Fox Valley Sierra Group From The Chair

Comments from our group chair, Alan Lawrence. 920-730-9515 or alan_lawrence99@yahoo.com Sierra Club is a national grass-roots organization made up of many thousands of volunteer members and relatively few professional staff members. People have various reasons to become members. Everyone in the organization has some level of appreciation for the outdoors. Some mostly want to explore outdoors and seek association with other adventurers. Others may be interested in service projects to restore or improve natural areas. Others recognize the challenges plants and animals face in our world and want some involvement in protecting them. Others are enraged at unresponsible commercial or governmental damage of the environment. Others are enthusiastic teachers who want to pass along their joy of the outdoors to the next generations. And there are many other reasons to join the Sierra club. If you live in northeastern Wisconsin your national Sierra Club membership automatically makes you a member of the local Fox Valley Sierra Group, and the state of Wisconsin's John Muir Chapter. There are approximately 1,600 members in the Fox Valley Group, and approximately 16,000 members in the state chapter. Some of our dedicated volunteers serve on the group's board of directors and provide monthly programs, frequent outings and projects, a quality newsletter, a website, and help facilitate things we believe our membership finds valuable and important. The board is elected, and it selects its officers. I joined Sierra Club in 1999 primarily for the outings and monthly programs, then soon volunteered to be the group's webmaster. I have served on the board since 2000, initially serving as the group's Secretary. Since 2003 I have been selected annually to be the group's chairperson. We hope to see you at some of our events. Your appreciation for Sierra Club and your membership will increase with your personal level of involvement. Part of my responsibility is to write a column for our our group newsletter. I also include it on our website.

April 2008 -- "From The Chair"

April is spring to most of us, but many of us remember April as the month with Earth Day. Wisconsinites can be proud that one it our citizens, Gaylord Nelson, was the founder of Earth Day. The first Earth Day was held April 22, 1970, and has been celebrated annually on that date. Nelson wrote about the history of the day (http://earthday.envirolink.org/history.html). The idea was originally conceived in 1962. Nelson wrote, "it had been troubling me that the state of our environment was simply a non-issue in the politics of the country". There was an environmental crisis and something was needed to put the issue into the political limelight.

I remember, as a high school student, that my school stopped all classes that day. Students and teachers organized dozens of environmental seminars for the day that we were all supposed to attend instead of regular classes. I cannot remember anything more than that, but I've always been happy knowing that I was part of the very first Earth Day. It was a grassroots environmental "teach-in."

Each year on April 22 Earth Day marks the anniversary of the birth of the modern environmental movement in 1970. And many of our citizens recognize the date and try to do something to celebrate it. This year (several weeks after this article was written) our group will participate with other organizations in various Earth Day celebrations. Let's hope the environment becomes a political issue soon.

Recently I saw a History Channel program on oil. Initially it showed how much we depend on oil; nearly everything around us has some petroleum in it. Then it showed some of the problems.

Imagine an immense square building one mile wide and extending upwards more than two and a half miles. That's how big 2.5 cubic miles of oil looks, and that's how much oil the world consumes each year. But each year the building is ten stories taller.

Now imagine where this trend has been taking us. What have we had to do to our world to obtain all this oil? What has it done to people and economies, and political stability in regions? And, ultimately the oil is burned and becomes smoke and carbon dioxide, or it becomes plastics, much of it going into landfills. Oil is millions (or hundreds of millions of years) old. 2.5 cubic miles of oil each year! How much more do you suppose is available to us? And then what?

I intend to write more about digital waste in an upcoming issue. Personally, I try to responsibly dispose of old computers and printing supplies. Unfortunately, there isn't much that can be done with old computers. Some of the better ones can find some reuse, but most become landfill. The current economics just do not justify any recycling. Cell phones and printer cartridges are often collected with the intention of being recycled. But it seems that the recycling is often exported to third world nations, presumably so that cheaper labor can disassemble components. Unfortunately for those workers, they tend not to be protected from the hazards of our harmful chemicals. And much of our exported product eventually ends up in foreign landfills, often disposed of in irresponsible ways. Some toner cartridges do end up successfully remanufactured and available to consumers, but their quality is frequently questionable. So my quandary, what to do with old printer cartridges? Is it ethical to turn in old cartridges for recycling if I don't intend to purchase recycled cartridges?

I would love to travel the world and see the sights, but I cannot afford to. Fortunately, some of nature's joys can be experienced, almost in our own neighborhoods. This past winter provided enough snow to allow me to ski at the Bubolz Nature Preserve rather often. You don't have to venture far to be all alone. And you don't have to exercise your imagination much to imagine that you've traveled far from the city. You could stand, alone on the trail, listening to nature, and watching nature.

Even closer to my home, I like to bicycle the Apple Creek Trail in northern Appleton. A section of it is very close to Highway 41, on the campus of the Thrivent Insurance business. But it is possible to sort of ignore the drone of the highway noise and focus on the fields and the ponds. I find it easy to imagine being far from home, almost alone, and close to nature. The hiking trails of Plamann Park, just north of Appleton, also provides these refreshing experiences. We must protect our remaining green spaces. As travel becomes expensive we need to be able to find nature close to home.

Thanks for reading my comments. As leader of our group I welcome your feedback.

February 2008 -- "From The Chair"

As the group chairperson, and prominent contributor to this newsletter, I often wonder to myself what I should write about. To be meaningful to my readers I must remember the reasons why people become Sierra Club members. There are about 750,000 Sierra Club members in the organization, approximately 16,000 in Wisconsin, and about 1,600 in our Fox Valley Group. We all appreciate the outdoors. Our mission statement nicely states the various ways we can appreciate the outdoors:

Our mission statement:
• Explore, enjoy, and protect the wild places of the earth.
• Practice and promote the responsible use of the earth's ecosystems and resources.
• Educate and enlist humanity to protect and restore the quality of the natural and human environment.
• Use all lawful means to carry out these objectives.

Many of us seek companions for hiking, camping, canoeing, bicycling, skiing, or other quiet outdoor activities. Others desire to participate in service projects. And others are enraged by something harmful to the environment and are inspired to do something about it. Many of us do all of these things.

Mike Brandel, the executive director of the Gordon Bubolz Nature Preserve where our group meets and does service work, retired on January 11. At his retirement party he reminded us that part of the Preserve’s mission is to help people enjoy nature and help them develop a sound environmental ethic reflecting an understanding and appreciation of nature.

I feel fortunate to be enjoying this nature preserve, and other lovely places in Wisconsin. I hope we can preserve these places for future generations to enjoy.

Global warming, one of the major conservation issues followed by Wisconsin Sierra Club groups, has come into the mainstream. Most people have heard of this issue and have a basic understanding of it. Most people know that Al Gore has made it his mission to educate the world about the science and consequences of global warming, and most people are aware that he was recently awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.

I am convinced that global warming is more than just a hypothesis, regardless of the criticism that can be read on the Internet. I believe the scientific evidence that says atmospheric carbon dioxide levels have increased 37% in only 200 years. This is perhaps the fastest increase seen in the past 800,000 years, and there is now more carbon dioxide in our atmosphere than at any other time measured over those 800,000 years. Climatologists continue to record each recent year as among the warmest years on record. Contemporary evidence of glacier melting and other environmental changes seems to support the hypothesis that global warming is happening and that the consequences will be significant.

Although consequences are difficult to predict, we can expect that the weather will change, and that it may change faster than many plants and animals can adapt. In recent centuries humans have harmed plant and animal species by trespassing on and destroying their habitats, or by excessive hunting. The future may add weather changes that further harm survival to plants and animals and the things that they depend upon.

Indeed, humans may find their own territories changing too quickly. Predictions suggest that melting polar ice will cause oceans to rise and displace people and crop growing areas. Predictions suggest changing weather will cause droughts on traditional fertile crop lands, while perhaps watering lands with infertile soils.

We are already seeing our food supplies challenged. Most of you have already seen grocery store prices increasing recently. Some of this can be blamed on the higher distribution and production costs due to higher gasoline prices. And some of this can be blamed on ethanol production, which some people believe will help with gasoline prices. Ethanol production currently uses corn, which consequently means that farmland that used to feed people or livestock is now being used to grow automobile fuel. And this is causing the price of all foods based on corn to rise. Imagine the consequences of further ethanol production while farmland continues to be destroyed by urban sprawl, and climate change affects our abilities to use our remaining farmland.

The world, particularly Americans and our political representatives, does not seem ready to take global warming seriously. Indeed, I worry that even Sierra Club is not concerned enough. Our official policy is that “we must reduce global warming emissions 80% by 2050 which is a reasonable and achievable 2% per year.” I believe we need to make significant changes faster than that.

In case you missed our January group meeting, we had a last-minute change of speakers. DNR Environmental Warden Tom Krsnich informed us about the problem of illegal open burning in Wisconsin. People are illegally and dangerously burning plastics, tires, paints, and other materials. Resulting dioxins and other pollutants are very harmful to our environment and our economy. We learned that illegal burning is the #1 cause of forest fires in Wisconsin. Dioxins are considered to be among the most toxic substances known to man, causing major health problems. Trash burning contributes 25% of Wisconsin’s airborne dioxins. The DNR is seeking the authority to issue citations to violators. Two bills (SB-284 and AB-546) awaiting voting in the Wisconsin legislature provide the DNR with citation powers for open burning and the storage of scrap tires without a license.

