Newsletter- March 2022 update from Sierra Club Hoosier Chapter
March 17, 2022
Our tribute to our former Director, Women's History Month, support pollinators, and much more.
In this newsletter, we pay tribute to our former Chapter Director, David Maidenberg, who passed away this month. David was with Sierra Club for over seven years and will be much missed by the Indiana environmental community, and beyond.
We have a wrap up of the Indiana legislative session, an update from our Indiana Beyond Coal team, and news of a pollinator path launching this spring. Find out how to vote in national Sierra Club elections, about upcoming events, and how to go solar. All this, and our usual Sierra Club Spotted! feature, readers' photos, and recommendations!
March 8 was International Women's Day. We celebrated by paying tribute to some of the amazing women volunteer leaders, activists, and staff on our team here in Indiana. Here are just a few of them!
Top Row from left- Julie Lowe (Hoosier Chapter and Winding Waters Group Chair), Marilyn Bauchat (Hoosier Chapter Vice Chair), and Megan Anderson (Indiana Beyond Coal Campaign Senior Organizing Representative), Shannon Anderson (Chapter Executive Committee member), Linze Southwick (Heartlands Group volunteer leader), and Amanda Shepherd (Chapter Director). Middle row from left- Wendy Bredhold (Senior Campaign Representative, Beyond Coal Campaign), Amanda Shepherd (Chapter Director), Michelle Carr (Chapter and Winding Waters Group volunteer leader). Bottom row from left- Megan Anderson (Indiana Beyond Coal Campaign Senior Organizing Representative), Ashley Williams (Indiana Beyond Coal Campaign Organizer), and Rebecca Dien-Johns (Chapter Coordinator).
Paying tribute to our former Chapter Director, David Maidenberg
We are saddened to hear of the passing of former Chapter Director of the Sierra Club Hoosier Chapter, David Maidenberg. David was our director for over seven years.
Jesse Kirkham, Heartlands Group Chair: “David was the inspiration for many of us to get involved with the Hoosier Chapter of the Sierra Club. For me it was restarting the Heartland Group. He had a way of relating to people that invited you in. He had a wealth of knowledge and even under the most challenging moments he remained calm, positive, and encouraging. His advice continued to help us after he retired and moved to New Mexico. He would visit us while in Indiana and check up with us. He could make us laugh when we needed laughter. We have lost a true friend and leader.”
We at the Sierra Club Hoosier Chapter want to extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who made calls, sent emails, or personally met with their legislators during the 2022 session. We urge you to continue communications with your legislators , even outside of session. Building these relationships is key in future efforts. Don't hesitate to reach out to us if you need assistance in reaching your lawmaker or need talking points before conversing with them!
Thank you to everyone who took action these past few months in opposing bad legislation, encouraging the advancement of positive bills, and supported our efforts in protecting Indiana's people and places! We have now reached the end of the 2022 legislative session here in Indiana - but there is still more to do! We want to encourage continued outreach to Governor Holcomb on legislation that could still be vetoed by his office. Learn more about what we accomplished, what more there is to do, and all of our work in the 2022 session here.
CenterPoint Energy customers face highest energy burden in Indiana
Customers of CenterPoint Energy, the monopoly electric and gas utility in the Evansville area, have long known what it feels like to pay the highest utility bills in Indiana. Now, with CenterPoint’s proposed fossil fuel project, which includes a gas pipeline and two gas turbines, customers can expect to see even higher bills for decades to come.
CenterPoint’s $800 million proposed gas plant project will hike utility bills by over $24/mo for the average residential customer. Read more.
Robyn Skuya-Boss Lead Organizer, Sierra Club Indiana Beyond Coal Campaign.
National Sierra Club elections are underway - VOTE!
A Democratic Sierra Club Demands Grassroots Participation
The annual election for Sierra Club’s Board of Directors is now underway.
Those eligible to vote in the national Sierra Club election will have received in the mail (or by Internet if you chose the electronic delivery option) your national Sierra Club ballot in early March. This includes information on the candidates and where you can find additional information on Sierra Club’s web site.
Your participation is critical for a Strong Sierra Club!
The Sierra Club is a democratically structured organization at all levels. Sierra Club requires the regular flow of views on policy and priorities from its grassroots membership in order to function well. Yearly participation in elections at all Sierra Club levels is a major membership obligation.
In a typical year less than 10% of eligible members vote in the Board elections. A minimum of 5% is required for the elections to be valid. Our grassroots structure is strengthened when our participation is high. That means your participation is needed in the voting process.
Voting Online is Quick and Easy!
Even if you receive your election materials in the mail, we encourage you to use the user-friendly Internet voting site to save time and postage. If sending via ground mail, please note your ballots must be received by no later than noon EST Election Day, April 27, 2022.
How can I learn about the candidates?
Members frequently state that they don’t know the candidates and find it difficult to vote without learning more.
Each candidate provides a statement about themselves and their views on the issues on the official election ballot. You can learn more by asking questions of your group and chapter leadership and other experienced members you know.
Columbus Pollinator Committee needs your help to establish an AirPark Pollinator Path to help Columbus become a more environmentally friendly city!
Donations will provide funding for native plant beds, Ivy Tech agricultural pilot project, educational signage, and wildlife housing. The Pollinator Path on Columbus People Trail will be certified as a sustainable trail by the Indiana Wildlife Federation.
Help us reach our $7,500 goal and it will be matched with another $7,500 from the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority (IHCDA)! Beginning at $25 donation, the Columbus Pollinator Committee will provide a gift for your contribution! The last date to fundraise is April 19.
