Newsletter of the Sierra Club Rocky Mountain Chapter
November 2014
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Electronic Edition
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Message from the Sierra Club Rocky Mountain Chapter Director, Joshua Ruschhaupt:
"Vote!"
As the Communications Team’s last newsletter of 2014 is produced for November, I’m reflecting back through our year of our work, and I see so much growth in the chapter.
I think about how our financial situation in the chapter has been healing from the economic downturn. I think about how we couldn’t have thought to grow our staff without our financial contributor’s support (that may have been you, dear reader, and we thank you for that deeply). I think how we hired a new staffer, and how much just one more full time worker (now the chapter has two staffers, Matt Reed and myself) has made a difference within the chapter, and for our volunteers Matt supports to develop new conservation campaigns and dig deeper on the ones we had already.
I think about...
Read more...
Energized activists unite at People's Climate March
Colorado Campaign Representative Sierra Club Beyond Natural Gas Campaign
Catherine Collentine and Karen Dike at the People's Climate March in NYC Photo provided by Catherine Collentine
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More than 400,000 climate activists from every state and around the
world joined together in New York City on Sunday, September 21st to
march together for climate action. The march was organized to correspond
with the United Nations Climate Summit that began last week, and to
sound the alarm for climate action. Marchers were joined by Ban Ki Moon,
head of the UN, along with a number of celebrities including Al Gore,
Jane Goodall and Leonardo DiCaprio.
Net Metering: A public choice
By Jim Luidl RMC Communications Team
Photo credit: Colorado Energy News
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Colorado is known as a sunny state. With over 300 days of sunshine on
average, the Front Range would seem like a perfect place for Solar Power
to flourish... and so it has. But for the last year, growth in solar
has slowed as advocates of solar power have been embroiled in a battle
with Xcel Energy over the value of the sun.
Federal lands are public lands...until they're not
By Matt Reed Conservation Programs Coordinator
Public Lands Photo credit: Bob Pierson |
One of the things that makes Colorado such a great place to live is the
breadth and diversity of her federal lands – mainly lands managed by the
National Park Service (NPS), Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and U.S.
Forest Service (USFS). Approximately 37% of Colorado surface land is
owned and managed by the federal government. That may seem like a lot,
but it’s well below Nevada (85%), Alaska (69%) and seven other states.
From Colorado’s iconic mountain peaks to her rolling forests and
sagebrush steppes, Sierra Club members and supporters enjoy visiting and
exploring our abundant federal lands.
Read more...
Media Watch Debatable
By James Luidl RMC Communications Team
Okay, I admit it. I have not watched a single televised debate
between any Colorado politician running for office this year. Some may
say, “But that's being irresponsible, you need to know what the
candidates stand for. How can you write an column and say you don't
care?”
It's not that I don't care, I just don't waste my time
watching debates on television. Am I really going to find out something
new about how either candidate stands on environmental issues, or any
other issue for that matter?
Read more...
Recovering our lost heritage
By Matt Reed Conservations Programs Coordinator
Gray Wolf Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons
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Colorado is blessed with a diversity of wildlife. But there is a gaping
void in this rich tapestry: the absence of large carnivores. Gray
wolves, grizzly bears and wolverines are, with the exception of some
lone wanderers, absent from the landscape. Canada lynx were
reintroduced, but remain scattered and elusive. Mountain lions retain a
foothold in the mountains and deserts, but increasing human population
growth and development threaten their numbers. Where these animals once
thrived, the wily and beautiful coyote now roams.
Read more...
Oil & Gas Roundup Oil & Gas team pushes past political uncertainty
By Kirk Cunningham RMC Beyond Oil & Gas Team Member
Writing this article several days before the November
4th election, the outcome of which will impact the potential for
further regulating oil and gas production at the state level over the next four
years, leaves me thinking about the future of public health, environmental
protection and empowering communities. However
the vote turns out, the Sierra Club RMC Beyond Oil and Gas Team will continue our
push for stronger regulation of the out-of-control oil and gas industry and for
keeping residential areas and public lands off limits to fracking.
Read More...
Thank you!
