October update from Uplands Network, connecting Monroe and surrounding counties
October 1, 2025
Rising up for our forests
Today is World Vegetarian Day!
Maybe you have a favorite recipe to share as we meet in person for our first “Potluck and Pie” in Bloomington. We have several reasons to celebrate our work this year.
We’ll meet at our usual time, 6:30 PM, Monday, October 13, 2025. All are welcome, including family and friends. There will be lots of vegetarian food (and pie), so come by to celebrate with us, even if you don’t have a dish to share.
Since the potluck is the primary event, there will not be a Zoom option this month. RSVP HERE to receive directions.
Sierra Club's Beyond Coal Campaign is planning to host a one-day intensive training program for people who want to advocate for large-scale solar power in Indiana. Our goal is that participants will leave this training with:
A foundation of information to feel confident supporting large-scale solar power.
An understanding of how to effectively organize ourselves and others to take action.
An understanding of the tools that can be utilized to mobilize people to take action.
We hope to receive your feedback in this form about the topics and structure of the training along with learning what communities have the most interest in this training.
Webinars coming up with the Environmental Resilience Institute at IU: the next solar webinar is taking place on Oct 1 - Find details and register here.
Sierra Club: Data Center Working Group
With data center energy demand skyrocketing, and utilities like AES Indiana currently considering doubling energy generation to serve data centers, we need strong activists to show up in utility processes and in data center decision-making spaces across the state to protect a transition away from fossil fuels and demand better.
Several days ago, Indiana Forest Alliance shared news of victory in the Houston South lawsuit against the US Forest Service. “The ruling, issued by Chief Judge Tanya Pratt on September 19, found that the USFS violated the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and the Administrative Procedure Act (APA) by failing to adequately analyze the potential impact of the Houston South Project on Lake Monroe. The Judge ordered the Forest Service to temporarily halt all activities related to the project pending a decision from the Court as to the appropriate remedy.” See the whole press release below.
Thank you to all who made comments, wrote LTEs, signed petitions or wrote to your representatives regarding the Roadless Rules. These results were shared by the National Climate Forest Coalition with whom Sierra Club works in partnership.
Our environmental coalition along with allies from the outdoor recreation and outdoor sporting communities generated nearly 500,000 public comments. Tribal leaders and NGOs, elected officials and other decision-makers, social media content creators and other allies generated at least 100,000 additional comments, adding up to a total of more than 600,000. For a 3 week comment period, that's incredible engagement and shows how much people care about our forests.
Initial analysis showed that 99% of the comments were in opposition to rolling back the Roadless Rule and we believe that most of the comments delivered on the final day were also in opposition to the rollback. We await the Forest Service's analysis of the comments.
Thanks again to all of you for an incredible showing of support. Now we will shift our focus to codifying the Roadless Rule by calling and writing our representatives. Below is an example suggested by the National Climate Forest Coalition you may use in this effort.
We need to codify the Roadless Rule to protect the future of our planet. Please support the Roadless Area Conservation Act (H.R.3930, S. 2042). Codifying the Roadless Rule into law would mean more than 45 million acres of public lands stay standing. Intact forests help communities breathe clean air and have clean water. Intact forests support wildlife, and hunters and anglers. Intact forests are places where people can camp, hike, and feel inspired by towering trees and flowing rivers. National Forests provide drinking water to over 60 million people. And they provide habitat for over 1,600 threatened or endangered species, including the grizzly bear. We absolutely cannot afford to lose these places for short-term extractive gain.
Approach state electeds: They are not decision-makers in this process, but they are important spokespeople and we want them on our side.
The Senate ENR Subcommittee on Public Lands, Forests, and Mining is scheduled to hold a hearing on Wednesday, October 1 that includes the Roadless Area Conservation Act (“RACA”). If enacted, RACA would codify the Roadless Rule.
The Tongass/Roadless Lobby subgroup has drafted a coalition letter of support for RACA, and we’d like to include as many groups as possible. This is a major opportunity to elevate RACA (and preserving the roadless rule) at a critical moment. Sierra Club Hoosier Chapter has signed on to this letter as of 9/29/25.
Many Ways to be Active with Sierra Club
A Tiger Swallowtail visits the Butterfly Weed in Marilyn's pollinator garden. Photo: Marilyn Bauchat.
Oct. 15: Rail Trail Walk: Karst Farm Greenway 2 Oct. 29: Rail Trail Walk: Karst Farm Greenway 3 TBD: Hitz-Rhodehamel Woods - Nashville, IN Nov. 1: Walk with IN Sierra Club Director, South Bend
Of Note: Our Chapter Book Club is moving to the first Tuesday of each month, beginning in October. Here are the remaining books for 2025.
Tue, Oct 7, 2025; 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM (Eastern) Hoosier Chapter Book Club: The Language of Climate Politics: Fossil-Fuel Propaganda and How to Fight It by Genevieve Guenther
Tue, Nov 4, 2025; 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM (Eastern) Hoosier Chapter Book Club: Is a River Alive? by Robert Macfarlane
Tue, Dec 2, 2025; 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM (Eastern) Hoosier Chapter Book Club: It's Not Too Late: Changing the Climate Story from Despair to Possibility by Rebecca Solnit and Thelma Young Lutunatabua OR Climate Optimism by Zahra Biabani
If you’re in Bloomington TODAY, here’s a chance to support Science!
We invite you to join Concerned Scientists @ IU, together with its student affiliate Advocates for Science @ IU, for an open, town-hall meeting of the IU community to address concerns about growing threats to the integrity of scientific research in this country, and to promote evidence-based decision making in public policy through discussion.
The meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, October 1st, at 5:00 PM in Myers Hall 130. Virtual participation is also available; participants can register using this link: https://tinyurl.com/mn5b2har.
During the town hall, we hope to:
Provide federal and state scientific policy updates
Discuss recent impacts on research and students here at IU
Build stronger community connections and encourage lively conversation
Discuss priorities for future science advocacy efforts
All scientists, students of science, and friends of science are invited to attend. We invite the civil exchange of ideas on how to address recent issues in a coordinated way. Please join us!
Art for the Earth Public Show
The Art for Earth October show at the Pillar Art Alliance (College Mall) is shaping up nicely! We will be displaying 13 artists’ work and have about 60 pieces. Come to the show, and bring your friends. Most of the earnings from the show will go to environmental organizations. Reception is Sunday Oct 5, from 3-5pm.
Your Invite to Get Involved!
Please join our October Meeting in person at 6:30 PM, Monday, Oct , 2025.
Our leadership team includes dedicated people who plan meetings and outings, table at events, and connect with other groups. We welcome anyone who wishes to volunteer with our network.
Open volunteer positions are: co-chair, treasurer, social media coordinator, conservation committee members and outings leaders.
Shorter volunteer opportunities include tabling at events and at local farmers’ markets.
