Notes From The SoDak 350 Board of Directors : Organization Update

The May "Notes" are not from the Chair but rather from the entire Board of Directors of SoDak 350. We are taking this unusual step because we want to let you know about an important decision that was made by the Board during the April 2025 Board meeting.

On April 18, 1775, 250 years ago Paul Revere Road out of Boston late at night and headed for Lexington warning colonialists along the way that the British were coming. And so began the American Revolution against tyranny and the unrestrained power of a monarch that led to the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, and 12 years later to the ratification of the Constitution in Philadelphia on June 21, 1788.

Paul Revere’s ride led to the creation of a nation committed to the rule of law, governed by a Constitutional commitment to the separation of powers, and established on the belief that power in the United States is of the people, by the people and for the people.

Over 250 years these commitments, these truths have provided the foundation for this nation as it faced challenges but endured.

Now, however, we find ourselves engaged in an assault on the Constitution, on the rule of law, and on our institutions that are unprecedented, that are beyond party affiliation.

Efforts to address the impact of climate change of course, have also been decimated but without adherence to the Constitution, without due process, without protection of inalienable rights - any realistic chance to address climate change disappears.

The Board therefore agreed unanimously on the following eight steps:

1. We will do what is necessary to continue to exist as a 501c3 in the state of South Dakota so that we have a base that will allow us to organize, accept funds, collaborate with other organizations, and respond when needed to urgent and specific issues related to climate change and opportunities to transition to a renewable future.

2. We will establish the process and timetable required to re-name this

organization and update our mission statement as needed and our focus areas.

3. We will consider including in those updated focus areas specific language about supporting adherence to the Constitution and to the rule of law in every instance aware that addressing the impact of climate change is impossible in the face of tyranny and authoritarianism.

4. We will complete our current commitment to the production of a climate related brochure and we will continue to work on the issue of building codes.

5. We will continue to collaborate when indicated and when possible, with other members of the Sioux Falls Sustainability Coalition.

6. We will continue to make the website and the monthly publication of a

newsletter a priority so that there remains a voice addressing the issues of

climate change in this community and also so that we as an organization have a platform to speak out.

7. We will make no further commitments to climate specific initiatives between now and at least the end of September 2025 but instead shift our time and energy individually and when appropriate, as an organization, to the more urgent issues of standing up against tyranny and authoritarianism.

8. We will continue our monthly board meetings as a way to remain grounded as an organization, communicate and share concerns and updates about ongoing efforts and opportunities, and as a way to provide support to each other and to all of our members during these challenging times.