Thanks for reading my comments. As leader of our group, I welcome your feedback.

November 2007 -- "From The Chair"

Sometimes I feel badly about driving long distances, even when the cause is good. On the evening proceeding the annual Ice Age Trail Hike-A-Thon my wife and I had to make a decision about whether to go or not. I have enjoyed each of the eight hikes that I participated in. And I enjoy helping with trail maintenance. The annual hike alternates between trail segments near Hartman Creek State Park, and the more distant (and perhaps prettier) segment at Iola, and it was at Iola this year.

The need for decision was perhaps more important this year because of high gas prices. But there was also a need to balance family finances, time, and wear on the car with the benefits of recreation and fundraising. Global warming and the inconsistencies with being “green” also weighed in, since we would be driving three hours for a three-hour event. I have heard other people express their regrets about traveling to events. Believe me, I understand the conflict. But I also know that sometimes it is important to make the trip.

Our new membership chairperson, Rachel Anderson, has been doing a great job. In addition to welcoming new members to our group and putting up informational posters advertising our programs, Rachel has been working to engage our friends in the Green Bay area who might not feel motivated to attend our programs in Appleton. She proposed that we show Sierra Club movies, and we will be showing our first movie on November 14 in DePere. We hope the documentary, “Who Killed the Electric Car?”, will stir some interest.

I am writing this column in early October, before our Autumn Assembly. I know that Dale Schaber has worked hard to organize it, and I want to thank him for his efforts. We all benefit from Dale’s efforts to organize this assembly, our group’s 25th Anniversary party this past April, and his work with the Ice Age Trail.

Traditionally our group elects some of its board members each December. Although we may not have enough candidates for the positions to fully justify an election, it is still an important way to show our support for the board. Four of our board members are finishing three-year terms in December. I’d like to thank Sally Peck, Rich Krieg, Charlie Paine, and Kelly Krupka for their years of service to our group.

Chris Calhoun has been our hospitality chairperson for a number of years, and wants a break from the task of setting up our meeting place and organizing snacks. Thank you Chris. Now, we need somebody else to take over.

We have other local heroes in our group, and they’re not always adequately recognized. And I’m afraid this column is not long enough to cover everybody. Sorry. But I want to recognize Sharon Duerkop because she has been running our buckthorn control service project at Bubolz Nature Preserve for eight years. Penny Bernard Schaber has been working on a project, supported by our board and club treasury, to organize the “Sustainable Fox Valley” conference on November 3. Great idea!

I’ve been using a new vocabulary word, greenwashing, and wanted to share it with you. As defined by the WhatIs.com website, “Greenwashing is the practice of making an unsubstantiated or misleading claim about the environmental benefits of a product, service, technology or company practice. Greenwashing can make a company appear to be more environmentally friendly than it really is.”

If you can make it, I hope you will join us December 13 for our holiday party at Bubolz Nature Preserve. We always have fun at all of our meetings and outings, but this is one of our truly social events. We’ll have a potluck dinner and a silly white-elephant gift exchange. And we’ll ask for gifts to help support Bubolz Nature Preserve and its programs.

Thanks for reading my comments. As leader of our group I welcome your feedback.

August 2007 -- "From The Chair"

The worldwide “Live Earth” marathon of concerts took place July 7 to call attention to global warming. Whether the rock star entertainers were effective at sharing the message is still a question. With many Americans still expressing skepticism for global warming, and others believing it will simply cause a minor inconvenience of air conditioning, I must hope some in the worldwide audience are called to action. We cannot afford to be like Nero, fiddling while Rome burned. I’ve written an article for this newsletter on the subject.

Our May auction fundraiser earned $1610 for our group, including several cash contributions mailed to us. Thank you. We have an article in this newsletter with more information on our group’s budget so you’ll understand where our money comes from and what we do with it.

On June 28th the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources announced a modification to the cleanup plan for PCB-contaminated sediment in Wisconsin's Lower Fox River. Our organization is disappointed in the revised plan because it uses capping as a cleanup method in many areas of the river. We do not believe that covering the contaminated river bottom with layers of sand and gravel is any sort of permanent solution. I believe we will be cleaning the river again someday, and I do not believe the cost or solution is any better for having to do it twice.

A recent Public Radio program talked about songbird populations. Many species of birds are in serious trouble. An interesting rhetorical question was asked by the interviewer. We look out into our back yards and can still see many birds. Why should we be concerned? The problem is that most of us do not know how to identify the birds we see. We are still seeing lots of birds, but we are seeing representatives of fewer species.

I enjoy walking near my office during my lunch hour. My office is in a developing business park where there are many undeveloped plots of land with tall grasses and the accompanying wildlife. I am often scolded by killdeers and redwing blackbirds, apparently protecting hidden nests and young. I am distressed when the developer decides to mow his fields. Obviously the developer believes that mowed property is more valuable than wild fields. But, obvious to me, the mowers are needlessly killing helpless animals. I am considering ways to increase awareness of the problems of mowing wild fields. It seems to me that if you are going to mow fields that you should keep them mowed. It seems cruel to invite wildlife to live in wild fields, and then mow them while babies are growing.

Thanks for reading my comments. As leader of our group, I welcome your feedback.

April 2007 -- "From The Chair"

Our well-attended meeting in February was very heartening because it helped to demonstrate that the local public is interested in the outdoors. Writer and traveler Eric Hansen spoke to an almost-overflowing crowd about hiking and traveling in Wisconsin and Upper Michigan. Eric had helped generate publicity with press interviews, but clearly his topic was of interest to many people.

Our citizens do enjoy the outdoors. This is hardly a surprise to anyone who has tried to make a campground reservation at a State Park; there is not enough capacity to meet demand. Hunting and fishing is a favorite past-time for many. Parks and green spaces are always popular destinations in nice weather. Our government leaders should know that the public supports preservation of the outdoors.

Our group celebrated its 25th birthday at Appleton's Columbus Club on April 12. One of our founders, Dale Schaber, organized the event, with a delicious dinner and wonderful program. Current and past group and chapter leaders made comments about the past, and future of our organization. Keynote speaker Spencer Black (see article elsewhere) was the chapter chairperson at the time of our group's founding, and currently serves in the State Assembly. Spencer reminded us that the Sierra Club has always been about the future. Tom Sutter ended our program with a "lantern slide show" featuring John Muir's writings on the Grand canyon, Yosemite and Yellowstone.

Our May 10th meeting is our annual auction fundraiser. It is always a fun time, so please come. And please bring some money. We'll begin with a potluck dinner and the camaraderie of friends, but the auction is really important. Most of our members are surprised to learn that their annual Sierra Club dues do not support the local groups. Most of that money is for the National organization. The state chapter (John Muir Chapter) receives a portion of your dues. But the groups get a very small portion. We receive only 30 cents per member, and may apply for an additional 30 cents for approved projects. Groups must be mostly self-supported. Our group earns most of its funding from our annual auction fundraiser.

Our group needs the auction fundraiser to be successful. It supports the publication of our newsletter, and it supports our activities, and it pays for the rental of our meeting facility at Bubolz Nature Preserve. Please come, and please be generous. If you cannot attend, please consider contacting our treasurer (address elsewhere in newsletter) and sending in a non tax-deductable donation.

My family was very involved in March supporting legislation to protect wilderness areas in Utah and elsewhere. My wife, Diana, went to Washington, DC with a coalition of environmental organizations to make the case to our legislature. Although personally expensive, it was a rewarding experience for the family. Diana's report is elsewhere in this newsletter.

Global warming (aka Climate Change) has been making daily headline news. Unfortunately, the local public does not understand the issue, if the editorials in Appleton's Post-Crescent are any gauge. This newsletter contains my recent letter to the newspaper telling why I believe the global warming theory.

A newspaper commentary, just this morning, claims that global warming is only a theory. The writer said that other environmental issues, like DDT, really were problems, and that after those problems became well known we were able to make corrective changes. My wife reminds me that Rachel Carlson told the country about DDT and nobody listened to her at the time. People are slow to understand problems.

Thanks for reading my comments. As leader of our group I welcome your feedback.

February 2007 -- "From The Chair"

As we begin a new year the first thing I need to do is thank our board members. They all contribute their time and energy to helping our club. Our group is supposed to have 13 board members, serving 3- year terms with staggered expirations. These four members have decided to take a short rest from their leadership roles: Maureen Birk, Diane Mandler, Jerry Sonnleitner, and Nancy Graham. Thank you.

You may have noticed the large notice in our last newsletter lamenting the fact that we have too many vacancies on our executive committee. We have room for several of you to become group leaders by joining our board. Please ask about the job.

2007 is a special year for our group because we are celebrating our 25th anniversary. Enough local Sierra Club members wanted to form a group and do things together. Some of these members are still with us. You will want to join us for the celebration on April 12 at the Columbus Club in Appleton. Dale Schaber, one of our founding members, is organizing the event. We anticipate an event you will not want to miss. See the announcement elsewhere in this newsletter, then check our website for updates.

