A Note from the Chair

When I decided to run for the COG ExCom I never imagined that I would end up as Chair; but as it just so happens, I am easily persuaded. That’s not to say, however, that I’m not eager to do the job. I am happy to work hard for the Central Ohio Group, as are the other ExCom members. I know we have the ability to grow this Group to its full potential, and with your help and participation we can do just that. Consequently, I would like to extend the offer to everyone to contact me with any suggestions or comments intended for the betterment of the Group. Do you have any ideas for fundraising activities? Are you anxious to share an idea for the monthly program? What about an activity that reaches out to all our members? Just jot me a line or give me a call to let me know.

It’s an exciting time to be involved with the Club, and I hope that together we can make all of Central Ohio feel the same way.

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Bon Voyage to Cyane Gresham

Cyane Gresham has been working for the Ohio Sierra Club in our downtown Columbus office for the past 3 years. Her excellent work has been focused on clean water in Central Ohio, including working to stop the City of Columbus’ illegal sanitary sewer overflows into local rivers and creeks. Columbus now has 2 legal consent orders with Ohio EPA which lay out plans to make repairs and improvements to sanitary and combined sewers.

Cyane has also worked with watershed organizations and with the Greenways program of the Mid Ohio Regional Planning Commission. She has spoken to environmental and civic organizations about how to recognize, report and help reduce sanitary and storm sewer overflows and deal with excess water in our homes and yards. She has also worked on Central Ohio development issues, reading development permits and making comments at public hearings. There are an astonishing number of new permits for building being requested in our area, and their combined effect poses a major threat to our ecosystem.

Cyane is also an expert botanist and has made recommendations to the Ohio Dept. of Transportation, the City of Columbus and developers on how to use native plantings to restore areas after construction.

Cyane and her husband Alan Bayersdorfer are making plans for extensive travel and cycling, starting in Europe in the fall.  We hope that they will come back to Central Ohio in the not-too-distant future! Stay in touch with Cyane at her new .

Introducing Sarah Topy, New BEC Coordinator

We are thrilled to introduce Sarah Topy as the new Building Environmental Communities (BEC) organizer, joining Sierra Club’s staff in Columbus. Sarah comes to Sierra Club with a deep commitment to the environment and extensive organizing experience. As Chief of Staff for the Undergraduate Student Government, Sarah organized 250 volunteers at OSU, working with the university, state and local governments on programs such as campus recycling and a weekly campus cleanup. Subsequently, Sarah was propelled into political organizing, working with the Kerry campaign in 2003-04, then in the Ohio House of Representatives, and most recently in 2006, as the State Field Director for the Democratic Party Coordinated Campaign. Sarah notes that she first became involved in political work after reading Al Gore’s “Earth in the Balance”. Having immersed herself in politics for a few years, Sarah says she is excited to use her organizing skills to build the grassroots strength that Sierra Club needs to take on the environmental challenges before us. Our Building Environmental Communities program will benefit from her experience and dedication. .

Editorial note: Sarah is replacing Jed Thorp, who is now a public information officer at Ohio EPA. Jed is the person to contact with suggestions about how OEPA can improve their communication of information to the public, including making permit notices and short permit applications easily available on line and larger permit applications available on disc. .