ODS

The Virginia chapter newsletter, Old Dominion Sierran, is an 8-page tabloid publishing four times a year – Jan./Feb./Mar., Apr./May/June, July/Aug./Sep. and Oct./Nov./Dec. The newsletter covers environmental issues and campaigns important to the Commonwealth of Virginia. Included is a page devoted to grassroots activities (News from the Groups), and another page addressing conservation tips for individual members to incorporate in their daily lives (Love the Earth, Live the Simple Life) and more.

Articles, photos and other graphics are welcome. Deadlines for articles in 2010 are: Spring (April/May/June) March 12, Summer (July/Aug./Sept.) June 11, Fall (Oct./Nov./Dec.) Sept. 10, Winter 2011 (Jan./Feb./March) Dec. 3. For word counts and photo instructions, contact the editor, Barbara Null, bnull@comcast.net, 804-330-9339.

Recent Issues

The following issues are available as PDF downloads, please note the large file sizes. To read these you will need Adobe Acrobat Reader, available free from Adobe.

2010

Summer 2010

• Environmentalists challenge efforts to push through new mountaintop removal coal mine
• View from the Chair
• Glen Besa receives 2010 Virginia Ferguson Award
• J.R. Tolbert assistant director for legislation, fund raising
• Virginia Chapter seeks new treasurer
• Annual Gathering to be most stimulating to date
• Atlantic Offshore Wind Energy Consortium organizes
• Climate bill moves to front burner this summer
• More Energy STAR labeled homes built each year
• Majority supports government limiting green house gas emissions
• Continued diligence needed to prevent drilling off Virginia’s coast
• Environmental justice leaders fight for people, homes, mountains
• Good Jobs Green Jobs Conference energizes
• Laborers Union trains weatherization experts

April/May/June

• Clean Energy Patriots Needed for Earth Day Revolution
• 2010 Good Jobs, Green Jobs Conference to bring environmentalists and labor unions together
• National Sierra Club election takes place this spring
• Join fellow Sierra Club members at 2010 Annual Gathering in Prince William Forest Park
• March Fundraising Appeal: Declaring our Clean Energy Independence
• 2010 GA Legislature dominated by conservatives, climate change deniers and big business allies
• Legislation creates offshore wind authority to support, coordinate and facilitate development of Va. offshore wind industry
• Sierra Club members play pivotal role in two recent Northern Virginia elections
• Legislators’ actions towards most water quality bills disappointing
• Remodeling a house using sustainable, green building techniques
• Loss of a major pollinator effects everyone
• More Compost, Less Greenhouse Gases from Landfills
• Electric co-op members powerful force to stop development of huge coal power plant
• New videos add flair to Chapter website
• George Washington National Forest plan revision resumes — many sections troubling
• Mattaponi Victory Tour: Canoe and kayak the Mattaponi in July and September
• How to become a Sierra Club outings leader
• Ratchet It Up, Richmond – Falls of the James recycling campaign gaining momentum
• National Park Service plans 7,238 acre expansion of Petersburg National Battlefield
• Roanoke Valley Cool: Cities Coalition starts Kill-a-Watt Community Outreach
• Attorney General’s lawsuit against EPA ignores both science and the law

January/February/March

• Message to 2010 General Assembly
• From the Chair
• VCN Lobby Day – January 18
• Virginia Chapter seeks new treasurer
• Coalition works toward healthier environment
• Va. Chapter members work for endorsed candidates
• New website presents new punch to online presence
• Va. Chapter seeks Forest Issues Chair
• Parts of draft transportation plan friendly to enviros
• Va. farmers balk at initiatives to clean up Bay
• Update – Bringing offshore wind energy to Virginia
• Opposition to Surry County power plant increases
• EPA ruling on coal ash imminent
• Scaling up home energy retrofit market
• Recycle CFLs at Home Depot stores
• Preliminary home energy audit by homeowner
• When power lines down generate energy from within yourself
• Caulking primer for beginners
• Joint bill on dangerous chemicals in water
• Greater Washington 2050 Region Forward Plan reviewed
• Role of National Parks changes
• Great Dismal Swamp Wildlife Refuge
• Sierra Club names Sustainable Metro DC coordinator
• Virginia’s U.S. Senators need to hear from us
• 2010 Annual Gathering to be held in Prince William Forest Park
• Copenhagen – Getting serious about climate change

2009

November/December

• Newport News gives up on reservoir on Mattaponi
• Roger Diedrich – dedicated volunteer and mentor
• Virginia Chapter sees changes in staff personnel
• I-81 issue keeps on truckin’
• Stormwater runoff rules weakened by SWCB
• Dirty coal, mountaintop removal protested in Alexandria
• Offshore wind production has governor’s backing
• JMU wind power research, educational outreach
• Offshore wind video debuts
• All it takes is one spill
• Could Virginia be facing water shortages?
• Annual Gathering recap
• Roanoke Group news
• Clean Energy, Bright Future rallies
• Vote for delegates to chapter ex-com
• Camping, biking, hiking on family outing
• Cap and Trade — a market oriented approach
• Virginia’s contribution to nuclear safety