April is also Earth Day. We plan to have several ways to celebrate the Earth this year. You should be able to find a way to participate. We’ll be joining an Ice Age Trail work weekend to help plant 500 trees near Waupaca on the 21st and 22nd. On the 28th we’ll have our annual project of pulling invasive garlic mustard plants. We will also participate in the Earth Day celebrations of other organizations.

Our members received post cards from our state chapter in November informing us about the PCB cleanup of the Fox River. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and the US Environmental Protection Agency face continuing pressure from the polluting paper companies responsible for funding the cleanup project. Consequently, the agencies recommended a different strategy for the cleanup. Our organization does not believe the new plan is effective. We helped to organize a large turnout at the public hearing in Green Bay on December 5. Most of the public was against the “capping” proposal made by the paper companies and the government agencies. The newspapers and television stations heard the people. Soon we’ll know whether the agencies heard us, too.

Global Warming is one of the conservation issues our organization is following. Most informed people regard this as a serious human-made issue that will cause major climate changes around the world. We can’t know just how the forecasts will play out, but we can anticipate that most people and most species of plants and animals will be effected and harmed. My wife, Diana Lawrence, has decided to become an activist on this issue. You can see her article elsewhere in this newsletter, and follow-up articles in upcoming newsletters.

Finally, the generosity of our members at our December holiday party added $277 in donations to the Bubolz Nature Preserve. Thanks you.

Thanks for reading my comments. As leader of our group I welcome your feedback.

November 2006 -- "From The Chair"

Never one to enjoy attending a planning meeting I was reluctant to give up most of a weekend in September to attend our Sierra Club Chapter (state) Strategic Planning conference. But I attended, and the weather outdoors was beautiful. Fortunately, the conference was invigorating and I don’t resent the experience.

Friends and new acquaintances from around the state gathered together and worked with a skilled leader from National Sierra Club. We spent the weekend at a beautiful rustic camp, surrounding our work with good meals, enough free time, and a bunkhouse experience.

An early activity was to talk about weaknesses of our organization. “Too few people for too many jobs” was a common theme for us, and apparently for most organizations. Other observations were that we are unable to connect our priorities to public concerns, and we don’t have a well-run fundraising culture. We all wished our active membership included more youth.

We worked through an outline entitled, “The Four Habits of Highly Successful Sierra Club Chapters, Groups and Leaders,” with these key points: (1) We plan ahead, strategically, to win environmental protections. (2) We work well together as leaders and activists. (3) We build relationships with people and involve them in our work. (4) We connect with our communities to protect the environment.

Many environmental issues were discussed, including the cleanup of the Fox River, the Cool Cities campaign, the FROM THE CHAIR state Stewardship fund, parks, trails, forest fragmentation, energy, recycling, and global warming. There are indeed many issues that concern us, and that’s why we find ourselves following too many issues with too few resources. We must focus on fewer issues, and do a better job with those issues.

Our Chapter then decided upon signature campaign issues; issues for which we can play leading roles and become known for.

Global warming, also known as “climate change,” was high on everyone’s list because credible science suggests that we may have only a decade before serious change is irreversible. But Wisconsin is a water state and protecting our water resources is always a signature issue for us.

Eventually we combined and simplified our priorities and came up with two signature campaigns to focus on for the next two years: (1) Global warming / energy solutions and action. (2) Great Lakes Compact / water quality / organic yards.

These are great issues for us to work on. We hope that working on important issues for which we can make a difference will be rewarding to our members and visible to our communities

Thanks for reading my comments. As leader of our group I welcome your feedback.

October 2006 (Election Issue) -- "From The Chair"

As a Sierra Club member you may wonder why we make political endorsements and try to influence the political process.

Sierra Club membership consists of more than 750,000 of your friends and neighbors. Inspired by nature, we work together to protect our communities and the planet. The Club is America's oldest, largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization.

The Sierra Club Mission Statement:
1. Explore, enjoy and protect the wild places of the earth.
2. Practice and promote the responsible use of the earth's ecosystems and resources.
3. Educate and enlist humanity to protect and restore the quality of the natural and human environment.
4. Use all lawful means to carry out these objectives.

Our activities often involve service projects to clean up or protect something. But we recognize that good politicians are capable of doing good works far beyond what our membership is capable of. However, the wrong politicians can do severe damage and destroy everything that we work for.

It is important as individuals that we do not forget our small projects. But we must also remember to vote for the best possible leadership.

This issue tries to highlight some of the candidates that our organization feels are better qualified to lead our society. Sierra Club members hope their leaders understand and appreciate the science of global warming, and understand the earth’s ecosystems and resources. We hope you find this useful.

Thanks for reading my comments. As leader of our group I welcome your feedback.

September 2006 -- "From The Chair"

I enjoy all of the year for outdoors activities, but this year I’m taking all of my vacation during the summer. In June my family flew to San Francisco and then drove to Big Sur for a week of camping among the giant redwoods. I just finished an early August week-long bicycle tour of northeastern Wisconsin. We’ve got something less-strenuous planned for later this month.

Big Sur is a coastal area in California of remarkable beauty. There are the giant redwoods, unspoiled mountains, striking cliffs, wild waterfalls, and gorgeous ocean views. The region survived serious early development largely because it was rugged and difficult to exploit. These days it survives because society recognizes the value of these wild areas and protects it. Although some people probably feel inconvenienced by the legal protection it is very obvious that many people benefit. The region attracts many tourists and campers, and they become consumers of food and supplies, locally and in the whole region. Protection of the outdoors has produced an economy that would not otherwise exist.

My week of bicycling across Wisconsin (with the SAGBRAW tour) also demonstrates some of the value of protecting our outdoors. More than a thousand bicycle riders from Wisconsin and many other states spent their vacations and money riding across northeastern Wisconsin. We may take Door County for granted, but it is a treasure for anyone to experience. Whether because of geographical difficulties that slowed development, or because of wise planning and protective rules, Door County still enjoys much undeveloped green space and wild shorelines. And tourists flock there, spending money and supporting the economy. Without the quiet and open beauty there would not be the thriving tourist economy.

Our Memorial Day holiday centered around the Elroy-Sparta bicycle trail. We camped at Wildcat Mountain State Park and biked the trail. We thoroughly enjoyed the feeling that we were isolated from the modern busy society. The bicycle trail and the beauty of that largely undeveloped region supports its tourist industry.

My upcoming vacation, at a timeshare vacation resort near Wisconsin Dells, will put me in contact with the Dells tourist area. Although densely developed in the theme park area most of the tourists enjoy the unspoiled beauty of the Wisconsin River, rocky views, and the forests. I’ll also be close enough to justify day trips to Devil’s Lake State Park and other outdoor vacation areas. Again, I’ll be observing that outdoors areas that are protected by society are valuable to the tourist industry and the economy.

Thanks for reading my comments. As leader of our group I welcome your feedback.

August 2006 -- "From The Chair"

I enjoy all of the year for outdoors activities, but this year I'm taking all of my vacation during the summer. In June my family flew to San Francisco and then drove to Big Sur for a week of camping among the giant redwoods. I just finished an early August week-long bicycle tour of northeastern Wisconsin. We've got something less-strenuous planned for later this month.

Big Sur is a coastal area in California of remarkable beauty. There are the giant redwoods, unspoiled mountains, striking cliffs, wild waterfalls, and gorgeous ocean views. The region survived serious early development largely because it was rugged and difficult to exploit. These days it survives because society recognizes the value of these wild areas and protects it. Although some people probably feel inconvenienced by the legal protection it is very obvious that many people benefit. The region attracts many tourists and campers, and they become consumers of food and supplies, locally and in the whole region. Protection of the outdoors has produced an economy that would not otherwise exist.

My week of bicycling across Wisconsin (with the SAGBRAW tour) also demonstrates some of the value of protecting our outdoors. More than a thousand bicycle riders from Wisconsin and many other states spent their vacations and money riding across northeastern Wisconsin. We may take Door County for granted, but it is a treasure for anyone to experience. Whether because of geographical difficulties that slowed development, or because of wise planning and protective rules, Door County still enjoys much undeveloped green space and wild shorelines. And tourists flock there, spending money and supporting the economy. Without the quiet and open beauty there would not be the thriving tourist economy.

Our Memorial Day holiday centered around the Elroy-Sparta bicycle trail. We camped at Wildcat Mountain State Park and biked the trail. We thoroughly enjoyed the feeling that we were isolated from the modern busy society. The bicycle trail and the beauty of that largely undeveloped region supports its tourist industry.

My upcoming vacation, at a timeshare vacation resort near Wisconsin Dells, will put me in contact with the Dells tourist area. Although densely developed in the theme park area most of the tourists enjoy the unspoiled beauty of the Wisconsin River, rocky views, and the forests. I'll also be close enough to justify day trips to Devil's Lake State Park and other outdoor vacation areas. Again, I'll be observing that outdoors areas that are protected by society are valuable to the tourist industry and the economy.

Thanks for reading my comments. As leader of our group I welcome your feedback.

May 2006 -- "From The Chair"

I try to live a relatively simple life: I live reasonably near my job, I use moderation with my home heating and cooling, I'm rather conservative with my driving, and I drive a mid-sized sedan that's not too bad with gasoline consumption. But I still cringe at today's energy prices. It is expensive to fill my gas tank. Home utility bills are higher than ever. And groceries and other things that I buy also have higher prices, thanks to energy costs that must be passed along to the consumer.

