On April 25th, the Nevada Conservation League will be honoring Joe Johnson at our Green Tie Event in Carson City.  Joe has a long history of commitment to creating change through civic engagement. He has served in the Nevada Legislature, been a member of the state environmental commission, and is currently a lobbyist for the Sierra Club.  We want to honor Joe because he has been in the forefront of some of the most important environmental legislation in this state over the last few decades.  However, we also want to honor Joe because in many ways his career exemplifies a mission that NCL shares – a dedication to effecting meaningful change on conservation issues by getting involved with the people and institutions who make laws and shape policy at the state level.

While I was looking for information to write up some material for our Green Tie Tickets website, I came across the minutes of a meeting of the American Geological Institute’s Government Affairs Program Advisory Committee, held some twelve years ago.

Get Involved!

Joe Johnson was a guest speaker at that meeting, invited to give the Committee some insight into how to work with state governments on earth science issues. As he does so, according to the extensive minutes of the proceedings, he continually urges his fellow geologists to get involved, pay attention, learn the procedures, meet the legislators. Normal citizens should participate, he tells them, even at the level of municipal planning commissions or park advisory boards.

At the beginning of the Legislative Session, Kyle Davis, our policy director, wrote in a blog on this site:

Our legislators are “citizen legislators,” they have jobs at home just like everyone else. There’s a lot of cynicism in politics today, but I’m here to tell you that most Nevada legislators take very seriously the thoughts and opinions of their constituents.

In the last few months, I have seen how much our members and supporters care about the issues that are being decided in Carson City.  You have testified at hearings, signed petitions, sent emails, spread the word on important actions and showed up asking to volunteer.  We know that our lawmakers are listening. We know that they care that you took the time to sign your name, send an email or pick up the phone. Now, we have an additional way for you to get involved.

Conservation Lobby Day

On April 25th, the same day as our Northern Nevada Green Tie, we invite you to join us at the Legislature for our first Conservation Lobby Day. Sign up and we will arrange meetings for you with key legislators. No experience is necessary – this all day event will include an orientation, a policy briefing on current bills of interest to the environmental community, and tips on the best way to make your point. Click here to register, or email lobbyday@nvgreenvote.org for more information.

Want to lobby all day and party all night (well, for a few hours in the evening, anyway)?  Stay for our Green Tie Event, and tell Joe that you got involved, paid attention to state politics and met your legislator. It will make his night.

Anna Turner
Development Coordinator
Nevada Conservation League