Annual Report 2009

1 Marsh along Crab Creek, Columbia Basin

Last year brought significant victories and progress on important environmental issues in state. But the worldwide economic collapse prevented our society from dealing with two of Washington’s most serious problems: climate change and restoring Puget Sound to health. These remain as both challenges and opportunities. The progress we made this year illustrates the various ways WEC works to protect Washington’s environment – through our advocacy in the state legislature with the Environmental Priorities Coalition, implementing past wins on the ground, and weighing in on ballot initiatives that would have big impacts for our environment. Rod Brown We were buoyed by the continuing success of past work. For instance, President our state’s electronic waste recycling program, created by a campaign WEC helped spearhead, was a runaway success - collecting over 38.5 million pounds in its first year of operation. 2009 was also an exciting year for WEC organizationally. We finished the fifth year of our most recent strategic plan, having completed almost all of what we set out to do five years ago. This gave our staff and board a chance to step back to evaluate our role in protecting Washington’s environment – what things we do well, what things we know we could do better, and how we can best advocate for our local and global environment. It was an exciting opportunity for us to plan what we want to accomplish over the next five years. Our new plan, approved at the end of the year, lays the groundwork for big things to come. Joan Crooks Executive Director We were encouraged by the strength with which WEC came through the tough economic times. Thanks to our donor base, whose belief in our work continues to inspire us, and to our track record of prudent fiscal management, WEC finished the year in good financial shape. Throughout it all, we have worked to promote ideas and policies which follow a guiding principle – that our state should have both a healthy environment and a healthy economy. And that the two depend on each other. Here at WEC, we continue to be invigorated by the power of our partnerships – from our legislative partners at Washington Conservation Voters to green businesses to progressive allies who share our vision for the state. We look forward to partnering with you to help build a bright future for Washington. Thank you!

2 Our mission: To protect, restore and sustain Washington’s environment.

Our Work: Washington Environmental Council has an over forty-year history of achieving smart environmental protections for our state. We bring people together to advance bold solutions that make Washington a better place to live. We focus on Marsh along Crab Creek, Columbia Basin state level environmental policy and have played a significant role in the adoption and enforcement of Washington state’s most successful environmental laws and policies – protecting our land, air, water, and our quality of life.

Washington State ferry, Puget Sound and Olympic Mountains Cover: Sunset on Second Beach, Olympic National Park 3 Aerial of San Juan Islands

Leading the Way In 2008, Washington Environmental Council a substantive way. Time was running out, and in the last helped pass the Climate Action and Green Jobs law. days of the session the Cap and Invest bill did not make This landmark legislation set clear state limits on global it to the Senate floor for a final vote. warming pollution and provided for a green jobs This could have been the end of the story, but training program in Washington. What it didn’t do was WEC knew that addressing climate change could not articulate how Washington would go about meeting its wait until the legislature reconvened in 2010—every day pollution reduction goals. That would require additional counts. And Governor Gregoire agreed. legislation, and WEC was up for the challenge. On May 21, 2009, Governor Gregoire signed a At the beginning of 2009, in partnership with historic Executive Order which includes many of the Climate Solutions and working provisions of the revised Cap closely with Governor Chris and Invest bill, including: Gregoire, WEC helped bring reducing pollution by large the Cap and Invest bill to the emitters; evaluating a low- legislature. One of the 2009 carbon fuel standard; pursuing Environmental Priorities, Cap transportation planning and Invest required polluters to to reduce solo driving and acquire permits to pollute, and to provide less-polluting choices; reduce their pollution over time. and transitioning Washington Revenue from selling the gradually state’s single, large coal-fired shrinking pool of pollution permits power plant to clean energy would be invested in green jobs production. and clean technology innovation to help accomplish the transition to a clean energy economy. The Order continues Washington’s momentum as a leader in climate change efforts, and primes the The proposal saw an outpouring of public state to benefit from a cleaner energy economy. During support: from editorial boards across the state to citizen the signing ceremony, Governor Gregoire specifically advocates who showed up in record numbers to speak thanked WEC and our partners for moving these for the bill. At hearing after hearing, people spoke about policies forward. the urgency – for our environment and our economy - of acting now on climate change, and they asked the Meeting the challenge of climate change won’t be legislature to pass strong statewide climate policy. It done in a year – or in one action. We know our solutions seemed like common sense. will need to be as multi-faceted as climate change itself, so we are building a multi-year agenda to create However, it was a tough legislative session, the state and regional policies that will help drive and dominated by the state’s budget woes. The bill was complement federal action, and expand Washington’s amended to tackle several discrete pieces of the clean energy and climate leadership. We look forward to climate challenge, but in the end many legislators were continuing to partner with you to create a clean energy reluctant to take on an issue as big as climate change in future.

