The Executive committee meets monthly, please contact the Chair for times and dates. Members are welcome to attend.
You do not need to be a Sierra Club member to attend our meetings.
For Current meetings see
our Home Page, Calendar,
or Upcoming Events pages
--- Meeting Archive ---
2025
FEB 11th MEETING @ Virginia Wesleyan, 7pm Greer Environmental Science Center, Rm 155 Virginia Wesleyan University
Liz Paiste is a member of Citizens for Responsible Lighting, a grassroots organization lobbying for healthy LED light options for Norfolk. She will be speaking about her committee's efforts to educate the public about artificial lights, specifically high-intensity LED lights, and their impact on our health and the environment when improperly implemented. Liz will review the impact of artificial lights on all wildlife and go into details about blue light and LED lights. She will also review our goal to push Dominion Energy to provide healthy LED lights and that the city is behind us in this effort. And lastly, Dark Sky initiatives will be discussed.
Jan 14
Our Jan speaker is Molly Riley, the Lynnhaven River Now Pearl business and Advocacy coordinator. She will speak about single use plastic bags and the problems they cause. Molly will talk about the alternatives and what we can do to reduce using them. She will also discuss the effort to get the VB City Council to adopt an ordinance requiring all businesses to charge a five cent fee to customers who use the bags.
We will also discuss changing the name of our group.
2024
DEC 12
We will have a short meeting and then a potluck dinner on TH Dec 12, 5pm-7:30pm
@Virginia Beach Central Library - Folio room. 4100 Virginia Beach Blvd., 23452
We will provide Fried chicken, mango juice and lemonade and ice. Please bring one of the following items: casserole, salad, veggies or dessert.
(Bring your reusable plate and beverage cup) but also we will have paper plates, cups, forks and spoons.
NOV 12
We will meet in Rm 160 at Virginia Wesleyan University in the Greer Environmental Sciences Center
this time only and then go back to our regular rm. 155 next year.
We will have several guest speakers talking about Hampton Roads Transit (HRT). One will be a user, and they will discuss the benefits of mass transit and how to use it. This will be an interesting program and I hope it may encourage some of us to start using the bus.
this time only and then go back to our regular rm. 155 next year.
We will have several guest speakers talking about Hampton Roads Transit (HRT). One will be a user, and they will discuss the benefits of mass transit and how to use it. This will be an interesting program and I hope it may encourage some of us to start using the bus.
OCT 8
Zoom meeting on October 8 at 7pm. It is the third annual presentation by representatives of each southside locality describing the progress they have made to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. You should register ahead of time at the following link.
http://sierraclub.zoom.US/meeting/register/tJAldeyuqzoiGdNdAfi7yzEV3EpQCsrtFVm1
Zoom meeting on October 8 at 7pm. It is the third annual presentation by representatives of each southside locality describing the progress they have made to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. You should register ahead of time at the following link.
http://sierraclub.zoom.US/meeting/register/tJAldeyuqzoiGdNdAfi7yzEV3EpQCsrtFVm1
SEPT 10
Tom Leahy who is the chair of the SPSA Board of Directors will be speaking about SPSA and the regional landfill in Suffolk. He is also arranging a tour of the landfill for us in September. If you would like to go please contact David Grochmal our chair
May 18
We will not have a regular in-person meeting on May 14. Instead, we will have an outing on May 18 at the Elizebeth River Trail. We will meet at 11am at 4301 Powhatan Ave. Norfolk, VA. and park in the
parking lot there. Please park in the back of the lot close to the entrance to the old golf course. We will all gather in the parking lot before we start, then we will walk on the cart paths of the old
course where we will see the coal piers and the water. We will have someone there to talk about the impact of the trains and the coal dust.
Please wear good walking shoes and take plenty of water. If it rains dress appropriately. We will finish back at the parking lot. If you want to stay around for a little while and talk, please bring a
snack and something to drink.
parking lot there. Please park in the back of the lot close to the entrance to the old golf course. We will all gather in the parking lot before we start, then we will walk on the cart paths of the old
course where we will see the coal piers and the water. We will have someone there to talk about the impact of the trains and the coal dust.
