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Why We Need YOU to Fight for the Planet
The Lehigh Valley group of the Sierra Club recently achieved a milestone. Our ranks have swelled to their highest level ever—at more than 1600 members. That’s great news, but we need our members to do much more than pay their dues and stay informed about the environment. We need you to get involved.
Although the numbers of members in our local group are high, the numbers of active members are perilously low. In the Lehigh Valley and throughout Pennsylvania, a dedicated yet small group of volunteers shoulders most of the work the Sierra Club. Indeed, the Pennsylvania chapter of the Sierra Club has just two paid staff members, both based on Harrisburg. The Lehigh Valley group is run completely by volunteers.
So much needs to be done for the environment, yet we have too few active members to accomplish it all. Of our more than 1,000 members, fewer than 20 volunteer for the club on a regular basis. Of that small handful of activists, many spend hours each week planning educational programs and outings, organizing press conferences, supporting pro-environmental candidates, and lobbying against environmentally unfriendly local legislation and development.
This year alone, we accomplished a lot, including the following:
- We supported scores of residents in their fight against a proposed mega dog kennel in Vera Cruz that threatened to pollute a local stream and organic farm. When we heard about this proposal, our conservation chair quickly wrote to local decision makers, asking them not to support the plan and outlining the reasons why. We’re happy to report the developer decided not to pursue building the kennel.
- We joined with a number of other environmental groups to fight against the proposed Alpine Rose race track in Eldridge Township. To be built near the Appalachian trail, this track could threaten bog turtle habitat and create run-off that would pollute a nearby high quality stream. One of our dedicated members sent letters to and then called legislators in Harrisburg on behalf of the club, asking them not to funnel economic development dollars to this project.
- We partnered with a number of environmental groups to protest a proposed hotel and conference center to be built on Depue Island, in the middle of the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area. We secured a grant to print and mail postcards to park officials in opposition of the proposal. This is an ongoing fight, and we could use more active members to defeat this proposed development.
Although we have accomplished much, our small core of fighters is growing weary. We desperately need energetic and fresh faces. In particular, we could use volunteers to:
- Sell calendars as a fundraiser for the group. Our group makes ends meet on a little more than $1000 a year. This money pays for our newsletter, lobbying, and political work. Each year we must forgo many projects simply because we lack the funds to pay for them. The more calendars we sell, the more we can support the environment locally. Contact Jill Stanley 610-797-6969
- Haul cardboard recycling from the Unitarian Church in Bethlehem to the recycling center in Allentown. The church gives us meeting space for free in exchange for us hauling the recycling. Call Suzanne Marshall 610-882-0769
- Serve on our executive committee. Each year we must twist arms to get members to serve on ex com. This small 9 member group makes decisions on how to spend group resources, what environmental legislation to support or fight against, what candidates to endorse, and much more. To nominate someone or yourself, send a written notice including a brief statement of background as well as why you or your nominee would like to be on the Executive Committee. Deadline for nominations is December 1, 2004. Mail nominations to: Lehigh Valley Sierra Club, Nominating Committee, PO Box 1901, Allentown, PA 18105.
- Help assemble our newsletter. We publish the newsletter 3 to 4 times a year. It and our website are the only ways we can keep our members informed of our activities. We need help with editing, design, and labeling.
To volunteer for any of these jobs, contact Alisa Bauman 610-965-2237.
