SIERRA CLUB CIMARRON GROUP
CONSERVATION PAGE
Conservation Chair: Amanda Scofield
OVERVIEW―Cimarron Group has been actively involved in issues locally from protection of our water supply at Lake Hefner to supporting adoption by the OKC City Council of an urban agriculture ordinance. We participated in the update of the Oklahoma City comprehensive plan and have participated in local election campaigns for Mayor, City Council and the State Legislature. We have also been strong proponents of the local food movement for many years and more recently, have been involved with promoting and developing pollinator gardens.
Over the years, we have sponsored many “re-skilling” workshops to pass on knowledge learned by our ancestors. These have included canning and food preservation, fruit tree pruning, mead making, bicycle maintenance, home solar panels, and many more.
Cimarron Group has been involved with several state conservation issues including reduction in earthquakes caused by injection of oilfield waste and defeating SQ 777 (the so-called “Right-to-Farm” constitutional amendment on the 2016 ballot). Group members continue to support marches and rallies for climate change awareness and solutions. We are currently working on mounting campaigns to encourage cities in our geographic area to move toward 100% renewable energy sources through the Ready for 100 Campaign.
A few of the current local issues underway are supporting pollinators by increasing habitat, working to promote recycling in multi-family housing, removing the use of herbicides in city parks, and other issues as needed.
TOP STATEWIDE PRIORITY―RENEWABLE ENERGY
How you can help move Oklahoma toward a renewable energy future
Although we can claim many successes in this area, our work is far from done. We have a vision of a world powered by clean energy, where dirty and dangerous fossil fuels are a thing of the past and everyone can enjoy cleaner air and water thanks to renewable energy resources. Today, the Sierra Club is going all-in on clean energy. We are bringing our passion to create a clean energy revolution where all people have access to sustainable energy, including local solar, energy storage, and sustainably sited large-sale renewable energy projects. Below is one way you can get involved with our work.
READY FOR 100―Edmond and Stillwater currently active
Ready for 100 is program to engage in public education and administrative advocacy to build support for a transition to 100% clean energy. The policy targets of the campaign are city administrative and executive officials (mayors, city planners, city council members, etc.) We are advocating for a transition to renewable energy that helps to democratize our energy system, decentralize our energy infrastructure, improve grid reliability, and equitably distribute the economic benefits of owning and generating energy.
Edmond Contact: Dre Sampley
Stillwater Contact: Deanna Homer
New conservation issue: The Soil Health Revolution
Read this article by Steph Jordan to find out what you can do to help.
“Hey honey, did you remember to feed the dirt?”
OKLAHOMA LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM
Contact: Mark Derichsweiler
The Oklahoma Chapter website has been updated with lots of great resources if you are interested in the Oklahoma State Legislature’s goings on. A summary of our complete bill tracking list and other updates can be found here so stop by regularly. Signup here to receive updates throughout the legislative session. Often, you can also find updates and actions on our Facebook page. Please use the Citizen Lobbying information and contact your legislators about any issues of importance to you. Members are always welcome to join the Legislative Committee and/or attend the meetings. In 2018 a lobby brigade of members and friends who are able to visit legislators was formed usually visiting the Capitol twice during each week during the annual Legislative Session February through May. This is a new program to Cimarron Group that was been successfully implemented by the Red Earth Group in Norman during 2017.
SUSTAINABLE LIVING TOOLS
Contact: Susie Shields Derichsweiler
TIPS FOR INDIVIDUALS
Save Money While Saving the Planet! Here's what YOU can do to help slow climate change, conserve resources and save money...
HOLIDAY GIFTING TIPS
While you are pondering new ways to be creative in your gift-giving this year, consider ideas that encompass a respect for the Earth and the limited resources we must all share. The most important consideration is whether your gift will be of real utility to the recipient. Handmade gifts and gifts of time or service (see link below for gifting coupons) are always welcome, especially by the elderly, as they will be something that cannot be easily purchased. Give gifts of yourself to family members … these are true gifts of love rather than just going out and spending money, possibly for unwanted items that will wind up sitting in a closet awaiting a garage sale.
IDEAS FOR MORE MEANINGFUL CHRISTMAS GIFTS
HOLIDAY GIFT CERTIFICATES FOR GIFTS OF YOUR TIME AND SERVICE