New Sierra Club Group Formed In Hunterdon County

For Immediate Release
February 19, 2009 Contact: Jeff Tittel, Chapter Director, (609) 558-9100

              Greg Nelson, Hunterdon Group Chair, (973) 598-5013

The New Jersey Sierra Club announced this week that it has established a new group in Hunterdon County. The Hunterdon County group is the chapter's twelfth in the state.

Greg Nelson will serve as chair of the group and Mark Sharrock as vice chair. The approximately 15 group founders were inspired to start up the Sierra Club in Hunterdon County to work on local, state and national issues, Nelson said.

"All of the founders have one goal in common -- to help protect while enjoying our planet. We are very happy to have been given the chance by the Sierra Club's New Jersey Chapter to start a group here in Hunterdon County," Nelson said.

A core issue the group plans to address is open space. "This is a main concern in Hunterdon County as displayed by the strong support for the Open Space Initiative at election time last fall. We need to ensure those monies dedicated to open space here in Hunterdon County are fully utilized and used appropriately," Nelson said.

"Another issue at the top of our agenda is clean energy," he continued. "We are working hard right now to ensure steps are being taken locally and nationally to support President Barack Obama's clean energy policies as well as provide education to the public on how they can help conserve energy or switch to clean energy."

A third issue that will be a priority to the group is recycling. "Hunterdon County has the lowest recycling rate in New Jersey," Nelson said. "That is an embarrassment considering how many people support the environment in our county. We can do much more to educate the public and take other actions to reverse our recycling status and start a positive trend."

New Jersey Sierra Club Director Jeff Tittel said he is pleased that the club is now active in Hunterdon County. "It is very critical for Sierra Club members to be organized in Hunterdon County because it is still one of the places in New Jersey that hasn't been paved over with sprawl," Tittel said. "As a Hunterdon County Resident, I think the club's establishment there will be an important part of the local environmental community. Together we can help ensure that Hunterdon County will have open space for future generations."

The group's Executive Committee will meet on March 2. The first meeting for the general public will be in June or July, Nelson said, adding the group plans to hold several events and outings in 2009.

"Overall, our group is made up of members that really represent a cross section of Hunterdon County," Nelson said. "We cross economic and political lines to work towards the Sierra Club's goals. Basically, we're just normal folks who want to make a difference and have fun with our environment."

Hunterdon County residents who would like more information on how to get involved can contact the group at hunterdonsierra_at_gmail.com.

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Kara Seymour, Program Assistant NJ Sierra Club

145 W. Hanover Street Trenton, NJ 08618

609.656.7612

(f) 609.656.7618

<http://www.newjersey.sierraclub.org> www.newjersey.sierraclub.org

Received on 2009-02-19 09:20:04

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