Board of Directors

The DRA Board has the job of building other leadership and keeping decision making democratic and participatory for all members. All Board Members are responsible for taking part in bi-monthly meetings, for attending the DRA Annual Meeting, and taking some facet of DRA’s fundraising work.

Executive Committee

Chairperson: Tony Helland, Sioux Falls, SD

Vice-Chairperson: Maria Birch, Hill City, SD

Treasurer: Stephanie Peterson, Brandon, SD

Secretary: Stacy Roberts, Carpenter, SD

At-Large Representative – East River

Nick Nemec, Holabird, SD

At-Large Representative – West River

Paula Antoine, Winner, SD

George England, Midland, SD

Chapter Representatives

Deuel County DRA

Dale Roth, Astoria, SD

Home Grown Sioux Empire

Jamie Boley, Parker, SD

Ned Horsted, Sioux Falls, SD

Black Hills Chapter

Rick Bell, Rapid City, SD

Rajni Lerman, Hot Springs, SD

Greater Oahe Action League

Brian Hemmelman, Pierre, SD

Social Media

Just posted a photo https://t.co/a4phXiXJu5

Say it LOUD for the folks in the back...KXL tar sands pipeline cancellation has nothing to do with the price...

Dakota Rural Action

2 days ago

Tonight in Hartford! ... See MoreSee Less

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Dakota Rural Action

6 days ago

This… ... See MoreSee Less

Explainer: How four big companies control the U.S. beef industry

www.reuters.com

U.S. lawmakers are seeking increased oversight of the beef sector as concerns about anticompetitive behavior increase after the pandemic and a cyberattack on a major meat company, JBS USA.

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Dakota Rural Action is with Caselli's Market Garden and Natalie Stites Means.

7 days ago

Dakota Rural Action is excited to bring back the SoDak Grown punch card program! Participating farmers’ markets and grocery stores will have punch cards available throughout the summer. Each time you purchase or harvest a local food item, give yourself a punch on your card. If you buy 3 local food items in one day, you’ll get three punches. Harvest 12 local food items, and you’ll get all 12 punches. Once you fill up your card, turn it in at any participating location, and your card will be entered into a monthly drawing where we’ll be giving away gift cards to the best local businesses. Enter as many completed punch cards as you want for more chances to win each month! Let’s build a strong resilient food system that supports our community and our local farmers and ranchers.Pick up your punch card and get started buying local food! Cards will be collected at the end of each month and winners randomly selected shortly thereafter. Drawings will take place during the months of June through October to highlight the peak of the local food season in South Dakota.Follow us on Facebook to find out more: facebook.com/SoDakGrown/If you have any questions or wish to request cards contact Dakota Rural Action at action@dakotarural.org or call (605)-697-5204#sodakgrown #dakotaruralaction #growyourown #supportlocal #homegrownresiliency #foodsystemchangenow #knowyourfarmer #buylocal ... See MoreSee Less

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Dakota Rural Action

1 week ago

“Attorneys for Bold Nebraska and the Ponca Tribe of Nebraska made the request in a letter to the Nebraska Public Service Commission, which approved the pipeline’s proposed route in 2017. Attorneys Ken Winston and Brad Jolly say the commission has an obligation to protect the property rights of landowners that are threatened as long as the route approval remains in effect.”#EndTheEasements #NoKXL ... See MoreSee Less

Pipeline foes ask Nebraska to revoke project land easements

www.1011now.com

Opponents of the Keystone XL pipeline are asking Nebraska state regulators to revoke the land easements granted to the company across private land now that the project has officially been scrapped.

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Dakota Rural Action

1 week ago

MEMBERSHIP HIGHLIGHT!Today, we are introducing you to longtime member, Don Kelley! Read on to learn about him and his connection to DRA.How long have you been a member of DRA?: I joined DRA at a point when the Black Hills Chapter hadn't yet been organized*, and was in on the original drafting of by-laws, etc. - I can't remember the year off hand. *Our Black Hills chapter turned 10 this past April so Don has been a member for at least those ten years.What chapter are you a part of?: Black Hills ChapterAreas served within DRA?: I was a 2-term state board chairman for DRA and have been a CED committee member since its formation. I was previously a member of DRA state personnel committee. I've worked on various campaigns such as Solarize SD (CED committee), and have given oral and/or written testimony at various state and federal hearings on topics including net metering for solar customers, opposition to uranium mining, opposition to water permits for CAFOs, promotion of PACE funding for energy conservation projects, and pipeline project opposition. I have also been involved in DRA's Pierre lobbying efforts for quite a few years. Renewable energy promotion efforts have been a primary interest of mine.Mentoring experience: We've given a good many tours of our off-grid home, (including a college class) and have enjoyed helping people understand the practicality and economic feasibility of solar electrical power, passive solar construction for heating/cooling, and electric vehicles. I enjoyed talking with many prospective solar users during our Solarize campaign.A little bit about Don: I'm a nearly bald guy lucky to have married a real dynamo (and great cook). Kim and I have worked together on an off-grid, solar-powered DIY house construction project for an embarrassing number of years, and have been living in it for about 12 of those years. We continue to grow most of our vegetables in a big organic garden. When younger and more ambitious, we raised, fed, and milked dairy cows, and Kim made cheese. We raised a lot of poultry back then. In our pre-homesteading lives, Kim was a nurse, and I was a pathologist, both working in Rapid City. We have been accused of being idealists.Do you have a vision for DRA?: Sway state legislators and regulators toward more interest in either small-scale renewable energy or energy efficient improvements through further publicity and outreach efforts, and trying to build public interest and support for these issues.A message from Don: In general, DRA has been a well-recognized (and largely well-respected, even among opponents) force for change in a state where change doesn't come easily, in part due to very entrenched corporate interests, and being one of the states with the most lax political integrity standards. DRA is definitely an organization which includes many dedicated, effective, and well-informed people.I'm encouraged by the new, talented folks who are attracted to DRA efforts. These battles can be won (think KXL!), even though years of effort and patience may be required. ... See MoreSee Less

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