1) Leaders To Be Thankful For

As I was sitting around the table last week remarking on all the things which I had to be grateful for in my life, it occurred to me how lucky I am to work with and for amazing volunteer leaders. As regular readers know, we're going through the annual process of executive committee elections, so I want to take this opportunity to thank the current members. We will have at least two new members as we look to fill the big shoes left by Sarah Thomas and Shawn Schillberg who were able to bring great energy and expertise to our leadership team. Other executive committee members include Ben Jones, Sarah Schumann, Mike Roles, Jonathan Harris, and Emily Koo. Thanks to all, we've been able to get an incredible amount accomplished this year and the Chapter is well positioned to succeed in 2012. Let's all celebrate together at the office warming open house on December 13th.

2) Thanks Nich!

Thanks also to Nicholas Oliver whose role as the Chapter's Go 60mpg campaign coordinator came to a close two weeks ago. Beyond his fantastic success in pushing for the most aggresive fuel efficiency standards possible, he built up the RI Chapter's social networking capabilities, a gift that promises to keep on giving. Speaking of giving, Nich is going to stay on with Sierra Club in a volunteer role to chair our new development committee (he'll be on the upcoming executive committee ballot as well). I can't wait to see what he is able to do in this new role. For more information, you can contact him at giving@risierraclub.org. 

3) Grassroots Gratitude

More than anything, I am grateful for the reawakening of the grassroots spirit; first with the birth of RIPTA Riders in response to the proposed cuts over the summer and second with the birth of the Occupy Wall Street movement, known as Occupy Providence here in Rhode Island. I have been waiting for the rebirth of civic participation for a long time, and I know that I'm not alone. I am thrilled to find out what we are all capable of...