About Us
The Heart of Illinois Group is one of fifteen local groups of the Illinois Chapter of the Sierra Club, the oldest, largest, and most influential grassroots environmental organization in the United States, founded by John Muir in 1892. The Heart of Illinois Group has over 850 members residing in the following counties: Bureau, Fulton, Hancock, Henderson, Knox, La Salle, Livingston, Marshall, Mason, McDonough, Peoria, Putnam, Schuyler, Stark, Tazewell, Warren, and Woodford.
Group Meetings
We hold Group meetings the third Wednesday of the month from September through May at Forest Park Nature Center in Peoria Heights. Except for December, meetings begin at 7 p.m. and always include a guest speaker on a topic of environmental interest. Our annual potluck dinner in December begins at 6:30 p.m. During the summer months, in place of our normal meeting we have a picnic in June and an outing and dinner in July and August. All Group activities and meetings are open to the public. Check our calendar for up-to-date information on our meetings and activities.
Executive Committee
Our Executive Committee of seven elected members meets once a month to formulate policy, identify priorities, and plan activities, according to the bylaws of our Group. Check our contacts for Executive Committee members and other Group officers.
Issues and Activities
Our members are involved in many different activities to help protect the environment of our local area, the state, and the planet, including the following:
- We oppose destructive mining practices and the establishment of new strip mines and longwall mines in environmentally sensitive areas.
- We oppose the expansion of the PDC hazardous waste landfill on the west side of Peoria, and support efforts to reduce and eliminate toxic chemicals into the environment.
- We are working with other concerned citizens to educate and encourage the public and local governments to reduce their energy use and find solutions to global warming.
- We lobby our local and state politicians for better environmental laws and policies, and endorse candidates who support the environment.
- We host an environmental film festival in November, and participate in other events throughout the year to educate the public about environmental issues.