Interview and story by Nic Baker, photo credit Candace Baker
For 20 years, Ginny Yingling performed a wide range of roles for Sierra Club, being part of—and benefiting from—Sierra Club’s growth during that period. Indeed, she played a large role in its growth into the 21st Century.
Ginny moved to Minnesota in 1987. She had just completed a graduate degree in Geology from the University of Wyoming.
While not initially excited about moving here, she has since warmed up to the state (pun intended) and eagerly anticipates spending the rest of her life here.
Almost from the day she arrived, Ginny became involved in the North Star Chapter, which gave her an outlet to “channel passion into action.”
Ginny’s first direct involvement in Sierra Club was responding to a call for help with the newsletter. Future roles included work on the Political Committee and serving as Chapter Chair for several years.
Ginny found her involvement in Sierra Club to be truly rewarding. “I have gained so many things that have helped me in other aspects of my life: leadership skills, public speaking, negotiating, learning to accept defeats, and compromise.” Of course, she has valued “meeting wonderful people” and “her huge personal growth.”
Ginny’s best memory of her involvement in Sierra Club? “Working on the first Wellstone campaign as Political Chair.” The Northstar Chapter played an active role in the campaign and forged a strong relationship with one of our greatest allies in the Senate.
Another great memory: The many events organized by Sierra Club to rally opposition to congressional efforts to weaken wilderness protection for the Boundary Waters.
This culminated in a massive turn-out of environmentalists from around the country to attend a congressional committee hearing in International Falls. She remembers arriving at the high school where the hearing was held to find that someone had hung up a large banner reading, “Sierra Club Sucks!”. Taking this as a badge of honor, Sierra Club members gathered under the banner for a group photo. Not only were the congressional committee members shocked by the massive turnout of wilderness supporters in what they expected to be “friendly territory”, but ultimately the Sierra Club lobbying effort proved successful in protecting wilderness status for the BWCAW.
The Boundary Waters may be her favorite place in the state—perhaps anywhere. Other favorite include Tettagouche State Park and Lac qui Parle State Park.
Ginny encourages people outside Sierra Club to join and those within to become more involved. She sees this as a critical time when “we must take action before it’s too late.” In particular, there must be a response to “this administration’s tearing down our environmental protections.” Despite the many challenges, she believes the recent midterm elections have given people hope that acting together, we can change the direction of our country.