Loma Prieta Chapter's eNewsletter: September, Volume 2
September 30, 2023
YOU Can Make a Difference; Read How in This eNewsletter
► Discover great experiences! That and unique gifts can be yours at our 2023 Guardians of Nature Benefit silent auction! It will end in less than one week, but you can bid now!
► Learn how you have helped us to improve Moffett Park!
► Read what Sunnyvale Council is considering around habitat protection
► Take a hike! See the comprehensive list of activities available with your chapter into early October.
► Save local nature by updating webpages! Yes, it's true, that your willingness to learn simple web management tools can help other activists to educate the public, recruit activists, influence elected officials, and save our local nature.
► Hike to protect local wildlife and wildlands. If that attracts you then you're already part of the mission of the Loma Prieta Chapter, so help us to help others "to explore, enjoy and protect" our precious local wildlife and wildlands. We will help you to become a certified outings leader!
It's Alive! The 2023 Guardians of Benefit Silent Auction is Now Live.
All proceeds directly advance environmental advocacy in San Benito, San Mateo, and Santa Clara counties. See the impact of your support in our 2022 Chapter Summary. Together, we're creating lasting positive change. Thank you for being a vital part of our mission.
The Results of Years of Hard Work in Moffett Park
For years, the volunteers and staff of your Loma Prieta Chapter’s Bay Alive Campaign, in collaboration with Santa Clara Valley Audubon Society and Citizens Committee to Complete the Refuge, have been advocating to make Sunnyvale’s Moffett Park Specific Plan (MPSP) as environmentally friendly as possible. The final MPSP, adopted this summer, reflects our advocacy in many ways. Examples include the protection of wetlands and the addition of substantial new open space acreage, robust bird-safe and dark sky design policies and stronger environmental review standards for future projects. Read more.
Bio safety advocates concerned over upcoming lab in Redwood City
In the face of a rapidly expanding life sciences industry in the Bay Area, Sierra Club Loma Prieta Chapter’s Bay Advocate Program alumni and active Bay Alive volunteers, Nina and Steve Goodale, are on the front lines of Chapter efforts to raise awareness about associated bio safety risks to our communities and Bay ecosystems. Their efforts are creating results; read their quote in this Redwood City Pulse article! More community members are raising their voices and cities are beginning to take action to manage the risks. Learn more about biosafety and what cities can do to protect their communities.
Sunnyvale City Council Commits To Consider Protecting Habitat By Closing Redundant Levee Trails
Your Loma Prieta Chapter, in partnership with Santa Clara Valley Audubon Society, Citizens Committee to Complete the Refuge, and Sunnyvale Naturalist Kira Od, has been actively advocating for the closure of certain secondary levee trails along the Sunnyvale shoreline. This proposed action aims to safeguard vital wildlife habitats and provide a sanctuary for migratory wildfowl, allowing them to rest, recover, and rear their young. Simultaneously, it ensures the ongoing functionality of primary trails for public use. With the anticipated influx of 40,000 new residents and 60,000 workers, according to the Moffett Park Specific Plan, these strategic trail closures can help mitigate the impact of growing trail usage on local wildlife.
Encouragingly, on August 29th, the Sunnyvale City Council initiated a study issue with unanimous co-sponsorship to consider closing these levees. While it doesn't guarantee immediate action, it represents a promising first step. We will closely monitor and support the progress of this initiative.
Poetry and the Environment
There are many paths to conservation and advocacy, the arts are definitely one of them. If any of these poems on ecology and nature move you to raise your hand and take part, you can with us.
Protect the Planet with your (future) webmanagement skills!
This is very important work that needs someone looking for a new opportunity to greatly advance local environmental protection. Loma Prieta Chapter volunteers are doing fantastic work! However, they need help publicizing their work, to attract more volunteers. We are seeking volunteers who are willing to learn and use basic webmanagement skills, then post volunteers' content to update webpages.
In this webinar we will assess the current status of wild species, particularly birds and insects. We will take an in-depth look at the staggering decline of the key pollinators—butterflies, birds, and bees, and discuss what we can do as individuals and members of environmental advocacy groups to stop and reverse this decline. Register today!
There Are No Accidents
by Jessie Singer Saturday, October 7th, 10:00 am
"A journalist recounts the surprising history of accidents and reveals how they’ve come to define all that’s wrong with America. [...] As the rate of accidental death skyrockets in America, the poor and people of color end up bearing the brunt of the violence and blame, while the powerful use the excuse of the “accident” to avoid consequences for their actions."
OLT 101: Sierra Club Local Outings Leadership Training
Tuesday, October 10th
6:00 - 9:00 pm
Attention aspiring leaders! Do you love nature, and want to share it? Lead your friends to new and amazing wonders of nature? Do you want to hone your leadership skills? Then this new leader training is the class for you. Highly experienced outings leaders will share their decades of experience in leading outdoor trips, and apply their knowledge to OLT 101, the Sierra Club’s Basic Leader Training. Learn more and register.
