Rochester Sierra Club Blog

Please sign up for our E-mail List.

Eco-logue is published bimonthly by the Rochester Regional Group of the Sierra Club

* Join the Rochester Group by Printing out our Brochure & sending it to us.

FIFTH ANNUAL SIERRA CLUB ENVIRONMENTAL FORUM

FROM CRISIS TO OPPORTUNITY:

A FORUM ON NATIONAL, STATE AND LOCAL ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES 2003

Thursday, April 10, 2003

First Unitarian Church, 220 Winton Road South, Rochester, NY

Jointly sponsored by First Unitarian Church Choices & Environment Task Force

Doors open to visit booths at 6:00pm. Program at 7:00pm

Fall Foliage in Durand Eastman Park (Click to Enlarge)

There is no question this country is facing an environmental crisis, but in every crisis there is opportunity for change and betterment. This year Sierra Club has asked three environmental experts to comment on what they see as the issues we face in 2003 on a national, state and local level AND what we can do to ameliorate these problems. We are fortunate to have recruited the help of Elizabeth Thorndike from the Center Environmental Information (CEI), who will focus on national issues, David Higby of Environmental Advocates (Albany), who will focus on State issues, and Jack Bradigan Spula, award winning reporter for City Newspaper, who will focus on local issues.

Elizabeth Thorndike, PhD. is well known to the Rochester community as founder and sparkplug of the Center Environmental Information. She is also a Cornell associate and advisor to state government. Elizabeth is a person "in the know" on national and state levels with expertise on such wide-ranging topics as acid rain and global warming. She will focus on some national environmental issues and, undoubtedly during the Forum exchange, she will offer helpful insights into state issues as well.

David Higby is a Program Associate with Environmental Advocates of New York with a background in public policy development. David has a lifetime of experience as a grass roots environmental activist who has specialized in Adirondack issues as well as solid waste disposal and he has extensive lobbying experience with New York State government.

Jack Bradigan Spula needs no introduction to the Rochester community having served as reporter, political activist and voice of conscience for over 25 years. From his eagle’s nest view at City Newspaper Jack is admirably positioned to know the local environmental issues facing us and we welcome his opinion on what we can do about these issues in 2003.

Each speaker will address the audience for about 20 minutes followed by a forum discussion based on questions from the floor. The Sierra Club Environmental Forum, (a free event courtesy of First Unitarian Church), offers the environmental community and public a chance to meet local environmentalists, visit group booths, network and learn. In the past our Forums have been premier Earth Month events. We invite you participate and work on moving From Crisis To Opportunity.

* Up to 30 booths & displays.

* Networking, recruiting, planning, information sharing.

* Food, beverages, free admission.

Schedule

5:30pm - 6:00pm - Groups set up displays

6:00pm - 7:00pm - Doors open for public to visit booths, networking & recruiting.

7:00pm - 9:00pm - Forum program with questions from the floor.

9:00pm - on - Visits to booths, recruiting, networking.

Note: If you know of a group who want a table display it is not too late to sign up. Call 244-2625.

Former Programs   See Photographs and encapsulations of former Rochester Sierra Club Environmental Forums -- These are very successful Rochester-area events, where all environmental groups meet and address important Rochester environmental Issues.

FORUM PRESENTERS

• 
  National Issues: Elizabeth Thorndike, PhD, Founding Director Center Environmental Information, NYS Environmental Consultant  -- The Center for Environmental Information (CEI) is a private, nonprofit, educational organization, founded in Rochester, New York, in 1974. CEI provides information and communication services, publications, and educational programs in order to: Advance public understanding of environmental issues; Act as a communication link among scientists, educators, decision makers and the public; Advocate informed action based on the free exchange of information and ideas.
• 
  State Issues: David Higby, NYS Lobbyist, Environmental Advocates, Albany, N.Y. --Environmental Advocates of New York is the voice of New York State’s environmental community—devoted to the protection of our magnificent state’s wildlife, land and people. For more than 30 years, we have been an effective and aggressive watchdog on virtually every critical state environmental issue. New York is one of the most beautiful states in America. Environmental Advocates is determined to keep it that way for future generations.
• 
  Local Issues: Jack Bradigan Spula, Award winning reporter, City Newspaper, Rochester, N.Y. --Greater Rochester Weekly Alternative Newspaper. Available at Tops, Wegmans, and many stores, restaurants, and coffee shops, (585) 244-3329 -- It's a great source for Rochester-area environmental articles and you can pick one up free anywhere (a restaurant and other businesses) in town.

* For more information about Sierra Club events call 585-244-2625 for events and voice mail.

Comments & questions to the webmaster may be sent to: FrankRegan@RochesterEnvironment.com  or You may also leave a message on our phone at (585) 234-1056 or write us at Sierra Club, P.O. Box 39516, Rochester, N.Y. 14604.  Privacy Policy - Sierra Club