Assist the Group Chair by running AV equipment for meetings. Some are in-person, some virtual, and some hybrid. The goal is to relieve the Chair from technical issues so the Chair can focus on meeting participants and announcements.
One meeting per month in the evening. Almost all are on the 2nd Wednesday of the month.
Probably another hour not at the meeting
Set up AV equipment if in-person
Need skills in managing Google Meet (or transfer your Zoom skills)
Assist speaker with knowing appropriate formats for presenting programs (Google slides, PowerPoint, etc.)
Manage Google Meet during the meeting
Greet remote attendees
Volunteer by contacting Shirley Denton (Communications Chair).
Honeymoon Island Love Fest!
April 5, 10:00 am - 2:00 pm
It is legislative session season and legislators are at it again. They have sponsored legislation that sounds good but doesn't have the protections needed to ensure there are no non-park recreational uses—remember the hotels, pickleball courts and other bad ideas?
Background: Last summer, Florida’s public lands and wild places came under threat from Governor DeSantis’ plan to build golf courses, hotels, pickleball courts, and more in our state parks. In less than 9 days, protests across the state drawing thousands of activists shut down that threat. Now there are two bills moving through the legislative process, that as currently written/amended cannot prevent the development threats we fought last year. Join us to show our elected officials that Floridians want nothing less than true protection free of loopholes for our state parks!
Instead of just objecting and protesting, we are planning a positive vibe—State Park Lovefest - on Honeymoon Island in Dunedin. This will be a sign waving and picnic event 10:00a-2:00p April 5th. See details below in the RSVP. Maybe some of you attended the rally in August. Lets do it again! Tell legislators we want protection for our parks.
Meet us at picnic pavilion area (all the way down on the right) for a potluck picnic! Drinks and snacks will be provided–but folks are welcome to bring their own. Attendees are encouraged to make and bring their own sign to show our support for protecting our state parks! We will also have signs and materials on site so you can craft your own message.
We will be on site from 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Let’s send a clear message that our parks are for nature, not developers. #SaveOurParks #FloridaStateParkLoveFest
Our speaker is Christopher Meindl, a native Floridian and professor at the University of South Florida, St. Pete campus. He has written a new book called, Florida Springs: From Geography to Politics and Restoration. This will be a wide-ranging discussion of Florida Springs, how they function, a bit of historical context, threats and problems. He will also touch on politics and policy and efforts to restore springs. There will be a slide show presentation.
This is a diverse preserve in southern Hillsborough County. It includes one of the largest and best preserved scrubs in the County.
Join us for a 6-mile hike exploring open prairies, scrub and flatwoods. We will learn about the habitats and pause for quotes to help us connect with the natural world. Parts of the walk may be soft sugar sand. There are no restrooms or water sources at this preserve.
Usual hiking gear/apparel including extra water, hat, sun protection, mosquito protection, closed toe shoes, long pants recommended, binoculars helpful. If you have any questions on what to bring check with the leader ahead of time.
Level: Moderate(about six miles)
Register soon -- the trip will be limited to 6.
Full directions and contact information are on the registration page.
Get Outside and look at the BIRDS of Ft DeSoto. We are going to spend the day at Ft DeSoto Park area looking for spring migrants, Warblers, Vireos, Thrushes, Hummingbirds, and who knows what? Ft DeSoto is one of the prime migratory locations on the Gulf of Mexico and almost always has a surprise or two. We will meet at the South Beach near the Rangers house. Look for the Sierra Club signs.
PLEASE NO PETS, SCARES BIRDS
Meet at Ft DeSoto Park near the Ranger Station. This is where the road comes to a T when you come into the park and has a big flag pole. Take a left and then immediate left into the parking lot at the T.
Level: Easy
Cost: Various Cost for toll roads and Parks admissions.Cost should be close to $10.00 per car for all of the park admissions and toll fees.
Bring: Water, hat, lunch, snacks, poncho or raincoat, bird book, binoculars or spotting scope, camera
Cancellation Policy: Activity is held rain or shine, but may be altered due to inclement weather
Registration is required for all outings. Unless otherwise noted, outings are free though there may be site entry fees. Liability waivers are required, and anyone under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a legal guardian. No pets.
Lettuce Lake Walk
We were a small, but mighty group.
From left to right: Lynne Rosin, Janice Carll who led the outing, Ed Shindle, and Rebecca Inshaw.
