Home > December 2008 message from the Chapter Chair

December 2008 message from the Chapter Chair

“Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time. We are the ones we've been waiting for. We are the change that we seek.”

                                                                                             Barack Obama

 Dear Sierra Club Member:

Euphoria was the emotion shared by so many on election night.  Change is in the air!  And with your generous contribution we can leverage this win into a win for the environment.

For the past several months your Chapter demonstrated our strength by working in the neighboring swing states of Virginia and Pennsylvania and helping to elect an intelligent and talented new president who recognizes the importance of protecting the environment.  Our long nightmare with the Bush Administration will soon be over.

We made change happen!

Your Chapter volunteers and staff also had a significant hand in the election result in Maryland’s Congressional District 1 where Frank Kratovil pulled out a narrow victory over Andy Harris, an unrepentant, anti-environment State Senator. Your financial support enabled us to participate fully in this race.  Thank you so much.

And earlier this year we provided critical support to help Donna Edwards in Maryland’s 4^th District win the primary and she won the general election with more than 85% of the vote. Again, you provided much needed support.

For too long we have been battered with the anti-environmental policies of the Bush Administration.  The road to recovery will be a long one because much damage has been done.  But we’ve taken the first big step.  Many Sierra Club members participated in this year’s elections.  Whether you participated a little or a lot – your efforts made a huge difference. We were indeed the change we were seeking!

These victories provide opportunities for real environmental change.

Your Chapter operates mostly at the state and local level – but, with our proximity to Washington, we will be watching closely both the Obama administration and Congress. 

Obama promises to have a strong approach to global warming.  Will he be able to deliver?  He will if we are vigilant in meeting with, writing to and calling our members of Congress to support a strong environmental agenda. 

The Bush Administration weakened the Endangered Species Act, cleared the way for more coal fired power plants near our national parks, and denied California and Maryland the right to set more stringent fuel efficiency standards.   Will Obama be able to deliver on his promise to roll back Bush's attacks on our planet? Yes he can, if we can activate our grass roots Cool Cities volunteers to give him the support he needs to act. 

We have much work ahead in Maryland

With your financial support your chapter will continue to promote the following issues statewide:

• Passing strong legislation to get Maryland to reduce the amount of greenhouse gas pollution we generate.  We will be working with our partners in Annapolis and mobilizing our members to lobby their state representatives for passage of this important legislation.  Your contribution will help us support a lobbyist.
• Encouraging more cities and counties to sign agreements as part of our Cool Cities/ Cool counties campaign, and actively working with local governments on a variety of sustainability programs to build on our progress in Baltimore, Montgomery County, Prince George's County, and many other places across the state.  You can help us with a generous contribution.

·        Defunding the ill-conceived Inter County Connector and working for transit projects such as the Red Line in Baltimore and the Purple Line in the Washington metro region.  Help us defeat this boondoggle!

• Defeating the Cross-County Connector in Charles County which, if built, would fuel massive development near the Mattawoman Creek leading to the eventual destruction of the Chesapeake Bay’s most productive fishery.  We may need to take legal action to save the Mattawoman.  We need your help.

Indeed, “we are the change we seek” and we must work together to make our vision a reality.  We need the help of every member.  If you can volunteer, please call us. 

We know that Sierra Club members like you were among the record millions of ordinary people who gave to the Obama campaign.  Now we ask you to safeguard your investment in this new presidency by reinvesting in the Maryland Chapter of the Sierra Club.  Please make an end-of-year gift of $60 or more if you are able.  The environment has no stronger advocates than you – our Sierra Club members.  Let’s show our strength to the world.

Sincerely,

Ron Henry
Chair   

PS.  In this economy, monetary support from members like you is essential to our chapter’s survival and success.  Obama’s election has set the tone and opened the front doors of power, making our work together more vital then ever.  “We are the ones” who will envision, develop and push for sound, environmentally friendly policies at the state and national level.