Newsletter- June 2023 update from Sierra Club Hoosier Chapter
June 26, 2023
Beautiful monarch caterpillar photos inside!
Hi Supporter,
We hope you are having a good Pride month so far.
In this newsletter- take action to protect forests and clean up coal ash, updates from our teams, plus all our regular features.
Happy reading!
Take action - Protect our Forests!
We are quickly approaching the end of comment periods with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the United States Forest Service (USFS) that will greatly impact our public forests. And we need you to help protect these rare and precious areas!
Take action - EPA, Clean Up All Toxic Coal Ash Nationwide!
In response to a groundbreaking lawsuit led by Earthjustice, the EPA issued a draft Coal Combustion Residuals (CCR) Rule proposing to finally begin closing a loophole that has exempted half of our nation's coal ash waste from being cleaned up. This is a big leap forward, but the EPA must complete the job to include all toxic coal ash sites so that no community is left without protection.
Indiana Forest Stewardship Advisory Council meeting update
On Tuesday, June 6, 2023, the Indiana Division of Forestry had the Spring Indiana Forest Stewardship Advisory Council meeting hosted at Camp Atterbury Fish & Wildlife Area near Edinburgh. Volunteer leader, Lora Kemp, was in attendance.
On Memorial weekend in May, several Sierra Club Ex Com members, Conservation Committee members, and our new legislative liaison went to the 2023 Heartwood Forest Council in Mitchell, Indiana.
The 31st annual Heartwood Council was held at Camp Rivervale near Spring Mill State Park, and offered a variety of speakers, strategies, and sessions on the state of forests in the Hardwood region.
The Sierra Club Hoosier Chapter was one of the cosponsors for the event. People from Maine to Missouri came to work on finding balanced forest solutions to help mitigate climate change and save special areas for wildlife, water quality, and the survival of the natural world.
Some of the weekends highlights included the Forest Grass Band playing on Friday evening, wholesome homemade food at every meal, silent auction, campfire gatherings and a true sense of community between the members. Sierra Club members and volunteer leaders in attendance included Julie Lowe, Marilyn Bauchat, Greg Grant, Shannon Anderson, Mark Nowotarski, Cecil Rich (Ivy & Sylvia included), and Neil Goswami.
We carried home the enthusiasm and rejuvenated feeling to carry on our work, protecting the public land and forests we all so dearly love. We all left looking forward to the Heartwood Reunion at the Lazy Black Bear in the heart of Buffalo Springs in the Hoosier National Forest in October (Indigenous People’s Day).
Lora Kemp
Volunteer Leader
Sierra Club Hoosier Chapter.
Maggie Gates, and Kevin Weinberg, Indiana activists speak about their experience in Atlanta, Georgia with "Stop Cop City". Maggie was arrested for domestic terrorism while she attended a concert near the forest the activists are trying to protect. 400 acres of forested public land will be logged in order to build a militant training center for police training. Further reading:
The Movement to Stop "Cop City" Sparks International Solidarity. Photo: Julie Lowe.
Cecil Rich, Hoosier Chapter Conservation Committee member, holds the "sharing stone" and introduces himself to others in the circle at the Heartwood Council meeting Memorial day weekend in Mitchell, IN. Photo: Julie Lowe.
Sierra Club staff and volunteer leaders are passionate about getting out there and spreading the word about issues that matter to Hoosiers!
Above: Marilyn Bauchat, volunteer with Uplands Network, spoke to members of Bloomington North Rotary at their June meeting. Uplands members are partnering with many groups in and around Monroe County to provide outdoor opportunities and address environmental concerns. Photo: Greg Grant.
Above left: Sierra Club supporters Elena Jimerson and Kelly Tingle stopped by to play our pollinator game at the Earth Day event in Garfield Park earlier this month.
Above right: Hoosier Chapter volunteer leaders Rox Caldwell and Julie Lowe, tabling at the Garfield Park Earth Day event. Photos courtesy of Julie Lowe.
Your local Sierra Club in the press:
Sierra Club volunteer leaders Rox Caldwell and Julie Lowe were spotted on this Wish TV Earth Day feature:
Indiana holds annual festival.
Horticulture Therapy - blog on Revealing Voices by volunteer leader Eric Riddle.
Readers' Photos
This month's photos come from reader Neal Dake:
"Here are some pics of swamp milkweed on my property, and monarch caterpillars eating away at the plant. Just an example of the impact of one plant that can make a difference!"
Thank you so much for sharing, Neal!
Do you have a photograph of Indiana nature that you would like to share? We'd love to see it and perhaps feature it in a future newsletter!
Use the button below or email
rebecca.dien-johns@sierraclub.org
Now through October, 2023
Belmont Beach in Indianapolis has a ton of great events happening over the summer that are all free and family-friendly... movie nights, concerts, sound bath meditations and more! See the 2023 event schedule for more information.