By: Javier Estevez, Political and Legislative Director, Sierra Club Florida, copied from the Pelican
Florida’s 2025 Legislative Session is currently underway, and we are fighting for the issues that matter most to our environment, residents, and future, including:
Protecting state parks and public conservation lands from development
Florida’s state parks and public conservation lands play a key role in the preservation of the Everglades ecosystem, and must be protected from development both inside and outside their boundaries.
Expanding clean and renewable energy
Accepting federal funds to clean our air and reduce costs for Florida’s workers, homeowners, and small businesses.
Addressing the property insurance crisis that has left hundreds of thousands of Floridians
exposed to the impacts of severe weather.
Expanding and improve efficiency and weatherization programs to reduce costs for
Floridians dealing with high energy bills.
Reducing emissions by advancing an equitable and just transition to clean and renewable
energy.
Protecting water quality
Funding restoration of Florida’s impaired inland and coastal waters by regulating the state's major polluters.
Charging large water consumers their fair share to protect our common heritage of rivers, lakes, springs, streams, estuaries, and coastal waters.
Providing clean, accessible water to all Floridians.
Ensuring biosolids do not contribute to nutrient or PFAS (per-and polyfluoroalkyd substances) pollution.
Upholding democracy
Restoring and protect local governments’ freedom to adopt and implement local solutions to keep their communities safe, clean, and thriving.
Repealing preemptions that block local action on clean water, resiliency, and climate change.
Allowing Florida to get to work by protecting workers and small businesses against the impacts of extreme heat.
Restoring and protecting local freedom
Repealing policies that curtail Floridians’ freedom to speak, sue, or act collectively to hold state and local entities accountable.
Speak Up if You Want Sustainable Grocery Bags
Plastic debris can choke and entangle wildlife as well as leach harmful chemicals into our water.
As one of the largest users of plastic bags, please sign our petition that specifically asks Publix to cease using disposable plastic bags: https://addup.sierraclub.org/campaigns/stop-using-plastic-bags-publix and also add your own comments on Senate Bill 1822 and House Bill 565 which they are supporting. Your petition and remarks will go directly to Publix.
Be polite, but be firm. Praise what they are doing right. Critique and ask for change on what they are doing that harms the environment.
Conservation Committee Meetings
For more information or to volunteer, please contact Nancy Stevens.
Meetings are held on the second Monday of the month at 6:30 pm via Google Meet. Contact Nancy to get the link.
Solar United Neighbors: Switch Together Program
Tampa Bay Sierra is again partnering with Solar United Neighbors on their current coop. A coop is a buying group where we combine all prospective solar purchasers into a single buying group to get a better discount.
Learn about solar energy and its benefits for your home, or small business. We’ll take you through the technology, economics, financing and more. This presentation from the experts at Solar United Neighbors will answer all your questions about going solar.
If you are not seeing your newsletter, well, you probably won't see this. But, you should first check to see if it is in your spam. Take a look at the sender's email address and add it to your safe senders list.
If you are not getting our group emails, call Member Support and work with them. You want emails from the Tampa Bay Group.
Member Support: 415-977-5653
Needless to say, don't use "Unsubscribe" - call member support and tell them what you want -- Florida Chapter and Tampa Bay Group emails only.
To avoid others accidentally unsubscribing you, either do not forward Sierra Club emails, or delete the unsubscribe options at the end of the email before doing so.
If you want to see emails from other groups, you can add those to your preferences as well.
Tabling at USF Plant Sale and Ecofest
Tabling is what the Sierra Club calls manning tables at community events.
This is the first time we will be at the USF Plant Sale. It is an extraordinary opportunity to meet the public and introduce them to the Sierra Club.
USF Plant Sale on April 12-13
Ecofest on April 26
What is Needed
Assist at the event
Talk to event attendees about the Sierra Club
Tell attendees about our campaigns
Encourage attendees to join the Sierra Club
Give them a 1-year free membership
Help them join at the event using a simple cell-phone form and QR code
ICO (Inspiring Connections Outdoors) works with youth who don't have access to nature. Many don't have opportunities to visit parks, learn to paddle, learn to recognize birds, learn to garden, learn self confidence and leadership, and so on.
This year we are working with the 5th grade students at Academy Prep of Tampa, St. Pete, and Lakeland, and the Environmental Club at Riverview High School. We are also working with two Environmental Clubs at Hillsborough County High Schools.
If you are interested in becoming a leader or volunteering, please contact one of the leaders.