And yet, I have long joined with Sierra Club and others who said that gasoline should be taxed until it was expensive enough to encourage people to treat petroleum with respect and begin to conserve it. We simply do not make investments in alternative energies and efficiencies while oil is inexpensive.

Although gasoline prices have certainly risen, it is not evident that habits have changed much. Presumably prices must go higher before we really begin to notice, and do something more significant than drilling new oil wells.

One of my regrets is that prices have gone up, but not because of taxes. Taxes would have helped fund research into alternative energies and conservation efficiencies, which probably would already be helping us. Instead, only the oil producers are benefiting from the high prices that we currently enjoy.

Meanwhile: Large sport utility vehicles are still popular. American automobile manufacturers still concentrate on selling sexy speed demons capable of anything except good mileage. Public transportation is inadequate. Oil is still burned and creating air pollution. Oil resources are being depleted and causing national conflicts. And most people are suffering.

Recently I watched a "Nova" show on Public Television about something being called "global dimming" (or "solar dimming"). Scientists have been studying the greenhouse gas effects of global warming for several decades. But another manmade climate change has only recently been getting serious attention. It is well-established that the airborne dust from volcanic eruptions shades sunlight from reaching the earth, resulting in cooling. The dinosaur extinction may have resulted from such cooling following the impact of a large meteor. It turns out that modern air pollution is also blocking sunlight and is causing a cooling effect.

The burning of hydrocarbons (oil, coal or wood) releases carbon dioxide into our atmosphere. It is widely believed by scientists that this should cause a greenhouse effect and cause the earth to warm, causing significant climate changes that will change life on our planet. The paradox is that this warming has been difficult to measure, making the theory difficult to prove. It is now understood that the same burning of hydrocarbons is also releasing soot and other particles into the atmosphere, and this has been shading the earth and cooling it.

The theory is that both warming and cooling are happening at the same time, and this has made the expected warming difficult to measure. Apparently air pollution is protecting us; with cleaner air the effects of global warming would be much more severe.

But this warming/cooling tug-of-war is not harmless. The dimming of the sun is shortening growing seasons. The dimming reduces the evaporation of ocean water and the resulting rainfall, and can already be blamed for deadly droughts.

Furthermore, air pollution is harmful for breathing. To justify allowing air pollution because it offsets global warming is as absurd as cutting off an arm to control weight gain. We must continue working for clean air standards. But we now understand that working to control global warming is more important than ever.

The other lesson is that climate and environment are very complicated. Don't mess around with "Mother Nature".

Thanks for reading my comments. As leader of our group I welcome your feedback.

March 2006 -- "From The Chair"

Recently I received a letter from a concerned citizen in Grand Chute, the area that includes Bubolz Nature Preserve. She told me about a problem facing wetlands in the area, and hoped that I could attend a town meeting. She feels that the town board menbers do not care about the wetlands and how important they are. She told me that one of the board members said that "if a developer buys land in town the town should let them build on the land."

As a person who loves the outdoors and knows something about the interactions of the environment, I am discouraged when I hear about people who do not value nature. I wonder how they can feel that way.

As a person who wants to protect our nature I disagree with the attitute that ownership of land entitles the owner to do whatever they want to the land.

Unfortunately, the entire conservation community knows this is a battle that we need to fight while we are trying to protect our world. Many land owners believe they are entitled to clear-cut, mine, build upon, drain, hunt, poison, or whatever. It can be difficult to convince people that land ownership does not (or should not) bestow these rights. Perhaps "responsibility" needs to be emphasized more than "rights".

If America were to allow property owners the freedom to do whatever they wanted with their land our country would be very different. Protected wilderness areas, including parks and national monuments, would not exist as national treasures. And many protective rules that help protect our air, water, land, plants and animals would not exist. Society knows that our environment needs to be protected, and society knows that the environment does not care about borders.

It is sometimes said that Sierra Club wants to protect places like the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) so that its wealthy members can visit and enjoy the pristine wilderness. It is said that most Americans will never have the chance to visit these areas. It is said that the average American would benefit more from harvesting the resources (oil, timber, minerals) from those areas than they do by protecting those areas.

Our challenge is to help Americans (and everywhere in the world) realize that preservation of our natural resources is a worthy goal. Though I may never personally visit many of our parks, preserves, monuments, and refuges, I do feel enriched knowing that they exist and are being preserved for my children and grandchildren to enjoy.

Thanks for reading my comments. As leader of our group I welcome your feedback.

January 2006 -- "From The Chair"

A couple of thoughts crossed my mind as I prepared to write my column. Our board of directors, including myself, had enjoyed skipping a meeting over the holiday seasons. We are club leaders because we feel strongly about Sierra Club issues, but it still consumes our personal free time and we do appreciate "vacations". Yet, at the same time, environmental issues continue to happen.

The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) seems to have gained enough attention from the public to cause Congress to postpone oil-drilling initiatives. Sadly, the operative word is "postpone" since oil industry leaders have not yet abandoned their desire to drill for oil in beautiful and environmentally important places. It is not just the quest for oil in the Refuge but the fact that this is a precedent-setting policy that would make future exploitations easier for industry. Holiday or not, our members and friends must remain vigilant.

For the third year running, donations collected at our December holiday party were presented to the Gordon Bubolz Nature Preserve. This Preserve, the site of most of our meetings and several of our service projects, is deserving of our help. We have helped raise more than $1000 over three years. Mike Brandel, the Preserve's Director, spoke at our January meeting and shared some news about the Preserve. Seemingly everything outside its borders is expected to fall to urban sprawl within a few years, leaving Bubolz as an island.

I mention the plight of Bubolz because it is easy to forget about the jewels close to home. We tend to think about environmental issues out west in the Rockies, or in Alaska, or in the tropical rain forests, or in the boundary water lakes. These are clearly important places, for the environment or for our vacation enjoyment. But we must not forget that northeastern Wisconsin is also home to our own unique environments, and that these places very much need our help.

Our board of directors, following the December election where Dale Schaber and Jan Moldenhauer were re-elected, consists of 11 members. We are chartered to have 13 members, so we can use more leaders.

Our outings chairperson, makes sure that we have outings on our calendar so that we can enjoy the outdoors and find reason to want to do more. Our programs chair makes sure we have interesting and useful programs at our monthly meetings. Our conservation chair helps keep us focused on important environmental issues. Our political chair helps keep tabs on how well our politicians are protecting the environment. Everyone has an important role guiding our Group.

We are proud to note that one of our own, Penny Bernard Schaber, has decided to become a candidate for the Wisconsin State Assembly. Penny has long served leadership roles for our Group and for the State Chapter. Protecting the outdoors is clearly important to her.

Elsewhere in this newsletter you will read of our annual fundraiser, an auction. We are moving it this year to our May 11 meeting. This is the one time each year that we ask our members to help with our budget, and it is the largest source of income for us. Please add this date to your calendar and plan to join us that evening.

Thanks for reading my comments. As leader of our group I welcome your feedback.

October 2005 -- "From The Chair"

I decided to wait until after our annual Autumn Assembly before writing this column. The Assembly, for all Club members and friends, was located in Milwaukee at the Urban Ecology Center. The Great Waters Group of Sierra Club, which hosted the event this year, faced a challenge they made for themselves. This group includes the Milwaukee area, and the Assembly organizers wanted to provide an urban setting for the Assembly, which is typically held in a rustic setting. The questions: could they find an appropriate setting within the city, and would the audience be satisfied?

The Urban Ecology Center proved to be an excellent setting. The Center was built in a blighted neighborhood at the edge of a neglected city park that had become a home for vagrants and crime. Building the Center was a grass-roots project initiated by a few neighbors. The plan reminded me of the Sierra Club concept; teach someone to appreciate the environment and they will protect it. The Center now provides environmental lessons to thousands of city children and adults, teaching them to appreciate the outdoors. The neighborhood and the well-used park are much better.

The building took advantage of many recycled components, and was a model of recycling and conservation. It was inspiring to visit, and camp within. (Those with tents camped on the 2nd floor deck.) The energy and vision of the Center’s director, Ken Leinbach, were amazing. One person really can make a difference.

Some of us concluded the weekend with a bicycle ride or canoe trip from the center. My wife and I were in the cycling contingency, enjoying part of Milwaukee’s 100-mile Oak Leaf Trail, winding through the city as a narrow park enjoyed by many. We saw thousands of people enjoying the parks on the shore of Lake Michigan. A coffee-shop catering to the outdoors people was flourishing. I was reminded that downtown areas are enriched by public green spaces that can be enjoyed by everybody.

Next fall the Autumn Assembly will be hosted by the Southeast Gateway Group at a Girl Scout Program Center near Kenosha and Racine. Put October 6-8 on your calendar and consider joining us.

Changing the subject, I continue to be amazed about the number of issues that clamor for our attention. I have long known about the Arctic Wilderness Refuge, under attack by the oil industry. I have known about the Redrock Wilderness in Utah, under attack by the oil industry and off-road motor enthusiasts. Very recently I learned about Otero Mesa, "America’s Wildest Grassland" in New Mexico. In addition to the unique plant and animals in this undeveloped area there is an immense underground fresh water aquifer large enough to serve a million people for over a century. The oil industry intends to risk this water, and the unique surface features, for the minimal amounts of oil that can be found there. It just seems so immoral to destroy things of immeasurable value in order to reap short-term gains. While amazed at the selfish actions of some, especially those with financial interests, I am wildly amazed and thrilled that there seem to be people everywhere striving to protect these areas. I owe my thanks to these people for their efforts to save the riches of this planet that I may not even know exist.

