SSC Update ~ June 16, 2006

Table of Contents
Direct From DC - Jared's Update
Louisiana State University - A Car Free Campus
Student Environmental Leadership Trainings are filling up fast - Save your spot today
We're Growing - Help Us Find New Organizers to Join the SSC Staff
Registration opens for the SSC's 15th Anniversary Shindig
Be a Leader in the SSC

Direct from DC - Jared's Update
Dear SSC Nation,

With your classes finally out for the summer, I was hoping you could help me with an equation I've been working on recently (don't worry, the times you skipped math class to organize will actually help with this). How do you get the numbers 100, 6, 3, 16, and 1 to result in a solution of 8,000,000,000? I've been toying with these because although our movement is fundamentally about personal and societal growth that is probably impossible to quantify, sometimes numbers like these can help tell a story about where we are, where we are headed, and the stakes of our work. So far, I think we're on to something. A run down...

100 - This past week the SSC passed the century mark in the number of campuses we have signed up across the country running the Campus Climate Challenge campaign. Our organization's commitment to this campaign has pushed the total number of campuses across the Energy Action Coalition to nearly three-hundred. Many of these studentswill also be attending one of our...

6 - Award-winning training programs this summer that will make those campaigns even more effective. And when the trainings are complete you'll be rewarded with...

3 - New staff who we are hiring to support the SSC's Challenge efforts. By the end of the month you will have a national campaign organizer and two regional campus organizers, one for the Northeast and one organizing in the states of Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Michigan. Even more exciting is that, as we hire so are...

16 - Coalition partners who are also receiving funds to run the Challenge. The Challenge is the most visionary, most coordinated, most inspiring, and most necessary campaign ever to come out of the student environmental movement. And the reason we're going to succeed is because we share...

1 - Common goal of coming together to meet the challenge of our generation. Not just figuratively but literally. In case you haven't heard, this year's SSC National Leadership Shindig from August 4-11 in New Hampshire will also include an Energy Action Coalition Summit. The stakes of our work together?

8,000,000,000 - Brothers, sisters, mothers, fathers, best friends, and children. Yes 8 billion people are expected to live on this earth within twenty five years. The decisions we make today will echo throughout their lives and will determine whether the world they inherit is a livable one or whether it is in ecological and social crisis. We have a fleeting opportunity to ensure that our future is secure and sustainable. The time to seize it is now.

Thanks for all you do,
Jared

Louisiana State University - A CAR FREE CAMPUS!
This month's SSC spotlight turns to the Environmental Conservation Organization (ECO) at Louisiana State University. After the 2005 hurricane season inundated Baton Rouge with 1/3 more cars, ECO rose to the challenge. Faced with a hundred thousand more cars clogging Baton Rouge's sprawled out streets and intensified air pollution problems caused by the strip of oil refineries and chemical factories on the other side of the river, Building Environmental Campus Community Organizer Lauren Stuart thought "something needs to be done to reduce car usage, greenhouse gas emissions, and to make our campus more sustainable."

Stuart led the group to organize an alternative transportation campaign, which culminated in their Alternative Earth Day (pictured). ECO collected signatures for two petitions that asked for a bike lane through campus and a bus rapid transit system down the interstate. Both of these initiatives will provide more transportation options for students at LSU, reduce the number of cars on campus daily, and reduce campus emissions.

In just one semester ECO has succesfully secured plans for a "Car Free Campus" by closing off the 9 major roads, created two new bus stops, revised bus routes, and added two covered bike racks in the center of campus. The Student Government transportation office now has a "Monthly Transportation Forum" to meet with ECO. But they are not done yet. Next semester's plans include advocating for a bike lane to be constructed through the center of campus, more carpool lots and a better carpool system.

Please join us in congratulating ECO, the June 2006 group of the month.

A limited number of spaces are still available for 2006 Summer Programs!
This summer, let the Sierra Student Coalition change your life, as it has for over one thousand students in our fifteen year history. The environmental movement needs trained leaders. The environmental movement needs YOU. Spend one of the best weeks of your life in a beautiful state park learning how to transform your passion and energy for the environment into concrete action. You'll learn about environmental issues and activism from leaders in the field while forging life-long friendships with other remarkable students. Most of all, you'll learn how to transform your passion and concern into effective action as a grassroots organizer. We will have six Sprogs this summer. Don't delay - the Pennsavania and Environmental Justice programs are full, but a limited number of spaces are still availalbe for Minnesota and Washington.
For a full listing of dates and locations and to apply, visit the SSC website.

