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Take Action:
Focus on What We Can Do, and We Can Climb Mountains!

by Gwyn Jones, Chapter Chair

Ways you can help: Conservation programs Chapter development Volunteer Survey Contacting elected officials Lifestyle choices

Want to volunteer for the Sierra Club, but aren’t sure how to start? Sierra Club 101 can tell you how. Sierra Club 101: A Primer for Volunteership

As I look out at the gray October afternoon and wonder where we’re headed environmentally, it’s easy to get overwhelmed – there’s so much that needs to be done, and what effect can one person have anyway? Especially when faced with global warming, an increasingly polarized political environment,

That’s when I recall one of the key takeaways from a recent chapter event featuring Ian Woodall, who led 5 expeditions to Mt. Everest between 1996 and 2007. In his talk, “The Tao of Everest,” Ian made a lot of salient points, but in the work we do for the environment, whether we volunteer or get paid for it, one in particular stands out:

“Concentrate on can-do’s: In any given situation one should resist the natural inclination to prevaricate and do nothing, and should endeavor to take ownership of the problem by concentrating on what can be done, however limited, and not allow oneself to be overwhelmed by all those things which can’t be done. Sometimes we may not be the best person for the job, but we may be the only person for the job.”

The Sierra Club’s DC Chapter is effective because of the dedicated chapter leaders, the dozens of volunteers, and hundreds of members, each of whom have had some part in making the District a better place, from taking leadership on an issue or project to calling or emailing your councilmember to support a key environmental initiative. Each did what he/she could do at the time, and the results over the years speak for themselves.

It’s in this context that I invite you to visit our chapter website, http://dc.sierraclub.org/, check out the calendar and news items, and pick out something that interests you. Send an email to the contact and see how you can help. It’s that simple. Or you can contact our outreach coordinator Brenna Muller (202-548-4581) and talk with her about the many volunteer opportunities. And of course, you can contact any of us on the chapter executive committee or chapter leadership.

Thank you for your support as members, and I look forward to all the great work we’ll be able to do together.