The BEAT News October 30, 2013

News Headlines

Take Action to Protect Our Endangered Species!

from Mass Audubon –

Next Monday, November 4th, the Joint Committee on Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture will hold a hearing that includes two bills Mass Audubon strongly opposes. These bills would result in a repeal of endangered species protections in the Commonwealth. Environmental groups and the business community alike have supported the standards the program currently uses to protect endangered species. The effort to gut endangered species protections is coming from a limited, but very vocal, few. [BEAT strongly opposes the anti-protection legislation!]

We urge you to contact Chairman Pacheco and Chairwoman Gobi today – by phone, email, or mail – to ask them to protect endangered species and halt Senate Bill 345 and Senate Bill 411. In addition, you can let your own Representative and Senator know where you stand, and ask them to speak to the Chairs as well.

Please also express your support for An Act Relative to the Massachusetts Endangered Species Act, H.756. Mass Audubon supports this consensus bill, which would improve the Massachusetts Endangered Species Act rather than repeal it. [BEAT supports this legislation even though we do not think it is protective enough.]

Find out who your legislators are and how to contact them: www.malegislature.gov/People/FindMyLegislator

Thank you for stepping up to protect endangered species!

Hearing details:
Monday, November 4, 2013
1:00 p.m.
Room A-2
State House
Boston, MA

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Watchdog Warns of ‘Dirty Dozen’ Hormone Disruptors

from Environmental Health News

Environmental Working Group and the Keep-A-Breast Foundation’s new “Dirty Dozen” guide to what they deem the worst endocrine-disrupting chemicals lists ingredients that can be found in rocket fuel, brake fluid, flame retardants, herbicides and non-stick frying pans. Huffington Post
http://huff.to/16iADO1

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Berkshire Move to Amend presents

A Community Conversation on Climate Change and Corporate Greed

Sunday, November 3rd, 2-5pm

Join us for a terrific FREE movie and discussion

GREEDY LYING BASTARDS

An investigation into the corruption in business and government that continues to hinder climate change legislation in America.

Following the film there will be a discussion led by Lee Ketelsen, Massachusetts Move to Amend

Move to Amend is a national, non-partisan coalition calling for an amendment to the US Constitution clearly stating that “Corporations Are Not People and Money is Not Speech”

55 North Street, Second Floor

(Brigades)

Pittsfield, MA

This event is co-sponsored by Berkshire Brigades, Occupy Berkshires, Berkshire Greens Political Action Committee, Progressive Democrats of America, and the Peace and Justice Committee of U.U. Great Barrington

For more information: mtaberkshires@gmail.com

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(3 Wednesdays 10/30, 11/6, 11/13)

Youth Wildlife Hike & Workshop Series

GREENAGERS IS GOIN’ OUT! If you are between the ages of 14-25 and enjoy getting outdoors, exploring nature, and looking for wildlife, join the outing club for a three part workshop and hike series on how to find and identify local wildlife! If you are interested in turning your passion for the outdoors and wildlife into a marketable skill, join Collin Adkins starting this Wednesday, October 30th. Bring a friend! Outings will be afterwards be on Wednesday afternoons. We will be leaving from the Greenagers office at 3pm and transportation is provided. Afterschool rides are available! Bring a notebook, pen/pencil, and binoculars if you have them.

For questions, more info about the Outing Club, or to find out what else Greenagers is doing email Collin at americorps@greenagers.org or call at 508-471-0184.

Greenagers is located at 33 Rossetter St, Great Barrington, MA 01230 next to the railroad tracks.

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New England RCP Network Gathering on November 13th

Registration is now open for this year’s annual RCP Network Gathering, which will be held on November 13th at the Crowne Plaza in Nashua, NH. This major conference for regional conservation partnerships will focus on collaborative conservation in New England and eastern New York and feature a variety of technical training workshops, expert panels, and discussions with RCP peers on the most innovative and effective tools and strategies to achieve RCP conservation success. Gary Tabor, Executive Director of the Center for Large Landscape Conservation, will be the keynote speaker. There is no charge for this all-day event, but space is limited. To register and learn more about the RCP Gathering, please click here.

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Become a Land Steward in the Hilltowns!

Hilltown Land Trust is kicking off the Fall CR monitoring season and we are actively seeking Volunteer Land Stewards to join our team of awesome, dedicated volunteers.

Volunteer Land Stewards should enjoy the outdoors, have a strong desire to promote community within the Hilltowns, be able to walk long distances over potentially uneven terrain, and have a means of transportation to and from monitoring sites.

As a Volunteer Land Steward, you will be trained in basic monitoring skills including the use of a handheld GPS, compass navigation, tree ID, and understanding landscape features. Volunteer Land Stewards will gain an insider’s view of the inspirational stories that are behind each one of our properties.

The time commitment for this volunteer position is very flexible, but availability during normal working hours is preferred. If you are interested in learning more about this position, please contact HLT’s Land Stewardship Coordinator, Hannah Chamberlain, at (413) 628-4485 x4 or hltlandsteward@ttor.org.

—
Hilltown Families, Inc., P.O Box 98, West Chesterfield, MA 01084

Web Site: www.HilltownFamilies.org

Facebook: www.facebook.com/HilltownFamilies

Twitter: twitter.com/hilltwnfamilies

Pinterest: pinterest.com/hilltwnfamilies

ABOUT HILLTOWN FAMILIES: Hilltown Families is an online grassroots communication network for families living throughout the four counties of Western Massachusetts.  Hilltown Families believes in creating resilient and sustainable communities by developing and strengthening a sense of place in our children and citizens.  We work to accomplish this by connecting, collaborating, and creating community building events, community based educational opportunities, and community service leaning experiences.  Hilltown Families is incorporated as a non-profit in the state of Massachusetts, currently awaiting the approval of 501(c)3 status

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Mass. Nonprofits May Apply for Six Months of Free Consulting

from Mass Nonprofit.org

Massachusetts nonprofits are being invited to apply to receive six months of free consultation to address a specific strategic challenge or issue within their organization in order to enhance their overall impact. MORE

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