Over the first weekend of May, several members of our staff attended our national conference, led by the League of Conservation Voters, in Denver, Colorado. We were joined by representatives from all 36 state leagues, sharing inspiring stories of environmental victories.

While each of us walked away with more knowledge, skills, and passion than we could possibly convey in a top 10 list, we’ve attempted to boil it down to share why attending opportunities like this is critical for our work in North Carolina.

1) We are not alone in our current challenges.

Sadly, the environment has become a political, and at times partisan, issue in states throughout our country. And, instead of positive changes dominating the environmental news landscape, we are more often seeing advocates on the defense, fighting against cutbacks, rollbacks, and everything in between. We may face vastly different obstacles, and our biggest advocates vary from region to region. But, at the end of the day, there are thousands of individuals who work in the League for clean water, air, and land. They put in hours of time researching, organizing, educating, conversing, and engaging all of the power brokers in their states to protect the natural resources and the people of that area. When we say we’re part of a movement, we are truly part of a movement.

2) Scorecards are critical for our work to hold legislators accountable.

While not everyone may love our scorecards, we know that it provides a critical measure of oversight into how our elected officials are voting on conservation legislation. For the first time in 2013, we expanded our scorecard to include a progress report on Governor Pat McCrory. But, how else could we use this instrument as a tool for change?

Maryland LCV has a great addition to their annual scorecards: a list of environmental legislation that essentially has gone to the graveyard (aka died in committees). These are bills that may never crack the media surface, but some of these could have enormous positive benefits for natural resources (check out Maryland’s scorecard here). We’ll look toward what other states are doing in their scorecards to see what might also work to keep North Carolinians informed about what is happening at the General Assembly.

3) It won’t be this bad in North Carolina forever.

While we argue that our environment should never be a partisan issue, the actions of the last few years seem to prove otherwise. But, no matter which party has the majority at the General Assembly, we know that positive conservation legislation is possible. Take Alaska and other states have turned the partisan corners and actually create environmentally-sound legislation. In 2013, Alaskans faced an extreme anti-conservation agenda attacking clean water, protections for healthy salmon, and Alaskans’ due process rights. For this particular bill (House Bill 77), over 40 Alaskans testified against it once the bill reached the Senate. Because of the public outcry, the bill never reached a floor vote, chalking up a victory for the people and environment in The Last Frontier.

4) We need to do a better job communicating with voters about the environment.

We heard a great presentation from pollster Lori Weigel, Public Opinion Strategies, about the language of conservation. Many of us – whether longtime advocates or employees – tend to recycle the same language in order to talk about our environment (no pun intended). But, as we’ve seen through polls and voting records, natural resources are rarely a top issue when voters go to the polls in November. But, what are key issues? Our health and our economy. And guess what? These tie directly back to how we are treating our air, water, and land.

So, let’s talk more about the relationship between the environment and our health. From increased rates in asthma to depleting green spaces for children to play outside, these are key issues that will affect future generations. Historically, our country has embraced natural resources. Many of our US Presidents fought hard to protect and preserve open space by establishing national parks and limiting wildlife destruction. Let’s transition from fossil fuels to clean, renewable energy. Solar, wind, and geothermal are already powering homes, businesses, and communities across the country. These natural resources will continue to dominate as the energy of the future.

5) Don’t kill all the lawyers. What they are saying is actually important!

Need we say more?

6) Shifting demographics will play a major role at the ballot box and for our natural resources.

Have you heard of the Rising American Electorate (RAE)? For major political parties, this is THE target group to get to the polls. According to the Voter Participation Center:

“In 2010, more than 71 million unmarried women, people of color and people under thirty—the groups that make up the Rising American Electorate and the majority of voting eligible members in America’s democracy—did not vote. Nearly two thirds of them, 46 million, were not registered to vote; 25 million were registered but did not vote. In 2008, the last presidential election year, more than 46 million Rising American Electorate members failed to vote. Of those non-voters, 37 million were not registered compared to 9 million who were.”

What happens if they do register and then vote? The key issues affecting these groups will have more momentum, and there will be a greater sense of accountability. As part of our NCLCV Foundation’s work, we will be launching a statewide voter registration program to reach eligible voters. We need to ensure that this powerful bloc understands how environmental issues do affect them on a daily basis – from the water they drink, the air they breathe, and the parks where their children play.

7) Fried tacos are critical components to conference enjoyment.

Hey, we have to eat at some point, right? Carrie, our Executive Director, swears by these tacos at Mexico City Lounge in Denver. Check out more photos of this iconic concept at the following link (warning: may induce mouth-watering. Keyboards be advised.): fried tacos.

8) There is no need to reinvent the wheel when it’s being done right.

Our national organization tests, tests, and tests how best to engage members in taking action – whether it’s signing a petition, attending events, or contacting legislators. With limited resources, especially time, we feel fortunate that an entire team is willing to share with us what works – and what doesn’t. Because, at the end of the day, if we aren’t impacting our elected officials on the issues that are important to us and holding them responsible at the ballot box, we’re not fulfilling our mission. And, we’re letting down our natural world. So, we’re continuing to learn what our national organization has tried – from taking actions to engaging voters – and duplicating those successful efforts in our own backyard.

9) Be yourself.

Even though we make up an organization that has some serious work to accomplish, we each recognize that we are still people with our own distinctive personalities. Some of us are more serious; some of us about may be a bit goofy. We’re extroverts, introverts, and some it depends on the day. As each of us specialize in our program areas, whether lobbying, development, organizing, enforcement, or governance, it’s important that we are true to who we are when fulfilling our roles at NCLCV. It’s important for our members and the general public to see our authenticity, and if we are trying to put on a façade by embodying what we think you as the public would like to see as an organizer or fundraiser, then we are doing you (as well as ourselves) a disservice.

10) You have one creative staff working to fight for your environmental beliefs.

It is tradition that on the final conference evening, state chapters pitch to host the following year’s conference in their cities. Well, your very own North Carolina staff threw our collective hats in the ring to bring the conference to Raleigh for 2015. Despite an incredible performance (check out some of the lyrics below), we are sad to report that Annapolis, Maryland, edged us out by ONE vote. But, if any of us needed another reminder on the importance of each and every vote, you could not ask for a better example.

Highlights from North Carolina’s Pitch for Host National LCV Conference

Y’all: we’re the crew from NC, and we’re here to throw down, why you should vote for our charming town.

In 2015, let’s go to the South, with fried okra, hushpuppies, and BBQ in your mouth.

In our City of Oaks, you’ll be surrounded by green. Our trails do beckon as does our local food scene.

We’ve got wetlands and greenways, the mountains and the sea. We promise next May, Raleigh is the place to be.