By Julie Ott RMC GMO Labeling Team
GMO corn Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons
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Our Chapter GMO Labeling Team would like to thank all of the Sierra Club volunteers who pitched in to help pass Proposition 105, Colorado’s ballot measure to label genetically modified foods. From April to August Sierra Club members and friends helped collect signatures for Initiative 48, an initiative to label genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in Colorado. Once approved for the ballot the initiative became Proposition 105 and efforts changed to voter education and get out the vote efforts. Thank you to all of the volunteers who helped with signature gathering, tabling, literature drops, phone banking and movie nights. We appreciate your support of GMO labeling!
Volunteer of the Month
Longtime RMC member focuses on fracking
By Hilary Froman RMC Communications Team
Harv cooling off after group tree climbing in South Platte Park Photo provided by Harv Teitelbaum
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Although raising a successful son may be Harv Teitelbaum’s number one
accomplishment, educating community groups and public forums on the
effects of fracking may come in as a close second. Well, at least number
one in regards to his longtime membership with the Sierra Club.
Harv
has been a member of Sierra Club since 1988 and owes his faithful
membership to the Club’s structure, history, and tradition. He
appreciates that the Sierra Club supports local activism and initiative
but still has the size to be impactful.
Read more...
All the Frackenstein episodes can be seen on Jim Anderson's Public Facebook page or our newsletter archive.
The RMC runs on people-power!
Would you believe that the Sierra Club runs more from volunteer
leadership than staff leadership? It's true—there are literally
thousands of volunteer leaders in different leadership capacities in 63
chapters and over 400 groups nationwide! Believe it or not, there are
just two Rocky Mountain Chapter (RMC) staff people right now: the
director, Joshua Ruschhaupt—working with over 150 great volunteer
leaders in the chapter and groups, and our new conservation programs
coordinator, Matt Reed. We need to hear from you right away, even if
you're only remotely thinking about spending a few hours or more per
week helping out the environmental movement in Colorado.
Colorado's environment needs your activism and advocacy—the writing's on the wall!
You show up, and we'll train you. There's even a lot of stuff you can
do right from home. Doesn't matter where you are in Colorado—we're
recruiting for the Chapter, and that covers the entire state. If you're
interested, we've got a volunteer role to fit your interests, skills,
experience, and knowledge.
If, after reading through the roles below, you're still unsure of
where you might fit in, that's no problem. Just fill out the volunteer
interest form on our website at http://rmc.sierraclub.org/volunteer.shtml.
Together as an organized movement we will win!
Outings leaders
Colorado is a hiker's mecca. We're looking to build a core leadership team to work with our outings leaders, and also looking for several outings leaders throughout Colorado. Have you ever wanted to lead your own fun or conservation-minded hikes? Or just get out and enjoy the outdoors hikes? Winter or summer, Sierra Club is known for great outings with trained volunteer leaders. Let us train you to be one of them. We're really excited to get our outings program working directly on conservation issues, too! Contact Outings Chair Chris Applegate at: cdapplegate@gmail.com.
Communications Team leaders
The Communications Team is currently very strong; however, they are looking for webmasters, reporters, media specialists, and Listserv administrators. (Not familiar with Convio or Listserv e-mail systems, but learn fast? Don't worry, we have professional trainers.) Contact the Communications Team at rmc-communications-team@lists.sierraclub.org.
Clean Energy Issue Area Information Coordinator
Are
you plugged into Colorado's clean energy circles? Do you have some
time to advance the cause of clean energy in our state? Do you have
excellent research and communication skills? If so, please contact the
Rocky Mountain Chapter's Clean Energy Issue Specialist Becky English,
who needs help keeping track of clean energy issues in Colorado, and
nationally. We need to communicate action alerts, the best events, and
other information & opportunities to RMC members, and organize
focused campaigns. Email Becky with your qualifications and availability for this opportunity.
Fundraising Team leaders
The Fundraising Team is
in need of more fundraising volunteer leaders to help us reach our
fundraising goals. Volunteers play a major role in creating the
fundraising goals, developing the strategies, and carrying out the
Chapter's fundraising plans. If you are experienced with fundraising,
from small contributions to working with large donors, or just want to
get started, we need your help. Even if you just want to be an assistant
to learn and help out, sign up. We're looking for at least three new
volunteers. Contact the Fundraising Team chair, Dave Read, at dancingdave@comcast.net.