4 Mount Rainier beyond the Nisqually Valley near Ashford, Washington

Implementing Past Wins

So what do you do once you’ve built support in attentiveness, learning, and healthy eating habits. around a great idea and passed it into a new law? While that program is an excellent start, there You keep going to ensure that change happens on the is still much more to be done. WEC knows from ground. That’s exactly what WEC has done with our experience that, when faced with breaking down long- Local Farms – Healthy Kids campaign this past year. standing barriers, the more hands helping, the easier the In 2008, we worked with a coalition of farmers, work. So we decided that our continued engagement children’s health advocates, school nutritionists, and would center on empowering people across the state to parents to pass the groundbreaking Local Farms – take advantage of the new opportunities presented by Healthy Kids Act. This law broke down some long- the law. To help, we produced a toolkit to help parents standing institutional barriers and interested community to start connecting schools with members get farm-to-school local farmers. projects started. We are also But once the law passed, working to activate and the even bigger challenge of empower parents to let their turning this great idea into legislators these programs reality remained. are important and worthy of continued funding. State law no longer treated food like pencils – buy And the coalition the cheapest available, without that came together to help thinking about the long- pass the law continued to term health impacts to kids or supporting the local work together to find ways to support the movement. community. But school kitchens seem to have been A great example of this is WEC volunteer and local replaced with giant microwaves and big signs on the food activist Beth Loveridge. She was instrumental in doors that read, “No Cooking Allowed”. And some helping pass the law and has jumped right into figuring farmers remain dubious about school purchasers, who out how to make it work on the ground. In fall 2009, she didn’t understand ordering according to a growing organized a conference in Clallam County that brought season. together over 150 elected officials, farmers, school superintendents, teachers, parents, school nutritionists The Local Farms – Healthy Kids Act created some and local business owners. programs to start bringing those walls down, like the Washington Grown Fruits and Vegetables Program. This The energy around this issue is palpable – program funds grants for fresh fruit and veggie snacks Washingtonians are enthusiastic about finding ways in schools with high numbers of low-income students. to feed our kids healthier food and strengthen our It was an encouraging success - in one year, 10,000 kids farm network. What we have in Washington is a ate fresh, locally-grown snacks in school like Armin great beginning - WEC will continue to work with Jahr Elementary in Bremerton to Moxee Elementary in our partners to make Washington’s farm and school Yakima. Feedback from schools reported improvements connections a model for the nation.

5 Skagit Valley, Skagit River estuary, and Mount Baker from Austin Pass

Bringing People Together As a non-profit, WEC does not endorse response and using our office for nightly phone banks. candidates. But that doesn’t mean that we don’t view We worked to get the word out to our members by elections as an important part of our work to protect phone banking, emailing their friends and neighbors, Washington’s environment. To that end, we take positions and writing letters to the editor. The reaction was on statewide ballot initiatives and work to involve and inspiring – one night, the majority of the City engage voters around important Council, even those up for re- environmental issues through our election, showed up to phone bank. Voter Education Program. Our outreach efforts were In 2009, Washington’s guided by the work of our Voter environment faced a reckless Education Program, which helps us, opponent in Tim Eyman’s and the rest of the environmental Initiative 1033. This proposal community, effectively reach voters would have locked in the year’s who care about our issues and anemic state budget as our mobilize them. baseline, threatening many things There was a clear reason important to Washingtonians – everyone was so motivated – I-1033 education, public safety, environmental protections, and would have had a disastrous impact on Washington’s our economic recovery. ability to combat climate change and restore Puget Due to the misleading way I-1033 was framed, Sound. The state had already been forced to make initial polling was very much in its favor. It was going deep cuts in funding for natural resource programs to take a massive statewide campaign to stop it from and I-1033 would have lead to even further cuts on moving forward. WEC joined a diverse coalition of over environmental protections, as well as jeopardizing 250 businesses, environmental organizations, and health, natural resource agency work. labor and education advocates, which worked together to Thanks to the efforts of the broad coalition, I-1033 let voters know the dangers I-1033 posed to the things we was soundly defeated by Washington voters, 57% to care about. 42%. It’s a victory that will continue to resonate as we Working with our partners at Washington work to make sure essential environmental protections Conservation Voters, WEC was in the thick of the fight remain funded and in place. – helping to coordinate the environmental community’s