Forest Protection Committee
Loma Prieta Forest Protection Committee members attended a thought-provoking 8/21 Forest Protection Forum sponsored by the committee’s Stop Clearcutting CA campaign. The speaker was Linda Sheehan, and she spoke about the “Rights of Nature” Movement. According to the “Rights of Nature” doctrine, an ecosystem is entitled to legal personhood status and can defend itself in a court of law against harm, including environmental degradation caused by a specific development project or climate change. The Rights of Nature law recognizes that an ecosystem has the right to exist, flourish, regenerate its vital cycles, and naturally evolve without human-caused disruption.
Solar Geoengineering
Solar geoengineering could become the “new form of denial” for Silicon Valley enthusiasts, critics say. The idea of dimming the sun to slow climate change is gaining popularity—but only with billionaires in the Global North. Read the full article from Sierra, the magazine of the Sierra Club.
If you are interested in local work on real solutions for climate change, join our Climate Action Leadership Team by contacting Dashiel Leeds.
In the Community
From our friends at Coastside Land Trust
Nature Journaling Workshops
Workshop 1: Monday, October 2nd, 10:00 am - 12:00 pm
Workshop 2: Sunday, October 8th, 10:00 am - 12:00 pm
Sierra Club Loma Prieta Chapter's Bay Alive Campaign is a proud sponsor of this year's Climate Summit 2023 for San Mateo County. Adaptation and Equity: Building Power for Community Resilience. This full-day, free event is open to all and will focus on community perspectives and community-led planning models to build power among community-based organizations and secure funding for equitable community resilience.
One of the best ways to safeguard a thriving and just future is by ensuring that your Loma Prieta Chapter remains a champion for the environment of Santa Clara, San Mateo, and San Benito Counties. Naming us as a beneficiary in your bequest will provide meaningful and enduring resources that will allow continued local and powerful environmental activism.
Please contact our Chapter Development Coordinator Justyna Guterman for the specific language for your estate planning and/or read more here. For additional information about planning a bequest please contact Julia Curtis, (800) 932-4270.
The Loma Prieta Chapter was founded in 1933. What other important events happened in 1933?
1933, Oct 12: The United States Army Disciplinary Barracks on Alcatraz was acquired by the United States Department of Justice, which planned to incorporate the island into its Federal Bureau of Prisons as a federal penitentiary.
What other important local environmental events have happened in September/October?
- Sep 25th, 1890, Sequoia National Park was established
- Oct 1st, 1890, Yosemite National Park was established
- September, some day, some year, was the birth of our chapter's profoundly dedicated Development Coordinator, Justyna Guterman. If you appreciate the Guardians of Nature Benefit, then you appreciate Justyna. Please send thanks and best wishes to her.
Photographers, see the great images in our Chapter Annual Summaries and help protect local nature with your images! Share with us your high-resolution photos of local nature, with or without people, to inspire local residents to support Loma Prieta Chapter work. Please contact Chapter Development Coordinator Justyna Guterman.
History fans, your Loma Prieta Chapter has been on the front lines of many progressive movements so our rich inspirational history needs to be documented. If this interests you, please contact your Chapter Director, BA History.
Music fans, the Loma Prieta Chapter was the first in the Sierra Club to establish a Spotify Channel. Ours is for music SINCE 2000 that advocates for the environment. Please send suggestions to your Chapter Director.
How can local cities and residents use nature-basedadaptations to sea level rise? Watch recordings of our webinar series with SF Bay experts and please share with your local elected officials.
Blast from the past: 2017 Mar 18 hike w/Loma Prieta Chapter Gay & Lesbian Outing Section.
“Everybody needs beauty, as well as bread, places to play in and pray in,
where nature may heal and give strength to body and soul.”
John Muir
Thank you to our 2023 Guardians on Nature Benefit Sponsors
Sierra Nevada Sentinels
Mary Buxton
Ranae DeSantis Foundation
Anonymous
Yosemite Hero
Anonymous
Sequoia Champions
Gail Barton
Sue Chow
Nancy and David Crabbe
Gladwyn D'Souza
Congresswoman Anna Eshoo,
16th Congressional District
Sid and Linda Liebes
Larry L. Lundberg
Kelly Maas and Landa Robillard
County Supervisor Joe Simitian and
Mary Hughes
Baylands Stewards
Shawn and Lisa Britton
Brian Carr
Peter and Melanie Cross
Rick and Karen DeGolia
Mary Gill
Jeremy Minshull and
Caroline Horn
Arthur Keller
Ginny Laibl
Susan Lessin
Ruth Stoner Muzzin
Kim and Gordon Ray
Richard Simpson and
Ann Reisenauer
Enid Pearson and Emily Renzel
Johanna Schmid and Edward Reed
Jerry Hearn and Rebecca Reynolds
Bruce Rienzo
Lenny and Mike Roberts
Charles and Jaime Schafer
Mayor Pro Tem City of Morgan Hill Rene Spring
Diana Stark
