The Maryland Chapter of Sierra Club is looking for volunteers interested in playing key roles on our team of volunteers and staff who organize and manage our lobbying before the Maryland General Assembly. This is a great opportunity to participate and contribute to the work of the Chapter, and help advance environmental protection in Maryland!
Background
We are now about six months from when the General Assembly will convene its 2021 session, on Wednesday, January 13. We already have begun to plan, and will have a full agenda since few of our supported bills passed in the 2020 session, due in large part to the session being shortened because of the pandemic. We also will be expanding our lobbying efforts to include support of significant racial justice bills in the 2021 session and, in addition, must consider how to modify our work if the General Assembly restricts in-person lobbying in Annapolis because of the pandemic.
Roles We’re Looking to Fill
- Serving as Chapter leads for racial justice bills (tracking, evaluating, and recommending which to support; drafting testimony as needed; and doing outreach to racial justice organizations).
- Supplementing our terrific corps of volunteer subject-matter leads for the multiple areas of environmental protection we engage on.
- Participating as organizing leads to help activate our thousands of grassroots supporters, which will be essential if in-person lobbying is restricted.
How to Volunteer and Other Considerations
- To express interest and learn more, email the Chapter Legislative Chair, Mark Posner, mark.posner@mdsierra.org.
- These efforts most likely will be undertaken almost entirely from home; trips to Annapolis will be limited or may not occur at all.
- Substantive background on racial justice issues and/or an area of environmental protection is helpful, although not required. Likewise, familiarity with the General Assembly processes is helpful, but not required.
We look forward to hearing from you!