50th Anniversary National Trails, Tour of solar and green homes, Waste and recycling symposium, Environmental Justice and Northern Virginia
October 2018 Great Falls Group Cascade
Calendar of Significant Events


Oct 2 - 50th Anniversary of the National Trails System Act

Oct 6 & 7 - Tour of Solar and Green Homes

Oct 17 - Waste and Recycling Symposium

Oct 23 - Environmental Justice and Northern Virginia
From the Chair
The Sierra Club Great Falls Group (GFG) has made significant progress in educating the community on clean energy, starting an active Fall schedule of programs, and ramping up for the Fall elections. 

Upcoming Events and Information
From Kate Addleson
Director, Virginia Chapter
I am pleased to share that our 2017 Annual Report is now complete and available online here: http://vasierraclub.org/ar2017.pdf

Thank you for all you do for the environment as part of our organization. It is such an honor to work with such a committed and passionate group of leaders, especially through such challenging times.
50th Anniversary of the National Trails System Act
October 2, 2018 is the 50th Anniversary of the National Trails System which was written up in the September 2018 Cascade article by Frank Wodarczyk. 

At Trails50 you can sign up to get email updates to find out what is happening in your area as well as get key updates to the 50th Anniversary. 

This Fall's Tour of Solar and Green Homes
CONTACT : Call Charlie Garlow at 301-312-7703 if you have questions.
WHEN : Open house tour is on Saturday and Sunday, October 6-7, 11 AM-5 PM.

DETAILS : This is the metro area's annual nonprofit educational event where you can see real solar homes and ask questions of real homeowners — not just salespeople. You can also see electric cars, water barrels, radiant floor heating, and other green features.This is a chance to see what it's like to Go Solar.

SPONSORS : the Mid-Atlantic Solar Energy Society (MASES) and the Maryland, DC, Virginia Solar Energy Industries Association (MDV-SEIA)

Visit  Solartour.org  for more details.
Help Protect Public Lands: Join the Our Wild America Campaign Activists List
Joining the Sierra Club’s Our Wild America Campaign activists list makes it easy for you to stay informed and ready to help protect our public lands, air, and waters. Activism can take many forms – all of them valuable – so you can act and respond in whatever ways you’re able: submitting comments, making calls, attending rallies, hosting house meetings, pressuring corporations, and more.  
Waste & Recycling Symposium
WHEN: Wednesday, October 17; 9:00 AM - 3:30 PM
WHERE: Northern Virginia Community College, Annandale Campus, Ernst Center, Theater & Forum
8333 Little River Turnpike, Annandale, VA
DETAILS : Event will feature films (Wasted! The Story of Food Waste; Styrofoam Mom; and The Clean Bin Project), as well as Exhibitors, a Networking and Expo Forum, and Panel Discussion: Recycling in Northern Virginia. More information
CONTACT : Click here to register.

SPONSORS: Presented by Northern Virginia Community College in partnership with Fairfax County Solid Waste Management Program
Environmental Justice and Northern Virginia
WHEN : Tuesday, October 23; 6:30 - 8:30 PM (6:30 PM snacks, 7:00 PM presentation)
WHERE :  Oakton Library, 10304 Lynnhaven Place, Oakton, VA
DETAILS : How does environmental justice relate to our community/group? Join Sierra Club Virginia's Environmental Justice Chair Alexis Szepesy and Program Coordinator Gustavo Angeles to facilitate a discussion to talk about environmental justice in Virginia. This is an introduction to environmental justice and includes GIS maps of our region including: Ethnicity, health (asthma, COPD, cancer cluster, per cent of population with health care), power plants, pipelines, coal ash sites, prison locations, coal mine, etc. 

CONTACT: Susan Bonney at  sbonney001@aol.com

SPONSOR: Sierra Club Great Falls Group
Update on Recent Events
GFG Educates Local Governments on Clean Energy Financing Alternatives September 7
Fairfax County Supervisor John Foust
With the encouragement of Fairfax County Supervisor John Foust, the Sierra Club Great Falls Group organized a workshop on budget-neutral, clean energy alternative financing options for local governments at the Fairfax County Government Center on September 7.

Representatives from approximately six local governments in Northern Virginia attended the workshop in person. Supervisor Foust arranged filming of the workshop. The video and background materials are available online.


Hands Across Appalachian Trail Sept. 22-23 2018
The Hands Across the Appalachian Trail annual event took place on Sept. 22 and 23 across the commonwealth, including locally in western Loudoun County.

Despite the rainy weather at Bear’s Den, many concerned citizens came to join hands to protect our land, our water, our communities and the iconic Appalachian Trail (AT) from the unnecessary and unwanted onslaught of the Atlantic Coast Pipeline (ACP) and the Mountain Valley Pipeline (MVP). These pipelines cross the AT at scenic locations in Nelson County and Giles County, Virginia.

Plastic Free Forum Sept. 22
On Saturday, September 22, GFG co-hosted the Plastic Free Forum in collaboration with 350 Fairfax and several other local climate action groups, to help launch October’s 30-day Plastic Free Challenge in Fairfax. Panelists included Sen. Chap Petersen (D-34); Dr. Dann Sklarew, a professor at George Mason University who coordinates the university’s Sustainability Initiatives; Lori Arguelles, President and CEO of the Alice Ferguson Foundation; and Helene Shore, 350 Fairfax co-founder and co-chair.

More information about the Plastic Free Challenge can be found at 350Fairfax.org/plastic-free-challenge
Faith Alliance for Climate Solutions
Climate Crisis Forum Sept. 24
Over 400 members of faith communities and other groups attended the September 18 Climate Crisis Forum in Vienna, VA September 24. Sponsored by the Faith Alliance for Climate Solutions (FACS), featured speakers were U.S. Senator Tim Kaine, (D), candidate for re-election and Mr. Corey Stewart, Chairman At-Large, Prince William County Board of Supervisors, (R), election opponent. The Sierra Club Great Falls Group and many others tabled at the event.
Ivy Main, Sevim Kalyoncu, and Eric Goplerud
Town Hall on the Future of Energy in Virginia
On Monday, September 24, 2018, 7-9:00 pm, Virginia Delegate Jennifer B. Boysko  and the Air & Waste Management Association , Baltimore-Washington Chapter sponsored a town hall discussion on the future of energy in Virginia. Approximately 50 people attended the event, which was held in the Herndon Town Council chambers.

Several environmental groups, including the Sierra Club Great Falls group, provided information and handouts at the tables in the lobby.
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