Memo to Becky Rom: Don’t destroy wilderness protection

The recent board action to convert Northeastern Minnesotans for Wilderness from a membership based grassroots organization to protect the BWCAW to a self-perpetuating board of directors will destroy the capacity of NMW and its members to respond to the multiplicity of threats to wilderness.

This single mindedness can be seen in the current board which has focused almost exclusively on the threat of proposed copper nickel mining in the BWCAW watershed. No mention has been made of the threat from delisting of wolves as an endangered species nor the need to comment on proposed U.S. Forest Service Projects in the Superior National Forest, such as the proposed expansion of Lutsen Ski Resort. The proposal would deny the membership the means to organize to respond to wilderness threats.

This could have been accomplished without destroying NMW in its current form. A new board could have been created to oversee Save the Boundary Waters and assets and staff transferred.

This decision to remove membership will make NMW almost unique among environmental organizations. Staff alone cannot address multiple issues in diverse geographical settings. The model is the Wilderness Society which was formed to protect a sizable bequest. Becky is a longtime participant in the Society. NMW is being similarly organized to protect and control the considerable Rom family contributions.

We are well aware of Becky’s leadership of NMW and financial contributions. Nothing would be initiated without her approval.

The proposal is deplorable in its self-serving nature and its effort to prevent the membership from participating in NMW policies, projects, and operations. It is unworthy of an organization claiming to operate in the public interest. Becky Rom and the board must not go unopposed for this reprehensible act against wilderness.

Brad Sagen
Ely (Fall Lake Twp)
(Former NMW Chair
and long-time member.)
Dwight McConnell
Ely
(Long-time member and
participant in NMW)