• Sierra Club 101
Want to volunteer but not sure how to start? A primer for new volunteers
• Connect, Engage, Act!
Clean Cars
Will Reynolds willinois@gmail.com
Why not have Illinois adopt California Clean Car standards? Great things can happen: Illinois could be the veritable tipping point in moving the Midwest to cleaner cars. Join this committee and be part of a paradigm shift which combines efforts from state government, agencies, and the grassroots.
Global Warming
Verena Owen. baumling@aol.com
Action now is essential for facing the future. Join in efforts to educate, articulate, and influence meaningful changes from the grassroots and actions of individuals to state legislation. Coordinate with Midwest Sierra in promoting positive change and make a difference where you live. las
Nuclear Energy
Rudy Habben: (309) 685-5605
Consider this: if Illinois was a country, it would rank third in the world for the number of nuclear power plants, with France ranked first. Chairperson Rudy Habben presented this information tidbit at a recent Chapter meeting. Whatever your level of knowledge, if you are interested or concerned about nuclear power issues, call Rudy.
Cool Cities
Lonnie Morris: lonnie@herbndove.com
Whether you want to know more about the process or have your community already listed as a Cool City and want to keep connected with the issue, this committee is for you.
Coal Power Plants
Verena Owen: baumling@aol.com
The rush to new coal power plants has been an important focus of our Chapter’s clean air work. Monitoring permits and clean up of old coal power plants is part of the amazing efforts in coordination with Midwest Sierra and others. Do you have a power plant in your community? Join this committee!
Renewable Energy/Energy Efficiency
Energy Fair Guru Tom Borchard: tfborchard23@hotmail.com
Illinois, Iowa, and Wisconsin all have alternative energy fairs. Tom Borchard is leading the charge to have an Illinois Sierra presence at these events and to be an information sharing arm of our state Sierra. If you have an interest in other aspects of renewable energy and energy efficiency, a new committee could be your calling.
Clean Water Act Enforcement
Albert Ettinger, Chapter Legal Counsel: aettinger@elpc.org
Monitoring permit applications and responding with comments is an essential part of protecting Illinois’ water. At certain points, initiating legal action may also be a necessary step. Volunteers can help with information gathering, checking local areas under permit consideration, and other monitoring steps.
Water Quantity
Lynn Rotunno: Lynn_Rotunno@yahoo.com
Who is minding the store and connecting the dots for all the water takings impacting our rivers and water resources? Join in the information gathering and education that is needed to raise awareness of this looming issue.
Upper Mississippi and Illinois Rivers Ecoregion
Christine Favilla: christine.favilla@sierraclub.org
Legislative alerts, notices for hearings and giving comments at hearings, are all part of the effort to keep the public informed about damage done to our rivers and restoration work that is needed. Part of the focus is the high expense both in dollars and river ecosystem health, that will be caused if locks and dams are expanded.
Illinois’ 20 Wild and Endangered Places
Chris Williamson: birdchris@aol.com
Identifying and listing twenty of the most special and threatened places in Illinois will provide momentum for having these places protected. Public awareness is a large part of the project. Outings to selected places, work to support designation and funds for land acquisition funding, may all be part of this committee’s endeavors.
Shawnee National Forest
Jim Bensman: jbensman1@charter.net
Illinois’ only national forest, the Shawnee, is threatened by abuse of its wilderness areas, competing interests for resource extraction, ATV and recreational horse riding damages, and invasive species. The Shawnee Committee will be looking for a window of opportunity for major legislative and conservation initiatives. All kinds of volunteers are needed.
Mining Issues
Joyce Blumenshine: joblumen@yahoo.com
Impacts of longwall mining on water resources, woods, and prime ag land are ongoing concerns for this committee. Members also are involved in fighting strip mines in several inappropriate locations. A review of Illinois mining law needs to be done. Volunteers have all kinds of opportunities, from photography to letter writing.
Waste & Recycling
Kathy Andria: kathyandria@gmail.com
Do you have issues about toxic or hazardous waste or municipal solid waste landfills? Perhaps there is a coal combustion waste location near you. Learn how to deal with the siting process for new landfills. Monitor and report on landfills in your community and help to educate the public about minimizing the waste stream.
Chicago Olympics
Chris Williamson: birdchris@aol.com and Larry Marvet: lemarvet@gmail.com
Wouldn’t it be great if the 2016 Olympics in Chicago was a showcase for environmentally responsible planning? Protecting public lands, using environmentally sound materials, enhancing public transportation, improving Lake Michigan water quality, all are part of the list of issues this committee will pursue.
Environmental Justice
Verena Owen: baumling@aol.com
How do you apply environmental justice issues to your community? A wealth of information is available from Sierra sources, but grassroots volunteers are needed to bring EJ to the home front. If you are interested in outreach, research, or other avenues of being involved, opportunities abound.
• Internship Opportunity
| Term: | Spring, Summer, or Fall terms |
| Locations: | Chicago, Illinois - Illinois Chapter main office
Alton, Illinois - Piasa Palisades Group office Southern Illinois |
| Compensation: |
Internship is unpaid. Preference is for students to arrange for academic credit as compensation for their work. |
| Description: |
The Sierra Club, Illinois Chapter is the state entity of a national grassroots environmental organization. The Chapter is seeking interns for the upcoming term to assist with ongoing campaigns on conservation and environmental issues. Current campaigns include clean water, natural areas protection, promoting smart growth alternatives to suburban sprawl, and protecting the Shawnee National Forest in southern Illinois. Interns will learn about environmental issues and about working in a small, nonprofit advocacy office. Intern activities are expected to include:
Chicago: Internships can be arranged for between 7-35 hours per week, with flexible scheduling. Arrangements can be made for substantial work to be done outside of the office and normal business hours. Qualified applicants will have good writing and research skills, a knowledge or interest in environmental issues, and basic computer skills. Alton: Internships at the Alton Office can be arranged for between 1 - 10 hours per week. Southern Illinois: No office space is available and interns would be required to provide own computer and internet access. |
| To apply: |
If possible, an informational interview is desirable. Send a resume and cover letter to:
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