Just $10 to Help Monarch Butterflies!

Get your Monarch license plate decal before the end of September!

Monarch butterflies are critical pollinators that help support biodiversity by carrying important pollens long distances across their migration route. Sadly, monarch butterfly populations have been rapidly declining in North America since 1997. During that time, the Midwestern United States has seen an 88% decline in the number of monarchs, and a 64% decrease in the amount of available milkweed, which serves as the monarchs only egg-laying habitat and food source for monarch caterpillars.

Fortunately, there is now a fun and easy way that you can help protect monarchs in Illinois through the Secretary of State’s specialty license plate program. For just $10 you may sign up for a monarch specialty license plate decal. Whether or not you choose to purchase a specialty license plate, the funds from the decal sales will go to the Illinois Department of Natural Resources to support roadside monarch habitat throughout Illinois!

We need just 76 more people to express interest to get the decal commissioned by the Secretary of State. 1,924 requests have been submitted but we need 2,000 total by the end of September. Once the monarch decal is commissioned, you will receive a letter from the Sec. of State with an opportunity to purchase a universal speciality plate with the monarch decal. You can choose whether or not to do so then. Either way, your $10 will go to help monarchs!

It’s easy!

Download and fill out the form at https://tinyurl.com/ILMonarchDecalAppln

• Write in ‘Monarch Roadside Habitat’ for Name of Specialty Plate Being Requested
• Write in ‘$10” for Amount Enclosed
• Write a check to ‘Illinois Secretary of State” for $10
• Mail to the address listed on the form
• SHARE the form with friends, family and colleagues.

Together we can make this happen!
Apply for your monarch license plate decal by September 30th! 

Illinois Chapter Sierra Club Monarch Team

**Interested in joining the Team? Please fill out this form.**

Visit our Facebook Page

 

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Bill to Protect Monarch Butterfly Habitat Passes in Senate Today

This year Illinois Sierra Club worked with, Representative Anna Moeller (D-Elgin) and Senator Melinda Bush (D-Grayslake), to pass two important pieces of legislation aimed at helping the monarch butterfly. Back during the spring session, HB2568, designating milkweed as the state wildflower, passed both chambers and was signed into law in August. Also during the spring session, HB685, which provides that counties and municipalities may not classify milkweed as a noxious or exotic weed, passed the House, but got delayed from a vote in the Senate. But, all that changed today when HB685 passed in the Senate  41-6-1.

Over the last 20 years monarchs have seen a precipitous 80 to 90 percent decline in population due to environmental threats, including a drastic reduction in native milkweed, the only source of food for monarch larvae. Of the twenty-three species of milkweeds that are native to Illinois, five are listed as endangered, and one is listed as threatened on the federal endangered and threatened species list.

Lonnie Morris, an Illinois Sierra Club volunteer and longtime advocate for monarchs, proposed the ideas for both bills. Morris believed that designating milkweed as our state wildflower would raise awareness of its importance as monarch habitat. She also discovered that many municipalities listed milkweed as a noxious weed, preventing people from planting it in their gardens. The passage of HB685 today in the Illinois Senate is particularly important because it comes at a time when habitat for monarchs and other pollinators is being seriously threatened.  We need to be planting more milkweed,  not banning it.

In addition to the Illinois Sierra Club, the Illinois Environmental Council and Prairie Rivers Network supported both bills in an effort to increase monarch butterfly habitat in Illinois. Each spring and fall monarchs make their way through Illinois during their 3,000 mile migration between Mexico and Canada and back to Mexico. But this trip is becoming increasingly perilous due to massive habitat loss, climate change, and unintentional exposure to insecticides and herbicides.

Monarchs were named Illinois’ State Insect several years ago, so recognising the value of milkweed, the monarch’s only host plant,  is a logical next step in monarch protection.

Monarchs serve as a beautiful reminder that all pollinators are vital not only for the survival of native plants and animals, but also that our crop plants require pollinators, making them essential for our food system. In total, pollinators provide $10 billion in economic value annually in the United States.

