October 20, 2023
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Sierra Club Ohio Urges You to Vote Yes on State Issue 1 |
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| Sierra Club Ohio urges you to vote yes to amend the Ohio Constitution “Relating to Abortion and Other Reproductive Decisions." Vote Yes on State Issue 1. Election Day is November 7, and early voting began October 11. Contact your County Board of Elections for information on early voting and to request a vote-by-mail ballot. Women have the power to give birth. Each woman is responsible for making the decision about whether, when, with whom, under what circumstances, and how many times she gives her body to bring new life into the world. Her decision is profoundly intimate and consequential, and it must be respected. Those decisions are not for the government to control for purposes of the state. The Sierra Club sees environmental justice as part of reproductive justice. The amendment contributes to environmental protection by safeguarding everyone's health. Avoiding unwanted and problematic pregnancies is foundational to enabling us to build healthy families that can educate themselves about sustainability. If we are constantly struggling with reproductive mistakes and pathologies, sustainability concerns will always be ignored. Issue 1 will restore women’s rights in Ohio to make decisions about fertility, pregnancy, abortion, and giving birth without government interference. Issue 1 will protect the doctor-patient relationship and support a woman’s legal right to professional health care for all her reproductive decisions. Protecting the freedom of individuals to make their own reproductive health care decisions without interference from governmental authorities is an essential right that should be enshrined in the Ohio Constitution. Provisions of the Amendment include:
You are encouraged to pay careful attention to what the amendment would actually cover and to be aware of the misleading language imposed by the Ohio Ballot Board. The full text of the actual amendment: Proposed Amendment to the Ohio Constitution and a Summary of the same If approved by Ohio voters, this text is what would be enshrined in the Ohio Constitution. The ballot language put in place by the Ohio Ballot Board: Issue 1 Proposed Constitutional Amendment The Sierra Club policy is that environmental justice is part of reproductive justice. The Club’s Board of Directors approved a policy in 2022 that The Sierra Club is a pro-choice organization that endorses voluntary reproductive health care for all. Sexual and Reproductive health and rights are inalienable human rights that should be guaranteed for all people with no ulterior motives. The full text of Sierra Club’s Sierra Club's Population Policy Sierra Club Ohio urges you to protect fundamental rights to reproductive health care by voting Yes on State Issue 1. Thanks for all you do for the environment, Charlie Mitch |
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Exciting News from the Chapter Strategic Planning |
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It is an exciting time in Sierra Club Ohio and the momentum is building.
We are actively engaged in Strategic Planning which will guide us in rebuilding our Chapter, strengthening our conservation efforts, and support our Steering Committee and Strategic Planning Vision and our Code of Conduct to support our staff, volunteers and members.
Our Vision:
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Our Code of Conduct: Sierra Club Ohio Code of Conduct
Currently, our planning team is working in five small groups to develop goals and outcomes for the following areas:
In November, our team will meet and discuss the next steps for drafting the plan. At this point, we are actively reaching out to our members who would like to help be part of finalizing the plan.
If any of these five group areas resonate with and If you would like to volunteer to participate in part of this process, please reach to: Lisa Rooney, Chair, Sierra Club Ohio Steering Committee, lrooneyhome@gmail. |
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Long-time Activist Marilyn Wall Honored by Cincinnati Enquirer |
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| Marilyn Wall, a long-time Sierran and activist, was named one of the Cincinnati Enquirer's Women of the Year for 2023. Marilyn has served on the National Board of Directors, as Ohio Chapter Chain, and Miami Group Chair, but never forgets the importance of enjoying and exploring our natural wonders. Read the full story on our website. |
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Inspiring Connections Outdoors Making Big Progress in Ohio |
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For the past five months, Sierra Club Ohio's team has been working to revitalize the Inspiring Connections Outdoors program throughout the state. The beginning stages of this revitalization have found their footing in Cincinnati, where many exciting developments have been made by the ICO team. Do you know of an organization that would be interested in working with ICO? Please contact us at emma.hayes@sierraclub.org for more information. |
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The Rally for Parks, Climate, and Democracy will take place on Friday, October 27 at the Ohio Statehouse West Plaza (facing High Street) at Noon |
| Please join us as we rally for our Ohio state parks, climate, and democracy, on Friday, October 27, at 12 noon at the Ohio Statehouse, West Plaza, on the steps facing High Street. This rally will bring together a diverse coalition of environmental, faith, health, and democracy groups to tell our state legislators -- and the commission that will decide the fate of our beloved state parks and wildlife areas -- that we the people own the public land and democracy in Ohio, and we want to see it protected, not fracked. One of the most insidious effects of extreme gerrymandering in the Statehouse is the Ohio legislature is trying to force fracking of our beloved state parks, wildlife areas, and public lands. Make no mistake: The people of Ohio pay for and own our public lands, which make up only 3% of all land in the state. Since 2011, the oil and gas industry has already fracked most of the eastern Ohio shale play – but that’s not enough for them. They are coming for our parks too. On Friday, October 27, at noon at the Ohio Statehouse, Sierra Club Ohio will join with Save Ohio Parks and other organizations that work to protect Ohioans’ climate, health, faith, and democracy, to say NO to fracking in our state parks, NO to extreme gerrymandering, and NO to taking away our health care rights. We are rallying FOR our parks, climate, and democracy. Will you join us? Read more about the rally and Save Ohio Parks here: bit.ly/rally10-27 |
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Ohio Legislative Committee Update Nov. 1 @ 6:30pm |
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Join us on Wednesday, November 1 at 6:30pm via Google Meet to learn about current events in Columbus and actions that you can take to promote Sierra Club's legislative priorities. More phone numbers: https://tel.meet/kpd-ycnr-xqj? |
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Ohio Conservation Program Update Nov.8 @ 6pm |
| Join us for a statewide Conservation Program Update on Wednesday, November 8 from 6:30-7:30pm. We will cover the various committees, campaigns and coalitions that Sierra Club volunteers and staff are working on throughout Ohio. Conservation Program Update Meeting Wednesday, November 8 · 6:00 – 7:00pm Time zone: America/New_York Google Meet joining info Video call link: https://meet.google.com/bdm- Or dial: (US) +1 650-779-0313 PIN: 688 014 024# More phone numbers: https://tel.meet/bdm-qvyk-vxg? |
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Join Our Team!
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Volunteer Treasurer Position |
| The Volunteer Treasurer supports Sierra Club Ohio's financial management systems. The Treasurer's role is to manage and oversee the integrity and accuracy of Ohio's financial management process and procedures, and to carry out the responsibilities expected from a senior entity leader. |
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Volunteer Assistant Treasurer Position |
| We are seeking a volunteer to fill the role crucial role of Assistant Treasurer. The primary role of Assistant Treasurer is to manage Sierra Club Ohio's donation receipts and other mailed correspondence, and to assist the Treasurer with affiliated Group communications, reports, and budget preparation. Anyone applying must reside in Ohio in order to provide the physical presence needed to carry out the duties required for this position. We encourage interested parties with diverse backgrounds to apply. |
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Volunteer Secretary Position |
| We are seeking a volunteer Secretary to fill this exciting role of supporting Sierra Club Ohio to assist with recording Steering Committee (Board) meetings, assist with general day to day record keeping and design and track meeting requests. |
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