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For
last year's words belong to last year's language, And next year's words
await another voice. And to make an end is to make a beginning. ~ T.S.
Eliot
A Happy,
Prosperous, and Green New Year to All!
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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.
Click
Here to let us know what you’d like to see on website.
Click
Here to become an Environmental Defenders of McHenry County Member.
Upcoming Events and Announcements:
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 their
GoodShop link!
The Defenders' Store Now
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!
Defenders'
McHenry
& Woodstock Recycling Drives
Our next
drive will be in
McHenry
on Saturday, January 10th, from 9 am until
noon. Click the link below for the address and more information.
read more...
O Tannenbaum!
When it is time to take down your Christmas tree, remove all the tinsel &
decorations and recycle your tree. Many municipalities have programs
to pick up your tree curbside & grind it into mulch, or there are
several drop-off sites in the county.
Click here for info.
Or consider using it to feed wildlife in your yard.
Click here
for tasty "ornaments" for the critters!
IRA Charitable Rollover
As a part of the Emergency Economic Stabilization
Act of 2008, Congress extended the IRA charitable rollover through 2009.
If you are 70 1/2 years of age or older and must remove funds from your
IRA annually, please consider The IRA Charitable Rollover tax incentive
and make a direct contribution to the Defenders. The Rollover allows
individuals to donate from their IRAs and Roth IRAs to public charities
without having to count the distributions as taxable income, as long as:
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the gift is made in 2009; |
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the IRA holder is age 70˝ or
older; |
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the gift totals $100,000 or less
each year (a couple with separate IRAs can each give up
to that amount); |
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the withdrawal goes directly from
the IRA to the charity. |
You do not need to itemize your taxes to take advantage of the
rollover, but if you do itemize, you cannot also take the contribution
as a deduction.
Check with your financial advisor to make sure you can take advantage
of this giving opportunity.
Click Here for a sample request letter to send to your IRA
administrator, and
Here
for a sample letter to send to the Defenders.
Just when you
thought the holidays were over….a new one comes along!
You are cordially
invited to Small Waters Education’s
Perihelion Possibilities Celebration
As the earth’s
orbit brings us closest to the sun, we will explore our
relationship with the amazing story of life, and the present
moment (known as the Great Turning) where we turn to new
possibilities for positive change.
Saturday,
January 10, 2009.
15820 IL Route
173 in Alden.
(1/2 mile east of Aden Road, 4
miles west of Rt 47)
10:30 am -
video presentation: Mycelium
Running: How Mushrooms Can Save the World
with Paul Stamets, Fungi Perfecti
Noon- Potluck
Lunch (Bring a dish to share, beverages
provided)
1:30 to 3:30 pm
- Ceremony: Presentation on the Great Turning,
outdoor guided nature meditation, Grandmothers Dancing the
Creation of the Universe performance, contemplation and sharing
circle, song and festive celebration.
Come in the
morning, or the afternoon, or both.
RSVP Jack and Judy
Speer 815-648-1372 or 815-690-6240 or smwaters@intergate.com
There is no fee for this
event. However, freewill donations to Small Waters Education
will be gratefully accepted.
Donations to Small Waters Education, a 501(c)3 organization, are
fully tax-deductible. Small Waters promotes mutually beneficial
relationships between humans and the rest of the natural world
Wingate Prairie
Restoration Day
Sierra Club-Illinois Water Sentinels and Environmental
Defenders of McHenry County are seeking volunteers to help
out the regular crew who manages this site. Volunteers young
and old can help with restoration efforts at this Illinois
Nature Preserve. We will be cutting and hauling non-native
buckthorn and honeysuckle which are invading the prairie and
woodlands at this Crystal Lake Park District site.
Volunteers should come dressed for winter weather including
sturdy boots and gloves. Saturday, January 17, from 9
am - 11 am.
Veteran Acres Nature Center,
330 N Main Street in Crystal Lake.
For
more information, and to sign up, Click Here.
The Defenders’ Coffee Sales
Conscious Cup in Crystal Lake has graciously consented to have the
coffee sale be an on-going fundraiser!
Contact your friends, family, and co-workers to
purchase these high quality organic and fair trade Arabica coffees. We even have our own blend! Print out the
sale sheet by clicking here
and use the order form on the back to mark your orders. Collect payment
at the time of the sale. Checks should be made out to “Defenders”.
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Environmental
Defenders of McHenry County 