Thanks for reading my comments. As leader of our group I welcome your feedback.

August 2005 -- "From The Chair"

The White House and Congress continue to introduce legislation that would permit oil drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR). These numerous attempts have always been defeated, only to be re-introduced in yet another form and hidden within another package. It is always bad policy and always needs to be defeated. On July 15 several of our Sierra Club members participated in an ANWR rally organized by WISPIRG, the Wisconsin Public Interest Research Group. I was one of the speakers. My speech is on our website (Click Here).

There is still time to protect the ANWR. The latest budget bill assumes revenue from oil leases in the ANWR (a sneaky way to permit oil drilling). In September, after the Congressional recess, the House and Senate will vote to reconcile the budget bills that have already been passed. If you haven't told your representatives that the ANWR must be protected, this may be your last chance.

I enjoy participating in many of our Group activities, and recently had the opportunity to lead a bicycle ride outing on the Wild Goose Trail from Fond du Lac. Several new faces joined us, including a non-member who worried whether we would be much faster than she, and leave her in the dust. We did not abandon her. I mention this because I think perhaps others are interested in our outings, but afraid to join us. Please feel comfortable with us.

I also wanted to report that LEADING an outing can be an enjoyable experience. I'll have the privilege to lead another bicycle outing on September 18 on the newly built Trestle Trail. I'm realizing that even the advanced preparation work (reading, planning, test-rides) is part of the fun trip leaders enjoy. Our Outings Chairperson would love to have more outings leaders.

If you live in Green Bay, or travel through it, you may have noticed a coal-fired power plant, just west of where the Fox River joins the bay. But you may not have known that this facility, the Pulliam Power Plant, is a major polluter. It has used loopholes to avoid upgrades required by the Clean Air Act of 1977. Furthermore, it makes little effort to comply with the laws it is required to obey. It has violated its air permit each of the past 20 quarters. The Pulliam plant is among the dirtiest coal plants in the nation, ranking seventh for its sulfur dioxide emissions. It is the second highest nitrogen oxide polluter in the entire state of Wisconsin. Sierra Club and Clean Wisconsin are working to make the plant's owner, Wisconsin Public Service Corporation, clean up its act. (More info on our website. Click Here).

In closing, please consider attending our Autumn Assembly in Milwaukee, October 7-9. It is fun and enjoyable, and you'll renew friendships with other club members throughout the state. (More info on our website. Click Here).

Thanks for reading my comments. As leader of our group I welcome your feedback.

May 2005 -- "From The Chair"

Saturday I had the pleasure of helping maintain the Ice Age Trail near Hartman Creek State Park. This service is always fun. For years Club member Dale Schaber has been organizing several trail service workdays each summer. It is a way to enjoy the great outdoors and know that you are helping others to also enjoy the trail. This time we repainted trail blazes, added some new signs, and cleared branches that interfered with the trail. But it is more than just work. Although only an hour from my home in Appleton, the scenery along the trail is phenomenal. And this affords the opportunity to make new friends, or further strengthen friendships. We often end our day eating ice cream together.

Later this month, but before you've had the opportunity to read my column, our group will have helped control the invasive garlic mustard plant at High Cliff State Park and at a nature preserve behind Kaukauna High School. This annual project benefits from public volunteers who join us in pulling these "weeds". Hopefully everyone who helps on this, or any environmental service project, feels rewarded, like I did with the Ice Age Trail.

Unfortunately we are all aware that not everyone believes the environment is important. And that continues to be a cause of concern for our members.

Sometimes it appears that the environment doesn't have enough friends in government. There always seem to be setbacks of some sort. Sometimes these anger me. Sometimes I'm just frustrated by ignorance or greed. Sometimes it overwhelms me into apathy.

A recent setback concerns the opening of roadless forest areas. The Clinton administration created rules to protect large sections of undeveloped forest, termed "roadless wilderness". The Bush administration has been trying to reverse these rules, and seems to be making progress towards that goal. In early May new rules opened up this land, making National Forests a State issue instead of a National issue. It will be up to state governors to decide whether to protect National forests. This might seem reasonable, but it means Wisconsin citizens will have little influence in protecting the environments of other states. And states with small populations will be strongly influenced by the economics of commercial interests.

The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge is one battleground that has been receiving much national attention for years. It is a spectacular place, yet fragile. And there is oil beneath it. The oil companies have long wanted permission to harvest the oil, while environmentalists believe this cannot be done without destroying the place. Furthermore, many believe the costs are too high and the benefits are too low; it will take years to get the oil which will then equal only one or two percent of our nation's consumption. The Bush administration is making it a priority to open this wilderness area to oil exploitation.

This is all very unfortunate. It is about oil. Years ago environmentalists said that oil was a finite resource that would eventually come into short supply. We were ignored. And that was when there was time to do something about the problem. And now the problem is here. Our consumption is exceeding our resources. So, environments are exploited. And wars are fought.

What to do? Neither the roadless rule nor the ANWR rules are done deals yet. Make sure your legislators know your thoughts on these issues. Then get outside and do some service. At least that will make you feel good for awhile.

Thanks for reading my comments. As leader of our group I welcome your feedback.

March 2005 -- "From The Chair"

Last month on Wisconsin Public Radio I listened to a program about the life and times of environmentalist Rachel Carlson. Her book, "Silent Spring" sparked an environmental wake-up call in 1962, revealing the widespread abuse of pesticides. I was surprised to learn that in 1992 a panel declared "Silent Spring" to be the most influential book of the past 50 years. She has also been credited as one of the most influential Americans of the 20th century. She almost single-handedly alerted Americans to the dark side of science in alliance with industrial society. She was largely ignored during her lifetime, and died of cancer in 1964.

My wife is taking classes at UW Oshkosh. Her geography class told of many environmental problems in Russia and the former Soviet Union. We all remember their Chernobyl nuclear disaster, but did you know that 800,000 citizens were sent into the danger zone to help contain the disaster? In 1960 the Aral Sea in Kazakhstan was the world's fourth largest lake (at 26,250 square miles), providing a healthy livelihood for several hundred thousand people. Several decades of diverting water for cropland irrigation (growing rice and cotton in an arid environment) have created an environmental disaster that will last for centuries. Today 60% of the water is gone and the lake is expected to be completely dry by 2050. The mild salinity from the diverted irrigation waters ruined surrounding areas, leaving them laden with salt and infertile. Blowing salt dust is causing health problems and expanding the desert. (Aral Sea links: here or here)

Presumably intelligent government and industry leaders too often make decisions without considering environmental consequences. Jared Diamond's new book, "Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed", tells about decisions made by ancient and contemporary societies regarding how to work with the environment. One can only wonder how well our country and communities will fare.

Current problems, like gasoline prices, allow government and industry to argue that oil drilling should be done in the Artic National Wilderness Area, or anywhere for that matter. National and local decisions impact the outdoors, the environment, and ultimately our health, economy, and livelihood. The Sierra Club and other environmental advocates must keep reminding our policy makers to consider the environment.

In the March/April edition of Sierra Magazine our Club's executive director, Carl Pope, makes a case that serious "values voters" are interested in the environment. We need to make our government officials aware of this fact.

Speaking of voting, the Club's annual Board of Directors election is going on. This election is controversial. The major issue seems to be our population policy, specifically immigration. Please educate yourself on the issue and cast your vote before April 25. The Club needs your ideas. The club website has more information. Ballots are mailed to all members in mid-March.

You may have heard about the Sierra Club Convention this September 8-11 in San Francisco. Two years ago it was realized that all the successful social movements of the past century held conventions where local leaders told their stories, celebrated, and returned home inspired and energized. If you'd like to attend, please talk to me.

One of my responsibilities as Group Chairperson is to manage our budget. In recent years our annual budget has been around $5000. Our largest expense is our newsletter, our most effective tool to communicate with our members and interested public. While we receive some income from our Chapter, many members are surprised to learn that only a tiny fraction of their Club dues filter back to the Group. Most of our money, to support our newsletter, rent our meeting facility, and support our activities comes from our Annual Auction Fundraiser. Last year we were fortunate to raise $1600 through the generosity of donations and purchases. I hope you can attend our April Auction (which really is also a lot of fun), or consider sending a financial gift.

Thanks for reading my comments. As leader of our group I welcome your feedback.

January 2005 -- "From The Chair"

Kelly Krupka and I recently had the opportunity to attend a workshop at Sierra Club headquarters for newsletter editors and webmasters. I'm our group's webmaster. The San Francisco workshop was organized well before our recent presidential election, and with the understanding that the Sierra Club has a lot of work regardless of who won the election. Through our newsletters and websites the Sierra Club message is shared to members and non-members. The workshop goal was to help give participants the tools and the message to become effective front-line communicators and publish compelling newsletters and websites. I'm sure Kelly and I will make use of this training and the new contacts we made.