September/October

• America’s bright future powered by clean energy
• Dick Ball–expert extraordinaire on energy and climate change
• EPA awards grants to reduce diesel emissions
• Annual Gathering filled with variety of learning
• Which side are you on?
• Leaders wanted to serve on chapter excom
• Stop Ison Rock Ridge mountaintop removal
• Sierra Club works on DEQ energy permit process
• Stop ODEC’s Surry County coal plant
• Biomass — the low hanging fruit
• Proposed PATH transmission line hearing
• Volunteers heat things up during August recess
• Solar Decathalon in Washington DC in October
• McIntire Park named endangered historic site
• Small farms — increase local demand, market
• Pamunkey River kayak excursion
• Utah’s Red Rock Canyonlands
• Outings in Hampton Roads area
• Wake up and smell the biomass

July/August

• Citizen Lobbying Makes a Difference
• September Annual Gathering
• You can help provide a sustainable Virginia
• Roanoke places conservation easement on public property
• Public properties around state get protection
• Stimulus money to be used to clean water in Virginia
• Solar industry predicted to grow again soon
• Rural broadband through micro solar-wind system
• Dominion’s green power option
• Va. secretary rejects grant for interstate rail study
• Climate/Energy Security Act passes committee
• Adopting International Energy Conservation Code
• Alex Fredua-Agyemang Summer Intern
• Cool Cities Coalition launches initiative
• Roanoke Cool Citizens awards
• Tour de Cut hike in Mountain Lake Wilderness
• Beginning Backpacking Classes
• Updated GW National Forest plan to be released
• What’s lurking inside personal care products?

May/June

• Mattaponi Victory
• Conservation easement on James River Park
• 2009: Opportunity to elect environmental majority
• Annual Gathering features workshops, entertainment
• 2010 budget stresses transformations for energy and environment
• Recovery Redefined
• Moving towards 21st century transportation
• Court rules Dominion permit invalid
• New transmission lines will increase pollution
• Citizens rally to save Charlottesville’s McIntire Park
• U of R student discards to be recycled at yard sale
• Hopewell Clean Air Network reaches out to citizens
• 2009 General Assembly slow towards energy efficiency
• Virginia convenes coal combustion waste panel
• Ready to join Local Food Movement?
• Protect natural wonders of GW National Forest
• EPA to review new mountain-top removal permits
• Three Tour de Cut hikes planned
• Virginia Ridge and Valley Act passed
• Outings, travel sometimes life-changing events
• Gubernatorial candidates’ views on environment
• Blue Green Alliance tries to dispel false dichotomies

March/April

• Making a down payment on the green economy
• Taking the message of green jobs to Capitol Hill
• Some green jobs found to be poor jobs
• February town hall meeting on green jobs future
• Virginia Chapter steps up tubing action
• You can help bring clean energy to Virginia
• Win a canoe trip down the Mattaponi River
• Survey on Climate Change sent to state legislators
• Urban runoff polluting, eroding our streams
• Is your refrigerator an energy hog?
• Court opens floodgate for more mountain top removal
• Decision one step backwards in march to climate justice
• Offshore drilling threat at start of new Administration
• Petition to reduce “Hopewell Smell” delivered
• Sierra Club influences SCC’s IRP guidelines
• Annual Gathering of chapter members planned
• Canoe excursion in ancient Bald Cypress swamp
• Learn to Lead – Sierra Student Coalition training
• Hiking season soon to hit its stride
• Even if price is right, will we buy it?

January/February

• Virginia targeted for off shore drilling
• Green Jobs Expo to be held in D.C. Feb. 5
• Rachel Flynn, planner, gets Green Giant award
• Virginia Chapter excom election results
• Repower, Refuel, Rebuild Virginia
• Governor’s commission final report on climate change
• Taking delivery on environmental victories
• Conservation Citizen Lobby Day
• Help elderly, disabled weatherize their homes
• Decrease trash, increase items recycled
• Great Backyard Birdcount
• 2009 Virginia General Assembly Session
• Wise Energy – 2008 and promise of 2009
• Chapter volunteers saw many political victories
• Campaigners take on variety of chores
• Members volunteer 25, 50, 100 hours and more
• Busy outings program for all ages, abilities
• Sierra Club’s Climate Recovery Agenda

