Here is the October enewsletter sent to members and supporters at the end of each month. If you would like to receive this monthly email please take one of our action alerts https://act.sierraclub.org/actions/Maryland Check out the archive of the chapter monthly E-Newsletters.
10/25/19
Dear Sierra Club Maryland Supporters!
Fall is here and it’s almost Halloween. Sierra Club volunteers and staff are working hard for our future and welcoming your help at every step on the way!
All agree: The Nice / Middleton bridge is obsolete and decrepit – it needs to be rebuilt.
In 2016, Governor Hogan committed to rebuilding it as a long-lasting 4 lane toll bridge with bicycle and pedestrian lanes but has reduced road and bridge tolls around the state depriving the transportation sector funds for safety and environmental improvements.
Transportation makes the largest contribution to climate and health-harming pollution in Maryland. Providing bicycle and pedestrian lanes on the Nice / Middleton bridge would make the bridge functional and safe for all travelers, healthful recreation, tourism, and a commuting alternative. The Maryland Transportation Authority (MDTA) is at a cross roads. ACT NOW!
Funding in the capital budget for transit is cut by more than half over the next 5 years while Governor Hogan is pursuing an $11 billion highway boondoggle! Urge your legislators and councilmembers to tell Transportation Secretary Pete Rahn NO to highway expansion and YES to public transit.
On 10/13, over 200 residents of MD, WV, and DC stood hand-in-hand on the James Rumsey Bridge, which spans the Potomac River, to protest the Potomac Pipeline and other fracked gas infrastructure that threatens water, the environment, and public health. Read our coalition statement here and view some video from the event.
After a 10 month delay, Governor Hogan released his "Greenhouse Gas Reduction Plan," and it is bad. It punts on coal, calls fracked gas "clean" and argues that more highways will reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Read our press release here.
We value native biological diversity of all plants, animals, and fungi, native flowers, ferns, mushrooms, birds, mussels, butterflies, frogs, raccoons, and the diverse native habitats, including forests, meadows, wetlands. Rivers, mountains, and coastal areas. Activists welcome! Contact Marc.imlay@mdsierra.org
We are grieving our loss of US Representative Elijah Cummings “ A tireless advocate for our democracy, civil and human rights, and clean air, clean water, and healthy communities.”
During a 2016 hearing about the water crisis in Flint, Mich., he said, “Our children are the living messages that we send to a future that we’ll never see. The question is, will we rob them of their destiny? Will we rob them of their dreams? No, we will not do that.” - Chris Yoder, Baltimore Sierra Club
What a wonderful weekend of terrific workshops and speakers, "contra" dancing, yoga, entertaining live auction, campfire singing & s’mores, critter dude, art in the park, nature walks, creepy crawly bioblitz revealing all kinds of plants and animals. Special thanks to the Shepherd’s Spring kitchen for providing delicious meals for the weekend and to the Sunday volunteer lunch crew! But most of all, all our attendees from old to young being there made it a wonderful event. See pictures and updates from presenters
Invasive Weed Pull at the Community Ecology Institute Tuesday October 29
Join us for a morning of invasive weed pulling in the deep woods! The former Shaw Farm, in Columbia, is being transformed into an amazing educational space that will bring the community together. Info & RSVP
Attend our next monthly transportation committee meeting Monday October 28th @ 7 pm. We will be discussing setting our goals for 2020 to reduce pollution, expand transit, promote biking and pedestrian infrastructure, and EVs Info & RSVP.
Solar is only 5% of MD’s renewable energy. Learn what it took to build the largest community solar project in the country on a former rubblefill! Guided by Mr. Hillel Halberstam, Managing Member, SynerGen Solar. Info & RSVP
Explore Jug Bay Natural Area or Susquehanna River Sunday November 3 
Come soak up the fall colors before they fade away. Join us for a 3 mile walk through the woods along the edge of the Patuxent River, INFO & RSVP Or join 7 mile hike at Susquehanna, INFO & RSVP.
Join the Sierra Club MD Chapter’s Outings program to get people of all ages and abilities outside in nature. Become a Sierra Club Outdoors leader! Info & RSVP
Join the Sierra Club Maryland Chapter's Natural Places Team. Meet and Greet and Meeting Info & RSVP
Volunteer or Intern with the Maryland Chapter of the Sierra Club
Apply now to be one of our awesome interns or volunteers organizing events, taking notes, making calls, posting blogs, outreaching to the public, leading stewardship work days to get people out into nature learning about conservation issues.
Join the MD team to see how a grassroots non-profit works, gain valuable real world experience, and become the next generation of activist leaders. Intern and Volunteer information
We appreciate and depend on your donations large and small. Thank you so much for all your support for the Sierra Club Maryland Chapter.
Thank you for your donation to the Sierra Club Maryland Chapter!