On September 28, 2023, several prominent organizations gathered in La Crosse, WI to sign the Mississippi River Operation Pollination Partnership (MR-OP), a major collaboration between multiple organizations that have a stake in protecting the MR’s natural environment. La Crosse Mayor Mitch Reynolds welcomed a group of pollinator supporters (at Rotarian Roz Schnick’s “The Monarchy”) by saying how important it is for leaders “up and down” the MR to pledge their support for insect pollinators. The groups that signed this MR-OP agreed that “pollinator loss” is a major environmental concern for our planet’s future health. In turn, these groups support local organizations and residents pledging to take action to help make the world a better place for our children and their children.
The groups that signed the MR-OP at the Event (in order of signing) are individuals representing: (1) Rotary International District 6250, (2) Mississippi River Parkway Commission, (3) City of La Crosse, WI, (4) North Woods and Waters of the St. Croix Heritage Area (a proposed “National” Heritage Area), (5) Environmental Sustainability Rotary Action Group (ESRAG), (6) Operation Pollination, (7) Pollinator Advocate and Partnership Visionary (Roz Schnick), and (8) Monarch Joint Venture. Not present at the Event but signing electronically were representatives of Pollinator Partnership, Pollinator Friendly Alliance, and Homegrown National Park.All persons present at the MR-OP Event were encouraged to use the power of their yards to plant pollinator habitat by pledging support for this important River-wide pollinator protection effort by signing the Resolution and/Pledge at: https://esrag.org/operation-pollination.
GROUP PHOTO CAPTION: Signers of the Mississippi River Operation Pollination Partnership in order (Left to Right) are: (1) Michelle McGraph, Rotary International (District 6250); (2) Sherry Quamme, Mississippi River Parkway Commission; (3) Marty Harding, North Woods and Waters of the St. Croix Heritage Area; (4) Mayor Mitch Reynolds, City of La Crosse, WI; (5) Karen Kendrick-Hands, Environmental Sustainability Rotary Action Group; (6), Marlene Gargulak, Operation Pollination; (7) Roz Schnick, Pollinator Advocate and Partnership Visionary; and (8) Chris Stein, Monarch Joint Venture. (Photo credit GaryNoren)