The purpose of T2T outings is to get people outdoors in our own wild places via TARC. The Beer Garden, sponsored by Olmsted Parks Conservancy, opens at 5 pm at Bingham Park. You can plan your bus ride on MY TARC MOBILE. We will converge at 5:30 by the water fountain. Afterwards we’ll enjoy the fall evening and good company together. Register at the link here.
An important part of the Sierra Club’s mission is to elect candidates who will lead the fight in protecting our communities and natural surroundings. Candidates supported by the Sierra Club include those who champion legislation that protects our clean air, clean water, and special wild places; speak out against environmentally destructive policies; lobby for important environmental issues; or otherwise work to protect America's natural heritage. During the past year our political committee has been hard at work distributing and evaluating candidate questionnaires. In coordination with our chapter political committee, our group has approved several endorsements for local offices.
We invite you to meet and hear from many of these candidates as we approach Election Day on November 5. Sierra Club endorsed candidates will introduce themselves and will be available for audience questions. We encourage you to engage with candidates who will work for a greener, more sustainable, and healthier Jefferson County. Please join us for this important opportunity.
Note: This will be a hybrid meeting, that is, both in-person and virtual. When registering, please complete both program registration and the zoom registration if you want to attend virtually.
VOTE! 2024 Greater Louisville Sierra Club Candidate Endorsements
Make Your Voice Heard on Election Day! Together, we can get environmental champions and climate action advocates elected at the local and state level.
Louisville Metro Council Endorsements (D=district)
D6 J.P. Lyninger
D8 Ben Reno-Weber
D10 Josie Raymond
D14 Cindi Fowler
D16 Matthew Golden
D18 Mera Corlett
D22 Rasean Crawley
D12 Rick Blackwell
D20 Marita Willis
D24 Tyra Thomas-Walker
Kentucky General Assembly Endorsements (D=district)
D25 Cherlynn E. Smith
D27 Tyler Chapman
D28 Almaria "Ria" Baker
D29 Timothy Findley
D31 Colleen Orsella Davis
D32 Tina Bojanowski
D33 Taylor Jolly
D34 Sarah Stalker
D35 Lisa Willner
D36 William "Woody" Zorn
D38 Rachel Roarx
D40 Nima Kulkarni
D41 Mary Lou Marzian
D43 Pamela Stevenson
D44 Beverly D. Chester-Burton
D46 Alan “Al” Gentry
D48 Kate Farrow
D55 Katrina A. Sexton
Tis the season for goldenrod!! (Solidago spp.) Highlights from the month of September include:
🌻 A huge effort from our executive committee member and retiring news editor Beth Robinson who has taken the lead in advocating for stronger building codes in Kentucky. Along with the Renewable Energy Alliance of Louisville and the Mayor's Office of Sustainability she has facilitated the development of a plan to lobby hard for much needed money saving, energy efficient building code updates.
🌻 Save Bernheim Now! is planning a fall event at 4:00 PM, NOVEMBER 19, 2024 at All Peoples UU Church to celebrate the continued nonexistence of the Bullitt County Pipeline.
🌻 Through our collaboration with nonprofit Change Today Change Tomorrow we are happy to have participated in their 5K Walk to the Haymarket and shared some camping equipment for the Black Azz Camping expedition to Jefferson Memorial Forest. Thank you Brittany Griffin for organizing this joyful gathering in the forest 🌻 Our hike on the Knobstone Trail was canceled because it came on the heels of Hurricane Helene and the trails were washed out and dangerous. However we have rescheduled this outing for Saturday December 7. Check the calendar on our website for more information.
🌻 We are advising Mayor Greenberg to appoint an expert on sustainable development to the board of the Louisville Economic Development Alliance (LEDA). At this time we have no indication that the mayor is willing to do so. However, we have an upcoming appointment with Sumehda Rao and Pat Malloy, LEDA’s interim CEO to discuss their mission and lobby for a SD professional to sit on the board.
🌻 For us, sustainable development means long term planning for a community that is resilient to the increasingly severe impacts of climate change, free of hunger, with affordable housing opportunities for those of little means. It means planning for a community that provides shelter for the unsheltered, parks, forests, streams and riparian zones teeming with life, safe streets for people and bicycles, public transportation that serves everyone, reduces congestion, and pollution. It means thinking about the vitality of our community generations into the future. Who wouldn’t want to live in a place like that?