Spring & Summer Pollinator Events In Illinois

Wed 5/17/17

Weed (the verb) and Wine at the EVG Garden

Eagle View Group (IL)

Sat 6/10/17

Churchill Woods/Glacial Ridge Forest Preserve Service Event

River Prairie Group

Sat  5/20/17

Pollinator Family Day

Heart Of Illinois Group

Sat 5/20/17

Spring Valley Native Plant Planting Project

NW Cook County Group

Sun  6/09/17

Gardening for Butterflies and Hummingbirds

Stickney-Forest View Public Library District

Wed  5/31/17

Saving the Monarchs

DuPage Monarch Project

Sun 6/11/17

Bluff Spring Fen Annual Botanical Hike (late spring)

River Prairie Group

Sun 7/09/17

Children’s Monarch Festival

Elmhurst Garden Club’s Garden Walk & Faire

Sun 7/23/17

Monarchs & Music: Monarch Mania Family Fun Fair

Hackmatack Monarch Coalition; Crystal Lake Main Beach Pavilion

Illinois Takes Action: People’s Climate March + May Day

On April 29, thousands marched in DC, Chicago, and in cities across the state and the country to demand climate justice as part of the People’s Climate March.

Some highlights from our Chapter:

Illinois Sierra Club activist Connie Schmidt marches in DC

Illinois Sierra Club sent three buses (one from Chicago, one from the suburbs, and one from Central Illinois) and countless others traveled on their own from Illinois to DC’s massive 200,000 person march.

3000+ braved the rain and cold in Chicago to rally and march to Trump Tower

In Chicago, 3000+ people and more than 80 organizations came out in the cold rain to rally and march.

Activists (including Octavius Hayes, right) lead chants at the end of the march at the Trump Tower

At the rally, activists heard from rank-and-file union activists and environmental justice community leaders, including Octavius Hayes–a leader with Clean Power Lake County who spoke about the community’s work to address ongoing coal pollution and transition their community to a clean energy economy.

Community members gather in Champaign

In Champaign more than 200 community members gathered at Grace Lutheran Church and heard from speakers including State Sen Scott Bennett, State Rep Carol Ammons, and Sierra Club Prairie Group Chair Alice Englebretsen. Ten different organizations tabled at the event. After the program, people marched down Prospect Street, and were greeted with enthusiastic honks and waves from passersby.

Community members rally in the Quad Cities

In the Quad Cities, more than 300 people gathered at a local ball park. Speakers included the former Mayor of Rock Island, a local student leader, and an Indigenous leader from the Sage Sisters of Solidarity who are doing pipeline resistance.

Shawnee Group members at the Carbondale event

In Carbondale, hundreds gathered for a rally at Gaia House and a march through Carbondale.

Just two days later, the Sierra Club mobilized in Chicago yet again for a massive May Day rally in Chicago to bring attention and urgency to all the challenges facing our communities, especially in the wake of Trump’s election. May Day traditionally honors the work and dignity of immigrants and of labor. This year’s event also brought attention to urgent needs around racial justice, economic justice, environmental justice, women’s rights, and LGBTQ rights. State Director Jack Darin was one of the speakers at the end of the march.

People’s Climate Marches-Get on a bus in Illinois to DC or find an event near you!

On April 29–the 100th day of Trump’s Presidency–thousands will rally in DC, and thousands more will take the streets across the country to demand climate justice as part of the People’s Climate Movement.

Here in Illinois, you can jump on a bus to DC, or join a rally near you. We need you in the streets! Check out a list of statewide opportunities.

Part 1: Buses to DC

Part 2: Events in + near Illinois

Get on a bus to DC!

Chicago Buses:

• Bus 1:
  Departs Chicago: Friday, April 28th at 7:00PM from (565 W. Adam St. Chicago, IL 60661).
  Arrives back in Chicago: Sunday, April 30 @ 6 am
  Follow this link to purchase tickets or donate to help cover a seat for scholarship riders.
  Questions? Contact JC Kibbey: jckibbey@ucsusa.org
• Bus 2:
  Departs Chicago: Friday, April 28th at 9:00 AM from (70 E. Lake St., Suite 920 Chicago, IL 60601).
  Arrives back in Chicago: Sunday, April 30 @ 6 pm
  Follow this link to purchase tickets.
  Questions? Contact Rev Vance: revvance@faithinplace.org

NW Cook County Bus:
Departs Elk Grove Village: Friday April 28th at 7:00 PM from (Ned Brown Preserve at Grove 25 Elk Grove Village, IL 60007–Free, secure parking available at the Forest Preserve!).
Arrives back in Elk Grove Village: Sunday, April 30 @ 6 am
Follow this link to purchase tickets or donate to help cover a seat for scholarship riders.
Questions? Contact Tim Milburn: logintim@gmail.com