6 OUR SUPPORTERS Skagit Valley, Skagit River estuary, and Mount Baker from Austin Pass Columbia River Basin, Steamboat Rock State Park

Thank you to our Martin Fabert Foundation Gallatin Public Affairs Riddell Williams P.S. 2009 Supporters! Morris Family Foundation Ulrich & Ethel Ganz Nancy Ritzenthaler Norcliffe Foundation Gendler & Mann LLP Mike & Edith Ruby Donors $10,000+ Nancy Nordhoff Jim Goldman William Ruckelshaus Anonymous Washington Forest Law Center Jan & Wayne Gombotz Joseph Ryan Brainerd Foundation Marty & Suzanne Goodman & J. Lee Nelson Ryan Donors $1,000 - $4,999 Bullitt Foundation Darren & Leah Gray Sapphire Energy Burning Foundation Aldermere Foundation Grays Harbor Paper Bronwyn & Phillip Scott Bob & Eileen Gilman Family Nancy Alvord Lane Gwinn Hill Seattle City Light Foundation Anchor QEA Larry Harris & Betty Azar Deborah Schulte Cascadia Law Group Brian Arbogast & Valerie Tarico Harrison Giveaway Fund Ron & Eva Sher GuentherMedia.com Seth Armstrong of Tides Foundation Elizabeth Sloss Phoebe Haas Trust Dee & Bill Arntz Danferd Henke Harder Foundation Charles & Nancy Bagley Vince Houmes Joan Thomas Horizons Foundation Don Barbieri Janice & Thomas Huseby Towne Foundation Laird Norton Family Foundation Len Barson & Margie Wetherald Ron & Gail Klemencic Turner Construction League of Conservation Voters Steve & Barbara Bigley Klorfine Foundation Van Ness Feldman Education Fund Bill & Beatrice Booth Donald Kunze Mike & Camille Vaska Craig McKibben & Sarah Merner Boushey Vineyards Alexandra Loeb Philip Vogelzang & Katy McCoy Northwest Fund for the Bricklin & Newman, LLP Laura Lundgren Doug & Maggie Walker Environment Rod Brown & Catherine Conolly Walter & Ruth MacGinitie Donald & Mary Wieckowicz Ordinary People Foundation Tom & Sonya Campion Magnusson Klemencic Wildlife Forever Fund RC Hedreen Company Bill & Frances Chapman Associates Judith Yeakel Russell Family Foundation Clifford Traisman & Associates Kathy Malley & Mark Johnson Ziontz, Chestnut, Varnell, Berley, Social Venture Partners Patricia Collier Martin Djos Family Foundation & Slonim Surdna Foundation Colymbus Foundation Mike Mathieu Donors $500-$999 The Tagney-Jones Family Fund Keith Cowan & Linda Walsh & Kathy Washienko at The Seattle Foundation Jeremiah Cox Bill & Colleen McAleer Pamela Anderson Wianko Charitable Foundation Marian Crooks Mark McDiarmid Thomas Bayley & Elise St. John Dan Evans Consulting Bill Black & Mary Fite Black Donors $5,000 - $9,999 Brian & Diane McIntyre Elizabeth Davis Robert & Sarah Blumenthal Pete Miller Anonymous William Donnelly Dee Boersma & Jean Johnson John Arum The Donnelly Gray Group at Jeffrey & Jenn Clark Mithun Jabe Blumenthal & Julie Edsforth Merrill Lynch Patrick & Pamela Cone Outdoor Research Joan Crooks & Don Davies John Edwards Chris & Lori Houck Cora Paladin Data Systems Tim Crosby Kelly Evans Linda Derschang Linda S. Park, Ph.D Lucy Hadac Ellen Ferguson Fred Ellis Harrington-Schiff Foundation Kathe & Greg Fowler Robert & Judith Fisher Puget Sound Pilots Hyatt at Olive 8 Mike & Martha Galvin Ada Frenock Louis Richard & Sally Adams Frank Greer & Stephanie Solien 7 Donald Gruber Ann Dawson Dan Cantrell & Lynn Pasley Frank Vane Henry M. Jackson Foundation David Dicks & Antonia Jindrich Kathleen Cassou Richard Voss Kurt Hoelting & Sally Goodwin Ivan & Carol Doig Hearst & Jerolyn Coen Sunny Thompson-Ward Jay & Trudi Inslee John Fabian Caitlin Collins Eugene Wan K & L Gates LLP Aaron & Susan Fairchild Beverly Crichton Craig & Eva Weaver Grace Kalish Rich Feldman & Catherine Baker Margaret Davidson Kathleen Whitson Rona Krochmalny Pamela Garlett H. Joachim Deeg & Francoise Beth Wieman Eugene Lam Michael Hampton-Fitzgerald Deeg-Le Gal Beverly Joan Witte Clayton Lewis Jocelyn Horder David Dicks & Antonia Jindrich Jerry & Nancy