An announcement was made at the workshop for the Sierra Summit 2005, scheduled for this September 8-11 in San Francisco. You may have recently received a post card announcement. Please do not dismiss the invitation to attend this gathering. It is for all members. We'll be talking more about this in the coming months.

We have given more thought to the name of our group website. Although most of the content for our web pages reside on the Club server we have been using FVSG.ORG as our official site name. We once felt that it was important to have a short name that was easy to remember. However, many folks have difficulty with the acronym for our group, Fox Valley Sierra Group. We are adopting Club policy encouraging groups to use the Club server for their websites. There are many benefits to this decision, including better branding of our group as part of the Sierra Club. Accordingly, please begin using our longer name when visiting our site: Wisconsin.SierraClub.org/FoxValley

I have received letters from several members who were disappointed with some of the election endorsements made by Sierra Club. Important issues are cited by these folks. The Club makes its endorsements on the basis of environmental, conservation and outdoors issues that are important to our members. The Club realizes that we need to help everyone understand that our values are values that are important to most people. We will be seeing more of this message in the future.

The story that the environment is the "mother of all issues" is being told by many organizations, authors, and reporters. In a recent week, Pulitzer Prize-winning author Jared Diamond was a guest on two Wisconsin Public Radio talk shows. His latest book, "Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed" explains the evidence why ancient and modern societies have collapsed. Regard for the environment appears to be an important factor in whether societies succeed or fail.

Recently my father discovered an unmailed letter that I had written forty years ago, as a 10 year old. With five cents postage I had written to the editors of The Washington Post urging them to add a section on wildlife or conservation. While it is fun to have that letter now, I wonder what effect this letter might have had if it had been mailed. My fifth grade teacher was very interested in conservation. She organized a Conservation Club, for which I briefly served as president, and she encouraged her students to request literature from government agencies and to write essays and letters promoting conservation. Forty years later her influence is still felt. Efforts that each of us make today also have the chance to be long-lasting. Be aware of opportunities to make a difference.

Thanks for reading my comments. As leader of our group I welcome your feedback.

November 2004 -- "From The Chair"

I'm writing my column the day after the election. The long voting lines thrilled me, and I had hoped that Sierra Club's environmental message had gotten out and that pro-environment candidates would be elected. As the early returns came in Tuesday night I realized that our message was not important enough to the voters. Our organization wanted to defeat President Bush because of his poor environmental record, and many of our members actively worked for this goal. But, he was re-elected and we must continue on.

Bummed out this morning over the outcome I couldn't understand why the election turned out as it did. I thought of the famous quote from journalist H.L. Mencken: "No one in this world has ever lost public office by underestimating the intelligence of the great masses of the plain people." It made me smile, but it doesn't really help.

We have to work harder, as individuals and as an organization, to educate the public about environmental issues. An election day column, buried within the Milwaukee Journal, was entitled "Damaged ecosystem makes other issues mute". The author, Philip Chard, began by saying, "The most dangerous threat facing our nation was barely mentioned in the verbose run-up to today's election." He makes a strong case for his opinion that our ecosystem is "the mother of all issues".

How do we get this message out to the public, and make them believe it? How do we get this news out to our leaders? How do we get our society and leadership to act upon this news? That is our challenge.

With the election over, but the issues remaining, I think we should review the goals of the Sierra Club which include (1) enjoying the outdoors, (2) enjoying the outdoors with friends, and (3) protecting the outdoors so that it can be enjoyed. Participation in our outings and programs are ways to enjoy the outdoors with friends and learn about issues related to protecting the outdoors. I hope to meet and visit with you at some of our events.

I'd like to highlight a couple of recent activities for our group. In October some of our members participated in the annual Ice Age Trail Hike-A-Thon at Hartman Creek State Park. This is a fitting way to celebrate the service work that our group does for the trail. In October the Sierra Club chapter "Autumn Assembly" was held near LaCrosse. This educational retreat was enjoyed by everyone who attended. In October our group again helped with the annual Romp in the Swamp public fundraiser for Bubolz Nature Preserve, home for our group.

Thanks for reading my comments. As leader of our group I welcome your feedback.Wisconsin.SierraClub.org/FoxValley

Goals of the Sierra Club include (1) enjoying the outdoors, (2) enjoying the outdoors with friends, and (3) protecting the outdoors so that it can be enjoyed. Participating in our outings and programs are ways to enjoy the outdoors with friends and learn about issues related to protecting the outdoors. I hope to meet and visit with you at some of our events.

Our annual "Autumn Assembly" will be held October 8-10 at Girl Scout Camp Ehawee in Stevenstown, about 25 miles northeast of LaCrosse. I have enjoyed the past four Autumn Assemblies (formerly known as the Annual Chapter Meeting) and anticipate this will also be great. This is a gathering for all Sierra Club members and friends, not just members with leadership positions. More information is available on our website.

I'd like to spotlight our next two monthly programs. Members Dale and Penny Schaber are attempting to hike the entire thousand-mile Ice Age Trail. We will learn more about this at our September meeting. In October Clayton Daughenbaugh, Sierra Club National Conservation Organizer, will be here with a "Threats to America's Wild Lands" slide show presentation. You will not want to miss either program.

Speaking of "threats" remember that citizens can influence public policy concerning our environment. We frequently present issues at our meetings and encourage our audience to write letters to our representatives. The Wisconsin chapter of the Sierra Club (John Muir Chapter) is a partner of the Wisconsin Conservation Team Network. Their website, available as link from our website, provides information on environmental issues of interest to Wisconsinites.

Our Fox Valley Sierra Group is in need of some volunteer help. Elsewhere in this newsletter you will find a notice seeking candidates for our board of directors. We have 13 positions on our board and need to fill seven by election in December. Last December we voted to set make these be 3-year positions, and fill one third of our positions each December. Terms had been two years. We need members to help direct our group's interests. It is a bit of work, but it is satisfying. Please contact any of our board members, including myself, if you are interested in learning more.

We also need a volunteer to help organize our Fox River(bank) cleanup. Suspended for the past two years, this had been our annual Earth Day project for 13 years. We have had hundreds of community citizens, families, and Scout groups help us clean over a dozen parks and green spaces along the Fox River. We'd like to offer this event to the public next spring.

Thanks for reading my comments. As leader of our group I welcome your feedback.

June 2004 -- "From The Chair"

This year our group celebrated Earth Day by organizing a Garlic Mustard picking party. This was our second year trying to eradicate this exotic and invasive plant from nature areas. We had about 25 people working at High Cliff State Park and another 25 people at a nature area behind Kaukauna High School. This is a project that will need our help each spring. Special thanks to Lori Weyers for organizing this event.

We anticipate organizing the Fox River(bank) cleanup in 2005. We ran this annual event for 13 years, then temporarily halted it because the parks had gotten pretty clean. We think perhaps running it every third year may be appropriate. This event allowed large numbers of community citizens to become involved helping pickup trash from parks in our communities along the Fox River. We need someone to help organize this. Any volunteers?

Speaking of volunteers, we have a vacancy on our board that should be filled. We should have 13 board members. The board meets monthly to review and plan our activities. If you have an interest in serving please contact myself or any other board member. Thank you to everyone who was involved with our April Fundraiser. $1,708 was raised. This is the single most important source of income for our budget, and will help allow us to do our work.

Camp Helen Brachman, an environmental camp located in Almond, was a recent project for our group. In partnership with other environmental supporters, our group helped construct a nature trail at the camp. On May 23 Dale Schaber led some of our volunteers to erect sign posts along the trail. Kelly Krupka has been working on the artwork for the signs that will be professionally printed and then fastened to our posts.

A real treat following work was a special dinner at the Camp. Youth members of Americorps *NCCC were being honored for their work at the camp. The Americorps program was created by President Clinton to engage Americans in intensive service projects to meet American needs. The NCCC stands for National Civilian Community Corps. This group of college-aged youth had just spent a month at the camp making valuable improvements. It was inspirational to see Sierra Club and other organizations working together.

In spite of the apparent lack of interest in the environment by some of our public officials there seems to be a growing interest by the public. Our Sierra Club group, covering northeastern Wisconsin, has now grown to over 1600 members! Thank your for your interest and support. Please join us for our programs and outings.

Thanks for reading my comments. As leader of our group I welcome your feedback.

April 2004 -- "From The Chair"

Earth Day has been celebrated each April 22 ever since 1970 when Wisconsin Senator Gaylord Nelson helped found the first of these celebrations. Earth Day is an annual event for people to celebrate the earth and our responsibility toward it.

Rachael Carlson's book "Silent Spring", released in 1962, is credited with making the public aware of environmental problems and responsibilities. The Amazon.com website has this review for her book: "Silent Spring, offered the first shattering look at widespread ecological degradation and touched off an environmental awareness that still exists. Rachel Carson's book focused on the poisons from insecticides, weed killers, and other common products as well as the use of sprays in agriculture, a practice that led to dangerous chemicals to the food source. Carson argued that those chemicals were more dangerous than radiation and that for the first time in history, humans were exposed to chemicals that stayed in their systems from birth to death. Presented with thorough documentation, the book opened more than a few eyes about the dangers of the modern world and stands today as a landmark work."

