|
A note about our name change...
The McHenry County Defenders is changing its name to The
Environmental Defenders of McHenry County to better reflect who
we are and what we do. Just as
organisms evolve with the changing ecosystem, the Defender’s Board
modified the organization’s name to accurately describe the mission
of the organization: to be a citizen organization
dedicated to the preservation and improvement of the environment.
The Environmental
Defenders of McHenry County is proud to serve the natural world, to promote citizen involvement in
the environment, and to continue its work to provide for a healthier
future for everyone. |
8 Ways to Green Your Independence Day
From eco-friendlier
fireworks to the ole' propane vs charcoal debate -
Click Here for the answers! |
|
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 and grow. Some of
these achievements include: becoming the first recycling center in
the County, formation of the McHenry County Conservation District,
defeat of the County’s 2020 plan, preventing landfills on permeable
soils, regulation of gravel mining in McHenry County, passage of the
Illinois Groundwater Protection Act and the Solid Waste Management
Act, and protection of many natural areas, such as Volo Bog. Over
the years, The Defenders have won several awards, including the
Illinois Environmental Council's Environmental Organization of the
Year, the Governor's Hometown Award, and the McHenry County
Outstanding Recycler Award. The Defenders work closely with other
local and regional environmental groups and work with
local, municipal, and County government while advocating for a
healthy environment.
The
Environmental Defenders of McHenry County
has several 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 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.
Defenders'
Upcoming Events and Announcements:
The Defenders' Store
Now
Open! 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 on of the items
recommended by other Defenders. We'll receive between 4 and 10% of the
purchase price.
And
remember that we also have composters, chico bags, and solar ovens for
sale at the office.
Defenders'
McHenry
& Woodstock Recycling Drives
Our next drive is
Saturday,
July 12th, 2008 from 9am-1pm in McHenry
at the Metra Station Parking lot, 4005 Main Street in McHenry, from 9 AM until 1
PM. The McHenry
collection will also pay for aluminum, brass and copper.
Click Here for what we accept.
CFL Recycling Now at all
Home Depot Locations!
"The Home Depot, the world's largest home
improvement retailer, today expanded its long-term commitment to the
environment and sustainability by launching a national in-store,
consumer compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulb recycling program at
all 1,973 The Home Depot locations. This free service is the first
such offering made so widely available by a retailer in the United
States and offers customers additional options for making
environmentally conscious decisions from purchase to disposal."
Click Here to read the press release.
Don't Panic!
"OMG! I broke a
CFL! It's got mercury in it - now what do I do?!?!"
Click Here for the answer.
Waste
Not Barn Sales
Through the generosity of a
Defenders' member, we will have the use of a barn to do
monthly garage sales this summer. The address is 8118 Rte 31 in
Richmond, right across from Richmond-Burton High School. These sales
generate a substantial amount of money for the Defenders, and we
appreciate your help either by donating items, working the sales, or
buying at the sales.
Next Sale dates are
Friday, July 18th and Saturday, July 19th, from 10 until 3. We
will need help on all sale days
throughout the summer.
We can accept goods during the sales
or on our next day to drop off donated items - July 12th, from 9 until 1. This is a
private residence, so please do not bring anything except on
designated days. We need help
cleaning, pricing, displaying, and selling. Call the office
if you can help!!! CLICK HERE for more info.
CD and
DVD Sale
So you got a new iPod and a Blu-Ray
player, and now you don’t know what to do with all those old-fashioned CDs and DVDs.
The Defenders can help! Sometime this summer, we will be holding a used
CD and DVD sale on the Square, and we can use what you no longer need.
You can drop CDs and DVDs at the office, or at any of the Waste-Not
sales (where we can also take VHS and cassettes).
(And yes, we'll even
take Polka music!)
Meet me at the County Fair!
The Defenders have again been invited to work as ticket
takers at the McHenry County Fair, (located at the McHenry County
Fairgrounds in Woodstock on Country Club Road) on July 30-August 3. Last
year, our members earned about $2200 for the Defenders! Help from our
members is vital in order to make this another successful fundraiser.
Free admission to the Fair for volunteers! The shifts available are:
Wednesday, July 30: 9 people are needed to cover 3
gates. Three shifts need to be filled (27 volunteers) from 7:00 a.m.
until 9:30 p.m.
Thursday, July 31: 9 people are needed to cover 3
gates. Two shifts need to be filled (18 people) from 7:00 a.m. until
5:00 p.m.
Friday, August 1: 9 people are needed to cover 3
gates. Two shifts need to be filled (18 people) from 7:00 a.m. until
5:00 p.m.
Two to three additional people are needed on Friday,
Saturday and Sunday at the Main gate from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
To schedule a shift, please email or call the Defenders
office at 815-338-0393. Thank you in advance for your help!
GET
INVOLVED - MAKE A DIFFERENCE!
|
Environmental
Defenders of McHenry County 