🌻 Finally the Sierra Club Kentucky chapter is having its annual gathering November 8th, 9th, and 10th at Barren River State Resort Park. lodging is nearly full but there is plenty of camping and lodging in the local vicinity. We hope you'll make it. See below for more info. In the meantime go outside, take a walk or a ride and get your vitamin N.
Lights Out Louisville - We Approve this Message Every spring and fall, millions of birds migrate over Louisville, often at night. Artificial lights can attract or disorient them, resulting in injuries and fatalities for billions of birds every year. You can make a difference! Through its Lights Out Louisville initiative, the Louisville Audubon Society is working to change this. Read more HERE!
Louisville Earth Walk - GLSC is again a sponsor of the 2024 Louisville Earth Walk. October 26, 2024 9 AM at Shawnee Park - Celebrating the Earth’s Gifts. Learn more here:
2024 Kentucky Chapter Annual Gathering -
LODGING IS ALMOST FULL SO DON’T WAIT!
Kentucky, conservationists from across the state come together to build community. This year, we will hear from engaging speakers on the subject of climate change and how it is affecting us now and in the future and what we can do to prepare. There will be a keynote speaker Saturday night. Join us as we learn, hike, and share a locally sourced dinner at Barren River Lake State Resort Park in Barren County!
We will have another Silent Auction at the Annual Gathering so please CHECK YOUR INVENTORY of items that you want to contribute and email us at greaterlouisvillesierraclub@gmail.com with “Silent Auction” in the subject line and we’ll gladly pick up your items. Even better if you bring them with you! See the full agenda HERE. REGISTER NOW!
My family comes from rural Wisconsin, so I grew up with the expectation of spending significant time outdoors. That could be swimming, biking, hunting, boating, gardening, skiing, ice skating, collecting rain-water, walking to school or just playing in the yard. When I moved to the Chicago area after college, those opportunities to be outside in nature were more limited and the parks and nature reserves were often crowded and overused. That made me more conscious of the need to preserve and protect the quality and quantity of the outdoor spaces near urban areas.
Tell us why you became active in the Sierra Club.
In the Chicago metro area, the Sierra Club seemed to be the best organization to be affiliated with to help achieve that goal. When I moved to Kentucky, I continued my support, but when I connected with Terrell (Holder) and told him about the Sierra Club, he decided to get involved and convinced me to be more actively engaged.
What skills/talents do you feel you bring to the group?
My background in business made serving as Treasurer one way I could contribute. What group activities have you enjoyed the most? Personally, I look at time in nature as a more personal, private experience so I don’t go on many group outings, but I encourage anyone who is a bit anxious about exploring on their own, or who wants to learn more about the flora and fauna or history of an area to join one of the group outings
What would you like to say to our members to encourage them to become more involved in the Louisville Sierra Club?
Most of all I want to encourage everyone to talk with their friends and family about their experiences in nature. Instead of taking the kids or grand-kids to Disney World, take them to a State Park or National Forest and share your joy in the outdoors with them. Kentucky and Indiana have some great parks that are easily accessible and have wonderful facilities including: lodges, pools, fishing, trails, golf courses, and other activities for kids.
Greater Louisville Group Executive Committee Meeting
Everyone is welcome to attend our Executive Committee meetings to share insight, inspiration, and your ideas about our work and what is important. The meetings remain convenient to attend via Zoom.
GLSC Social Dinner: Where new members
become old friends…
Tuesday, October 29 at 6:00 p.m.
River House Restaurant
3015 River Rd. 40207
*Please note the date is one week later than usual.
Chef John Varanese' second restaurant offers an eclectic menu, featuring seafood and lots of vegetarian options. This riverfront restaurant offers locally sourced food and panoramic views of the river. Easy parking just outside the entrance. RSVP to Barbara at 502-777-7645 before Monday, October 28th at 5 pm.
GLSC November Meeting
Program: Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest: Strategies for Conservation in the 21st Century with Andrew Berry, Director of Conservation
7 PM November 19th at United Crescent Hill Ministries. Learn more here.
Thanks to all of you who dine at Momma’s Mustard, Pickles and BBQ restaurant and support GLSC thru online voting atMommas 2% for Louisville site. Please visit Momma’s for some good cooking (including gluten free items) at 102 Bauer Ave. and 119 S. Hurstbourne Ln.
