August 10, 2026

Dear Sierra Club Ohio Members and Friends,

As summer begins to give way to fall and Ohio’s landscape prepares for a new season, the coming month offers fresh opportunities to connect, lead, and take action with the Sierra Club Ohio Chapter.

In this issue, we are recruiting candidates for two open Executive Committee seats, along with volunteers for key Chapter leadership and committee roles. You’ll also find information about our upcoming August Issues Committee meeting, featuring discussions on data centers, plug-in solar, and current legislative activity; updates on protecting Wayne National Forest and other public lands. You’ll also find articles exploring clean energy, transportation, sustainable communities, and other environmental issues affecting Ohio. We encourage you to explore this issue, discover ways to participate, and help our Chapter continue to grow and thrive.

We are deeply grateful to our Members and supporters for the time, energy, and support you bring to this movement. Please invite a friend, colleague, or neighbor to become a Sierra Club Ohio Chapter Member and join us in strengthening our grassroots power for a cleaner, healthier, and more just Ohio.

Yours in the Movement,

Ericka Copeland
State Director
Sierra Club Ohio Chapter

Ohio Chapter Elections Coming This Fall!
CALL FOR 2027 EXECUTIVE
COMMITTEE CANDIDATES

Ready to Lead the Fight for Ohio’s Environment?

The 2026 Nominating Committee is seeking passionate, talented volunteer leaders to run for two open seats on the Sierra Club Ohio Chapter Executive Committee.

Serving on the Executive Committee is a powerful opportunity to help guide the future of our Chapter, strengthen our community of changemakers, and advance lasting environmental progress across the Buckeye State. Executive Committee members play an important role in supporting a strong, effective, and people-powered Chapter.

Once the slate of candidates has been selected, Sierra Club members throughout Ohio will vote to elect the leaders who will carry our grassroots tradition forward. To participate in the election through MyAccount, members will need to log in to their accounts. We encourage you to log in today and make sure your contact information is current.

Ohio is home to incredible, dedicated advocates who care deeply about our communities and environment—and we want you to help lead us. We invite you to step forward and help lead our work to explore, enjoy, and protect our great State.

To vote in MyAccount for this election, you will need to log in. We encourage you to get ready by logging in today.

CANDIDATE PROCESS

If you are ready to make a difference and would like to run for a seat on the Executive Committee, there are two pathways to candidacy. You may choose the option that works best for you. Candidates must be Sierra Club members before applying or submitting a petition.

Position Description: Executive Committee Member Sierra Club Ohio Chapter

Nomination: Submit the 2026 Sierra Club Ohio Executive Committee Member Application to be considered by the Nominating Committee as a candidate in the Executive Committee election. Applications are due September 13, 2026.

Petition: Prospective candidates may instead qualify for the fall ballot by submitting a petition signed by at least 25 Ohio Sierra Club members. Petitions are due September 30, 2026.

The Executive Committee includes four at-large members, along with Group Representatives selected by their respective Groups
Members serve two-year terms beginning in January 2027
Election ballots will be distributed in October, and results will be announced in November
Newly elected Ohio Chapter Executive Committee members will participate in orientation in January 2027

*Has your name or email address changed within the past year?

Please update your contact information so you can participate in the upcoming election.

Questions? Please contact:

Nancy Bertaux, Nominating Committee Co-Chair, nancybertaux@gmail.com
Steve McPhee, Nominating Committee Co-Chair, steve.neosierra@gmail.com

We are Recruiting Volunteers
Please Sign-Up Today!
Help Build the Chapter

—

Compliance, Membership, Communications, Finance, and Outings

Step into leadership and strengthen a just, people-powered environmental movement in Ohio.

Explore roles →

The Sierra Club Ohio Chapter is seeking passionate, committed volunteers to fill key leadership roles that will sharpen our work across the state.

If you care about clean air and water, thriving public lands, climate action, and a just, inclusive movement—we need you.

Please share these opportunities with friends, family, and your networks.
Together, we’ll build a vibrant, effective Chapter for the years ahead.

Open Leadership Roles

Chapter Secretary: Chapter Secretary Position Description

The Chapter Secretary maintains official records, supports Executive Committee meetings,
and helps ensure the Chapter fulfills its organizational responsibilities.

Compliance Officer: Sierra Club Ohio Chapter - Compliance Officer Position Description

Keep our Chapter running smoothly by supporting simple systems for policy compliance and record-keeping. You’ll help ensure accuracy, transparency, and good governance.

Fundraising Chair: Sierra Club Ohio Chapter Fundraising Chair Position Description

Lead our fundraising strategy—appeals, donor stewardship, and campaigns—so we can power more wins on climate and conservation across Ohio.

Membership Chair: Sierra Club Ohio Chapter Membership Chair Position

Grow and engage our community. Build welcoming pathways for new members, strengthen retention, and support volunteer onboarding with Groups and committees.