Worsham Greg Lindstrom Gerald Howe Chris Dolejska Tarrell Wright Douglas & Judith McBroom & Virginia Allemann Margaret Elofson Alicia Yamamoto Oddfellows Café Ken & Carolyn Johnston Mark & Karen Endresen John & Ingrid Osterhaug Sophy Johnston Karin Engstrom Legal Supporters Dick & Sally Parks Kurt Kiefer & Mary Williamson Ruth Erickson Thank you to the committed DeAnna Poling Bob & Judith Knopp Susan Ferrel attorneys who volunteered their William Pope Jim Kramer Deeann Glamser time and expertise in 2009. Bill Ross Richard Little M. Jeanne Gordner John Arum – Ziontz, Chestnut, Varnell, Berley & Slonim Thomas & Anna Rudd Mike Mann Richard Grady & Laura Hart Kristen Boyles - Earthjustice Tom McDonald Christopher Hall Kyle Samuels & Christopher Janette Brimmer – Earthjustice Osborn John & Gail Mensher Michael Hampton-Fitzgerald Rod Brown - Cascadia Law Schooner EXACT Brewing Richard Monroe Ray & Mary Hansen Group PLLC Company Joe G. Norman, Jr. Laura Hastings Dan Galpern – Western Dan Silver & Jeanne Koenings Lisa Pelly Laura Immel Environmental Law Center Christian Sinderman Patrick Pitcher & Kelly Rench Steve & Nancy Johnson Mindy DeYoung – Riddell Marcy Tobin Pam Powel Ray & Martha Johnston Williams P.S. David & Christine Tweedy Alyson Rieke Candace Jordan Ken Lederman - Riddell Williams P.S. Eugene Wan Deborah Rudnick James Krieger & Kim Wicklund Tribute Gifts Ed Zuckerman & Mary Bond Karen Ruppert Yvonne Kuperberg In honor of Buel & Luana Sever Cliff Kushler Tisha Quinby Anderson Donors $250-$499 Anne Stevens Eugene Lam In memory of Albert Crooks Charles Anderson Julie Stormes Greg Lindstrom In honor of Cory Fuller Virginia Anderson Gene Stout & Gretchen Sorensen Susanne Loerke In honor of Brian Gruber – 2 gifts Ed & Sandy Alto Bill & Betsy Taylor Dale & Leila Martin In honor of Betsy O’Halloran Anne B. Appleby Tom Uren & Sharon Lawrence Erick McWayne In honor of Bill & Daria Taylor David & Leigh Bangs Betty Wagner Gary Meisenburg Bruce & Nanette Bassett Craig & Eva Weaver Karle Mottet Matching Gifts Ronny & Catherine Bell John & Lynne Weidman Darwin Mueller Bank of America Arnold & Judith Bendich Steve Whitney & Cheryl Teague Patrick Neville Brainerd Foundation G. Andrew Benjamin Charles Wiggins Sharon O’Grady Bullitt Foundation & Nan Herbert Tarrell Wright Tracy Ouellette Richard & Thelma Berner David Parker MSNBC Franklin Bjorseth Sustainability Circle Tony & Ann Peacock Barbara Brown The Sustainability Circle is WEC’s Wayne & Sharon Rainer Workplace Giving Mary & Tom Brucker monthly giving club, which provides Laverne Ramsey Lora L. Brown us with reliable support, cuts costs, Thank you to everyone who Timothy Randolph contributes through workplace Rod Cameron & Heather and reduces waste. Bonnie Rohrer giving campaigns, like Earth Share Howard John & Andrea Adams Deborah Rudnick of Washington. Charles Anderson Dan Cantrell & Lynn Pasley Karen Ruppert Tressia Anderson Stan & Ann Cecil William & Joan Scott Laura Backer Howard Choder & Robin Stephen & Julie Shaver Freedman Peter Baird Margaret Smith Simon Clarke Lois Banks Yvonne Dee Stahl & Alice Burden Bill & Patti Barmettler Julie Stormes M.E. Covert Richard & Helen Bednarczyk Richard Strickland Beverly Crichton Adam Berger & Harriet Phinney We value all contributions and try Jean Strieck Pat Dalton Cy Berryman very hard to list & spell all names Douglas & Amanda Strombom & Susan McFadden-Dalton Sara Bhakti correctly. If you find we made a Vernon Swaim Marc Daudon David & Anne Bricklin mistake, we would appreciate it if Ellyn Swanson & Maud Smith Daudon Joyce Brinck you brought it to our attention by Beatrice Thompson Philip & Catherine Davis Barbara Bruell emailing [email protected] or Lindsey Tui Virginia Davis Charles & Sally Butler calling 206.631.2608. 8 FINANCES Cascade Range

