Dear
A Year of Expecta(c)tion
I am Steve Sheeky, the Chapter's new chairperson. I am honored to be able to help lead Sierra Club's efforts to save the planet locally. I believe that there is a lot that we can accomplish together, and I'd like to start right now.
Here we are at the end of the Summer of 2013. Family vacations are coming to a close, parents and kids are trekking into the stores to get school supplies and clothes, and everyone’s horizons expand and reach forward to search for the holiday season. Our expectation turns to the coming season of crisp fall mornings, trick-or-treating in your neighborhood, celebrating and giving thanks for all that we are and have, and celebrating the end of the year, all while pledging to make the next year even more fruitful, happy, and healthy.
For our chapter, this year has likewise been one of expectation and action; expectation that the efforts done in the first half of 2013 will encourage volunteers and members to bring action in the later part of the year on those issues most important to Rhode Islanders:
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Shuttering of Brayton Point coal power generation plant in Somerset,
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Advocating for the local renewable energy investment,
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Promoting Complete Streets principles and sustainable mass transit funding,
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And the divestment of state and local institutions from fossil fuels.
As we move forward into the political campaign season, our Chapter now begins the process of identifying candidates for office who not only align themselves with a pro-environmental and conservation stances, but follow the rule of law while making government work for the people. These important programs run alongside other long popular ones like our outings and recreational events. Helping to organize and execute these programs takes time, sweat equity, and money to organize volunteers and compensate staff.
This is where we need your help the most. We need your financial and volunteer support.
Just like you, Rhode Island Sierra Club has had to do more with less. We have risen to the challenge, helping to raise funds through a more varied set of sources. We are seeking your support to allow us to continue our programming and campaigns. Won’t you consider a donation of $10, $25, $50 or more to help us continue these programs?
We have seen the collective power of volunteers come together this past February in order to protest the Keystone XL pipeline in Washington, DC. We have seen our fellow Rhode Islanders take action to make it known that dirty, carbon-heavy power generation and the resulting environmental degradation are not the future we want for us, our families, and future generations.
Lastly, we invite you to join the conversation by connecting with the chapter by visiting our Facebook page, following us on Twitter, and/or visiting us at one of our regular meetings (both online and in-person). The power of Sierra Club and the RI Chapter is the influence and organizing strength we need in order to help us win these important battles. We are in need of volunteers to help us on projects such as phone banks, assisting with putting together mailings, writing articles and blurbs for our newsletter Coastlines and being the eyes, ears, mouthpieces for the chapter in your town. We aim to become hyperlocal-- to have Sierra Club volunteers in each of the far-flung corners of the state advocating for renewable energy, responsible land stewardship, and political accountability.
We look forward to hearing from you and hope you will consider supporting us with a donation and/or some of your valuable time to make our common goal of a healthier planet for us all, a reality.
With warmest regards,
Steve Sheeky