The Virginia chapter newsletter, Old Dominion Sierran, is an 8-page tabloid publishing six times a year – Jan./Feb., Mar./Apr., May/June, July/Aug., Sep./Oct., and Nov./Dec. The newsletter covers environmental issues and campaigns important to the state of Virginia. Included is a page devoted to grassroots activities (News from the Groups), and another page addressing conservation tips for individual members to incorporate in their daily lives (Love the Earth, Live the Simple Life.)

Articles, photos and other graphics are welcome. Deadlines for articles in 2008 are Feb. 10, April 11, June 13, August 15, Oct. 12, Dec. 5. For word counts and photo instructions, contact the editor, Barbara Null, bnull@comcast.net.

Recent Issues

The following issues are available as PDF downloads, please note the large file sizes. To read these you will need Adobe Acrobat Reader, available free from Adobe.

2008

July/August (791 KB)

Virginia's waterways inaccessible for public use
Smart Growth and Transportation Campaign
Va. Chapter needs your help to improve air quality
Take a summer job to save the Bay
Environmentalists continue to fight Wise County coal-fired power plant
Guide to types of plastic
Raising children with sustainable values
Small farms more productive and profitable
Lightbulbs to Leadership campaign
Five easy ways to cut fuel costs
Sierra Club responds to Bush/McCain proposal to open more offshore drilling
Fight to Save the Mattaponi continues
Fall Jamboree to be held September 12-14
Hampton Roads area gears up for activism
Tour de Cut season for 2008
Challenging 100K and 50K One Day Hike
Facts Dominion Power doesn't want you to know

May-June (858 KB)

Wind energy siting in Mid-Altantic
Highlights: 2008 General Assembly session
Sierra Club organizer based in Hampton Roads
Glen Besa takes post of Virginia Chapter Director
Virginia Air Board to review Dominion's Wise County plant permit
People power needed to stop Wise power plant
Power2Change campaign comes to Virginia
How green is your personal computer?
Conservation: an Inconvenient Cost
Building green economy--Green Jobs conference
GWNF planning meetings expected early summer
Waterfront development risky
Roanoke St. Patrick's Day Parade
Fly ash disposal now in lawyers' hands
Tree planting event in Richmond
RVCCC greening workshop to be held May 16
Sierra Club author, cyclist on Virginia book tour
Student activists--the climate needs you
For both fun and satisfaction try service outings
Governor needs to protect our children's health

March-April (856 KB)

Governor's VA Commision on Climate Change
VA Chapter elects officers, seats new delegates
From Inspiration to Action - March 2
14 VA colleges and universities sign on to climate plan
300 people crowd into SCC hearing
Smart Growth - volunteers lobby on Capitol Hill
Arctic species need protection from big oil
Sierra Club's Project Renewal opposed
Use CFLs safely and responsibly
Dark side of ethanol and biodiesel subsidies
Sierra Club adopts new population policy
Do we really need all that stuff?
Flood plains and fly ash
Increasing energy efficiency can be achieved
University of Richmond signs climate commitment
Another Cool City
Environmentalist elected to Board of Supervisors
Get into the woods in 2008
Canoe excursion planned April 20th
Fall Jamboree plans taking shape
Acitvist Outings help Sierra Club promote positions
Help Wanted - bold leadership on global warming

January-February (1859 KB)

2008 Legislative Priorities
Two seasoned activists join chapter staff
Virginia Conservation Network lobby day
Wise County, Bali and Beyond
Say NO to new coal plant in Virginia
How to stop a power plant
Talking points for SCC commissioners
Personally reducing our carbon footprint
Changes to reduce transportation emissions
Lifestyle choices reduce CO2 emissions
Environmental candidates triumph
Besa, Matteson at UN Climate Change Conference
Virginia Ridge & Valley Act pass House
Sierrans play role in 2007 Roanoke Energy Expo
Rappahannock Group's two key projects progress
Greening the Grassroots II
Attention: Great Falls Group members
Outings
Fall Jamboree at Pocahontas State Park

