The Steady Stater

volume 16 number 2

Dear Friend,

In the Steady Stater, we focus so hard on CASSE programs and projects that we often pass over our people! For a change, then, let’s check on the core staff who make things happen at CASSE.

This week we celebrated the birthday of Alix Underwood, our first-rate Managing Editor. (She was a great Research Associate, too, before her promotion.) And, yesterday marked the one-year anniversary of her CASSE employment, preferably with many more to come! You can enjoy the fruits of her labor at the Steady State Herald.

There’s a pattern afoot, as almost all our staff had birthdays this quarter. The lone exception, Kali Young, did (as with Alix) start with CASSE a year ago yesterday. If you’ve donated to CASSE of late, chances are we have Kali to thank—along with you of course!

Next month marks another birthday; for Keep Our Counties Great team leader, Policy Specialist Dave Rollo. Rollo’s on a roll, with counties catching on about limits to growth. See the fascinating case of “Saving Sledge Forest” below.

“The other Dave” in the Policy Program, but focused on federal legislation, is Dave Shreve, our Senior Economist. Sure enough, his birthday was last week! He too has worked on keeping counties great. We’ll find out next month if he wins his primary election for Albemarle County (Virginia) Board of Supervisors.

I and my Executive Assistant, Angela Durso, had birthdays this quarter as well—on the same day. Angela helps me keep track of these things, and so much more. Her promptness with our recently filed tax return, along with Kali’s connecting to Candid, gave us our long-awaited Gold Seal of Transparency.

Next week, Angela will be helping Amelia Jaycen get set up as our new Project Manager. More on the new position and duties soon, but for now…any bells ringing out there? Yes, Amelia was our Managing Editor, in 2019.

Which brings us full circle, editorially speaking. I hope you enjoyed the roundabout with the people behind the singularly unique CASSE mission. And may the springtime put a spring in your step, springing you into action (ideally including some steady-state support)!

Sincerely,

Brian Czech, Executive Director

New Intern

Priya Thompson is CASSE’s new editorial and communications summer intern. With experience in marketing and nonprofit work, she will boost CASSE's engagement via social media and the Steady State Herald. A student at Marymount University, Thompson will graduate with a BA in Commu-nication in May 2026. She is a Washington, DC, native.

Gold Transparency 2025

We’ve earned our Gold Seal with Candid! The Gold Seal designation is based on information about our leadership, finances, and purpose. It demonstrates a level of organizational integrity and transparency that only two percent of nonprofits offer. You can be confident that your gifts to CASSE will be used wisely. Donate today!

Upcoming Event

Jim Keeling Jr.

On August 9, Jen Soti will embark on a challenging swim-run fundraiser to promote CASSE’s transformative ideas in honor of her father, who tragically drowned at Harrison Lake in 1996. Jim Keeling Jr. was a passionate outdoors-man and advocate for protecting the Earth.

He served on the board of directors of the Sierra Legal Defence Fund (Ecojustice). This will be Soti’s third year tackling a 15-kilometer swim across Harrison Lake, followed by a 35-kilometer run to Harrison Hot Springs. She will donate proceeds to Ecojustice and CASSE, for our tireless advocacy for a truly sustainable economy. CASSE has been swimming upstream in the river of political economy throughout its 20 years. Soti’s swim symbolically aligns with our unwavering commitment to sustainability, as she takes on waters and trails to inspire change.

Featured Videos

On March 21, Michael D.B. Harvey presented on his Steady State Press book, The Age of Humachines. The Therapy and Social Change (TaSC) Network hosted Harvey for a discussion on the psychological implications of "humachination." Watch the recording or, better yet, read The Age of Humachines to learn more!

Finalized Fiscal Policy

A keystone feeder bill of the Steady State Economy Act, the Sustainable Taxes Act (STA) complements the Sustainable Budgets Act. Together, they form a complete fiscal policy package. The STA was introduced via Steady State Herald in late March. It lays out principles and procedures for a truly sustainable tax code, with graduated tax rates, depletion taxes, and a Sustainability Trust Fund.

Featured Donor

Don Neeper made a very generous donation to CASSE. He is a retired Los Alamos physicist who worked on thermonuclear design, solar buildings, and pollution transport in soils. Neeper continues to bring scientific logic to pollution regulation. His book on social polarization, American Anxiety, will be released next month.

Featured Events

On May 12–14, Executive Director Brian Czech and Managing Editor Alix Underwood attended the SAFE Summit in Washington, DC. Billed as the United States' premier energy-security gathering, the summit reflected a “Drill, Baby, Drill!” mentality rather than a push for real security (which requires real sustainability). Czech and Underwood started conversations about limits to growth, which resonated with some conferees.

Czech discusses ecological economics with sympathetic attendees.

On the Recruiting Trail

In March, CASSE attended two career fairs at Marymount University to connect with students and share our mission of advancing the steady state economy. We engaged with passionate young professionals and met and recruited our new intern, Priya Thompson.

Executive Assistant Angela Durso meets Marymount students.

Protect the Environment with Your IRA

If you are of retirement age (70.5 and up), did you know you can use your IRA to donate to CASSE? When you retire, your annual required minimum distribution is taxed. But if you directly donate to CASSE, an annual gift up to $100,000 is not taxed upon withdrawal. This can lower your overall income tax. Learn more here, and contact CASSE Executive Assistant Angela Durso to arrange a gift.

In Memoriam

Lynn Greenwalt was a CASSE supporter, wildlife enthusiast, and revered public servant. His distin-guished career included eight years directing the Fish and Wildlife Service and thirteen years at the National Wildlife Federation. Greenwalt left us on March 20th, 2025, and will be sadly missed.

While we separate church and (steady) state, Pope Francis was unquestion-ably the steady stater’s pope. Taking the name “Francis” was a devotional act of conservation, and the Pope’s masterful Laudato Si' was practically a prescription for a steady state economy.