What you’ll get: training, templates, and staff support—plus a chance to make a real, statewide impact.

Please send your contact information to Ericka Copeland, State Director via email: ericka.copeland@sierraclub.org and contact her with any questions; and/or click the links below to apply.

Sierra Club Ohio Chapter Volunteer Intake Form

Are you passionate about protecting Ohio’s air, land, and water—and ready to help guide our advocacy?

The Issues (Conservation) Committee shapes the Chapter’s programmatic and strategic direction and coordinates the work of subcommittees, networks, campaigns, and coalitions across the state.

We’re currently recruiting for:

Air Issue Lead (Chair)
Grassroots Network Representative
Young Environmental Leaders Representative

Add your voice and help build a healthier, more just Ohio!

Complete the Volunteer Intake Form to get started:

Sierra Club Ohio Chapter Volunteer Intake Form

Join the Communications Committee — Help Tell the Sierra Club Ohio Chapter’s Story

Committee members needed!

Are you a storyteller, designer, strategist, or social media whiz who wants to make a real impact in Ohio?

The Sierra Club Ohio Chapter’s Communications’ needs are growing—And we’d love your voice, skills, and ideas!

What you’ll do:

Grow our social channels and engage supporters

Write/edit compelling newsletter, web, and campaign copy

Create graphics, short videos, and photo stories

Support event communications (toolkits, promotion, live updates)

Lift up environmental justice and conservation wins across the state

Who you are:

A writer, designer, photographer, videographer, or organizer—or simply eager to learn

Collaborative, reliable, and excited to center community voices

All experience levels welcome; training and templates provided

Be the voice of change!

Get involved:

Sierra Club Ohio Chapter Volunteer Intake Form

Please send your contact information to
Ericka Copeland, State Director,
ericka.copeland@sierraclub.org
and contact her with any questions;
and/or click the links above to apply.

Join us for a weekend
at Cuyahoga Valley National Park

HOLD THE DATE for a Chapter Outing celebrating the USA 250th anniversary at Ohio's only National Park. Join us September 25th-27th at Cuyahoga Valley National Park. Plans in progress include hiking, biking and paddling with a service outing to clean up the Cuyahoga River. More to come soon!

Updating Your Information
in MyAccount

Did you know that you can adjust your contact preferences in MyAccount? You can also review your donation history, review your membership information, vote in your local executive committee election, and look for events and campaigns near you! Check it out!

It’s very easy to create your account and log in. Visit this page for instructions: sc.org/myaccount-instructions. Here are specific instructions on how to adjust your contact preferences:sc.org/myaccount-adjustpreferences.

Please email member.care@sierraclub.org if you have any issues or questions.

Pictured: Landscape photo of Ohio Greenery. Credits: Carl Schlabach on Unsplash

Our Public Lands are for Sale:
Help Us Stop the Giveaways

The Sierra Club and our partners, including the Center for Biological Diversity, Ohio Environmental Council, are continuing to track and respond to threats in the Wayne National Forest. In June, we joined together to demand that the federal Bureau of Land Management reconsider three applications for permits to drill gas wells on public land. In July, we filed objections to a separate proposed lease sale in the National Forest. We must keep pressure on the federal and state agencies responsible for protecting these precious places. Please stay tuned for future opportunities to engage.

Pictured: A photo of solar panels hanging off a small balcony. Credits: Yuma Solar on Unsplash

How to Create Energy Freedom?

Energy freedom means self-reliance—generating your own power from the sun, wind, or soil rather than depending on distant, monopolized grids. True freedom is local control: lower monthly utility costs, immunity from sudden rate spikes, and a resilient home during severe weather.

As we celebrate America 250, reflecting on the core principles of self-determination, energy independence honors that legacy. For Ohioans, taking ownership of our power grids breaks the grip of political utility monopolies, protects local economies, and ensures clean air for generations to come.

Pictured: Two EV's plugged in. Photo Credits: Emily Wolcott

Ohio is Building EV Infrastructure with Federal Support

Sierra Club recently published a report on the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Program, titled “Faster but Not Fast Enough: Evaluating States’ Progress on Implementing Federal EV Charging Programs” here. Ohio received high marks in the report for leading the way on applying for and building out charging stations along major public thoroughfares. You can learn more about Ohio’s program at the link below.

Click Here to Learn More

Ohio Chapter Issues Committee
August Meeting

Join us for the monthly Ohio Chapter Issues Committee meeting on Wednesday, August 12 at 4:30pm. Visit our Chapter calendar linked below for more information and to register for the meeting.

Topics for the August meeting include but are not limited to (a) Data Centers, (b) Plug-In Solar and (c) our regular monthly Legislative Committee update.

This is a great opportunity to learn about Sierra Club's work in Ohio and how to get involved!

