Environmental Defenders of McHenry County

Citizens working for a healthy environment

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 “When one tugs at a single thing in nature, he finds it attached to the rest of the world.” ~John Muir

 

Mission Statement 

The Environmental Defenders of McHenry County is a citizen organization dedicated to the preservation and improvement of the environment. We are committed to building sound ecological relationships between people and the natural world that supports all life.

To achieve the aim of environmental preservation and improvement, we provide the community with educational programs and volunteer action on pollution prevention, sustainable land use and energy and natural resource conservation.

We advocate policies which protect drinking water supplies and conserve land for open space and agriculture. We demonstrate waste reduction through recycling drives and reuse centers. We encourage natural resource protection through native landscaping and stream protection programs.

 

 

What's important to you?

 

Through the years, the Defenders have had many successes in helping to make McHenry County a healthier place in which to live. From the formation of the McHenry County Conservation District to curbside recycling, from the regulation of gravel mining to the passage of the Illinois Groundwater Protection Act, the Defenders have been at the front line, working closely with local, municipal, and county government while advocating for a healthy environment.

 

The Environmental Defenders of McHenry County has active committees that meet each month.  Committees plan actions and events to address issues facing our natural areas, water resources, and open spaces, as well as addressing decisions being made by our county and city officials. Volunteer opportunities abound. Click Here and email or fax to us.

   

Whether you are a Defenders member or not (and of course we would love to have you join), we want to know how you feel about the things that are going on in our community.


Upcoming Events and Announcements:

(also see Calendar link above)

Office Hours: Monday through Friday, 10 am - 4:30 pm


Volunteer Opportunities 

  • Volunteers needed to set up and staff our annual fall used book sale, starting Sunday, September 19th, and running through October 2nd. The sale will be at the Algonquin Township Road District garage again this year.

  • We’ve started planning for our first Defenders’ Go Green golf outing fundraiser, which is set for Friday, October 1st.  If you’d like to help plan this event, selling tickets, collecting raffle prizes, etc., give us a call.  Even if you’re not a golfer, this is going to be a lot of fun.   

  • Green Spot Resale – we can always use help minding the store, stocking shelves, and general office help. We could also use someone willing to pick up donations as needed. We’re is open this summer during the Woodstock Farmer's Market, and volunteers are needed to help out from 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. on Saturdays and Tuesdays through October.

Come and join us at the PARADE!  

Join us Saturday, September 4th, 2010, for the Lake in the Hills Summer Sunset Festival parade! Line up begins at 8:30am and the parade kicks off promptly at 10:00am. Click Here for a map of the parade route and line-up area, and HERE for more info!


Documentary Film Presentation—”Carbon Nation” 

 

The Defenders’ Climate Change Committee invites you to the showing of the award winning documentary Carbon Nation on September 8, 6:30 pm at the Conference Center at MCC. Co-sponsored by the Lou Marchi Total Recycling Institute at MCC, and the Down To Earth Club.

This will be the premier for the film in McHenry County, and continues the tradition of the Education Committee of delivering premiers to the county that open dialog to such issues as climate change (An Inconvenient Truth and The 11th Hour), pesticide and herbicide use (A Chemical Reaction), the food industry (Food, Inc.) and the insane slaughter of dolphins (The Cove).

Carbon Nation takes us past the effects of climate change and shows us practical, local solutions to dealing with our new earth. 

A five dollar donation is appreciated—Tickets will be available at the Defenders office and at the door.

 



Defenders' McHenry & Woodstock Recycling Drives

*~*We are currently looking for somewhere to recycle single-use household batteries. We will continue to accept them at our monthly drives, but if you can help us out by getting them to other recyclers, that would be great!. Household chemical waste sites will take rechargeable NI CAD, Lithium, and Metal Hydride batteries, but NOT single use, alkaline batteries. Some businesses will take them from individuals - Batteries Plus in Crystal Lake, Elgin & Lake Zurich do. Crystal Lake Bank & Trust has a drop off bin inside their door. Elgin Fire Department has a drop off bin. Check with your local Ace Hardware to see if they can recycle them.

Our next collection of fluorescent tubes, batteries, and clean, white block polystyrene foam (AKA Styrofoam) will be in McHenry on Saturday, September 11, from 9 am until noon. Click the link below for the address and more information.

read more...


 

2011 Entertainment Books Fundraiser

 

The 2011 Entertainment coupon books are now available at the office.  For $25, you get a huge assortment of discounts and buy-one-get-one offers, including restaurants, sports, travel and more! Stop by the office to have a look and pick one up, or you can order online and have it delivered to your door for $4.99 shipping. Click the picture.

 

 

 


 

 


Leopold Bench Raffle

We are raffling off a Leopold Bench, similar to the one in the photo. Tickets are $1 each or six for $5. The winning ticket will be drawn at the Defenders’ Golf Outing on October 1, 2010. (winner need not be present to win)

Bench design was used by Aldo Leopold, father of the modern land ethic and the field of habitat restoration, at “The Shack” on his Sand County Farm in Wisconsin. Our bench was made and contributed by member John Clementsen.

Stop by the office to see the bench & purchase tickets, or you can send a check to the office.


The new Defenders t-shirts are here!

Available at the office for $10. Ladies' and Men's sizes available. What a great way to spread the word about the Defenders!

 


The Defenders' Store - You can support the Defenders with your purchases through Amazon.com. Go to our "Defenders Store" page, and search Amazon through our search box, or choose one of the items recommended by other Defenders. We'll receive between 4 and 10% of the purchase price, even on gift cards!

On sale at the office - Used books, Conscious Cup travel mugs now on sale $5. Styro packing peanuts and bubble wrap $5 per BIG bag.

GoodSearch.com will donate money to the Defenders every time you use their search engine. Go to www.GoodSearch.com and find Environmental Defenders of McHenry County in the "who do you goodsearch for" box. And if you need to shop, a percentage will be donated to us when you shop through GoodShop link!

Find us on FaceBook!

 

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GET INVOLVED - MAKE A DIFFERENCE!

 

Environmental Defenders of McHenry County, 124 Cass Street, Suite 3, Woodstock, Illinois 60098
815-338-0393  mcdef@owc.net