Central IL Bus:
Central IL: Peoria, Bloomington, Champaign. BUS IS FULL! Please consider donating $ here to help cover a seat for scholarship riders.
Questions? Contact Elizabeth Scrafford: elizabeth.scrafford@sierraclub.org

Sister Marches in or near Illinois:

PEOPLE’S CLIMATE MARCH – CHICAGO
April 29, 2017 @ Noon
Federal Plaza (230 S Dearborn)
March for our climate + our communities.
Rally @ Federal Plaza, then march to the Trump Tower
Contact: caroline.wooten@sierraclub.org
Share on Facebook
RSVP here

Coming from Lake County?
Clean Power Lake County is sponsoring two buses from Waukegan to the Chicago Climate March leaving at 8 am Saturday, April 29 and returning at 5 pm for $20 and hardship price $10.
Buses will leave from Christ Episcopal Church, 410 W. Grand Ave. in Waukegan.
Reserve your seat on the bus here.

NW Indiana:
People’s Climate March: Northwest Indiana
April 29, 2017 • 11:00 AM
Main Square Park
3000 Highway Ave, Highland 46322
Highland, IN

Rockford:
Earth Day March for Science & Climate
Rockford
April 22, 2017
4:00 PM Joe Marino Park
100 N. Water Street
Rockford, IL 61107
Facebook Event

Galesburg:
People’s Climate March: Knox County
April 29, 2017 • 12:30 PM
Public Square
29 Public Square
Galesburg, IL 61401

Quad Cities:
Quad Cities People’s Climate March
April 29, 2017 noon- 2 pm
Modern Woodman Park, Davenport, Ia• 209 S Gaines Street, Davenport, IA 52802
Questions: eagleviewgroupsc@gmail.com
RSVP here
Facebook Event

Champaign:
Champaign-Urbana Rallies for our Earth
April 29, 2017
2:00 PM
West Side Park
400 W University Ave
Champaign, IL 61820
RSVP here
Questions? Contact Stuart Levy stuartnlevy@gmail.com
Facebook Event

St Louis:
Saint Louis People’s Climate March
April 29, 2017 • 12:00 PM
Luther Ely Smith Square
20 N 4th St
Saint Louis, MO
Facebook Event

Carbondale:
Peoples Climate March of Southern Illinois
April 29, 2017 • 12:30 PM
Gaia House
913 S. Illinois Ave.Carbondale, IL 62901
Questions: jane.cogie@gmail.com
RSVP here
Facebook event

Reviving the Everglades of the North

January 26, 2017  The Kankakee River Basin lies just south of Chicago in Kankakee and Iroquois counties. The Basin was once considered among the most important freshwater ecosystems in the world. Dubbed The Everglades of North,  it had some of the highest concentrations of wildlife on the planet and was known as Chicago’s food pantry.

Last year the Kankakee National Wildlife Refuge and Conservation Area (NWR&CA) was formally established. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) is now taking the next step in the refuge planning process to preserve and enhance the remaining wetland habitat along the Kankakee River Basin.

Support the USFWS in the development of a Land Protection Plan (LPP).

Protecting the remaining remnants of wetland landscape and working with landowners to interconnect them will protect the many endangered plant and animal species that depend on wetland habitat for their survival.

Please take action today to let the USFWS know you are in support of the Kankakee NWR&CA. The USFWS comment period ends January 31st.

You can learn more about the Refuge and the Conservation Map here.

People’s Climate Movement–Chicagoland

Join us Today! January 23rd from 3:30 to 5:30

The People’s Climate Movement is calling for 100 hours of action in response to the inauguration. Sierra Club Valley of the Fox is joining nearby Sierra Club groups in a rally at Rep. Peter Roskam’s office to let him know that his constituents and neighbors want action on climate change. If you want to do something NOW to have a voice in our future, come to this rally. We will have speakers, chanting, and marching. Make some signs. Have your kids make some signs.

Action nourishes hope.

January 23 – Monday – 3:30 pm – 5:00 pm
People’s Climate Movement-Chicagoland
Rally at Peter Roskam’s Office
2700 International Drive, West Chicago, IL

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Questions? Email Barbara Hill