Please wear good walking shoes and take plenty of water. If it rains dress appropriately. We will finish back at the parking lot. If you want to stay around for a little while and talk, please bring a
snack and something to drink.
April 9
Dr. Christopher Haley from Va. Wesleyan University and his topic will be Urban Heat Islands. You can find out more here. Dr. Haley is the Director of Environmental Programs at the school, and his presentation should be very informative and interesting
March 12
Vince Bowhers from Lynnhaven River Now will talk about Wetlands; the importance of wetlands and what is happening with wetlands now with climate change. This will be a very important and informative presentation.
Feb 21
ONLINE Meeting presented by the York River Group
ONLINE Meeting presented by the York River Group
Connor Kish and Bob Shippee will speak about legislation still in play in the General Assembly and how we can engage in the legislative process. VA Chapter’s Legislative Committee has a careful process where numerous bills are discussed weekly during session, and positions are determined by committee vote on whether to support or not support legislation. Broad categories of VA Chapter Sierra Club include energy issues, climate, transportation, environmental justice, good government, water, and toxins. General Assembly Session 2024 began on January 10 and ends on March 9.
Jan 9
Virginia Reliability Project discussion
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2023
Dec 28
Christmas Party on December 28 from 6-9pm at the Black Eyed Peas Restaurant. The Restaurant is at the back of Lynnhaven Mall in Virginia Beach on 1005 Lynnhaven Mall Loop, and the entrance is right across from the ticket office of the AMC Theaters. We will be providing some appetizers, and there will be a cash bar. I encourage you to stay for dinner since we will have an area of the restaurant reserved just for us. Please bring your significant other and any friends.
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2020
2020
June, July, Aug
Keep an eye out our calendar and events link on our web page.
May 11th 7pm Virtual Meeting online
Please attend our second online meeting. We will talk about environmental justice and pipeline projects in Virginia
Please attend our second online meeting. We will talk about environmental justice and pipeline projects in Virginia
April 13th 7pm Virtual Meeting online
Come to the first spring meeting. Laura Cascada will speak on how animal agriculture impacts the environment and its relationship to climate change. Laura is the Senior Director of Campaigns & Outreach at Animal Outlook (formerly Compassion Over Killing), where she works to increase the availability of vegan options nationwide and bring about positive changes for animals in the meat, dairy, and egg industries. She has overseen major campaign victories like Subway's new vegan meatball sub and Nestl ditching its ice cream business & churning out vegan Nesquik.A vegan and animal/environmental activist since 2008, Laura has previously led successful campaigns for PETA and the Sierra Club, including protecting Virginia's decades-old ban on uranium mining in 2013. She published her debut novel, Dellie's Run, in 2019, and has also written for publications like One Green Planet and The Dodo. She is the founder of Plight of the Hermies, a program fighting the wild hermit crab souvenir trade. Laura has a Master of Science in Environmental Policy from the Johns Hopkins University and lives in Virginia with her pitbull mix, cichlids, and potbellied pig.
March 9th 7pm Shafer Room, Boyd Dining Center, Virginia Wesleyan University
Pat Quinn will talk about the Insect Apolcalypse. Pat has been a Member of the Sierra Club for many years and regularly attends meetings since 2000. She is also a Member of the Butterfly Society of Virginia; And active/held offices of President, VP, SecretaryMember and Recording Secretary of the Virginia Native Plant Society, where she I Plant Sale Coordinator (2012 to current). Also,Longtime Audubon Society member, current Hospitality Chair and Conservation Chair of the Cape Henry Audubon society. She helped build the Bluebird nestbox trail at Ocean View Golf Course in 2013 and currently maintains it. She has a BA (Biology) from Salem State College, Salem, Massachusetts (now SSU). Also is Retired Navy. Retired RN. )Post-retirement, teaches swimming for the City of Norfolk, specializing for the under-served community). Member of American Legion Post 327. Charter Member and current recording secretary for Ghana Association of Tidewater..
