Peak & Prairie

Rocky Mountain Chapter's
Online Newsletter
October / November 1998

Grassroot Opportunities Abound!!

by Michael C. Gizzi, Grassroots Editor

As always there are plenty of opportunities available to help out with the Club. If fact, the Grassroots editor position is open. I know there is a LOT of interesting things going on across the state so those of you who are in the know need to send in those activist reports to the RMC office.

Give a hand if you can. Volunteer!!

Volunteer Opportunities

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) 512-8331 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, email kmcunnin@juno.com.

Help Fight Toxic Medical Waste Incinerators!
Sierra Club is working to reduce the amount of toxic pollution that spews out from the medical waste incinerators. If you have been affected by medical waster incineration and would be willing to help with this lawsuit, or if you have any questions, please contact Jim Pew at (202) 667-4500 or at jpew@earthjustice.org.

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 Roger Wendell (303) 693-4244.

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, (970) 259-6181, email mark.pearson@sfsierra.sierraclub.org or Jean Smith, (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 Cliff Moore (303) 670-4883.

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
Bluff Lake Natural Area, a 123-acre wildlife preserve located on the former Stapleton Airport, was created by a legal settlement initiated by Sierra Club members. Friends of Bluff Lake, a nonprofit organization seeking to foster lifelong learning and proper stewardship at Bluff Lake, is seeking volunteer nature guides and ambassadors. Nature guides lead elementary school children's activities during the week; ambassadors interact with the public on weekends. Training is provided. Bluff Lake is currently open 7 days a week from 7 am to 7 pm. For more information, contact Delana Friedrich, (303) 764-3643.

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, fill out the coupon or call Linda Berti, our Energy Chair, (303) 220-7499.

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 Diane Neumann, (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.

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 Programs
The pesticides committee provides information and assistance in dealing with pests and pesticides (two very different topics), and participates in a number of "weed pulls". Please call 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, (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, (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 Kevin Mackessy at (303) 471-1594 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. Photos are usually kept by the club unless arrangements are made for return.

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

Groups in Need of Volunteers!

Blue River Group (Frisco area)
has a new agenda to include programs and outings to bring in new members and activists. They are looking for people from outside to lead interesting outings and/or to help them set up their outings program. Call Kevin at (970) 668-8972.

Enos Mills Group (Denver)
needs volunteers to work on the Cherry Creek trail. Contact Jan Oen, (303) 320-4895.

The Mount Evans Group (Evergreen/Conifer area)
is doing its annual trail maintenance on the Cub Creek Trail, west of Evergreen. Strong backs are always welcome; call Tony Trumbly, (303) 674-3149 if you'd like to pitch in. The group always welcome and support concerned individuals who want to work on environmental issues in the Evergreen/Conifer area. Please call Lyn, (303) 838-8117, or Myron , (303) 948-9778 if you'd like to get involved.

The Uncompahgre Group (Grand Junction area)
can use volunteers to work on the many important issues facing Western Colorado, including BLM Wilderness, the UTE pipeline/Collbran Transfer, and the Grand Mesa Uncompahgre Gunnison (GMUG) National Forest Plan. We are involved in a lot of important issues, and can use the help of other local members. Contact Vicki Mercer, (970) 464-0502, or Michael Gizzi, (970)434-6048.

The Weminuche Group (Durango area)
has too few activists, so they will going out to their members with an ultimatum soon to shut down before the end of the year unless more volunteers come forward. Contact Jim Decker at (970) 247-8811.