Every day, legislators scurry in and out of the capitol building in Madison, working in our service and casting votes, but it’s hard to keep tabs on them – especially when we’re three-hours removed. And while we probably care about our natural resources in theory, it’s hard to know how to convert those rosy intentions into political action.

    That’s where Tom Stolp comes in – he’s the Western Wisconsin Organizer for the Wisconsin League of Conservation Voters. Working to turn conservation concerns into legislation at the state level, Stolp helps citizens stay abreast of issues, wading through reams of conservation news and highlighting the most critical.  He then informs citizens in a “quick, accessible format” so they can approach representatives  with confidence. “It can be cumbersome to figure out who to send what to, and what to include,” Stolp says, well aware that government websites are often maze-like.

    The league also serves as a collective body for nature-associated groups all over the state, from “sportsman” groups like Rod & Gun Clubs to “sustainability” groups like the Sierra Club, who each have a stake in passing natural resource legislation.

    While the organization’s focus is wider than our city, Stolp’s Eau Claire office holds local events. They just held a “Conservation Scorecard Party,” which shed light on the voting records of our state legislators over the last two-year session. Each ‘yay’ and ‘nay’ was accounted for and fused into a “grade.” Incidentally, our very own Kristen Dexter and Jeff Smith each scored 100 percent, a tough standard to replicate.

    In the two years he’s held the position with WLCV, Stolp has noticed a thing or two about Wisconsin conservationists. “The Birkenstock-wearing hippie is such a misrepresentation of what an environmentalist is in Wisconsin,” he said. “Here, most people are conservationists – people who hunt, camp, and bike on a regular basis. … They are just as likely to drive a pick up and go hunting as to drive a Prius and go hiking.” And they’re pragmatic, too – advocating for necessary regulations – not the extremism of returning to horse-and-buggy days.

    Stolp says the Eau Claire conservationist is refreshingly active. “Here’s an interesting way of quantitatively measuring it – at our meetings, attendance levels are 5 percent higher than the rest of the state,” said Stolp, who grew up in Eau Claire.

    So if most Wisconsinites are conservationists (whether or not they label themselves as such), where is the opposition? “People who prefer that we relax regulations,” said Stolp. “It’s easier to conduct business and farming without those. It’s not a disregard for public health, but their only standards are their own. We need to make sure we’re being transparent. Natural resources are ours – we should have a say.”

    If you give Stolp a call, you can have your say, and your natural resources, too.