2007

November-December (2370 KB) Wise Energy for Virginia; Robbie cox to be featured at December gala; Hundreds hear vision behind Citizens Energy Plan; New nuclear reactors at North Anna opposed by environmentalists; Sierra Club lobbies Congress; Buy local - it's the new red, white and blue; Move beyond toxic plastic bottles; Make your office a greener work place; Personal sustainable choices impact climate change; Cars, Cattle and Chainsaws; Tour de Cut takes hikers into back country; Local coalition gives free CFLs; Shenandoah Group holds get-acquainted picnic; Greening the Grassroots II; At-large delegates to be elected to Chapter ExCom; Thanks to Senator Warner and Senator Webb; Mile-long petition to Dominion

September-October (393 KB) Fight against coal power plant in Alexandria continues; National Sierra Club to honor Dean Amel; Tour de Cut to be held October 6; Shenandoah Group to hold picnic September 16; Check out Virginia Chapter’s new web site; Leaders wanted to serve on Chapter’s ExComm; Government regulations oppress small farmers; Green electric power available to Va. consumers; Major attitude changes necessary for greener living; Citizens Energy Plan; Take the 100 hour challenge; Residents say more conservation, not more power lines; Fish Kills in Northwest Virginia; Chapter Outings Policies soon available; Additional staff to be hired; Anti-noise activities further goals of Sierra Club

July-August (262 KB) Long Hot Summer in Global Warming Battle; Notes from the Chair; Bandy Field Park honors Charles Price; Help wanted; Intern community organizers in Hopewell; Water pollution -- a definition; Adjust driving to conserve fuel; Local food is miles better; What changes have you made to reduce carbon?; Threat of drilling for oil off Va. coast continues; Albemarle County stops using pesticides; Web site created on Safe Climate Act; Film series held at Roanoke Natural Food Co-op; Piedmont Group campaigns to fund county position to market local agriculture; Shareholders, activists demand clean energy; Bluestone River educational efforts; Book News; The case for standing on the big rock

May-June (307 KB) Working towards a new Fort Monroe National Park; Notes from the Chair; Tour de Cut in GWNF May 20; Va. Ridge and Valley Act could pass this summer; Clean water, access to water our goal; Take Action Now; Growing a healthy organic lawn; Smart growth -- reducing global warming; Legislative wrap up; Sierra Club to attend shareholder meetings; Film festival huge success in Roanoke; Bike and pedestrian path update; Easter Parade on Monument Avenue; Greening the Grassroots workshop June 9; Ken Burns wants you in his next film; Student leadership environmental training July 9-15; Wildlife and wild places photo contest; Fate of George Washington National Forest

March-April (614 KB) Working with communities preyed upon by polluters; Virginia Chapter elects officers, honors staff; Virginia Chapter recruits treasurer; Environmental Injustice impacts SW Virginia; Women tested for mercury in Cradock Comm.; Conserving energy at home; Conservation efforts identified in 2006 continue; GW National Forest Plans to be revised; Time to protect Redrock Wilderness; Community organizing for environmental protection; Cool Cities signs on more Virginia Cities; Arlington Initiative to Reduce Emissions enacted; Blacksburg becomes Cool City; Activist outings highlight adventure and advocacy; Nature Camp classrooms in forests, fields, streams; Venture out into wilderness; Citizens Action Plan for GW National Forest

January-February (692 KB) Predicting 2007 legislative session's impact on environment; VCN Lobby Day; Conservation buyers needed; Kenya Climate Change Conference; Finding a vision for a quality community; Have a clean, safe home with non-toxic products; Take heart from RAIL Solution; Roanoke Group honors Bob Egbert; Roanoke Group to co-host energy film festival; Green Living, Energy Expo huge success; Footworn Trail; Clair Tappaan Lodge gem in the Sierras; Sierra Club Radio begins broadcasting; When our luxuries become necessities