2009 Revenue Dues & Contributions 25% Change in Investment Value 9% Dividends & Interest 2% Reimbursements & Miscellaneous 1% Events 11% Workplace Campaigns 1% Grants 51%

Dues & Contributions $331,611 Grants $686,105 Workplace Campaigns $18,612 Events $150,938 Reimbursements & Miscellaneous $12,701 Dividends & Interest $22,669 Change in Investment Value $123,659 Total $1,346,295

2009 Expenses Environmental Protection Programs 81% Administration 15% Development & Fundraising 4%

Environmental Protection Programs $922,419 Development & Fundraising $176,523 Administration $42,725 Total $1,141,667

Change in Net Assets $204,628 Net Assets Beginning $1,107,850 Net Assets Ending $1,312,478

* Investement changes include WEC's board restricted endowment Washington Environmental Council is a non-profit, tax-exempt organization under 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code Financial information in this report is drawn from audited statements by the accounting firm of Dave Bembridge, CPA PS 9 Washington Environmental Council Board of Directors

John Arum lives on Carrie Dolwick Kathe Fowler has Vashon Island and works as a Policy served on the board practices environmental Associate for the NW of the King County law in Seattle. As Energy Coalition. She Conservation Voters part of his practice, currently serves as the and was board he has represented Board Chair of NW chair of Washington WEC and many of its Sustainable Energy for Conservation Voters. member organizations Economic Development She also serves on in litigation concerning our air, land and (NWSEED) and is a co-founder of the board of Washington Wildlife and water. Sustainable South Seattle. Recreation Coalition, the Advisory Representing NW Energy Coalition Council for the Methow Conservancy and the Executive Leadership Council for Jabe Blumenthal, Hopelink. designer of the first Bill Donnelly has version of Excel at served on the board Microsoft, went on of Northwest Fund Hilary Franz has to head the science for the Environment, been a land use and department at Lakeside Conservation environmental attorney High School in Seattle. Northwest, Resource for 13 years. She Jabe is the co-founder Media, and Basel currently serves as a and board chair of Progress Alliance Action Network. A Bainbridge Island city of Washington, board chair of Climate principal at the Donnelly-Gray Group at council member and a Solutions, and a Bullitt Foundation board Merrill Lynch, he has been involved with member of Department member. environmentally-sensitive investing for of Ecology’s Advisory Group on Climate Representing Climate Solutions more than two decades. Change and SEPA Advisory Group.

