispworks, 502 S. Glover Street, Twisp, WA, 98856, United States
On March 15th, 2019 1.6 million students in over 2000 countries walked out of their classrooms to demand their governments act on climate change. You have the opportunity to take part in the global climate movement, right here in the Methow on April 19th.
Join us in Twisp to March for the Climate! We will gather at the TwispWorks campus, walk through town, ending up at the Methow Valley Community Center for Inspiring Speakers, Educational and Activism Opportunities, Food, Drink, Music, and Fun! All Welcome!
There are several volunteer opportunities to help make this event a success! We need folks to help setup, cleanup and reroute traffic during the march. If you would like to assist either sign up on Volunteer Methow or email Cameron Green (cameroncatering@yahoo.com)
Let’s start off Earth Day weekend celebrating our beautiful home and demanding action on climate change!

Free Screening of Critically-Acclaimed National Geographic Film 'Paris to Pittsburgh'
2019-04-16 18:00 | Liberty Bell High School Auditorium, 18 Twin Lakes Road, Winthrop, WA, 98862, United States
From coastal cities to America’s heartland, Paris to Pittsburgh celebrates how Americans are demanding and developing real solutions in the face of climate change.
And as the weather grows more deadly and destructive, they aren’t waiting on Washington to act.
Join the growing global climate movement and learn what you can do to help at our free screening of Paris to Pittsburgh.
View the trailer, here.
This screening is brought to you by MVCC’s High School Climate Internship Program.

MVCC Open House
2019-01-03 16:00 - 18:00 | MVCC Office, 305 E Methow Valley Highway, Twisp, WA, 98856, United States
Start the year off right by advocating for land, air and water with the Methow Valley Citizens Council!
MVCC was founded in 1976, when a group of citizen activists came together to protect the Methow’s natural environment and rural character. This past fall MVCC moved into a groovy 1970’s A-Frame building in between Windermere Reality and the Twisp Eagles.
To honor our new location and MVCC’s legacy we are holding a 1970’s themed office warming party on Thursday, January 3rd from 4-6pm. Stop on by and join in on the fun! We will provide happy hour snacks and drinks. Be sure to dress up in your best ’70’s garb for the chance to win a prize!

Methow Headwaters Public Meeting on 11/13
2018-11-13 18:00 - 19:30 | Winthrop Barn, 51 N Hwy 20, Winthrop, 98862, United States
The Bureau of Land Management will host a public meeting in the Methow Valley on Tuesday, November 13 @ 6PM at the Barn to gather public feedback on the proposal to approve a mineral withdrawal for the Methow Headwaters region. A mineral withdrawal would make the 340,000 acres of U.S. Forest Service land in the Upper Methow Valley off-limits to large-scale mining for the next 20 years. The Methow Headwaters Campaign has worked hard to secure this protection and needs your voice of support at this meeting!

Phone Banking for the Methow Headwaters Campaign - copy
2018-11-12 17:30 - 19:30 | MVCC Office, 305 E Methow Valley Highway, Twisp, WA, 98856, United States
The Bureau of Land Management will host a public meeting in the Methow Valley on Tuesday, November 13 @ 6PM at the Barn to gather public feedback on the proposal to approve a mineral withdrawal for the Methow Headwaters region.
MVCC will be phone banking on evenings of 11/7, 11/8 and 11/12 to encourage valley residents to attend the 11/13 event. We’d love if you’d join us! All you need are a pair of headphones and a cell phone! We will provide snacks, drinks and a information of the Methow Headwaters Campaign.

Phone Banking for the Methow Headwaters Campaign
2018-11-08 17:30 - 19:30, 2018-11-07 17:30 - 19:30 | MVCC Office, 305 E Methow Valley Highway, Twisp, WA, 98856, United States

Phone Banking for I-1631!
2018-11-05 17:30 - 19:30, 2018-10-29 17:30 - 19:30 | MVCC Office, 305 E Methow Valley Highway, Twisp, WA, 98856, United States
As local farmer and activist, Cameron Green said at our Campaign Event for I-1631, “We can’t keep running away from climate change hoping it will be better somewhere else.” Climate change is here and it’s here to stay unless we as citizens choose to #ActOnClimate.
That is why MVCC is proud to support I-1631. Every Monday up until 11/5 we will be holding phone banking events at our office in Twisp. We will provide the materials so you feel confident to speech directly to voters about why they can help ensure future generations have access to a livable planet. We will also provide snacks, and drinks.
Please bring a cellphone, laptop and headphones. If you do not have access to these items we can provide them for you on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Canvassing for I-1631
2018-11-04, 2018-10-28 | WA
MVCC is proud to support I-1631, and you can too!
We need help canvassing for I-1631 every weekend in Winthrop and Twisp! You set the hours and we provide you with the materials.
We will be canvassing at the following locations and times.
Saturday: Twisp Farmers Market (9am-12pm) and Winthrop Corner anytime.
Sunday: Winthrop Corner anytime.
Email Raechel@Mvcitizens.org to learn more!