We're Growing - Help Us Find New Organizers to Join the SSC Staff
The SSC is looking to hire three new Campus Climate Challenge organizers by the end of July - one national campaign organizer based in DC and regional campus organizers for the Northeast and for Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Michigan. The movement is growing - be an integral part of it yourself or forward far and wide to any person or lists that may be interested. To apply, send a resume and cover letter to jared.duval@sierraclub.org by July 3. Great team, great pay and benefits, and the satisfaction of helping confront the challenge of a generation! Please specify where you saw our job advertised in your cover letter and which position(s) you are applying for.

Campus Climate Challenge National Campaign Organizer
Regional Campus Climate Challenge Organizer - Northeast
Regional Campus Climate Challenge Organizer - PA, OH, MI

Upcoming Events from the SSC and our Progressive Allies
a. Alumni Reunion, National Leadership Gathering, and Energy Action Coalition Summit at the SSC's 2006 Shindig
Celebrating 15 years of student organizing for a just and sustainable future
Coming together to meet the challenge of a generation
August 4-11, 2006 at Kimball Union Academy, Meriden, NH

All SSC leaders are invited to this year's Shindig, which promises to be one of the biggest and best we've ever had. The week will start off with an Alumni reunion, where SSCers from years past will join former staff and the current generation of activists to reflect on the history of the student environmental movement and discuss its current course.

Shindig will also provide a space for the SSC's leaders to gather with each other and with leaders of our Energy Action Coalition partners to build community among students working for change across the country. Organizational meetings will focus on how to most effectively implement our priority campaign, the Campus Climate Challenge. This year's shindig will include trainings intended for SSC Community and Campus Organizers. These workshops will highlight best organizing practices, teaching participants how to make significant, concrete changes in their communities. The Executive Committee, Trainings Committee, Conservation Committee and Environmental Justice Committee will also meet to evaluate the past year's activities and create a plan of action for the next year.

Here's a sampling of the workshops and panels that will occur over the week:

• Meeting the Challenge - How to Run a Successful Campus Climate Challenge Campaign at Your School
• Reclaiming our Future: Revitalizing our Energy Systems, Jobs and Economy
• The Moral Imperative of Stopping Climate Destabilization
• Separate But Not Equal: Environmental Justice and the Environmental Movement
• The Environmental Movement: Where Does it go From Here?

Be a Leader in the SSC

Thank you to everyone who applied to be a SSC leader in the second round of applications last month! We are accepting applications on a rolling basis and the next round of applications for local and national leadership positions are due on July 1, 2006. In order to be invited to Shindig as a national leader, your applications must be sumbitted by July 1, 2006. To apply, download the applications from our Leadership Applications website. Read on to learn about local leadership opportunities available to SSC members. National committee openings are listed on our Leadership Applications website. Remember, everyone needs to apply, even those who currently serve in a position.

Group Affiliation
The Sierra Student Coalition is a national organization consisting of a network of local groups that run campaigns on high school and college campuses. These campaigns usually follow the issue focus and campaign model of the SSC’s national priority campaign. Groups are requested to submit a formal affiliation request by June 1, 2006 so that the office has complete and current contact information for each affiliate. This is a new process for the SSC and we appreciate your help as we build the organization.
Download the Group Affiliation Request.

Campus Organizer
The primary job of the Campus Organizer is to be responsible for creating or maintaining an effective Sierra Student Coalition group to run campaigns on a high school or college campus. Campaigns should be driven by the Organizer’s group and ideally be a part of the SSC’s national priority campaign. No previous experience is required and all local group leaders are strongly encouraged to apply.

Community Organizer
The primary job of the Community Organizer is to bring together leaders from multiple campus groups in close geographic proximity to work on community-wide environmental organizing efforts. Community Organizers are responsible for maintaining communication between all Sierra Student Coalition groups in his/her community. A community organizer position will become available when there are at least two registered and active campus groups in the area.