Local Organizing

DRC believes that the most enduring change comes from the bottom up, and that there are lots of people with good ideas but not much influence.  That’s why we have been organizing locally since 1978.  Currently, DRC has seven local affiliates.

Badlands Area Resource Council.  Formed initially in 1998 to keep Dickinson’s landfill public, BARC went on to work with Belfield residents to prevent channelization of the Heart River through town and later played a major role in DRC’s GM wheat victory.  BARC also hosts the annual Albert Hlebechuk Memorial Kite-a-Thon in Belfield each September. Call Field Organizer Cindy Klein at 483-2851 or Chair Linda Weiss at 575-4234 for more information. Join BARC

Grand Forks County Citizens Coalition.  GFC3, formed in 2000, won a landmark victory in 2005 by winning a Turtle River Township decision to reject Grand Forks’ application to build its new city landfill on a site prone to overland flooding.  The city has taken the township to court.  GFC3 has begun work with Lakeville Township residents to prevent a landfill on a similar site there.  Call Field Organizer Lynn Wolff at 298-8685 or Chair Daryl Bragg at 775-9830 for more information. Join GFC3

McKenzie County Energies and Taxation Association.  DRC’s oldest affiliate, MCETA won many early victories on oil and gas issues and later led DRC’s effort to win a vote on the beef checkoff by producers.  MCETA’s efforts led to the first wind measurement program in the county.  The group holds No Bull BBQ each summer with a speaker on cattle market reform.  Call Field Organizer Cindy Klein at 483-2851 or Chair Roger Brenna at 675-2453 for more information. Join MCETA

Missouri Valley Resource Council.  MVRC formed in 2001 and played an important role in developing Burleigh County’s first riverfront zoning.  Later the group won improved access by anglers to EPA fish consumption advisories related to mercury.  Most recently, MVRC persuaded the Bismarck City Commission to offer plastic recycling at its five most used collection points. Call Energy Coordinator Mary Mitchell at 224-8587 or Chair Ramona Redding Lopez at 355-0127 for more information. Join MVRC

Souris Valley Chapter.  SVC initially formed in 1996 to address problems related to the industrial landfill near Sawyer.  The group faced down General Motors and convinced the state to remove hazardous waste the auto giant had illegally dumped.  Later the group worked with Market Place Food, which became the first grocery store in the state to adopt voluntary country-of-origin labeling when the federal government failed to enforce it.  Call Field Organizer Barb Price at 224-8587 or Chair Ted Reinert at 839-0916 for more information. Join SVC

South Agassiz Resource Council.  Formed in Fargo in 2005, SARC collected more than 3,700 petition signatures to bring its 2020 initiative to a vote.  SARC has also worked with city officials to incorporate numerous energy-saving features into its blueprint for the new Fargo City Library.  Call Field Organizer Terry Schaunaman for more information. Join SARC
Check out the SARC Newsletter
Volume 1, Number 1
Volume 1, Number 2

South Central Citizens Coalition.  SC3, formed in 2003, won important reforms in local economic development decision-making, gaining better public access to information and better oversight of performance by recipients. Call Field Organizer Lynn Wolff at 298-8685 or Chair Lori Carlson at 489-3556 for more information. Join SC3

Have a local issue you need help with?  Many of DRC’s most important local efforts have started with a phone call from a concerned resident.  Call the DRC office nearest you for a frank discussion about local issues and organizing possibilities in your area.