Canvassing for I-1631
2018-11-03 09:00 - 12:00, 2018-10-27 | Twisp Farmers Market, 201 Hwy 20 South, Twisp, WA, 98856, United States

Phone Banking for I-1631
2018-10-31 17:30 - 19:30, 2018-10-24 17:30 - 19:30 | Drop Zone, 303 Riverside Ave, Winthrop, WA, 98862, United States
As local farmer and activist, Cameron Green said at our Campaign Event for I-1631, “We can’t keep running away from climate change hoping it will be better somewhere else.” Climate change is here and it’s here to stay unless we as citizens choose to #ActOnClimate.
That is why MVCC is proud to support I-1631. Every Wednesday up until 10/31 we will be holding phone banking events at the Dropzone in Winthrop. We will provide the materials so you feel confident to speech directly to voters about why they can help ensure future generations have access to a livable planet. We will also provide snacks, and drinks.
Please bring a laptop, cellphone and headphones to this event.

Phone Banking for I-1631!
2018-10-22 17:30 - 19:30 | MVCC Office, 305 E Methow Valley Highway, Twisp, WA, 98856, United States
As local farmer and activist, Cameron Green said at our Campaign Event for I-1631, “We can’t keep running away from climate change hoping it will be better somewhere else.” Climate change is here and it’s here to stay unless we as citizens choose to #ActOnClimate.
That is why MVCC is proud to support I-1631. Every Monday up until 11/5 we will be holding phone banking events at our office in Twisp. We will provide the materials so you feel confident to speech directly to voters about why they can help ensure future generations have access to a livable planet. We will also provide snacks, and drinks.

Fourth of July Parade
2018-07-02 08:00 - 17:00 | Twispworks, 502 S. Glover Street, Twisp, WA, 98856, United States
Save the date for the Town of Twisp’s Annual Fourth of July Parade! MVCC will be marching in the parade and we invite all our supporters to join us on Wednesday, July 4th at Twispworks!
We encourage you to wear your MVCC t-shirts to this event. Shirts and tank tops for men, women and children are available for purchase at the MVCC office in Twisp.
When: 10:30am on Wednesday, July 4th
Where: Twispworks Campus
RSVP Contact: Raechel Youngberg, raechel@mvcitizens.org
Please RSVP by July 1st
Are you artistically inclined and passionate about the Methow Valley? We are looking for 1-2 volunteers to lead an art build prior to the Fourth of July parade.
Contact: Raechel at Raechel@mvcitizens.org or call the MVCC office at 509-997-0888, if you would like to learn more.

Rise and Shine for the Methow - MVCC's Annual Event
2018-05-26 10:00 - 12:00 | Winthrop Park, 51 N Hwy 20, Winthrop, WA, 98856, United States
Join us to celebrate the natural environment and rural character of the Methow Valley! This year, we’re rising up to meet the challenges and celebrating the successes of 40+ years of advocacy work with a delicious homegrown brunch at the Winthrop Park. We’ll be joined by nationally recognized climate activist and speaker, KC Golden, as we talk about building resiliency in our community in the face of climate change and how we can all work together to create a strong future for the Methow Valley. We’re looking forward to celebrating with you as we share where we’ll be focusing our energy and efforts in the coming year, and hearing from you about the issues you think deserve attention.
Timeline:
10am – A homegrown brunch served featuring local ingredients from Methow Valley Farmers
10:45am – Climate activist KC Golden will talk about how we can tackle the climate crisis with local action and bolder citizenship. Come with questions, ideas, and a hunger for action!
11:15am – Join us for a fun and engaging activity that is both adult and kid friendly!
Come on out for a fun community celebration with food, drink and live music – we look forward to seeing you there! Contact: mvcc@mvcitizens.org for more information or questions – RSVP’s appreciated, but not required.