Donella "Dana" Meadows' bestseller, "The Limits to Growth", released in 1972, influenced a generation of thinkers on the interplay between economic and population growth and natural systems, and helped jump start the sustainability movement.

Has progress been made in the years following? Yes, much has been done. But we still must be alert to problems.

Unfortunately, recent years have been problematic. There is interplay between economic growth and natural systems, and the economy seems more important right now to many of our legislative public servants. We believe they fail to see that there is an interaction and that natural systems are vital to our economy, and indeed to our very survival.

Involved citizens and groups like Sierra Club must counter current public thinking. Many environmental protection laws have been eroded in recent years. To our own members, I urge you to inform yourselves of the issues, attempt to influence the debate, and then cast your votes in our elections.

For 13 years our group has participated in Earth Day by organizing the cleanup of parks along the Fox River in communities from Neenah to Kaukauna. Thousands of community citizens joined our efforts, partly as responsibility, and partly as an Earth Day celebration.

Two years ago we realized that those parks had gotten much cleaner, and we needed another project. This year we are again organizing teams of volunteers to battle an invasive species of plant called garlic mustard. Lori Weyers is organizing teams to help protect High Cliff State Park, and a natural area behind Kaukauna High School.

If you read my comments in time, let me remind you that our group's annual auction fundraiser is April 8, at Bubolz Nature Preserve. Most of the income that supports our group comes from this fundraiser. Please come, enjoy the comraderie with a potluck of food and games, and please be generous with your wallets.

Whether you are a Sierra Club member or just reading our newsletter, please know that we have public meetings most months at Bubolz Nature Preserve, and generally have an interesting program. You are encouraged to visit. You will be welcomed.

Thanks for reading my comments. As leader of our group I welcome your feedback.

January 2004 -- "From The Chair"

All of us are probably aware of abuses being done to our environment. Many of us joined the Sierra Club so that we could help. Our club, locally and nationally, is a powerful force working to help the environment. Local grass-roots volunteers ultimately control the organization, and the organization helps provide the support and tools needed by the grass-roots volunteers.

Locally, our group helps support local nature areas. We also try to influence political decisions that effect the environment. At the national level our organization is doing these same kinds of activities.

There are many organizations and partnerships of organizations trying to protect the environment. Our John Muir Chapter of Sierra Club recently became a partner in an organization called "Wisconsin Conservation Team Network". I had the honor of helping build their Internet website. The idea is to help Wisconsin citizens know what issues need our attention in the legislature.

Something continues to bother me. Why are people careless with our environment? Why is it necessary to constantly tell our politicians how to vote? Why can't people just "get it" and do the right thing? What is so difficult to understand? From what I can tell, most people really do enjoy a clean outdoors and wildlife. But it seems that the legislature does not know this.

I've been thinking. Maybe we need a marketing campaign to help politicians remember the environmental side of each issue. Religion coined the successful phrase, "WWJD: What Would Jesus Do?" Maybe we need something catchy, perhaps "What Does Sierra Club Think?" or "What Would Wilderness Want?" to help our politicians. Any ideas?

At our Group's Holiday Party in December we collected funds to help Bubolz Nature Preserve. We had learned that Bubolz had budget problems. Because of our relationship with the nature preserve we desired to help. I am pleased to report that our members generously donated $450 to the Preserve. Most was collected at our party and some was mailed in later. Mike Brandel, Director of the Preserve, came to our January meeting to thank us and tell us our efforts are significant.

We will hold our major fundraiser at our April 8 meeting. The Auction has become a fun tradition, and its profits are extremely important to our group. I hope you can participate. We always have a need for donations of goods or services, and we have a need for buyers. Please join us. Among my favorite purchases have been for the services of other members. My family has been able to enjoy picnics and swimming at lakefront cottages, or sailing trips, thanks to services sold at the auction.

Thanks for reading my comments. As leader of our group I welcome your feedback.

October 2003 -- "From The Chair"

This autumn has been busy for me, but not to busy to notice how beautiful the season is. I really enjoy the fall colors. Typically the weather is good enough to enjoy it. I was lucky to be able to take my family camping and horse riding "up north" in September. My wife and I enjoyed a Sierra Club sponsored Lake Michigan Shoreline bicycle ride the next weekend. Hiking the Ice Age Trail the following weekend was breathtaking. Last weekend found us at the Sierra Club Chapter Autumn Assembly on the western side of Wisconsin, enjoying chilly nights in a tent. This weekend we helped with the annual Romp in the Swamp event at Bubolz Nature Preserve. A family bicycle ride and a campfire made the weekend complete.

And that's the way things should be. It's our nature. We should enjoy it. That's what John Muir wanted when he founded the Sierra Club 111 years ago. Get outdoors and enjoy nature.

Of course, once you learn to enjoy nature you realize that it sometimes needs for us to help protect it. That is one of the purposes for the Sierra Club.

Sierra Club members organize outings to help us explore and enjoy the wild places. Monthly meetings provide opportunities to learn about places we might only be able to dream about. Guests lecture on topics of environmental interests. And we organize service outings.

We also need to educate ourselves about the problems facing our environment, and do our part to help. The coming year is an important election year. Among our responsibilities will be trying to select leaders who value the environment. Although most of us probably prefer remaining silent on political matters with friends and neighbors we are learning this is a luxury that we cannot afford.

The Sierra Club Chapter Autumn Assembly was recently held at a nature preserve near Eau Claire. Groups take turns hosting this event each fall. It is a weekend full of activities of interest to any Sierra Club minded person, member or not. It is not too early to decide to participate next year.

Our December meeting has traditionally been a holiday social, with dinner, games, and mock presents. This year we have decided to replace our food pantry offering with some financial help to Bubolz Nature Preserve. Numerous things in recent years have caused a serious strain on their budget. Because of our relationship with the Preserve we desired to help. We will accept your financial offerings and forward them to the Preserve.

Thanks for reading my comments. As leader of our group I welcome your feedback.

Comments on 9-11 (2003)

On this second anniversary of 9-11 I felt that I would be called upon to make some comments regarding the disasters of two years ago and events since then.

Like most of the world the initial hours of the disaster were very troubling. Like most Americans I was frightened about the prospects of war within our borders. Like most Americans I displayed the US Flag at my home and on my automobile. And I spent much time watching the news unfold.

In spite of my terror I was also thrilled to see how America came together and how the world showed its empathy for our disasters.

Yet, nationalism became a problem. Nationalism became confused with patriotism. You either supported our president and his policies, or you were considered to be unpatriotic. This has allowed our president to implement programs without adequate public discussion. Environmental protections are being discarded while war programs and tax breaks are bankrupting the nation.

The 9-11 disaster sites, particularly the site of the World Trade Center are being memorialized with religious zeal. Efforts are being made to preserve these sites as shrines, forever. Yet many of our government officials are preparing to exploit our wilderness areas. The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, in particular, has been a target in several recent congressional proposals. These are areas that really deserve to be protected forever.

I am proud of efforts earlier this year by Sierra Club and our Fox Valley Sierra Group which registered objections to War in Iraq. In the wake of nationalism Congress bowed to the Bush Administration and waged war.

On Monday, September 8, Carl Pope and Bruce Hamilton of Sierra Club headquarters sent an email to volunteer leaders and staff which began: "We are facing environmental assaults from the Bush Administration and the Congress unlike anything we have witnessed. The Board of Directors and the Conservation Governance Committee have resolved that our efforts to stop these attacks, and then to defeat George Bush in 2004, should be our highest organizational priorities."

August 2003 -- "From The Chair"

If your mailbox is like mine you probably receive mail from lots of environmental organizations, and perhaps you belong to several. There certainly are many groups helping in our fight to protect the outdoors. Recently I began thinking that I hate having to spend my time and money to protect the environment. I quickly corrected myself. I don't particularly mind spending my resources, but I do mind the fact that it is necessary. It seems there is always someone greedy or ignorant or selfish. It is necessary to remain vigilant to protect our outdoor resources for current and future generations.

Last time I reported that State Senator Bob Welch (R-Redgranite) was trying to severely reduce funding for the Stewardship Fund. Governor Jim Doyle is trying to protect this fund, but I believe the issue is not settled yet.

I told about a mining issue, similar to our Crandon mine issue, on the Michigan side of the Menominee River to our north. An environmental organization with a website at www.menomineeriver.com has formed to help protect this area from the hazards of sulfide metallic mines.

The U.S. Forest Service is making plans for the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest in Wisconsin. The public was allowed to comment on plans that would allow much more lumbering and more access to All-Terrain Vehicles (ATVs). Our John Muir Chapter of the Sierra Club created a special mailing for all Wisconsin members to inform us of the issues. Given the knowledge that the recreational and environmental value of these forests exceed the lumber value, it is important that we encourage our policy makers to protect these resources.

Our own Fox River, contaminated with PCBs, has been a controversial issue for many years as the questions have been asked about how to clean up the hazardous wastes and how it should be paid for. In late July a decision (ROD) was made by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). It is not a perfect decision, but it has some good points, and it does get the cleanup started.

The Arrow-Weston Transmission Line in northwestern Wisconsin continues to be in the news as builders want to build the line through environmentally sensitive areas. A citizen group, SOUL (Save Our Unique Lands, www.wakeupwisconsin.com), has been trying to stop the construction.

