By Wendy Taylor, PA Sierra Club Chapter Chair
Sierra Clubbers always have something to say, and now we
have a new place to say it: we are blogging! That’s right! We aren’t going to
wait to react to what others say. We will say it first! Right here. Let the bad
guys react to us for a change
.
No one person knows all the issues, so each week a different
thinker, a Pennsylvania Chapter member, will tell us what is on her or his mind.
We seek to inform. But mostly we want to motivate our members to do something.
We pride ourselves on being a volunteer-led organization, but that means that
volunteers have to lead. And all of us have to act.
You will recognize some of our bloggers who regularly write
for the Chapter’s newsletter, The Sylvanian. Phil Coleman, who writes Coleman’s Lantern, will be a featured
blogger. And we will be getting updates
on the political scene in Harrisburg from our Chapter Director, Jeff Schmidt.
He’s been around the state capitol for 30 years and knows what bills are moving
and what bills are dying. And from time to time, Gary Thornbloom will share
those special places in the wilderness that offer spectacular views and unique
features that can be found on the trails in Pennsylvania. We also will hear
from people who are trying to save endangered species, rivers, and forest
lands. Others will blog on keeping our air breathable and water drinkable. And
of course, we will delve into the many facets of global warming and climate
change. All of these are in keeping with the Sierra Club’s mission to explore,
protect and enjoy our planet.
But the blog goes a step further. Do you have something to
say? Would you like to contribute a blog? Does something one of our bloggers
writes strike you as wrong or off target? We want to act rather than react, but
our actions aren’t designed to be stillborn. Can you react or respond to what
one of our bloggers says? Please do.
As chair of the Pennsylvania Sierra Club, I am proud to
introduce this new style of communicating with our members, supporters, and yes,
even detractors. As the saying goes, we are known by our enemies! As long as
coal, natural gas and oil companies disagree with us, we know we are on the
right track. It will be up to our followers to correct misleading comments and
stand up for the environment. Who knows? We may find some wonderful new writers
in the process.
This year, we are experimenting with ways to connect with
people and start new working relationships. We know that there are many people
out there who believe that global warming is real but are overwhelmed by the
enormity of the problem. Yes, this is not an issue, it a problem! No single
group is going to solve this problem. It will take many groups, thousands of
groups, netting together under one common demand for action: action by
individuals and governments. We need to shake the world with our message -- and
shake up our politicians. We will do what we can with our blog .