Did you know? Columbus became Indiana's 1st Bee City in 2021!
Bee City USA is a nationally recognized Xerces Society program for creating and maintaining natural habitat for pollinators.
Establishing the Pollinator Path will be the primary Bee City project for the Columbus Pollinator Committee in 2022. Find out more here!
Sierra Club Spotted!
Sierra Club staff and volunteer leaders are passionate about getting out there and spreading the word about issues that matter to Hoosiers!
Above- Sierra Club volunteer leaders and members Julie Lowe, Marilyn Bauchat, Rebecca Lorenz, Dennis Tibbitts, Mary Reardon, Greg Grant, Lora Kemp, and Kurt Kemp joined Friends of Owen-Putnam State Forest and IU students and staff for a hike in late February.
They are rising in solidarity in the hopes of saving this giant tulip poplar tree from the timber sale in the Owen-Putnam State Forest Rattlesnake Campground Area. The tulip poplar is our Indiana state tree. Please email our chair, Julie Lowe, if you'd like to get involved in defending our forests: j_lowe66@yahoo.com
Our Legislative Coordinator Cory Ray was spotted (right), mobilizing our supporters to take action during the Indiana legislative session.
Thank you to everyone who helped Sierra Club phone bank during this session!
If you're interested in getting involved in legislative organizing contact cory.ray@sierraclub.org
Our Chapter Director, Amanda Shepherd, spent some time this month in North West Indiana.
She met with Save the Dunes- whose mission is protect and advocate for the Indiana dunes, Lake Michigan, and the surrounding natural areas- and talked with local activists and Sierra Club supporters.
Amanda also attended the Cleveland-Cliffs Burns Harbor Community Open House in order to learn more about their plans in carbon reduction and addressing nutrient pollution from the facility, where she spoke with the Director of Permitting and Regulatory Affairs and their Director of Sustainability.
Of course, getting some time outdoors was essential too (photo right)!
If you have events coming up that you would like to invite Sierra Club to attend or speak at, please reach out at hoosier.chapter@sierraclub.org
In the news...
“Petersburg is one of the dirtiest coal plants in the country, has continually violated its water and air permits, and broke down repeatedly in the last year” - Wendy Bredhold, senior campaign representative for the Sierra Club’s Beyond Coal Campaign in Indiana and Kentucky, quoted in the Indy Star: AES Indiana plans to leave coal power behind by 2025, parent company says.
"We need our leaders to face the facts. There’s nowhere to hide from the climate crisis — not even the halls of the State Legislature.” - Wendy Bredhold, senior campaign representative for the Sierra Club’s Beyond Coal Campaign in Indiana and Kentucky, quoted in the Indiana Environmental Reporter: Report Warns Time is Running Out to Affect Climate Change, Indiana Dawdles on Fossil Fuels.
Net metering deadline approaching- Go Solar!
Clean energy and energy democracy are important to us, so we’re proud to partner with Solar United Neighbors to sponsor solar co-ops around the state. The groups are free to join and will help you better understand your options for rooftop solar.
Reader Neal Dake has some inspiring words from a property he is bringing back to nature.
"I bought 2.66 acres and it is basically a blank canvas. I am currently in the process of making it into a wildlife preserve. I am so dedicated to nature I went out and sought this property. It was originally a horse farm. I have planted 5 different trees so far on the property to help with soil stabilization. I have already made a hugelkultur (soil stabilization mound) with the wood that was on the property that was already rotting. I have seen many different types of birds on the property. There are some low spots on the property that hold water and I will be making wetlands and planting native marginal plants such as arrow arum, marsh marigold, and cattails.
I will keep fighting for nature for my whole life."
Do you have a photograph of Indiana nature that you would like to share?
We'd love to see it and perhaps feature it in a future newsletter!
Use the button below or email rebecca.dien-johns@sierraclub.org
"This is one of the first birds to visit my feeder. This is one of the different types of woodpeckers that has visited my new property. He has flown in every day. This gives me hope for nature and shows diversity through nature and its beauty." - Neal Dake
Tuesday, April 12- Discussion of the Mid State Corridor (proposed highway project in the south-central part of the state) led by Tim Maloney, Hoosier Environmental Council.
Tuesday, May 10- Presentation on the Lower Pigeon Creek Watershed Study, Speaker Sara Peel, consultant to the Vanderburgh County Soil and Water Conservation District.
Tuesday, May 24, Indivisible Evansville meeting with a program on environmental issues.
Our annual Sierra Club Winding Waters Group Native Plant Sale is here! Please browse the 2022 plant brochure and check out favorites from the past as well as some new additions including more grasses and button bush. Deadline to receive order form: April 1st, 2022.
Owen-Putnam Friends of the Forest will be hosting an Earth Day Event "Save the Frogs" at the Owen County Library from Noon - 2 PM on Saturday, April 30. In the upstairs children's department they will host games and activities for teens and children, and downstairs, for adults, they will be showing a couple of short films about the Owen-Putnam State Forest.
Recommendations
Reader recommends:
Reader Kitch Carter recommends The Home Place, by Dr. J. Drew Lanham which "talks about Dr. Lanham’s experiences as a Black conservation biologist and ornithologist in a largely white field. This lovely book is often funny, touching, always thought-provoking. I encourage everyone to read it."
What have you been reading, listening to, or watching lately? We'd love to hear from you! Scroll down to use the button below or email rebecca.dien-johns@sierraclub.org