Highway construction and roadside maintenance issues remain priorities. A concerned citizen recently asked for our help with the Highway 45 expansion project between Greenville and New London. Other citizens in Ripon and Menasha have asked for our help protecting their roadsides from aggressive tree cuttings.

A member of the Wisconsin Wetlands Association visited our picnic in July and asked for our assistance identifying places where Purple Loostrife is growing.

The Post-Crescent recently reported that a U.S. House bill threatens pedestrian trails in Wisconsin and throughout the nation. Legislation would eliminate automatic funding for these pathways, slowing development of more recreational trails. Funding for trails would have to compete against roads and other transportation programs for federal money. This has already won approval from the U.S. House Appropriations Committee and is scheduled for a full House vote in September.

The Wolf River batholith granite bedrock in north central Wisconsin is again being studied as a site for long term storage of highly radioactive nuclear waste. The Yucca Mountain Nevada storage site is expected to be full in 30 years, and Wisconsin sites were seriously considered in the 1980's. Nuclear waste near a major river does not sound wise.

It is impossible to keep up and to help with them all the issues. My best personal solution is to support the Sierra Club. When I write to policy makers I tell them that I am a Sierra Club member and that I support the goals of this organization. I think this adds credibility to the club and makes people listen to our ideas.

We need the help and participation of our members and friends as we move forward. You are part of our group; your involvement and membership makes a difference.

As leader of our group I welcome your feedback.

May 2003 -- "From The Chair"

In recent headlines (May 8) I read of Wisconsin Republican plans to severely remove money from the Stewardship Fund. This fund, established in 1989 and named for former governors, Gaylord Nelson and Warren Knowles, sets aside $60 million each year to buy and develop land for recreation, wildlife habitat, state parks, trails, forests, and other natural areas. Approximately 257,000 acres of land have been acquired and protected by this program. In addition to proposed cuts of $245 million through 2010 the lawmakers are ordering the Department of Natural Resources to sell off $40 million of state-owned land. This equates to about 26,000 acres.

State Senator Bob Welch (R-Redgranite) is the major force behind cutting the Stewardship Fund budget. Fortunately, Governor Jim Doyle believes these cuts are misguided and reject decades of bipartisan support for Wisconsin's natural heritage. Doyle says he will work hard to make sure this never comes to his desk.

Caryl Terrell, director of the Wisconsin John Muir Chapter of the Sierra Club says, "This is gutting the most vital land protection program the state of Wisconsin has. It is an overwhelmingly popular program. We are appalled by the shortsighted irresponsible action of the Joint Finance Committee."

Two other environmental issues were recently introduced to me by callers.

A partnership calling itself the Back Forty Joint Venture has pooled resources including mineral-rights claims to thousands of acres on both sides of the Menominee River to perform test drilling on Upper Michigan properties. Highly polluting mines (similar to the Crandon Mine in Wisconsin) are the likely outcome.

In Langlade County a trout farm owner is seeking permission to pump 780,000 gallons of water per day. According to a local contact, this could supply 144 semi-trailer truck loads each day. It is believed that a bottling company (perhaps Perrier) is involved.

More news on the mining and water stories are in our website (www.fvsg.org).

An article in The Muir View (May-June 2003) discusses commercial logging on National Forests. The article seemed to claim that more timber was sold from the Nicolet and Chequamegon than any other National Forest in the country including Alaska, and that the Forest Service is proposing even more cutting of the N-C with four new massive timber cuts. Our Chapter Forest Committee is working vigorously to oppose these.

The Muir View article included these interesting statistics to ponder: Recreation in national forests contribute 38 times more income to the nation's economy than logging. Research (done in 1938) showed that of fifteen major world civilizations, thirteen fell because of land abuse; only two fell because of foreign aggression.

Now for some good news. Members participating in our April Annual Fundraiser Auction helped raise $1840. Much of this money is used for our newsletter, rental of Bubolz Nature Preserve for group meetings, and mailing expenses. But a portion of our budget helps fund activities that we support, like the Bubolz Romp on the Swamp, Ice Age Trail, Wiouwash Trail, Earth Day projects, and our Environmental Award.

This past year we discussed hosting former DNR Secretary George Meyer as a dinner guest at a fundraising dinner. On May 15 Penny and Dale Schaber hosted this event at their home. Thank you. It was fun, and needed income was generated for our group.

I count on the help and participation of our members and friends as we move forward. I want you all to feel that you are part of our group, and that your involvement and membership makes a difference.

As leader of our group I welcome your feedback.

March 2003 -- "From The Chair"

I introduced myself in my first column as newly elected Chair of the Fox Valley Sierra Group. Let me get just a bit more introduction and news out of the way. On March 3, I remarried and bought a house. It has been a busy month for my family!

In my previous column I wrote that the Chair has an awesome responsibility. Our group membership comes from Sierra Club members living in the northeastern part of Wisconsin. We currently have over 1500 paid members in our group territory. Our leadership tries to fairly represent all of our members as we lead our organization.

Typically our decisions aren't especially controversial. But, at our January board meeting we felt we needed to adopt a resolution against the war on Iraq. Although the environmental justification for our position was strong, we worried that our membership might not approve. Fortunately, comments appear to be supportive. (If you have not read the resolution, it is in our last newsletter and also on our website.)

This resolution was not made in a vacuum. The National Sierra Club leadership and a number of other Sierra Club groups had already adopted similar resolutions.

But this does lead to questions about our board. Our group has 13 board positions, elected for two-year terms, six or seven each December. All members have a chance to vote for their board representatives, or to run for a position. We currently have two vacancies that we need to fill. Please contact one of us if you might like to fill one of these positions.

As the "War Against Terrorism" mounts, environmentalists see scary things happening to our environment. The administration is not environmentally friendly, and lawmakers are finding it easy to sneak bad laws into bills that have support from the administration.

The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) in Alaska is under extreme attack. This wilderness area has oil within, and lawmakers want this oil extracted, even at the sacrifice of this beautiful area. The irony is that although environmental destruction lasts forever, many experts believe there is enough oil to last only six months. Experts say that minor improvements in automobile mileage or reasonable energy conservation practices could save much more energy.

Closer to home, we have new groundwater issues. Not long ago we campaigned to stop Perrier from drilling and bottling our underground water reservoirs in Waushara and Adams counties. We were successful, for awhile. We recently learned that a Langlade County business is planning to drill a 500-gallon-per-minute well to sell groundwater. That's about the size as the proposed Perrier well.

Back to our 1500+ group members. If our members would each write at least one issue letter each year, our lawmakers would certainly know that the environment is important.

Fundraising: Part of my job is to make sure that our Group has a budget. You may already know that only a tiny portion of your Club dues is returned to our Group. The majority of our income comes from a single fundraiser, our Annual Auction. This takes place April 10 this year. We need your participation and support.

I am counting on the help and participation of our members and friends as we move forward. I want all of you to feel that you are part of our group, and that your involvement and membership makes a difference.

As leader of our group I welcome your feedback.

January 2003 -- "From The Chair"

This is my first column as newly elected Chair of the Fox Valley Sierra Group. This is a privilege and honor, yet it shall also be an awesome burden and responsibility.

Barely three and a half years ago I attended my first Sierra Club meeting. I had seen one of our "Adopt-A-Shop" fliers in a bicycle store, and circumstances were right for me to visit a meeting. I had seen advertisements for the Club over the years, but with membership dues and a busy family life I never seriously contemplated joining the Club. I remembered, vaguely, that my parents were Sierra Club members when I young and growing up in California. And I have always enjoyed nature and outdoors activities.

But now, in late 1999, I was lured by the flier. It announced the date and location of our fall kick-off meeting, and said visitors were especially welcome. This seemed safe. Recently divorced, I was also looking for a new circle of friends and activities.

I was very much impressed with the meeting and the program that night. And there were upcoming outings that I thought would appeal to me. My first outing was a bicycle ride organized by Charlie Paine. I enjoy bicycling, but I do not have a fancy bike or gear. I feared the ride would be attended by well-equipped riders who would leave me in the dust. To my relief, it was a very enjoyable trip. And I have found every Sierra Club event that I've ever attended to be very enjoyable.

I paid my dues to join, and have been a happy Club member ever since.

I might have been happy to sit on the sidelines, and enjoy the wonderful programs and outings and comradeship. But there are things that needed doing, and I soon found myself involved. Soon after joining I offered my services as webmaster for our Internet site. I visited one of our Board Meetings to find out what that was about, and was asked to join the Board and fill a vacancy. I have served for three years as our Secretary. And now I have been asked to serve as our Group Chair.

I say it is an honor to serve in this position because the Sierra Club is a very respected organization. Our Fox Valley group has more than 1500 dues-paying members within our boundaries.

Yet I also realize this will be an awesome burden and responsibility. During my short tenure with our group I have watched Nancy Brown-Koeller, Penny Bernard Schaber, and John Howard doing excellent work as chairpersons for our group, and serving as role models for me. It will be difficult to fill their shoes. And I have watched our other officers and members doing important and valuable work. There is much work for us to do.

I truly will be counting on the help and participation of our members and friends as we move forward. I want all of you to feel that you are part of our group, and that your involvement and membership is making a difference.

As leader of our group I welcome your feedback.

Archive of comments from past Chair, John Howard.

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