How to REALLY Help the Environment!
Sue Youngs
Many years ago when I first became involved in environmental
activities, I was attracted to the many activities and opportunities
offered by the Sierra Club.
In the Sierra Club you can get involved in different ways at the
National, Chapter and Group levels. For example, some of us are members
because we enjoy outdoor activities with hiking boots on, while others
may like the camaraderie of an organized kayak trip. You can do
conservation work or serve on a committee. There are members who may
not participate in outdoor activities at all, but just want to support
our environmental work with their membership.
Although the outings and the educational programs are just some of the
club’s offerings, many of us overlook what I think is critical to what
caring about the environment is all about. We have to remember that
environmental laws are the vehicles that protect the forests, the water
and the air. These environmental laws can be weak, strong, ineffective
– or even non- existent. Fortunately, most people would probably prefer
strong laws... but our ability to protect our finite resources depends
a great deal on who we elect to political office to enact those laws.
This is true at every level of government.
The Executive Committee of the Sierra Club Anne Arundel Group has made
early endorsements of candidates this year who we feel will be true
stewards of our resources: several elected “old-timers” have
established wonderful records on this front. We can’t be satisfied
simply with endorsing good people, however. Members of the Executive
Committee are committed to helping environmental candidates by donating
time for door-to-door campaigning, making phone calls and other
campaign activities, and we very much encourage all Sierra Club members
to make a commitment to these early endorsees as well.
You can contact an individual candidate by using his or her website,
identify yourself as a Sierra Club member, and offer your help for an
hour or two – or more, if you can make the time. Please consider doing
so. By helping true environmental leaders we will be closer to those
strong laws that could make the difference in protecting our
environment.
Our list of early endorsees can be found in our newsletter and on our
website. If you’d like to volunteer, but want to talk about the process
before you jump in, you can call our group chair, David Prosten, at
410-703-0847.
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