Peak & Prairie

Rocky Mountain Chapter's
Online Newsletter
April / May 1998

Grassroots Volunteers Needed
by Michael C. Gizzi, Grassroots Editor

While the Club always has volunteer opportunities, right now there are several areas where there are pressing needs for assistance. First, the annual retreat coordinator, Melanie Guerra, (303) 715-1838, can use lots of assistance with this September's annual retreat. Melanie needs volunteers to serve on the retreat committee and would welcome any input from former members.

Second, the Wilderness Committee (co-chaired by Mark Pearson and Jean Smith) could use help in the next several months with the pending BLM wilderness reviews. There will be opportunities for you to help with field trips, mapping, slide shows, letter writing, and more. Contact Mark Pearson at (970) 259-6181, or Jean Smith at (303) 388-3378 for more information, or send in the coupon. Look for even more information in the next issue.

Finally, Peak and Prairie can use assistance with the expansion of the Grassroots Section. In the last issue, I mentioned the creation of a new "Activism Report." If you are a group or committee chair, please consider submitting a brief update on your group or committee's activities to me (Michael Gizzi) at mgizzi@mesastate.edu, call me at (970)248-1763 or fax information to me at (970) 248-1934, Attention: Michael Gizzi. All you need to do is submit a brief paragraph of what your group/committee has been up to in the past two months. This way, all Club members can get a better perspective on the varied activities of our chapter state-wide.



Inner City Outings Volunteer
Trip leaders needed. ICO takes disadvantaged youth from the city into the wilderness and provides some environmental education. Some of these kids may grow up to be conservationists. ICO also needs someone to lay out a one-page newsletter for the kids four times a year. Call Kathryn Sharpe at (303) 512-89331 or Kurt Aronow at (303) 661-9307.

Toxics & Forest Volunteers
The chapter conservation committee needs people with a strong and enduring interest in toxic substances and National Forest management issues to be resource persons and/or participate on a volunteer committee. Toxics and National Forest issues have become particularly complex, but they also have aspects that any lay person can appreciate. For example, everyone understands that living downwind from a chemical plant may pose a health hazard, and most people resonate, from a purely esthetic point of view, with the values of a healthy forest.

A committee person should have some grasp of the complexities of the issue area and a strong desire to learn more, but an equal or greater desire to educate the Club membership and the public and help empower people to influence government or private decisions. To discuss either position, contact Chapter Conservation Chair Kirk Cunningham at (303) 939-8519 or at kmcunnin@juno.com.

Wildlife Committee
If animals are your thing, consider working with Sierra Club's wildlife committee. There are a wide variety of wildlife issues around the state that would benefit from your involvement. Just fill out the coupon at the end of this section or call Karen Wharton at (303) 642-3117.

Population Partisans
One area of our planet that is not overpopulated is the population committee. A big part of what they do is public education. Whatever your cause, it’s a lost cause without population control. To find out how you can help, mail in the coupon at the end of this section or call Fred Elbel at (303) 220-7499.

Outings Organizers
If you love hikes, socializing and organizing, please consider working with the outings program. You can organize hikes on the local or state level, from simple afternoon hikes around town to lengthy overnights out-of-state. We especially need help at the state level. If you are interested in learning more, just fill out the coupon or call Diane Neumann (303) 904-9700, email treehugger9@juno.com.

Colorado Wilderness
There is potential wilderness in your area: 1 million acres of BLM wildlands from Vermillion Basin to Grape Creek and forest lands from Troublesome to Red Cloud need your help. BLM wilderness reviews and Congressional bills are happening right now. This summer will be active with opportunities for field trips, mapping, slide shows, letter writing, research on wilderness qualities and political organizing. Contact Mark Pearson at (970) 259-6181, email mark.pearson@sfsierra.serraclub.org or Jean Smith at (303) 388-3378, email jeancsmith@earthlink.net

Computer Compatriots
The computer committee needs help refurbishing and lending its many donated computers (obsolescent but not obsolete). To help, just fill out the coupon or call Diane Neumann (303) 904-9700, email treehugger9@juno.com.

Legal Eagles
If you read the paper or listen to the news, you probably know that the Sierra Club frequently uses the legal system to protect the environment. No matter what part of the state you are in, if you have any legal skills, you can help out. Whether you’re an attorney, a typist, a court reporter or an activist with special knowledge about a legal-environmental issue, we can use your help. To get involved in this essential area, just mail in the coupon, or to find out more contact Shari Ulery (303) 221-4240.

