December 2005
Welcome to e-Sierra
The email newsletter of the Sierra Club North Star ChapterDecember 2005 - Issue 42
LAST GASP FOR ARCTIC DRILLING
Through your good work, and against tremendous pro-drilling forces, we won another battle — Arctic drilling was taken out of the budget bill in Congress! Both Minnesota Senators and six of our eight representatives stood firm to protect the beautiful Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.
Desperate for any chance to drill for oil there, Sen. Ted Stevens
of Alaska put the drilling provision in a Defense bill that funds
US troops. Please call Sen. Coleman and your Representative.
http://northstar.sierraclub.org/campaigns/anwr.html
ANNUAL SIERRA CLUB SOLSTICE AND VOLUNTEER CELEBRATION
Come join other Sierra Club activists to celebrate a year of great activism and volunteer efforts to protect this beautiful planet and our very special state. Keep the evening of Saturday, December 17th open for the annual potluck and celebration at the Izaak Walton League Lodge, 8816 West River Road in Brooklyn Park. For details and to RSVP please contact Vicki Munson at 612-659-9124 or .
A NEW PARK IN THE EAST METRO?
Open space advocates will unveil a new plan entitled: "The Marshlands: A New Educational Recreational Area." This plan is a collaborative effort of the citizens of Maplewood, Oakdale and North St. Paul to create a hundred acre, multi-use, educational and recreational park. Spanning three cities and two counties, the park will benefit the greater east metro area. Saturday, January 14th, 9am - 11am, Hill Murray High School. For more information, contact Ron Cockriel at or 651-738-7233.
GET OUT AND ROLL IN THE SNOW
Many winter outings are planned, check out the new updated list at http://northstar.sierraclub.org/activities/outings/index.html. Plus, put these on your calendar:
Jan. 14, snowshoe trip to Birch Lake, where mining is proposed in Superior National Forest. Free. Meet at Babbitt Lutheran Church, 10 Central Blvd, 11am.
http://northstar.sierraclub.org/activities/outings/2006/200601.html#20060114b
Jan. 27-29, fun ski weekend at National Forest Lodge near Isabella. $165 covers two nights in beautiful cabins and all meals, prepared by our Forest Watch friend Mark Wendt. Reserve space at 651-351-0939. See it online at http://www.nationalforestlodge.com.
Feb. 11, SAVANNA SUGARBUSH SNOWBALL! People are already signing up for our Special Places ski/snowshoe event in the place that we're making a solitude area. I hope all committee members can carpool up together! Free. Learn more about Sugarbush and the Special Places Campaign at http://northstar.sierraclub.org/campaigns/forests/state/index.html.
WHAT'S A COMP PLAN?
All cities in the metro region need to revise and update their Comprehensive Plans by 2008. Find out what a Comp Plan is and how it can be an effective tool to help save valuable open green space from poorly planned development! Tuesday, January 24th in Plymouth. For more info, contact Joshua Houdek at or 612-659-9124.
N. DAKOTA COUNTY RAIL - FULL SPEED AHEAD!
The Light Rail Campaign in N. Dakota County will meet on Tuesday, January 10th at 7:00pm. Join us to learn more about the effort to bring light rail to Dakota County, and help us plan upcoming events. For more info or to RSVP contact Margaret at 612-659-9124 or .
CALLING ALL ST. CLOUD SIERRANS
St. Cloud's Big River Sierra Communities group will meet on Wednesday, January 11th at 7:00pm to discuss their work to protect Environmentally Sensitive Areas and improve transportation choices in the St. Cloud region. For more info or to RSVP contact Margaret at 612-659-9124 or .
ATVS AMOK
Care about forests? Wetlands? Biodiversity? Quiet? Do you just like OR dislike the machines? Let's organize a Sierra Club group that focuses on ATVs on our public lands. This group will help develop Sierra Club policy and implement a grassroots solution. Read up on the issue at http://northstar.sierraclub.org/campaigns/forests/atvs/index.html, and contact Val Cunningham at to get involved.
NEW PUBLICATION HIGHLIGHTS LOCAL ACTIVISTS
Join the Sierra Club's Land Use and Transportation committee in the release of its brand new publication entitled, "Conversations: Interviews with Open Space Activists." The publication highlights the work and stories of six local activists and the tools they used to protect precious open space treasures in Minnesota. The report will be released and made available to the public on Thursday, January 18th. For more information or to obtain a copy of the publication, contact Joshua Houdek at or 612-659-9124.
SCHEDULE OF UPCOMING EVENTS
Sat Dec 17: Solstice Party and Volunteer Celebration
Tue Dec 20: Clean Air Committee, 7pm
Wed Dec 21: Outings Committee, 7pm
Mon Dec 23-Jan 2: Office closed
Tues Jan 3: Inner City Outings, 7pm
Wed Jan. 4: Transportation Sub-Committee, 5:45pm
Wed Jan 4: Shoreview Green Community, 7pm
Wed Jan 4: Land Use Committee, 7pm
Wed Jan. 4: Special Places Campaign, 7pm
Tues Jan 10: N. Dakota County Light Rail Campaign, 7pm
Wed Jan 11: Big River Sierra Community - St. Cloud, 7pm
Sat Jan. 14: Snowshoe trip to Birch Lake
Sat Jan 14: "The Marshlands: A New Educational Recreational Area," 9am
Mon Jan 16: Office closed
Tue Jan 16: Mining Committee, Dewitt Seitz Bldg, Duluth, 6:30pm
Thurs Jan 18: "Conversations: Interviews with Open Space Activists" publication release
Tues Jan 24: Community Forum on Land Use in Plymouth
Wed Jan 25: Wetlands and Water Committee, 6pm
Wed Feb 1: Community Forum on Land Use in Savage
Sat Feb 11: SAVANNA SUGARBUSH SNOWBALL!
For More Calendar Information or for Interesting Submissions Contact: