The Environmental Defenders of McHenry County, McHenry County College Sustainability Center and…invite the public to a special presentation by Betty Trummel, retired District #47 educator, who has just returned from Antarctica.  On December 2, Betty and 75 other women in science from around the world set sail on a three-week science and leadership expedition to the Antarctic Peninsula.  The expedition, called Homeward Bound, took place on board a ship named Ushuaia, named after its home port in Argentina.

Betty will provide us the exciting details about the challenges and rewards of participating in science research and expeditions in the Earth’s southernmost continent and ocean.  She will talk about the role of STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) in working in this remote, harsh and unique environment and will also discuss how the Earth’s Polar regions are important areas for the study of climate change and how the ecosystems on both land and water are impacted by a warming Earth.  In addition, Betty will share a bit about her research and student trip to Arctic Svalbard this past summer.  She will have traveled from 79 degrees north to 65 degrees south in a matter of months!

When: Tuesday, January 24 at 7 PM.   Doors open at 6:30.

Where: Luecht Conference Center, McHenry County College, 8900 U.S. Highway 14 in Crystal Lake.  Event is free to the public, but donations appreciated.

You can make a donation right now through PayPal or mail a check before the end of the year to:

Greetings to all of you!  Whether you have been with us for decades, years or are new to our organization, know that each & every one of you is an essential part of the work & successes of the Environmental Defenders of McHenry County.  You are the energy & force that keeps our organization going!  Thank you for all that you do.

As members & volunteers, you commit daily to protecting & preserving our natural world & educating our community about the value of a healthy environment.  Because of that commitment, we have an influential voice out there in McHenry County.  To take advantage of this, we have been busy growing & changing to make our efforts more impactful. In addition to the annual events that we do such as our Earth Day Celebration, documentary screenings, County Fair booth, It’s Our River Day, fundraising & member events, & many more, we have some big accomplishments to highlight.  We ask for your continued support through an end-of-the-year gift to help us keep building on these accomplishments.

• Recycling: We organized drives around the county keeping tens of thousands of pounds of waste out of the landfills, including electronics.
• Water & Natural Resources Protection: We planted hundreds of plants for monarchs & other pollinators this year at four sites in the county.  We also advocated for a Water Resources Specialist position at the County level & educated our governmental bodies about the dangers of coal tar sealants.
• Styrofoam Recycling Project: The technology for Styrofoam recycling changed quickly, so our efforts had to shift quickly as well.  We began a crowd sourcing program to raise money to continue our successful Styrofoam recycling project.
• The Green Spot: Our little store has done big things this year, collecting & reselling books to raise thousands of dollars to help keep our lights on & computers humming to make sure we can communicate our work to you & the public.
• BYOBag: Our efforts to reduce the use of plastic bags has gone big too, helping 20 municipalities & the county spread the word about not using paper or plastic when shopping, & helping the City of Woodstock to celebrate BYOB for a whole year!
• Strategic Planning: This year we wrote a 3-year Strategic Plan that includes the hiring of a Part-Time Executive Director.  This is a big step for our organization, as it will allow us to have someone specifically designated for public outreach.

As you plan for your year-end giving, please consider a generous donation to the Defenders.  We are asking for your financial help to move us along in our goals.  Please let your dollars follow your heart!

And to keep abreast of all that your donation is accomplishing, please “Like” us on Facebook, read our quarterly newsletter – “EarthConnect”, check out our eNews in your inbox every Wednesday, & visit our website at www.mcdef.org!

On Thursday, December 8, Citizens’ Climate Lobby will be the focus of the acclaimed National Geographic series “Years of Living Dangerously,” which has helped to focus national attention on climate change and the organizations working on solutions that individuals, communities, companies, and governments can use to address it.

The McHenry County Chapter of Citizens’ Climate Lobby will celebrate this recognition with a public viewing party, to be held at McHenry County College, Room 166-7, from 7:00pm-9:00pm. The public is invited to the screening, which is offered free of charge.

“At a time when many Americans despair about the partisan gridlock in Washington, CCL volunteers provide hope by bringing Republicans and Democrats together to work on climate solutions,” said Mark Reynolds, Executive Director of Citizens’ Climate Lobby. “This episode of ‘Years of Living Dangerously’ highlights the work of Jay Butera, one of those amazing volunteers.”

Citizens Climate Lobby works to build the political will for climate change solutions such as a national, revenue neutral carbon fee-and-dividend system. Since the organization’s 2007 founding, it has empowered ordinary citizens to hold direct meetings with congressional representatives, local officeholders and business leaders, and other influential stakeholders as they make the case for fair, effective climate action.

The episode will be preceded by a message from special guests, including members of the “Years of Living Dangerously” cast.

Local sponsors include Citizens’ Climate Lobby, the McHenry County College Sustainability Center, The McHenry County League of Women Voters, and the Environmental Defenders of McHenry County.