Dispatches from the Road
Old Town Road? More like Old POW(n) Road
August was a busy month for the POW team! In between prepping for our annual D.C. lobby trip through our sister org, the POW Action Fund, gearing up for 2020 elections and doing summer activities like mountain biking and grilling, we were able to host two awesome events in the west!
During Congress’ August recess, many members travel to their home states to meet with constituents and hear their concerns. We were pleased to be able to hold a “congressional roundtable” event with both Senator Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island, and Congressman Ben McAdams of Utah in a casual environment where we could connect over climate stories and our experiences in the outdoors.
On August 12, POW headed to Jackson Hole, Wyoming for an event-packed trip. First, we hosted a training for our local Alliance members, kicked off with a presentation from big mountain skier Lynsey Dyer. The training transitioned to a happy hour event with special guest Senator Whitehouse, graciously hosted by our partners Teton Gravity Research. Since 2012, Senator Whitehouse has been heading to the Senate floor weekly to speak out on climate change in his “Time to Wake Up” speeches. The Senator makes a point to visit states with Republican representatives to learn about how climate change affects them, and utilizes this information and anecdotes in his speeches. Check out his “Time to Wake Up: Wyoming” presentation here, where he mentioned the importance of hearing from our community. But we didn’t stop there––the day was capped off by a sold-out benefit performance by band Portugal. The Man. PTM is committed to activism, and the event was designed to raise awareness of climate change and how the public can become climate advocates. Senator Whitehouse and Lynsey Dyer both spoke to the 500+ crowd about their commitment to the climate crisis and the importance of civic engagement. Our Athlete Alliance member Alex Yoder spoke at the concert as well, and we want to give him a huge thank you for helping us create this incredible opportunity to collaborate with PTM!
On August 29, the POW team headed to Utah to meet with UT outdoor industry leaders and Congressman Ben McAdams (UT-04). Hosted at our partner Skullcandy’s headquarters in Park City, UT (read: office envy), the event was an opportunity to discuss how climate change is affecting the outdoor recreation community in Utah, and we were joined by our partners from Utah ski areas, the Skullcandy team and outdoor gear companies. Athlete Alliance member and Park City local Sierra Quitiquit gave her Passion into Purpose presentation, and we heard from Skullcandy CMO Jessica Klodnicki, Sustainability Director of POWDR Resorts Laura Schaffer and Alliance member Zeppelin Zeerip. Congressman McAdams took time to share his perspective on climate, and took questions from the group where those in attendance could share their concerns how climate change has affected them personally. After the meet and greet, POW hosted a happy hour for Skullcandy employees to educate on POW’s mission and how they can get more involved. Many thanks to Skullcandy for hosting an awesome event with us!
It’s been a killer summer for POW, but it’s only going to ramp up as we transition to fall. Follow POW Action Fund’s D.C. lobby week journey as they meet with our lawmakers, sign up for one of our volunteer trainings, and follow us on Instagram for more events coming up!
Photo Cred: Adam Clark + Wade Dunstan