Other VOF news
 

Need a speaker?

Do you belong to a community group that needs a speaker?
Or perhaps you know civic leaders who can use some help dealing with the suburban sprawl that is overrunning our area.
The VOF can help.
VOF has just produced two new PowerPoint presentations about sprawl and global warming. Each runs about 60-90 minutes.
The sprawl presentation focuses on Smart Growth, a set of principles developed by city planners, architects, and civic leaders to minimize the impact of suburban sprawl on communities. The presentation can be viewed by the general public and is also designed to be a useful tool for city officials.
The global warming show presents the facts known about the phenomenon and then discusses what is known about those areas that are still in controversy. Prominent strategies for dealing with this issue are discussed, as well as action that has begun worldwide.
We are looking for groups that wish to view these presentations, including civic groups, school functions, church groups, local governmental boards and officials, or anyone who is interested. Please help us spread the word.
To schedule a showing, please contact: Craig Zabel, P.O. Box 540, Sugar Grove, IL 60554; or craig.zabel@illinois.sierraclub.org.
 

Stop sprawl with Smart Growth
Help us stop poorly planned development and have a say in how we develop the Valley of the Fox. The VOF's Smart Growth Committee is involved with educating village planners on better ways to develop the Fox River Valley that make it more environmentally friendly, livable and more efficient. This cuts down on pollution, traffic and costs and helps save open spaces, farms and parks. Sprawl is in no one's interest. The group meets monthly and is seeking input from members on hot issues and would welcome their participation. Meetings are held monthly and start at 7 p.m. and end by 9 p.m. Contact the group's chair, Craig Zabel, or Mike Fleck for more information.
 

What district am I in?

The VOF has three maps that will let you know:

Illinois House

Illinois Senate

U.S. Congress
 

'The Fox': His legacy lives on

He called himself "The Fox," and in the 1970s he became an almost mythical figure nationwide in the early environmental movement. Unlike harder-edged activists, he never caused irreparable damage or put lives at risk. "The Fox," Jim Phillips of Aurora, died in 2001.

The legend of the Fox...

What the Chicago Tribune wrote about him...

VOF responds to criticism
over Fox River pollution findings

After an exhaustive examination of its testing procedures, the Valley of the Fox Group will stand by the test results that found levels of pollution that exceed federal standards for phosphorus in the Fox River between Elgin and Yorkville. The group's testing procedures had been criticized by a member of the Fox River Study Group, a consortium of municipalities, wastewater treatment plant operators, county officials and clean water advocates (including the Sierra Club). Details ...
The full report
Learn more about the Fox River Study Group