Conservation Issue Team leaders, either local group or chapter level
If
you want to work on a conservation issue in a leadership role, then
sign up using the volunteer sign up form on our website. It lists
several issues that might suit your fancy. You will be contacted by one
of our volunteer coordinators. Sign-up at http://rmc.sierraclub.org/volunteer.shtml.
Communications Team leaders
The Communications
Team is currently very strong; however, they are looking for webmasters,
reporters, media specialists, and Listserv administrators. (Not
familiar with Convio or Listserv e-mail systems, but learn fast? Don't
worry, we have professional trainers.) Contact the Communications Team
at rmc-communications-team@lists.sierraclub.org.
Environmental Reporter (Colorado)
Do you care
about Colorado's environment? Do you like to write and work with the
news media? Sierra Club Rocky Mountain Chapter (RMC) seeks 3-10 hrs/wk
volunteers to serve on our award-winning Communications Team to begin
expanding our media reach beyond the chapter to more external, public
media sources including newspapers, blogs, radio, television, etc.
The
Communications Team is working to establish a rapid response sub-team
that can take late-breaking chapter news, press releases, press
statements, etc., and use media relationships to make the RMC's voices
heard in public media outlets. There will be opportunities to report on
original stories, write opinion editorials, and letters to the editor.
Volunteers
can be based anywhere in Colorado, though most of the Communications
Team is currently located in/near the Denver metro area. For more
information, visit http://www.sierraclub.org or http://rmc.sierraclub.org/. You can also see this position promoted on Craigslist.
Read More...
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In this issue:
- Director's Message:
- Energized activists unite at People's Climate March
- Net metering: A public choice
- Federal lands are public lands...until they're not
- Media Watch: Debatable
- Recovering our lost heritgage
- Oil & Gas Roundup: Oil & Gas team pushes past political uncertainty
- Thank you!
- Volunteer of the Month: Longtime RMC member focuses on fracking
- Cartoon
- Volunteer Leadership Openings
- Sidebar:
- Must See Event!
- Donate!
- Go Solar!
- P&P Archive
- Be a member!
- Facebook
- Meetup
- Twitter
- Featured Outings
- Story Idea?
Must-See Event:
Winter Gala
Winter Gala is a fun social event for all Photo by Michael Ace
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Saturday, December 6 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
American Mountaineering Center, Golden, CO (map)
An evening of great food, great company and a celebration of our collective and individual accomplishments on behalf of the environment await you at this year’s RMC Winter Gala, being held Saturday, December 6, from 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at the American Mountaineering Center in Golden.
New this year will be a plated dinner catered by Table Mountain Inn. You can choose from a traditional but exceptionally prepared meat entrée or an incredibly delicious vegan option. All sides will be vegan prepared and everything except the dinner rolls and cornbread will be gluten free. That includes the heavenly dessert options, which are also vegan. All delivered to you while you relax at your table.
As last year, we will have an awards ceremony to acknowledge some of our top activists and volunteers; a silent auction with some great items and experiences to bid on to help raise funds for the Chapter; and, a prominent guest speaker (to be revealed soon) who will inspire us and give us things to think about as we look toward the new year.
So, get your tickets now and come out for some holiday cheer, a satisfying dinner tailored to your palate, and a chance to honor and give thanks to all who made this a memorable year in the fight to keep Colorado a great place to live, work and play.
We hope to see you there.
Please support your Sierra Club Rocky Mountain Chapter.
100 percent of your contribution stays here in Colorado!
We depend on your support to do all of our work!
Contribute on our secure website today.
Go Solar!
If you are the proud owner of a single-family home, and you want to reduce Colorado's climate impact, you can install a solar system on your roof!
Sierra Club RMC partners with Sungevity to employ local, certified solar installers.
Get your free solar iQuote now!
Sungevity supports Sierra Club with a great contribution with the completion of every installation we refer to them, and you also get $750! |
The Peak and Prairie is the official Chapter newsletter.
Read the current and previous issues of our printed and e-newsletter on the Chapter's newsletter web page.
Visit the Chapter's events calendar page to find out about outings, conservation and political activities, and more.
