Newsletter- October 2023 update from Sierra Club Hoosier Chapter
October 27, 2023
Join us on the trail this fall!
Hi Supporter,
In this newsletter - read about Indiana's first ever climate action plan, find out how you could join our Executive Committee, go solar with SUN, updates on our work, plus all our regular features and upcoming events.
Happy reading!
Could you be our next Executive Committe member?
Do you have a love of the outdoors, a strong commitment to equity and justice, a passion to fight climate change and protect the environment in Indiana?
Sierra Club Hoosier Chapter is looking for four volunteers to serve on the Executive Committee that do!
The Executive Committee is made up of volunteers from the Hoosier Chapter Sierra Club membership, so that means people just like you! Those elected will work with volunteer peers and Sierra Club staff to create and facilitate the overall mission and strategy of the Chapter. Following the election in December of 2023, each elected member will serve a 2 year term that will begin January 1, 2024.
Add your voice to shape Indiana's first-ever
Climate Action Plan!
Your voice is needed to shape Indiana’s first-ever Climate Action Plan!
Indiana is a major source of greenhouse gas emissions nationally. This also means Indiana can be a leader in slowing the climate crisis.
In the years ahead, Indiana can access millions of dollars of federal funding to advance clean energy, green transit, sustainable agriculture, environmental justice and ultimately slow the climate crisis. These plans could be life changing for our communities and our climate.
As a major step in pursuing these funds, Indiana has been awarded a federal Climate Pollution Reduction Grant to update the state’s greenhouse gas inventory and to create a first ever Climate Action Plan for Indiana.
After an event in Indianapolis last week, the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) is hosting two more Community Engagement Public Meetings to hear about what is important to you for the state to include in the Climate Action Plan.
Please RSVP now to join us at one of the remaining two meetings in Portage and Ferdinand.
Solar Co-ops are a great opportunity for homeowners, nonprofits, and businesses in communities around Indiana to leverage their bulk purchasing power to get a great deal on rooftop solar. The solar co-op is designed to make it easy for you and your neighbors to answer your questions about solar technology and get a group rate for installing solar energy.
The deadline for new members to join both the Indianapolis and Boone & Hamilton Solar Co-ops is October 31, so you don’t want to miss out!
Joel Padilla, who recently installed solar panels in Indianapolis. Photo courtesy of Solar United Neighbors.
Spotted!
Sierra Club staff and volunteer leaders are passionate about getting out there and spreading the word about issues that matter to Hoosiers!
Above: On October 14, members of the Uplands Network hiked the Scarce O' Fat trail at Yellowwood State Forest. This was the third hike at Yellowwood this year. The focus of this hike was to simply enjoy the outdoors, good exercise and great people!
Sierra Club Hoosier Chapter in the press:
Sierra Club Hoosier Chapter Executive Committee member Joab Schultheis was quoted in this recent Times of Northwest Indiana article (paywall) related to the steel industry in northwest Indiana, in conjunction with the Synapse report commissioned by Sierra Club regarding emissions by heavy manufacturing:
“While there has been increasing attention on greenhouse gas emissions and other harmful pollution from the fossil fuel industry, the environmental and public health impacts of the heavy industrial sector continue to garner insufficient public scrutiny. But the people living in the communities around these facilities know that their air, water, and land are being poisoned,” said Joab Schultheis, Energy Committee Chair with the Sierra Club Hoosier Chapter in Indiana. “Many automakers are going to increasingly require green steel, and US steel makers should be able to meet that demand. The same is true for other industries. If the U.S. heavy industrial sector wants to enjoy continued long-term success, it must significantly lower emissions, which will be central to its ability to provide good paying jobs and protect the health of the communities it operates in.”
Readers' Photos
This month's photos come from reader Neal Dake.
He says: "This is a red admiral butterfly. I grew the tall boneset plant that it landed on. The next pic is a bronzed cutworm moth. The third is giant ironweed with a monarch on migration. These are vital for bird species because they feed their babies the caterpillars. Saving bird populations is directly linked to these insects and protects vital ecosystems. So the question you have to ask people. Do you like to hear birds in the morning chirping? Well if you do, plant native plants. They are more vital than you think..."
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
Belmont Beach Closing Weekend (October 27-28)
Come help Belmont Beach close out the 2023 Season with a bang!
Fri 10/27 at 7PM - Movie Night
Sat 10/28 from 1-4PM-Trunk or Treat
The annual Green Gift Shop is back again on Thursday, November 30, 2023, 1:30 pm to 7:00 pm at the newly renovated Carmel Clay Public Library. Join Carmel Green Initiative for a green holiday shopping experience for gift ideas that are local, organic, natural, recycled, reused, repurposed and eco-friendly.
Reader Shalini Bridges: "I'm reading a sweet little book called "Heart to Heart" by the Dalai Lama.. it's perfect for children too ^_^ !! It's about the Earth, and compassion."
Thank you for the recommendation, Shalini!
What have you been reading, listening to, or watching lately? We'd love to hear from you! Email rebecca.dien-johns@sierraclub.org
That's all for this month! We hope you've enjoyed this newsletter.