Click Here for Our Chapter Calendar

What Does a Sustainable
School Year Look Like?

A sustainable school year requires action at both the personal and systemic level. Individually, families can rethink daily habits by choosing reusable lunch containers, walking or biking to school, and buying second-hand supplies. Institutionally, school districts must implement energy-efficient HVAC upgrades, zero-waste cafeteria composting, water-saving fixtures, and renewable energy purchasing. When personal choices pair with structural district policies, sustainability transforms from a passive classroom lesson into a daily lived experience for students.

Pictured: Close-up of School Bus side with Stop Sign. Credits: Megan Lee on Unsplash

EV School Buses:
Does Your District Have Them?

Traditional diesel school buses emit toxic exhaust directly into the air our children breathe, compounding asthma and respiratory illnesses. Electric school buses produce zero tailpipe emissions, cut district maintenance costs by up to 60%, and run quietly. Thanks to major federal funding initiatives like the EPA Clean School Bus Program, school districts can cover most—if not all—of the upfront costs. Parents can push for transition by raising the topic at school board meetings and connecting administrators with available clean fleet grants.

JOIN the Sierra Club Ohio Chapter —
TAKE ACTION FOR OHIO TODAY!

If you’re not a Member yet, now is the moment.

Ohio’s air, water, climate, and communities need powerful advocates — and your membership helps fuel this work.

This is your chance to step in, stand up, and strengthen a people-powered movement for real environmental change.

Your Membership Directly Supports:
Clean energy campaigns
Water protection + Lake Erie resilience
Forest and habitat conservation
Sustainable transit + climate-ready cities
Environmental justice in frontline communities
Outdoors for All and local Outings programs

Already a Member? Multiply Your Impact.

Invite one person — a friend, coworker, neighbor — to join us.
Just one new member can amplify our voice in policy fights that shape Ohio’s future.

Why It’s Urgent

Polluters and bad actors are more organized — and better funded — than ever.
To win clean energy, clean air, and climate justice in Ohio, we need a bigger, stronger movement.

Membership = Power.
Membership = Protection.
Membership = Action.

Make the Move. Make it Today.

Become a Member — or invite someone to join.

Your action fuels the campaigns, the organizing, and the victories Ohio needs right now.

JOIN NOW!
SHARE WITH A FRIEND

Join the Sierra Club Ohio Chapter Today

Feel Free to Contact Us!

Please direct all correspondence, donations, and other mail to:

PO Box 37269
Cincinnati, OH 45222-0269

Please take a moment to update your address book so we stay connected—and so your donations and messages reach us without delay. We’re grateful for your continued support as we join forces to safeguard Ohio’s environment!

Thank you for helping us keep our records up to date. We look forward to hearing from you soon!

You Are the Heart of This Movement—Thank You!

Every action you take moves us closer to environmental justice for all. Your commitment makes our work possible, and we look forward to continuing to connect through our campaigns and advance a cleaner, greener Ohio together.

August Newsletter

Ohio Chapter Elections Coming This Fall!CALL FOR 2027 EXECUTIVECOMMITTEE CANDIDATES

Ready to Lead the Fight for Ohio’s Environment?

CANDIDATE PROCESS

We are Recruiting VolunteersPlease Sign-Up Today!Help Build the Chapter

—

Compliance, Membership, Communications, Finance, and Outings

Explore roles →

Open Leadership Roles

Join the Communications Committee — Help Tell the Sierra Club Ohio Chapter’s Story

Join us for a weekendat Cuyahoga Valley National Park

Updating Your Informationin MyAccount

Our Public Lands are for Sale:Help Us Stop the Giveaways

How to Create Energy Freedom?

Ohio is Building EV Infrastructure with Federal Support

Ohio Chapter Issues CommitteeAugust Meeting

What Does a SustainableSchool Year Look Like?

EV School Buses:Does Your District Have Them?

JOIN the Sierra Club Ohio Chapter —TAKE ACTION FOR OHIO TODAY!

Already a Member? Multiply Your Impact.

Why It’s Urgent

Make the Move. Make it Today.

Feel Free to Contact Us!

Sign up to receive our Newsletter by Email!

Ohio Chapter Elections Coming This Fall!
CALL FOR 2027 EXECUTIVE
COMMITTEE CANDIDATES

We are Recruiting Volunteers
Please Sign-Up Today!
Help Build the Chapter

Join us for a weekend
at Cuyahoga Valley National Park

Updating Your Information
in MyAccount

Our Public Lands are for Sale:
Help Us Stop the Giveaways

Ohio Chapter Issues Committee
August Meeting

What Does a Sustainable
School Year Look Like?

EV School Buses:
Does Your District Have Them?

JOIN the Sierra Club Ohio Chapter —
TAKE ACTION FOR OHIO TODAY!