Sierra Clubbers get ready to join the parade.

Despite a miserable weather forecast, on March 16 the Sierra Club had a contingent of twenty people marching in the Pittsburgh St. Patrick’s Day parade. Five marvelous percussionists from the band ‘Timbeleza’ joined us, drawing attention to our signs about Climate Disruption. Timbeleza’s strong rhythmic sounds kept us and the parade watchers dancing joyfully, which had the added benefit of keeping us warm!!!

The Huplits Wildlife Grants Committee of the Allegheny Group has announced the results of its 2012 annual grant competition. From seven initial proposals the committee awarded four grants worth $50,000 with the following goals.

• Provide for environmental review of oil and gas drilling operations on the Allegheny NF, as well as a Forest and Water Action campaign.
• Conduct a BioBlitz event in Bucks County.
• Continue a habitat management program to help recover and maintain populations of the endangered eastern massasauga rattlesnake.
• Introduce the national Audubon Society’s Forestry for the Birds Initiative into Pennsylvania,

Details of the six grants follow. (more…)

The falls at Ohiopyle. Photo courtesy of PA DCNR.

Members and their friends are invited to take part in the Sierra Club Pennsylvania Chapter’s annual member outing and retreat at Ohiopyle State Park in Fayette County! There are lots of activities for everyone, with hikes, an ‘alternative energies’ tour’, and a Marcellus Visual Assessment Training session. On Saturday evening there will be a potluck and BBQ dinner with free burgers and hot dogs provided by the Chapter, followed by a talk by local biologist Dr. Cindy Walters.

For a schedule of activities and a registration form click HERE. (more…)

Read the Allegheny Group’s Sierran 2012 Spring where you’ll learn about:

• Where we stand as Gas & Oil ‘Siren Song’ plays on.
• How energy issues are now at the heart of Allegheny Group’s conservation activities.
• Who is endorsed for the state house election in November.
• The policy changes Gov. Corbett needs to make.
• What Philly can show us about managing stormwater overflow.
• The Great Pittsburgh Transit Crisis.
• The activities of the Endangered Species action team.
• A firefly watch on Allegheny NF
• And much more!

Thanks to our new editor Anne Caffey and helpers Cindy Geikler and Marla Ferrency.

At a special ceremony on February 24 Angel Gober, the newest member of the Allegheny Group’s Executive Committee, was honored among the Pittsburgh Courier’s FAB40 Class of 2012. Each year forty African American men and women in the Pittsburgh area are chosen by the paper’s readers for their positive impact on their communities.

Angel served as board president of the Northside Coalition for Fairhousing 2007-2010. In 2008, she served as a canvass director for the AFL-CIO’s Working America Program, and working with Pittsburgh United in 2010 she helped passage of Pittsburgh’s Prevailing Wage for Service Workers and Clean Water laws. As an organizer with the Coalition of Organized Residents of East Liberty, Inc, Angel currently advocates for affordable housing and jobs for community residents. Angel joined the Allegheny Group’s Executive Committee in January and is the new chair of the Group’s Political Committee.

For the past four years, Claudia Kirkpatrick successfully served as chair of the local Sierra Club Group. On January 9, Claudia stepped down and was replaced by Barbara Grover. Succeeding Barbara as Vice-Chair is Tom Hoffman. Tom and Barabara were re-elected to the Executive Committee (ExCom) along with Laura Donovan. New ExCom member is Angel Gober, who will also serve as new chair of the Political Committee. Gwen Chute is the new leader of the Endangered Species Action Team, and new issue chairs are Krissy Kasserman (Mining) and Peri Unligil (Air Quality). Continuing action team leaders are Chris Shepherd (Global Warming) and Matt Peters (Public Lands).

The ExCom thanks Claudia for her leadership, and looks forward to working with her in the years to come. Thanks are also extended to all who participated in the election for the four ExCom members in December.

The Allegheny Group held its first-ever Raffle, with the drawing taking place at our Holiday Party in Oakland on December 7. Fund-raising organizer Jackie Apone wishes to THANK ALL WHO PARTICIPATED in this experimental effort of modestly-priced tickets for kindly-donated prizes. The net sum of $752 will be wisely used to support our all-volunteer, grassroots Coal, Endangered Species, and Global Warming Action Teams in 2012.

To help re-fresh funds for our local Coal, Endangered Species, Global Warming, and Oil & Gas campaigns the Allegheny Group is holding a first-time-ever raffle. The raffle is open to the public, with the drawing taking place Wednesday, December 7.  Sierra Club members may find a notice of the raffle on Page 3 of the last issue of the Allegheny Group’s ‘Sierran‘ newsletter.