Open Space Organizers
The new urban parks and open space committee has plenty of space for new volunteers. We are working on the City of Denver’s plans for a new park just east of Stapleton Airport. The park was created by a legal settlement initiated by other Sierra Club volunteers. To get involved, just clip out the coupon or give a call to Bob Bers at (303) 369-3981.

Energy Activists
The chapter energy committee seeks volunteers. The committee focuses on energy conservation, alternative sources of energy and the environmental impact of energy, including electricity production, home and business use and transportation. To get involved, call Linda Berti, our Energy Chair at (303) 220-7499 or fill out the coupon.

Farm Fanatics
The agriculture committee has a wide range of concerns and needs a wide range of volunteers. Everyone from farmers to consumers are invited to participate. Members from the Poudre Canyon Group are especially needed! You don’t have to know about every issue or participate in every event. To find out more, fill out the coupon or call John Wade at (303) 762-0537.

Backdrop Boosters
The Front Range Mountain Backdrop Project is a five-county cooperative effort to identify critical parcels of land along the Front Range foothills for future open space preservation. Volunteer action groups are forming in Boulder, Larimer, Jefferson, El Paso and Douglas counties. You can become involved in preserving our metropolitan vistas by filling out the coupon or call Sherri Valentine at (303) 670-4883.

Mining Monitors
The mining committee focuses on new mining proposals, proposed changes in state regulations by the Mined Land Reclamation Board, pollution from existing and abandoned mines and federal mining law reform. We need volunteers from around the state to watchdog mines for compliance with federal and state laws and to visit BLM and Forest Service offices to get information on new mining proposals. Volunteers will also help spearhead efforts to reform the federal Mining Law of 1872 by educating activists on the status of reform legislation. Just use the clip-out coupon or call Jeff Berman (303) 546-6523.

Pesticide Pessimists
The pesticides committee provides information and assistance in dealing with the unintended toxic consequences of the “battle of the bugs.” To become involved with the committee’s work, talk with our Pesticide Chair Angela Medbery at (303) 433-2608 or mail in the coupon.

Lifestyle Committee
The lifestyle / education committee focuses on the individual’s ability to create lifestyle changes that support a sustainable and environmentally sound future. The committee is working hard to show people how easy it is to make changes that benefit the health of the planet. To learn more about how you can become involved with the committee’s work, or to find out more about the next meeting call committee Chair Jan Oen at (303) 320-4895 or fill out the coupon.

Party Animals
Just before you receive each issue of Peak & Prairie, a rowdy bunch of trusty volunteers gets together and has a party—a mailing party. This is where all 12,000 Peak & Prairies are labeled, sorted, bundled and prepared for the post office. It’s a great way to meet new people, have fun and do your part for Colorado’s environment. Fill out the coupon below or call Angela Medbery at (303) 433-2608.

Office Aides
If you prefer to volunteer during the day, the Sierra Club chapter office in Denver can use you. The office is open from 8 to 4 and has an incredible variety of opportunities from which to choose. Managing the phones, computer tasks, membership and volunteer coordination are just a few. There’s a lot of work involved in keeping 14,000 members happy, and new volunteers are always needed. Call our office during weekday business hours (303) 861-8819 to talk with Mary about the opportunities there.

Newsletter Mania
Getting Peak & Prairie out to all our members is quite an accomplishment. It's actually a multitude of various tasks, from writing articles to loading pickup trucks. Peak & Prairie is a great place to volunteer. There are plenty of opportunities to use your skills (or learn new ones). Best of all, most tasks require just a couple of hours every two months. Call Fran Baxter at (303) 238-8817 or fill out the coupon.

Photo Fanatics
If you are ever on a Sierra Club hike (past, present or future) or participate in trail maintenance or even an interesting public meeting or a group or committee meeting and have pictures (black & white or color), please let us use them in Peak & Prairie. Just send them to the Sierra Club office, 1410 Grant Street #B-205, Denver, CO 80203, Attn: Photo Editor. Please include a description of the hike or event, photo, participants and date, as well as instructions about returning the photo.

Water Resources Committee
The chapter water resources committee deals with local, state and regional water resource issues. To volunteer, fill out the coupon below or contact Steve Glazer at P.O. Box 459, Crested Butte, CO 81224; phone: (970) 349-6646, when in Denver: (303) 757-2303; or email sglazer@csn.net