June 2025

In this issue:

• Fighting for the Arctic and Endangered Species in D.C.
• Climate Resilience Fair (June 7)
• Green Tip of the Month: Go Old School for a Plastic-Free Shave
• Free Estate Planning Tools for Sierra Club Members
• The Month Ahead

Fighting for the Arctic and Endangered Species in D.C.

"When I started volunteering with the Sierra Club back in January, I never could have predicted the opportunities to make a tangible impact I would have in such a short amount of time. When I was approached about joining a citizen lobby for the Arctic Refuge, I was thrilled to be able to use my time and voice to speak out against drilling, and in defense of a precious biological resource: the Alaskan Coastal Plains. 

"These plains are essential calving grounds for the porcupine caribou herd, an endemic population which relies on the dense food resources and lack of predators on the plains to maintain their viability. The Gwich’in people of Alaska are also reliant on this herd and habitat for up to 80% of their subsistence. Without the caribou, the Gwich’in culture could no longer exist within their homelands, and without the Gwich’in this swath of vital coastal floodplain would surely have been destroyed by now for the mere idea of fuel development. 

"Through Sierra Club, I, along with two Maine residents from the Alaska Wilderness League, was able to speak with the Maine delegation in defense of the Arctic refuge, asking them to keep mandatory leasing out of any budget reconciliation. We were able to share our stories, experiences, and passion for the Arctic with Senators King and Collins, and the staffers of Jared Golden’s and Chellie Pingree’s office. To varying efficacy, we shared our positions as park rangers, artists, advocates, and informed constituents."
 

Climate Resilience Fair
Saturday, June 7, 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM
Steamboat Landing, Belfast

Please stop by the Sierra Club Maine table at an exciting event on Saturday, June 7th from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM in Belfast at the beautiful waterfront Steamboat Landing Park, 34 Commercial Street.  The Climate Resilience Fair, organized by the Waldo County Climate Action Coalition, will have 40+ local businesses and nonprofits who will be there sharing resources and examples of ways to stay resilient and prepare for a changing climate.

This FREE event includes family activities, music and food trucks!

Speakers throughout the day will include Sean Birkel, Maine State Climatologist; Maggie Somers, Maine Conservation Voters; Parker Gassettt, Community Climate Resilience Officer for Maine Sea grant, and more.  We hope to see you there!

Green Tip of the Month:
Go Old School for a Plastic-Free Shave

Walk down the personal care aisle in your local pharmacy or grocery store, and you’ll see almost endless plastic in the shaving aisle. The razors themselves have plastic handles, the cartridges that house the steel blades are plastic, and the packaging is — you guessed it — plastic. Current numbers are hard to come by, but approximately 2 billion disposable razors were thrown out in the 90s alone. What about recycling? It might be worth a try, but recent estimates say that only about 5% of plastic actually gets recycled into something else. The good news is that, with a little effort, you can buy a old-fashioned steel razor handle and several years’ worth of plastic-free steel blades for not much cash. You can even buy a small metal box to store your used blades until they’re ready to be recycled. Thankfully, steel is still pretty easy to recycle. Where to start? Try a quick online search to find a “safety razor” in a style that works for you.

Free Estate Planning Tools for Sierra Club Members

“How can I create a will?” If you’ve asked this question–you’re not alone. Creating a will or other estate planning documents can feel daunting.

As a Sierran, you know: there is power in a plan. When we want to protect old growth forests, or help communities have access to clean renewable energy, or ensure that anyone can get outdoors, we first take into account all the information available to us. Then we get busy drafting the best plan.

Our new Sierra Club tool, Giving Docs, makes it easy for you to build a personalized action plan. Giving Docs is a simple, secure way to create your will and other important estate planning documents online. It’s free for Sierra Club supporters—and it only takes a few minutes to create an account and get started.

We hope you find this new resource to be useful as you craft your long-term wishes. You can even use Giving Docs to create your Sierra Club legacy by naming the (Chapter) Chapter as a beneficiary of your plans. Although this type of support isn’t required to utilize this estate planning platform, any gift is greatly appreciated.

If you have any questions, you can reach out to Julia Curtis at julia.curtis@sierraclub.org or (800) 932-4270.

The Month Ahead

Here are some of the meetings and events we have coming up. We hope to see you soon!

• June 11 at 12pm: Volunteer Orientation
  • Learn how you can help protect Maine's environment.

• June 17 at 12pm: Clean Energy Team Meeting
  • Join our team and ensure a clean and just energy future for Maine, specifically focused on renewable energy development!
• June 25 at 5:30pm: Action Team Meeting
  • Whether you're new to Sierra Club Maine and looking for ways to get involved or a dedicated member and volunteer, join us in taking actions to oppose the Trump Administration.