July 2003
Welcome to e-Sierra
The email newsletter of the Sierra Club North Star ChapterJuly 2003 / Issue 16
TAKE ACTION AND LET OUR DECISION MAKERS KNOW THAT WE CAN DO BETTER IN PROTECTING OUR ENVIRONMENT!
It makes a difference. Make your voices heard! You can join our national Action Network by taking action and clicking here.
CHIPPEWA AND SUPERIOR NATIONAL FORESTS NEED YOUR COMMENTS
There are only a couple weeks left in the comment period (August 11 deadline) to protect Minnesota's National Forests! Sierra Club has been working on this plan for years, and over 800 volunteers have been involved. Jump into it now - it's what we've been waiting for! You don't have to be an expert. Background info, fact sheets, and sample comments are at our new campaign web page, http://northstar.sierraclub.org/campaigns/forests/. Please take a minute to write a letter to the Forest Service!
SIERRA CLUB NORTH STAR CHAPTER CELEBRATES ITS 35TH ANNIVERSARY AND REQUESTS YOUR PRESENCE!
The North Star Chapter turns 35 this year! To celebrate, we're throwing a 35th Anniversary Gala on October 26th, 2003. Join us for an evening of great music, excellent conversation, wonderful food, and dare we say good company.
LAND USE WORKSHOP # 4 HITS CHASKA
Wondering about all that development in your neck of the woods? Join other concerned folks at a workshop designed to teach local residents how to save open spaces. It's free. Show up at the Arboretum in Chaska at 7pm on August 14th. 3675 Arboretum Blvd - Chaska, MN. More information contact: Trevor.Russell@sierraclub.org
PEDDLIN' FOR PROTECTION
Like Bikes? Like Transit? Like Parks? You;ll love this year's Tour de Sprawl. Join us September 28th in Anoka County for our 8th annual bike tour to highlight open space preservation issues and learn more about how we build better communities. Call Trevor Russell to learn more 612-659-9124 or send an e-mail to Trevor.Russell@sierraclub.org.
SILENT AUCTION ITEMS NEEDED
October 26th, 2003 is the date for our North Star Chapter 35th Anniversary Gala Celebration. The event will include a Silent Auction, and we need items to be donated for auction. It doesn't matter how large, small or unusual the item might be, all proceeds will go towards the Chapter's work in protecting and preserving the environment! If you or anyone you know might be interested in donating something for the auction, please let us know right away. It just needs to be a product or service that you think will be of value to others. For example, a Twin Cities violinist and recording artist is donating fiddle lessons, plus a well known Feng Shui expert is donating a free feng shui analysis! Please contact Bonnie Harris with your ideas by sending her an email at bonnie@waxmarketing.com.
DO YOU CARE ABOUT AIR?
The Sierra Club Air Toxics Committee invites interested individuals to attend our annual campaign planning session on Saturday, August 16th from 10:00am 1:00pm at the Sierra Club Office (2327 E. Franklin Ave, Minneapolis) We will be designing the upcoming years activities, and your input is very welcome. We will be covering issues from dirty coal pollution to a renewable energy future. To see what the campaign has done so far, visit http://northstar.sierraclub.org/campaigns/air/. If you have questions, or would like to get involved, please contact Michelle Rosier, Air Toxics Organizer 612-659-9124 or michelle.rosier@sierraclub.org.
WORDS FOR WILDERNESS
Send 50 words of your thinking on the natural world, the challenges of life in the 21st century, environmental issues - and they'll become part of "Words for Wilderness Around the World," a project of the LeConte Memorial Lodge in Yosemite.
WASHINGTON COUNTY FAIR SIERRA CLUB BOOTH
Join the Sierra Club at the Washington County Fair from Wednesday, June 30th through Sunday, August 3rd in Lake Elmo (20 minutes southeast of St. Paul.) We will have an outside booth to share environmental information with fair-goers, gain support for our campaigns, and have fun with families! Each day is a different theme: 30th- We can do better than President Bush's Oil Energy Policy; 31st- Protecting our natural places and our National Wild and Scenic Rivers; 1st- Protect Superior, Chippewa and all our national forests; 2nd and 3rd Clean up mercury and air pollution from coal plants (featuring last years famous Mercury Fishing Pond for kids) The fair goes from 10:00am 10:00pm Wednesday through Saturday, and 10:00am-8:00pm on Sunday. The success of our booth depends on you. Call the Sierra Club office to schedule some volunteer time at the Washington County Fair, 612-659-9124 or michelle.rosier@sierraclub.org.
CHAPTER WELCOMES AIR TOXICS PROGRAM COORDINATOR MATT LITTLE
Join us in welcoming new staffer, Matt Little. This week, Matt Little will be joining the Sierra Club's Air Toxics Campaign as the full-time Program Coordinator. Prior to joining the Sierra Club team, Matt worked for Senator Moynihan in Washington D.C., and was a policy analyst for the Northeast-Midwest Institute. Interested in his work on mercury reduction technologies for coal plants see http://www.nemw.org/ER0111.pdf (pdf, 112k).
PRESIDENT BUSH AND CONGRESS WATCH
We Can Do Better - Curious about the Environmental Protection Agency and what it has not been doing to protect the environment. http://www.sierraclub.org/wwatch/
SCHEDULE OF UPCOMING EVENTS
July 23: ExCom
July 23: Water Committee
August 6: Air Toxics Committee
August 6: Forestry Committee
August 11: Deadline for public comments to US Forest Service
August 13: Communication Committee
August 14: Chaska Land Use Workshop
August 21: Land Use Meeting
August 16: Air Toxics Campaign Planning
August 24: Tour de Sprawl Meeting
August 26: International Committee
August 27: ExCom
Sept. 29: Tour de Sprawl
For More Calendar Information Contact:
vicki.munson@sierraclub.org
For Interesting Submissions:
heather.cusick@sierraclub.org
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Heather Cusick
Conservation Director
Sierra Club - North Star
2327 East Franklin Ave. Suite 1
Minneapolis, Minnesota 55406
phone: 612.659.9124
fax: 612.659.9129