August 2005
Welcome to e-Sierra
The email newsletter of the Sierra Club North Star ChapterAugust 2005 - Issue 38
CLEAN AIR, WATER, AND PROTECTED NATURAL PLACES - ON A STICK!
Free State Fair ticket for volunteers who can help work at the Sierra Club booth. Help make environmental protection as popular as a corndog on a stick at the Minnesota State Fair. The Sierra Club has a booth at the State Fair running Thursday, August 25 through Monday, September 5. We need volunteers for three hour shifts to help pass out literature and encourage people to head out on a nature outing or help protect our clean air, clean water, public health, and natural places. If you would like to help please drop a note to or call 612-659-9124.
FIRE IN THE BOUNDARY WATERS
On July 31, 2005, lightning struck trees near Alpine Lake on the Gunflint Trail in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. The strikes started a fire that has burned slowly through hundreds of acres of wild forest. http://northstar.sierraclub.org/campaigns/forests/bwfire.html
LIGHT RAIL IN NORTHERN DAKOTA COUNTY?
Sierra Club volunteers are working on a campaign to bring Light Rail to Northern Dakota County! The next meeting is Tuesday, September 6th at 7:00, location TBA. For more information contact Margaret Levin at or 612-659-9124.
DON'T DRILL THE ARCTIC-STORM CAPITOL HILL INSTEAD
Join us in Washington DC, on September 20th for the Arctic Action Day to save the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge! Get on a bus to the Capitol to tell Congress that we won't stand for oil rigs in the Arctic. Lobbying training included! Sign me up to help protect the Arctic.
LAST POSTING - BIRCH CLOTHING OPEN HOUSE/SIERRA FUNDRAISER
Friday, August 19, 6-8pm @ Birch Clothing. 15% of all purchases will go to the Sierra Club. Refreshments will be provided. Birch Clothing is located at 2309 West 50th St. (50th and Penn Ave.) Mpls. 612-436-0776. Questions, please contact Jessica Willey (Communications Committee Chair) @
CELEBRATE THE 10th ANNIVERSARY OF TOUR DE SPRAWL
September 17, 2005
Register now for this year's Tour . . . the biggest and best yet! This unique "conference on wheels" will explore St. Paul's West Side and Northern Dakota County. Much of this fun, leisurely bicycle ride of about 19 miles will be on quiet, scenic bicycle paths. Rest stops highlight examples of development and beautifully preserved open spaces. We even feed you and throw a party at the end! Cost ($15, FREE for kids & students) includes snacks, lunch, sag support. BEAUTIFUL commemorative t-shirts are only $10. For more info or to register, click here or contact at 612-659-9124.
CLEAR THE AIR - TOUGHEN MERCURY STANDARDS
Join other Sierra Club Clean Air activists and set our legislative action to protect our air and water from harmful mercury pollution. Come to our Clean Air campaign meeting on Tuesday, August 23rd at 7:00, meet Sierra Club lobbyist, Brian Pasko and help lay the groundwork for clean air protection! For more information contact Cesia Kearns at or call 612-659-9124.
JOIN US IN THE GREAT OUTDOORS FOR ONE OF OUR "30 MINUTES FROM THE CITIES HIKE"
On Saturday, September 10 we will head out to Cottage Grove Ravine Regional Park. The Park consists of 506 acres of hills and dramatic, heavily wooded ravines with occasional clearings of old field and prairie. This varied topography and landscape types means that its slopes receive different sun exposures. This creates an unusual variety of vegetation and habitats. Look for grouse, ermine, cottontail rabbits, deer and a number of bird species, including the pileated woodpecker. We will hike 3-4 miles. Meet at park picnic area at 10:00 a.m. Directions: Highway 61 South (from 94 or 494) to Innovation Drive. The park address is 9940 Point Douglas Road, Cottage Grove, MN 55016. Bring water and a lunch to enjoy at the end of the hike. There is a $5.00 fee due upon entrance to the park. For more information see our Outings Program or to RSVP drop a note to Outings Leader Susan Szczukowski
SIERRA NEIGHBORHOODS: SUMMER WRAP UP PICNIC
Thursday, August 25th 6:30pm, Matthews Park Picnic Area (rain location is Sierra Club Office, 2327 East Franklin Ave.) Sierra Neighborhoods participants are getting together to celebrate our summer efforts! Join us for a picnic and share what water quality improvements you have made in your home and yard (like showing off photos of your rain garden), ask questions, and learn what actions other neighbors have taken. Contact Cesia Kearns at 612-659-9124 or email . Find out more about Sierra Neighborhoods and our upcoming events at http://northstar.sierraclub.org/campaigns/water/stormwater/index.html
AXE FALLLING SLOWLY ON OUR ROADLESS AREAS
The North Star Chapter's Forests campaign is learning about new threats to Minnesota's last unprotected wild forests. First, we discovered that logging on state lands by the Department of Natural Resources is the biggest immediate threat. See what we've learned-and get involved-at http://northstar.sierraclub.org/campaigns/forests/state. Then, the US Forest Service blithely rejected all appeals of the long-term plans for Superior and Chippewa National Forests. Read the press release at http://northstar.sierraclub.org/campaigns/forests/plan.
MINING WITHOUT HARM CAMPAIGN
Protecting our clean air and clean water, join the new Sierra Club Mining Without Harm Campaign. Call Clyde Hanson at (218) 387-9081 or email: .
SCHEDULE OF UPCOMING EVENTS
Wed Aug 17: Outings Committee 7pm
Thu Aug 18: Train/Bike Outing 6:30pm
Mon Aug 22: Forest Watch 7pm
Tues Aug 23: Clean Air Committee 7pm
Tues Aug 23: Phoning to Protect the Arctic 6:30pm
Wed Aug 24: Water Committee 5:30pm
Wed Aug 24: Excom 7pm
Thu Aug 25: Sierra Neighborhoods picnic, Matthews Park, 6:30pm
Thu Aug 25-Mon Sep 5: Sierra Club at the State Fair
Wed Sept 7: Land Use and Transportation Committee 7pm
Wed Sept 7: Forests Committee 7pm
Mon Sept 12: Transportation Sub-Committee 5:45pm
Tues Sept 13: Conservation Committee 6:30pm
Wed Sept 14: Wetlands 5:30
Sat Sept 17: Tour de Sprawl Check-in 9:30am
Wed Sept 21: Outings 7pm
Tues Sept 27: Clean Air Committee 7pm
Wed Sept 28: Water Committee 5:30pm
Wed Sept 28: Excom 7pm
For More Calendar Information or for Interesting Submissions Contact: .