Conservation Voters for Idaho

CVI proudly welcomes Eklutna Kenny, our new Development & Operations Associate, to the team! Originally hailing from Vermont, Eklutna has a background in nonprofit communications and fundraising from time with a solar energy nonprofit in her home state. She recently moved to Idaho after working in Oregon’s wine industry. We’re glad to have you with us Eklutna!

You heard right, there IS an election today! If you're within the Boise School District boundaries, please take the time to vote today! The BSD has made excellent strides towards sustainability, including making an official clean energy commitment and transitioning several buses to electric models, and we hope to see that progress continue with the next Board of Trustees. Learn more about each race at https://lnkd.in/gHh7Q4U7

"I like to remind people that it doesn’t take a huge lift to make a difference, but that it is a succession of small acts that contribute to making a positive change in the world." Wise words from today's #MentorMonday, Mary Beth Nutting! Mary Beth's professional background combines her two life's passions - reading and spending time outdoors. In addition to working at the Boise Public Library, she recently celebrated her 31st work anniversary with REI. Mary Beth spends her spare time on several boards and councils that are dedicated to making Idaho's outdoors more accessible, including on ACHD's Bicycle Advisory Council and Valley Regional Transit's Regional Advisory Council, and the Canals Connect Communities Coalition. We're so grateful to have a dedicated advocate as part of our mentorship team! Learn more about Mary Beth and the other amazing volunteers supporting our 2024 Boards & Commission program at https://lnkd.in/gunqr6cp

Happy 3 year workiversary to our Communications Coordinator Courtnie! She is the mastermind behind CVI's external messaging, including our emails, website, and social media (for example, she might be writing this very post...) For the last three years Courtnie has been proud to tell CVI's story, connect with Idaho's conservationists, and use our online presence to keep Idaho voters informed about vital conservation policy and the lawmakers who shape it. If you like what you see from CVI, show Courtnie and our organization some love and invite your friends to join our amazing conservation community!

We pulled off yet another amazing Mock Hearing session for our Boards & Commissions cohort this weekend! This is one of our favorite events of the year, where we get to see our Fellows demonstrate all that they learned throughout the session and see how far they've truly come. Thanks to everyone who participated and made this event a success!

Exciting news! We are so thrilled to share that 2024 Fellow Elizabeth Padian has earned an appointment to the Boise Open Space and Water Advisory Committee this week! She will join 2021 Fellow Patty Bowen, who is being reappointed for another term. Congratulations Elizabeth and Patty!

We pulled off yet another amazing Mock Hearing session for our Boards & Commissions cohort this weekend! This is one of our favorite events of the year, where we get to see our Fellows demonstrate all that they learned throughout the session and see how far they've truly come. We're so proud of our fellows and all that they have accomplished over the last several months! Next stop, Graduation! 🎓

We're pleased to share our official list of endorsements in the 2024 General Election! This year we've selected 23 legislative candidates and 4 county commissioner candidates who best reflect the expertise and commitment to elevate Idaho's conservation values. Meet each candidate and learn more about our endorsement process at https://lnkd.in/g96Uihmc!

Don't wait to submit your application and kick off your conservation career! CVI is hiring a Campaign Organizer and a Voter Outreach Specialist to help us succeed in our goals for the 2024 election and beyond. Learn more about both positions and apply at cvidaho.org/jobs/ before August 19th to be considered in our first round of applications! Join our team, make meaningful change for Idaho's natural environment, and build connections in Idaho's political landscape.

This week we're celebrating the 4th workiversary of our incredible Senior Civic Engagement & Leadership Coordinator, Toni Belknap-Brinegar! With the help of League of Conservation Voters, Toni worked to build the Fellowship program from the ground up, the very first of its kind in the nation. Since starting with CVI in 2020 (and we suspect long before then), she has had a tremendous impact on countless individuals in her commitment to creating leadership that is representative of its constituents, from the smallest school district to the seats in the Legislature. We are so grateful to have Toni on our team! Join us in congratulating her on this milestone!