<strong><a href="http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/Samsung-SCX-6x45-Series_20140805131708.tif"><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-1799" src="http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/Samsung-SCX-6x45-Series_20140805131708.tif" alt="Samsung SCX-6x45 Series_20140805131708" width="1" height="1" /></a>We contacted past employees, board members, and founders of Midwest Pesticide Action Center to see what they had to say about our <a title="Garden Gala 2014" href="http://midwestpesticideaction.org/mpac-events/gardengala2014/">organization's 20th anniversary</a>.  Below, you'll find a collection of our favorite written quotes, sound clips, and photographs from our archive:</strong>

[caption id="attachment_1801" align="alignleft" width="129"]<img class="wp-image-1801" src="http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/Samsung-SCX-6x45-Series_20140805130540-209x300.jpg" alt="Samsung SCX-6x45 Series_20140805130540" width="129" height="182" /> <span style="color: #808080;">Resident Education Comic book, distributed during the Horner Housing program</span>[/caption]

<strong><span style="color: #ff0000;">Mary Ross, PhD and former Illinois Sierra Club activist, describes the birth of the organization:</span></strong>

<span style="color: #ff0000;"><em><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">"Initially, this network of activists met informally, in public buildings like libraries, or by phone, and information was shared through a simple bulletin prepared in my basement apartment. IEC [Illinois Environmental Council] and the Sierra Club launched legislative efforts that resulted in initial success in promoting Integrated Pest Management for Illinois schools. The momentum built to support the formation of a separate organization in 1994... Look how it’s grown! What a joy to see how successful this organization has been in these past 20 years, and to imagine how the Midwest Pesticide Action Center will continue to develop in the next 20 years.”</span></em>
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[caption id="attachment_1810" align="alignright" width="241"]<img class="wp-image-1810" src="http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/Jillfounding-exec-director-300x217.jpg" alt="" width="241" height="174" /> <span style="color: #999999;">Jill Viehweg, circa 1996</span>[/caption]

<span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 102);"><strong>Jill Viehweg, former Executive Director of Safer Pest Control, recalls our work with the Horner Residents Committee:</strong></span>

<span style="color: #3366ff;"><em><span style="color: #000000;">"Happy Birthday Midwest Pesticide Action Center! In 1994 I was hired by the founding partner organizations to coordinate what was then Safer Pest Control Project. I have many fond memories from my five years with SPCP. One highlight was in 1998 when, along with the Horner Residents Committee, SPCP received a Governor’s Pollution Prevention Award for a successful IPM pilot project at Henry Horner Homes. This project demonstrated that IPM can work even in the complex and challenging situations faced by public housing residents. And it helped me as a young professional experience first-hand the power of collaborating with others to advance a common goal.I’m so happy and proud that Midwest Pesticide Action Center is still going strong, doing great work to protect human health and the environment by promoting safer alternatives to pesticides. So congratulations, thank you, and happy 20<sup>th </sup>birthday!"</span></em></span>

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<span style="color: #3366ff;"><b>Virginia Scott, MPAC founder, describes the initial need for a project focused on safer pest control:</b></span>

<iframe src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/166243404&amp;color=ff5500&amp;auto_play=false&amp;hide_related=false&amp;show_comments=true&amp;show_user=true&amp;show_reposts=false" width="100%" height="166" frameborder="no" scrolling="no"></iframe>

[caption id="attachment_1800" align="alignleft" width="281"]<img class="wp-image-1800" src="http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/jo-patton-et-al-300x188.jpg" alt="Sue Kamuda, State Representative Patti Bellock, Diane Fleming, Jo Patton" width="281" height="176" /> <span style="color: #999999;">Sue Kamuda, State Representative Patti Bellock, Diane Fleming, Jo Patton</span>[/caption]

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<span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><strong>Kim Stone, former Board Member, Executive Director, and Associate Director, on the perks of a small office:</strong></span>

<em><span style="color: #000000;">"Midwest Pesticide Action Center is small but mighty.  It's intense focus on pesticide issues, flexibility, and efficient methods enable us to accomplish a lot with a small staff and small budget.  I loved working with a group of people who were all so committed to a single cause, and who worked together to solve problems."</span><span style="color: #808080;">
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<span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 102);"><strong>Jo Patton, Former Policy Analyst for Business and Professional People for the Public Interest, speaks on the passage of Illinois state laws regarding IPM &amp; schools:</strong></span>

<span style="color: #ff0000;"><em><span style="color: #000000;">"An early and significant victory for the Safer Pest Control Project was the passage of legislation requiring IPM in Illinois schools.  By mandating the adoption of IPM practices and requiring notice to parents when pesticides were used, the law reduced pesticide use and increased public awareness of pesticide health threats.  It passed because the SPCP campaign mobilized parents and school staff in an effective lobbying effort, another organization milestone."</span></em></span>

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<span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><strong>Wes King, the Executive Director of Illinois Stewardship Alliance, reflects on 20 years of dedicated work:</strong></span>

<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><em>“Illinois Environmental Council member groups formed the Safer Pest Control Project (now Midwest Pesticide Action Center) to build on work we were (separately) doing to reduce pesticide use.  It is wonderful that this project has turned into a thriving organization, and that 20 years later it continues the important work of promoting pesticide alternatives, which make our homes and public places safer, and healthier for the environment.”</em></span>

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<strong><span style="color: #ff0000;">Rachel Rosenberg, former Executive Direct of SPCP, explains the need for IPM in schools legislation:</span></strong>

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