Rod Brown, John Edwards is Marcy Golde is a President, practices Emeritus Professor long-time volunteer environmental law of Biology at the with WEC working on at the Cascadia Law University of fish, water quality and Group PLLC and has Washington. He forestry issues. Marcy spent over fifteen years serves on the board of was one of the original as a WEC volunteer, the North Cascades negotiators of the helping to create Conservation Council landmark Timber, Fish our state’s Superfund cleanup law and and is board chair for the Mountaineers and Wildlife Agreement (TFW) and is past Growth Management Act. He served as Conservation Division. president of the Northwest Fund for the Environment. one of two environmental community Representing North Cascades members on Governor Gregoire’s Climate Conservation Council Representing Olympic Forest Coalition Advisory Team.

Representing Seattle Audubon Dan Evans uses his Darren Gray is a Congressional, legal, partner with the Marc Daudon is and strategic planning Donnelly Group a Principal and background to serve at Merrill Lynch co-founder of the public and private providing wealth Cascadia Consulting clients. He serves management and Group, a sustainability on the board of the investment consulting consulting firm in Transportation Choices services to individuals, Seattle. He serves Coalition and as Policy Director of the companies and non-profit organizations. on the board of Sustainable Fisheries Foundation. Climate Solutions and was board chair of Washington Conservation Voters.

10 Janice Huseby worked Tony Peacock, Vice- WEC Staff for Lockheed, Blue President, is a licensed Leea Brady, Administrative Director Shield, and Raychem Land Surveyor and Brendon Cechovic, Program Director Corporations, focusing has worked in both Kerri Cechovic, Outreach Director in organizational the public and private Joan Crooks, Executive Director effectiveness. She sectors. He currently has served as Board serves on the state David Gorton, Membership President of The board of Washington & Grants Manager Children’s Museum and has worked Conservation Voters and was a founding Becky Kelley, Campaign Director extensively with other non-profits such as member of the King County chapter. Mo McBroom, Policy Director Washington Women’s Foundation. Kerry McHugh, Communications Lisa Pelly is the Manager executive director of John Little is the Washington Rivers Allison Schulte, Development legislative and political Conservancy, and Manager director for the has been on the Clifford Traisman, State Lobbyist Northwest Carpenters, board of Washington Tarrell Wright, Development Director representing 25,000 Conservation Voters, union carpenters in the Walla Walla Washington, Oregon, Watershed Alliance, Farming and the Idaho, Montana, and Environment, and the Washington Wildlife Wyoming. and Recreation Coalition.

Patrick Neville is the Christian Sinderman Economic Development is a regional political Specialist at the Worker and strategic Center, a division of communications the M.L. King County consultant, working Labor Council, AFL- with elected leaders CIO. He coordinates at the federal, state, the Washington Apollo and local levels Alliance -- a coalition of business, labor, as well as non-profits, unions, and environmental, and community leaders other organizations. He serves on the working to catalyze a clean energy Transportation Choices Coalition Board. economy. Representing Transportation Choices Representing Washington Apollo Coalition Alliance Jim Timmons currently Claudia Newman is an works at Washington environmental and land State University as use attorney at Bricklin an adjunct instructor & Newman. Claudia teaching Economics is a board member of at their TriCity the Cascadia Green campus. Jim also Building Council teaches Economics and spent two years and other business classes at Heritage working as a member of the ASHRAE University in Toppenish. Standard Committee 189, which authored Staff a comprehensive model green building code. Representing Cascadia Green Building Council

11 Early snowfall on the eastern slopes of the Cascades

Special thanks to Art Wolfe for the use of his photos of Washington. www.artwolfe.com

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