+

Annual Report 2015 November 2014-October 2015

+New & Notable

+ A Time to Build Up: the campaign to triple PA IPL’s capacity *

n  Financial growth and stability to support hiring a second ½ time staff person: our new Executive Director, the Rev. Alison Cornish

n  100% Board participation in 3-year giving campaign; 12 additional 3-year pledges

n  10 charter members of the new Sustainer’s Circle (pledges of $1000 per year for 3 years)

n  17 automatic recurring donors (monthly, quarterly, or annually)

n  new grants and partnerships

n  Membership in the US Climate Action Network

n  Called on by media and organizations in connection with Pope Francis’ encyclical and visit.

+

2015 in Review

+ PROGRAMS & OUTREACH n  CUT EMISSIONS

n  SPEAK and AMPLIFY messages of faith, justice, and stewardship n  unique voice, strategically used n  effective partnerships n  clear vision: urgent justice issue

n  GROW CAPACITY n  engage new people n  learn at all levels n  recharge and connect

+

Cutting Emissions Our practical work to reduce the climate-changing impacts of our households, congregations, and

communities: to live our values, lead the way, and be of service.

+

Cut em

issions directly n  14 energy efficiency classes for potential clients of the

Centre County Fuel Bank (in partnership with Interfaith Human Services; open to public); served 165 households

n  Weatherization First (including Positively Green PennState PSU window-builds): 8 low-income home energy efficiency and safety projects completed, 25 progressed.

n  Task-a-Month pilot completed n  Getting to Zero — leadership congregation Central Baptist

Church in Wayne recognized transportation as their biggest remaining emitter, set their zero-emissions goal, and exceeded it with offsets —including Bright Idea donations of high-efficiency light bulbs— for transportation, electricity, fuel, and supplies.

n  Electricity switch to 100% wind- and solar-generated electricity for households

n  Alternative Transportation candidate conversation in Huntingdon with PA IPL cyclists and Council candidates

+

Speak & Amplify

Our work to grow the public voice for messages of faith, justice, and stewardship in connection with

climate change.

+Media

n  earned newspaper coverage n  15 articles in 12 newspapers across the state

n  TV and radio coverage n  Philadelphia NBC affiliate TV-10 coverage of a coalition panel,

march and vigil (led by the Rev. Alison Cornish) in advance of Pope Francis’ visit.

n  2 featured interviews on radio shows: WKOK, G-town Radio n  WHYY (Philadelphia NPR affiliate) feature coverage of Central

Baptist Church’s Getting to Zero challenge.

n  Letters to the Editor n  at least 7 that specifically mention faith and climate change and

came from 5 PA IPL voices.

n  Published Opinion pieces n  at least 4 in 4 different papers, from PA IPL voices, about climate

change and faith.

+Testimony and public speaking

n  Testimony n  EPA methane hearings; Philadelphia

n  8 testified; 108 relevant postcards from conference n  EPA Clean Power Plan Federal Implementation Plan hearings

n  at least 3 comments n  DEP State Implementation Plan listening sessions

n  12 official comments at 6 sites; 108 relevant postcards from conference

n  Rallies and public speech n  Coalition Rally with strong faith voices outside the closed “Shale

Conference” held by fossil fuel interests regarding the Philadelphia “energy hub” at Drexel University in March

n  Speakers at coalition “Beat the Heat” rallies in Pittsburgh and Philadelphia in advance of The Clean Power Plan release.

n  Speakers at media conferences in advance of EPA Methane and Federal Implementation Plan hearings.

n  March and vigil following panel in advance of Pope Francis’ visit to Philadelphia

n  PA-to-DC cyclists sit-down office visits to both Senators’ offices and 15 of 18 PA Representatives.

+

Growing Capacity Our work to expand knowledge and

action at the nexus of climate change and faith: to engage new people,

learn at all levels, and recharge and connect.

+Education and N

etwork B

uilding n  Interfaith Moral Climate Advocacy Workshops in Philadelphia (Feb) and

Harrisburg (August) with Active Neutrals

n  over 150 attendees at the 2015 Annual Conference Hope in the Age of the Climate Crisis: Finding our Moral Compass

n  Activities and supports in response to Pope Francis’ encyclical Laudato Sí. n  Text study of excerpts from Laudato Sí with facing-page Jewish texts and

discussion questions, timed for Yom Kippur, and already used on 3 continents n  Roundtable Discussion with national faith leaders in Lancaster, with collected

multi-faith responses to the Encyclical. n  Grant allowing for ½ price copies of Laudato Si to be distributed/sold (100 in

FY 2015) n  6-session study of Laudato Sí with 3 Protestant churches in State College n  in-congregation discussions/studies in at least 6 congregations n  multi-faith discussions of Laudato Sí hosted in at least 3 communities n  PA IPL-led public talks and workshops on Laudato Sí (continued into FY2016) n  panel, walk, and vigil on climate justice in Philadelphia just before Pope

Francis’ visit.

+Education and N

etwork B

uilding n  Area workshops by PA IPL leaders n  Presentations to committees, congregations, ministeria n  Sermons, multi-faith services, prayer/meditation retreats

(institutional members and PA IPL leaders) n  Public talks and events n  Earth Hour parties in members’ homes n  Invited congregational & ministerial workshops; seminary

conference participation; partner conference participation (Catholic, UCC, UMC, Episcopalian, PC-USA; in 7 regions)

n  Area gatherings State College, Harrisburg, Philadelphia n  NEW: Policy update & discussion calls (began in August) n  NEW: book discussion groups (statewide, via conference call)

This Changes Everything, Naomi Klein, and Reinventing Fire, Amory Lovins

n  Active table presence at public events and conferences (3 regions)

n  Congregation-led, public-invited events (films, workshops, services)

+

125 bike trip donors 32 House Party donors 24 3-year pledges * 100% Board participation * 10 Sustainers’ Circle members 17 new or increased recurring donors

2000+ newsletter subscribers 300+ unpaid Facebook views daily 410 Facebook friends (150% increase over 2014) 1500+ blog views/month 250+ Twitter followers (new in June!)

49 official member institutions