Pat Quinn will talk about the Insect Apolcalypse. Pat has been a Member of the Sierra Club for many years and regularly attends meetings since 2000. She is also a Member of the Butterfly Society of Virginia; And active/held offices of President, VP, SecretaryMember and Recording Secretary of the Virginia Native Plant Society, where she I Plant Sale Coordinator (2012 to current). Also,Longtime Audubon Society member, current Hospitality Chair and Conservation Chair of the Cape Henry Audubon society. She helped build the Bluebird nestbox trail at Ocean View Golf Course in 2013 and currently maintains it. She has a BA (Biology) from Salem State College, Salem, Massachusetts (now SSU). Also is Retired Navy. Retired RN. )Post-retirement, teaches swimming for the City of Norfolk, specializing for the under-served community). Member of American Legion Post 327. Charter Member and current recording secretary for Ghana Association of Tidewater..
* Meetings for March, April and May are in the Shafer room of Boyd Dining Center. (some of you remember we met here years ago). See Map for directions.
Feb 10th 7pm Greer Environmental Sciences Center RM 155, Virginia Wesleyan
Join us to hear Chris Wiegard of Citizens Climate Lobby speak about the Carbon Fee and Dividend (CF&D), a solution to climate change that many consider to be the most practical and effective way to reduce carbon pollution. Chris Wiegard is the Virginia State Co-Coordinator for Citizens Climate Lobby, a nonpartisan group pushing carbon pricing in Congress.
Jan 13th, 2020 7pm Greer Environmental Sciences Center RM 155, Virginia Wesleyan
Help us make priorities and fill roles at the first meeting of the year. Issue and Committee Chairs will fill you in on what is going on in their various areas. Some new challenges and some new opportunities are here for the environmental community! Let's work together to Explore, enjoy and protect the planet!
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2019
December 8, 2019 4-6 pm Sierra Club Office, 801 Boush St., 2nd floor, Norfolk
Holiday Party at the Sierra Club Office, 801 Boush St., 2nd floor, Norfolk. It is a pot luck with the Club providing a meatless entrée, drinks and party ware
November 11th 7pm Greer Bld RM 155, Virginia Wesleyan
You will not want to miss this program outlining how food choices impact the environment. All our daily decisions concerning the foods we grow, select, consume and prepare impact the planet. The presenters, Cynthia Cadieux professor at Eastern Virginia Medical School and Christine Medlin, retired professor from Tidewater Community College, will send you away with a renewed way to look at nutrition. Please make plans to attend, so you can benefit from this important and relevant program.
October 14th 7pm Greer Bld RM 155, Virginia Wesleyan
Glen Besa, former director of the Virginia Sierra Club will speak about the importance of politics and the environment.
Glen Besa, former director of the Virginia Sierra Club will speak about the importance of politics and the environment.
September 9th 7pm Greer Bld RM 155, Virginia Wesleyan
May 13th Event 7pm
Were drowning in plastic, especially single-use plastic! Christina Trapani, owner of EcoManiac company, will present Working Towards a Less Plastic Planet: thinking globally and acting locally. There are exciting initiatives underway in Hampton Roads. We invite you to learn how to become part of the solution at our 13 May Sierra Club Event.
April 8th Program 7pm
Ann Creasy will present information about offshore wind and offshore drilling issues, followed by questions.
We will discuss the next four months of events, including Earth Day Tabling, and Tabling at the American Baptist Church Conference in June.
If we have time, we will play a little game about how to finance solar.
March 16th Environmental Justice Workshop 10:30 AM
Corporations and politicians take advantage of our less fortunate brothers and sisters by disproportionately exposing them to environmental hazards, etc., because said politicians and others see these folks as uninformed and/or weak. We need to make sure these current practices are stopped and prevented from happening in the future..
On March 16th at 10:30 am in the Sierra Club offices, 801 Busch Street, Norfolk, Gustuvo Angeles, from the Sierra Club office in Richmond will train us in methods for fighting for environmental justice. Please join fellow environmentalists and Mr. Angeles for this important workshop.