2008

November/December

• Wise Energy Coalition Tour
• Support Sierra Club 2009 political work
• Allison Chin to speak at holiday event
• Environmentalists preparing for upcoming General Assembly session
• Let fall leaves do what’s natural for environment
• Paper or plastic?  Or your own reusable bag?
• More reasons to work at conserving energy
• Workshop discusses off-shore wind power in mid-Atlantic
• C-campaign Virginia strong state climate action plan
• Hopewell Clean Air Network makes progress
• Fall Jamboree stimulates and empowers
• At-large delegates up for reelection to Chapter ExCom
• Bicycles for rent all around Paris
• Offshore drilling will not solve energy and climate crisis

September/October (783 KB)

• State political leaders to be guests at Fall Jamboree
• Tyla Matteson to receive Special Service Award
• Energy and Sustainability Conference
• Virginia Chapter adds two dedicated activists to staff
• It ain’t over ’til it’s over – Wise County power plant
• Mirant power plant awarded new permit
• Hampton Roads citizens respond to oil drilling craze
• When is all that stuff enough?
• Drinking bottled water adds to your carbon footprint
• Americans begin to make changes – have you?
• Maintain autos to keep pollutants out of waterways
• Greening of rural communities must reflect local values
• Weak coal ash regulations pollute water
• Albemarle restricts use of toxic chemicals
• Sierra Club helps eliminate “Hopewell Smell”
• Fall Tour de Cut to view clear cuts
• Sierra Club master outings leader retires
• Outings leader training workshop to be held Oct.
• Taking tops off mountains at flip of switch

July/August (791 KB)

• Virginia’s waterways inaccessible for public use
• Smart Growth and Transportation Campaign
• Va. Chapter needs your help to improve air quality
• Take a summer job to save the Bay
• Environmentalists continue to fight Wise County coal-fired power plant
• Guide to types of plastic
• Raising children with sustainable values
• Small farms more productive and profitable
• Lightbulbs to Leadership campaign
• Five easy ways to cut fuel costs
• Sierra Club responds to Bush/McCain proposal to open more offshore drilling
• Fight to Save the Mattaponi continues
• Fall Jamboree to be held September 12-14
• Hampton Roads area gears up for activism
• Tour de Cut season for 2008
• Challenging 100K and 50K One Day Hike
• Facts Dominion Power doesn’t want you to know

May-June (858 KB)

• Wind energy siting in Mid-Altantic
• Highlights:  2008 General Assembly session
• Sierra Club organizer based in Hampton Roads
• Glen Besa takes post of Virginia Chapter Director
• Virginia Air Board to review Dominion’s Wise County plant permit
• People power needed to stop Wise power plant
• Power2Change campaign comes to Virginia
• How green is your personal computer?
• Conservation:  an Inconvenient Cost
• Building green economy–Green Jobs conference
• GWNF planning meetings expected early summer
• Waterfront development risky
• Roanoke St. Patrick’s Day Parade
• Fly ash disposal now in lawyers’ hands
• Tree planting event in Richmond
• RVCCC greening workshop to be held May 16
• Sierra Club author, cyclist on Virginia book tour
• Student activists–the climate needs you
• For both fun and satisfaction try service outings
• Governor needs to protect our children’s health

March-April (856 KB)

• Governor’s VA Commision on Climate Change
• VA Chapter elects officers, seats new delegates
• From Inspiration to Action – March 2
• 14 VA colleges and universities sign on to climate plan
• 300 people crowd into SCC hearing
• Smart Growth – volunteers lobby on Capitol Hill
• Arctic species need protection from big oil
• Sierra Club’s Project Renewal opposed
• Use CFLs safely and responsibly
• Dark side of ethanol and biodiesel subsidies
• Sierra Club adopts new population policy
• Do we really need all that stuff?
• Flood plains and fly ash
• Increasing energy efficiency can be achieved
• University of Richmond signs climate commitment
• Another Cool City
• Environmentalist elected to Board of Supervisors
• Get into the woods in 2008
• Canoe excursion planned April 20th
• Fall Jamboree plans taking shape
• Acitvist Outings help Sierra Club promote positions
• Help Wanted – bold leadership on global warming

January-February (1859 KB)

• 2008 Legislative Priorities
• Two seasoned activists join chapter staff
• Virginia Conservation Network lobby day
• Wise County, Bali and Beyond
• Say NO to new coal plant in Virginia
• How to stop a power plant
• Talking points for SCC commissioners
• Personally reducing our carbon footprint
• Changes to reduce transportation emissions
• Lifestyle choices reduce CO2 emissions
• Environmental candidates triumph
• Besa, Matteson at UN Climate Change Conference
• Virginia Ridge & Valley Act pass House
• Sierrans play role in 2007 Roanoke Energy Expo
• Rappahannock Group’s two key projects progress
• Greening the Grassroots II
• Attention:  Great Falls Group members
• Outings
• Fall Jamboree at Pocahontas State Park