Not a Sierra Club member yet? No problem -- just "Join Now!" to become a member today at just $15!
Be Social!
Follow us on Facebook to get our latest updates and relevant news, or on Meetup to join our latest activities, activism, and advocacy events. We're on Twitter, too!
Featured Outings
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Full moon hike along High Line Canal - A DMN Event
When: Friday, November 7, 2014
Time: 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Where: 950 S. Quebec Street, Denver, CO 80247 (map)
We will meet in the Walgreens parking lot. Join the DMN Sierra Club as we host our first full moon hike! Since this full moon is one week after Halloween, we will be walking the portion of the High Line Canal which will take us through Fairmount Cemetery. The terrain is flat along the canal with no elevation gain and this hike is rated easy. We will hike a distance of about 5 miles total. If you are not here by 5:30pm, then we will leave without you (as always, I do not own a cell phone, so please contact me via Meetup prior to 4:30pm the day of the hike if you have any questions).
For this hike bring the following:
• Headlamp or flashlight
• 1 quart of water
• Snack
• Warm clothes (long pants, coat, hat, gloves etc.)
• Perhaps a spooky story to share with the group and leftover Halloween candy
Be a part of history and sign up for our inaugural full moon hike!
***As with all DMN Sierra Club events a $5 donation is recommended but
certainly not required. This money helps the DMN maintain the high
quality you have come to expect from our outings.***
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Mount Falcon Park Fitness Hike - A DMN Event
When: Sunday, November 9, 2014, 10:30 a.m.
Where: 21004 Mt. Falcon Road, Morrison, CO (map)
Ready for a fun fitness hike? You're in luck, the Denver Metro Sierra Club will be hosting a fun fitness hike, meaning we will be hiking at a brisk pace with minimal stops at Mount Falcon Park. Join us for a fun hike and meet new people.
We will meet at 10:30am at the west entrance to Mt. Falcon Park on Sunday November 9th. We'll do a 4 to 5 mile fitness hike in Mount Falcon Park. We will stop for lunch though - we gotta eat! The hike will be cancelled if the ground is dry with no snow cover. You will be notified via meetup/email the night before if the hike is cancelled due to weather/conditions.
Please make sure to dress in layers, bring water and food, and have some bad weather gear to take along with you if the weather takes a turn for the worse - gloves, a hat and a raincoat are always a good idea when hiking in Colorado. The hike will leave at 10:30am sharp so please plan to arrive a few minutes early to get signed in. This is a people only hike so please leave all critters at home.You can get info on the hike here. The address is 21004 Mount Falcon Road in Indian Hills. Here are driving directions to the west entrance: From U.S. Highway 285, take the Indian Hills turn-off, follow Parmalee Gulch Road for 5 miles to Picutis Road, then straight ahead to Mount Falcon Road.
This is Ellen's first Sierra Club hike so she will have a co-leader to make sure things go smoothly.
***As with all DMN Sierra Club events a $5 donation is recommended but
certainly not required. This money helps the DMN maintain the high
quality you have come to expect from our outings.***
THE "TEN ESSENTIALS" -- The Sierra Club recommends the following be carried at all times when hiking in the backcountry:
Navigation (map and compass); Fire (matches, lighters, and accelerant); Signaling Device (whistle or mirror); Sun Protection (sunglasses and sunscreen); Insulation (extra clothing); Nutrition (extra food); Hydration (extra water and tablets); Illumination (headlamp or flashlight); First Aid Kit; Emergency Shelter (tarp, bivy sack, and tent); Repair Kit (tools, knife, cord, and tape).
OUR RMC WEBSITE HAS OTHER OUTINGS INFO THAT MIGHT BE OF INTEREST -- A Sierra Club Sign-In and Liability Waiver form must be signed before participating in outings -- if you desire to review a copy, please contact your trip leader.
Story Idea?
If you have a story idea for the Sierra Club Rocky Mountain Chapter Peak and Prairie, just send a quick email to rmc-communications-team@lists.sierraclub.org.
Be sure to get in touch with the Communications Team if you are a RMC volunteer interested in being featured in an article -- we want to let others know the great work you're doing and who you are!
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