Provided below is a list of the twelve raffle items valued from $15 to $70 and including event tickets, hiking guides, merchant and restaurant gift cards, etc One ticket is $2; three tickets are $5; seven tickets are $10.

To order your tickets, send a note listing the number of tickets per selected item(s) along with a check for the total amount, payable to Allegheny Group, Sierra Club, to:

Jackie Apone
5228 Beeler St.
Pittsburgh, PA 15217

Entries should be mailed in December 4 at the latest.

For additional information, contact Jackie at japone46 at hotmail dot com. (more…)

Among the women recently honored at the Women and Girls Foundation annual fundraising gala for their environmental work were the following friends of the Allegheny Group, and we send our congratulations: Beverly Braverman (Mountain Watershed Association), Patricia DeMarco (Rachel Carson Institute at Chatham University), Rachel Filippini (Group Against Smog and Pollution), Ann Jones Gerace (Conservation Consultants ), and Brenda Smith (Nine Mile Run Watershed Association). (more…)

Two local members of the Sierra Club were recently honored by the Pennsylvania Chapter for their environmental activism. At the Chapter’s September 24 Dinner in Carlisle Bruce Sundquist and Marilyn Skolnick were recognized as Supernova Stars: (more…)

The Sierra Club’s Pennsylvania Chapter is accepting applications for a $1,000 scholarship which has been offered for the past four years. Established in memory of Wyona Coleman, former chair of the chapter Mining Committee, the scholarship is open to all Pennsylvania residents who are seniors in high school, as well as those already accepted or enrolled into any college-level programs in environmental studies. (more…)

SC members M. LaMark, C.
Fitzpatrick, and M.
Pastorkovich after rally at the
USW headquarters.
Photo courtesy of Jennifer English.

On February 23, environmental activists joined more than five-hundred union members and community leaders in a rally protesting the Wisconsin union-busting.   Speakers at the rally included USW president Leo Gerard and former Texas Secretary of Agriculture Jim Hightower. Many of us believe that what is currently happening in Madison is about power, the power of polluting corporations to break the unions, reduce the opposition in state and federal elections, and influence the courts. (more…)

Two years ago the leadership of the Allegheny Group held a strategy planning session that resulted in the replacement of ‘committees’ with more effective ‘action teams’ focused on Coal, Endangered Species, Global Warming, and Public Lands. On February 5 the strategic purpose of those teams was reviewed and fresh goals were established, along with the formation of the Shale Gas Action Team. Now heading the various teams are: Angela Wiley (Coal), Josh Zorich (Endangered Species).Chris Shepherd (Global Warming), Matt Peters (Public Lands), and Arlene Mercurio (Shale Gas).

Attendees at Allegheny Group Strategy meeting, Feb. 5. Front row, L. to R: S. Landini, H. Cope, A. Mercurio, M. LaMark, A. Wiley, C. Shepherd, J. Apone, T. Hoffman, C. Fitzpatrick, R. Kampmeyer, R. Neller. Back row: R. Francisco, M. Pastorkovich, T. Wolper, M. Peters, B. Grover, J. Zorich, P. Wray. Photographer was R. Martin, with thanks to Tom Hoffman.

Unlike most environmental organizations, the Sierra Club is truly grassroots. At the local level the Allegheny Group is managed by a nine-member Executive Committee. Elected in December for two-year terms on the ExCom are: Gwen Chute, Claudia Kirkpatrick, Cassie McCrae, Matt Peters, and Chris Shepherd. Congratulations are in order.

An expression of appreciation is in order for retiring ExCom members Phil Coleman, Jim Kleissler, Mike LaMark, and Marilyn Skolnick. After being a long-time advocate for wild woods and closing dirty coal-fired power plants, Phil has moved to Florida. Jim will remain an advisor on all things related to forest protection, and Mike will continue to be active on the Endangered Species Action Team as well as help with graphic design projects. After many years as an experienced activist for clean air, sensible transportation policies, and better land use planning, Marilyn has finally decided to slow down – at least just a little. Heart-felt thanks to all four.

Six days after the first Earth Day of April 22, 1970, the Allegheny Group was created. It was the first Pennsylvania group in the Sierra Club’s Atlantic Chapter, with attorney Rolf Larsen as its first Chair. From its beginning the relatively small Group integrated a strong outings program with a program of monthly meetings and an active conservation committee.
(more…)