Sierra Lately is a blog of news and events of the Chicago Sierra Club

SAVE the DATE:

Sierra Club Gubernatorial Candidate Forum on the Environment

October 14-UIC Science & Engineering South, 845 W. Taylor St., 11a.m.-1p.m. 

Our Gubernatorial Candidate Forum on the Environment is less than two weeks away! Please plan to join us at UIC on Saturday, October 14, at 11 a.m. We're looking forward to asking in-depth questions of the candidates running for Governor of Illinois.

 From climate change to fracking, from safeguarding clean air and water to preserving natural spaces, a wide range of pressing issues will be on the ballot in 2018. With Trump and Pruitt attempting to roll back decades of progress and line the pockets of polluters, state and local action are more important than ever. Join us on October 14 to declare that Illinois' next Governor must be 100% in on protecting our environment.

RSVP to reserve your free seat at our Gubernatorial Candidate Forum on the Environment.

________________________________________________________________________

Clean Energy Town Hall

Oct. 17 – Broadway Armory Park
5917 N. Broadway
6:30 – 8:30 p.m.

This summer and fall, Sierra Club and our coalition partners are participating in town halls, hosted by elected officials throughout Chicago, to discuss clean energy. We are building awareness about many benefits and opportunities created by the Future Energy Jobs Act—and the many ways Chicago residents, businesses and communities can take advantage.

Chicago Alderman Harry Osterman will host our next town hall on Tuesday, October 17. Join us at Broadway Armory Park, 5917 N. Broadway, in Edgewater.

An RSVP is requested at ilenviro.org/48thward.

------------------------------------------------------------

Montrose Beach Cleanup and Nature Tours

Saturday, September 16

• 7:00 a.m.–9:00 a.m. – Nature tour and beginners’ bird walk,
• 9:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. – Coastal cleanup, nature education and more nature tours

Montrose in the early fall is a riot of flowers and mature meadow plants up in the Bird Sanctuary in the upland area. The seeds and juicy caterpillars bring in lots of migrating birds. With summer gone and cold weather just a month away, sparrows, hawks, finches and many other bird species will moving through Chicago. For them, Montrose is an oasis in the city.

To keep that oasis welcoming, Sierra Club is leading a big beach cleanup—part of the Ocean Conservancy’s International Coastal Clean-Up event. We anticipate as many as 400 people will come out. You may join for all or part of the work period. 

The day will kick off with a bird walk, after which participants can either keep birding or join the beach cleanup. Experienced guides will lead nature tours of the shore throughout the morning. Kids and adults can take part in a cool educational project to collect harmful microbeads from the sand and water.

Dress for the weather, including a hat and sunscreen. Bring a filled water bottle, as well as binoculars (for the birding) and work gloves (for the cleanup) if you have them. No dogs allowed.

Directions: We will meet at Montrose Beach House at 7:00 a.m. Look for the Sierra Club banners and/or tents near the east end of the large white building. Parking is free and bike racks are provided. Montrose Beach House is a 10–15 minute walk from the bus stops at Montrose and Marine Drive.

Follow Montrose Avenue east into the park. After it begins to curve to the left (north), turn right (east) at the first possible right turn (it’s a T-junction). The green bait shop will be on your right. Follow the park road east. The harbor will be on your right. Look for an asphalt path on the left that leads north toward the white beach house. Cars may park near the path on either side of the road. Follow the paved path to the beach house and walk around the building to the northeast side, where Sierra Club will be set up.

Registration: An RSVP is required for yourself and/or your group. Please register by visiting the event page at GreatLakesAdopt.org.

For more information, please contact Christine Williamson at birdchris@aol.com or 773-935-8439 (evenings).

Volunteer crew leaders needed!

To make sure our Montrose Beach Cleanup is a success, we need volunteers to handle a variety of tasks. If you would like to assist with any of the below duties, please contact Jeff Shelden at jeffshelden@gmail.com. We’ll bring the coffee and donuts!

• Setup (7:00 a.m.–8:45 a.m.): Unload and set up tents, tables, food, supplies and the registration desk.
• Registration (8:30 a.m.–9:30 a.m.): Greet people and sign them in. 
• Beach cleanup supply (8:45 a.m.–12:00 p.m.): Organize teams of beach cleaners as they arrive; explain where to pick up trash on Montrose Beach and in the park; hand out trash bags and work gloves. 
• Refreshments (8:30 a.m.–12:00 p.m.): Set up and dole out snacks to our hungry cleanup crews. 
• Breakdown (11:45 a.m.–12:45 p.m.): Drop the tents, repack the supplies, clean up after the cleanup and reload the trucks.
  

 __________________________________________________________

Save the Date: NextSocial & Open House is August 23rd

The next Social & Open House for folks interested in learning about volunteer opportunities is Wednesday, August 23. The Social begins at 6:00 pm and will be held at the Sierra Club office located at 70 East Lake Street, Suite 1500.

The evening will kick-off with a short happy hour. Then attendees will hear from the Chicago Group’s volunteer team leaders for the following committees: Air & Energy, Chicago Lobby Team, Communications and Organizing, Land/Habitat/Wildlife, Outings, Political, Ready for 100 (Clean Energy), Transportation, Trump Response, and Water.

Team leaders will briefly introduce their team and its current projects. Then attendees will have the chance to meet with the team leaders in small break-out groups and learn more, including the dates of upcoming team meetings and special events.

If you would like to attend the August 23, please RSVP here.
-------------------------------------------------

Sierra Club Chicago welcomes 50 more new volunteers

At the June Social, everyone enjoyed a musical performance by singer-songwriter Marshall Hjertstedt. Hjertstedt is a LEED-AP architect and a leader in the Illinois Chapter of the US Green Building Council. His song expressed concern about the changing relationship between humans and the earth because of climate change. Like many songs about troubled relationships, its lyrics longed for a less complicated time.

If you are interested in volunteering with Sierra Club Chicago and want to learn about our many teams, please visit www.sierraclub.org/illinois/chicago/volunteer or come to our August 23 Social and Open House.