Toiyabe Chapter July 2021 eNewsletter

Welcome to Plastic Free July

What started with a few dozen volunteers in Australia has grown to a world-wide movement to end our toxic consumer habits around single-use and unnecessary plastics and other waste.

Toiyabe volunteer Den Fusso has taken the lead in developing the Toiyabe Chapter's Plastic Free July Campaign. 

Read Den's well-researched blog here, with knowledge and advice you can put to use every day to reduce plastic and other waste in your life.

And if you haven't yet, take the Plastic Free July Pledge here. Commit to polluting less, and demand better anti-pollution laws, so we can all live cleaner, healthier lives.

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Volunteer Spotlight: Denise & Ashlee

During the Nevada Legislature session, Denise Rohrer (left) and Ashlee Forman (right), the Toiyabe Chapter's Legislative Committee Co-Chairs, worked tirelessly to organize, prioritize, and represent the Toyiabe Chapter in the 2021 legislative session. From writing testimonies to attending committee hearings, they were instrumental in making our collective voices heard in support of better environmental policies.

“My biggest takeaway from this whole experience is how much each individual person can have an impact, whether it’s testifying or writing legislators,” Denise says. “After this, I would never not want to be involved in a session. There is so much happening that directly impacts you, me, our communities, the state—sometimes for the better and sometimes for the worse. The Sierra Club really gives you the opportunity to have a voice and I think that’s pretty amazing.”

Find their full story here.

Sustainable City Updates

The majority of greenhouse gas emissions comes from our cities and transportation sectors. And with them come intensifying urban heat and air pollution that affect millions of people in Nevada alone. Sierra Club's Toiyabe Chapter, Clean Transportation For All (CTFA) Campaign and Beyond Coal Campaign are teaming up to make community life healthier and more sustainable. 

On June 28, we hosted a Healthy Homes 101 webinar to talk about how electrifying our buildings can reduce carbon emissions and improve our health. Watch the recording here.

On July 8, we submitted these recommendations to Clark County regarding their Code Assessment. 

And our statewide rail coalition has more than 20 organizations joining forces to implement the State Rail Plan to expand both freight and passenger rail across Nevada.

Our biggest power comes from YOU, caring citizens who step up to advocate for the solutions we need. If you're interested in joining our Healthy Homes Team (or any other), let us know here. 

We believe deeply a better future is possible for all of our communities. With you, we can make it happen.

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Support the Toiyabe Chapter's Urban Sustainability Work 

The story above hints at some of the work we're doing to bring climate-resilience and renewable energy solutions to your community. In addition to dedicated staff and volunteers, this work takes money. Please donate generously today. Make an investment in a greener, healthier future today. 

Donate today to help. Generous donors have stepped up to match your donations up to $9,000.
 

Volunteer Networking Event, July 28

Join this virtual event to meet other like-minded individuals, learn from Toiyabe Chapter staff and volunteers about our committees and campaigns, and find a place to plug in! 

This month:  Get Outdoors with Sierra Club Toiyabe Chapter!

This will be a great team to join as a leader or just to explore, enjoy, and meet new friends. 

Our Great Basin Group motto is "We Get You Outdoors." Our certified outings leaders with Southern Nevada and Great Basin groups will present opportunities to hike and explore Nevada’s wonderful places.

Our program has attracted many people to become outings leaders who have then introduced thousands to beautiful places around us. Hear about the steps to become a certified outings leader.

Latin@ Conservation Week Movie Night, July 20

July 17-25 is Latino Conservation Week, a time for us to meet, and learn more about the issues that affect us all and how we can make a difference in the natural world that surrounds us. An example of learning and engagement took place with a Colorado River exploration trip with the Student Organization of Latinos at Valley High School and the Hispanic Student Union at Rancho High School, shown here.

Join us on July 20 at 6 pm for a brief film and conversation about the connection between land conservation, climate change, and drought. We will be showing the short film by Western Watersheds' I am Red and another video from our efforts to fight Oil and Gas Leasing in our watershed that drains to Lake Mead. 

RSVP here.