Fill your morning cup, pull up a chair, and join our efforts to resist fascism.

Meeting first on Zoom and as we are able meeting in regional, face-to-face groups as well we gather regularly to provide inspiration and support to one another. ,

“Authoritarian power is derived from fear of repression, isolation from each other and exhaustion at the utter chaos. We’re already feeling it…Thus, for us to be of any use in a Trump world, we have to pay grave attention to our inner states, so we don’t perpetuate the autocrat’s goals of fear, isolation, exhaustion or constant disorientation.”   From: “Ten ways to be prepared and grounded now that trump has won” by Daniel Hunter

Third Act Illinois convenes this Friday morning “Tea and Coffee” series to give members an opportunity to build those trusting and sustainable relationships essential in these turbulent and isolating times.

Every Friday starting at 9:30 am, ends at 10:45 am.

Sign up here or email convener Jean Bryan
Zoom Link

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Here is our “reading” list for April:

• April 4th – Your Questions Answered: We’re Already in the Aftermath – On Trump and Russia, defeating the mafia state, and more. 
  
• April 11th – Earth Day in 1970: How a 53-year-old U.S. senator led a “youthquake.’ A short piece about the long lasting effects of Earth Day: 
• April 18th – Please watch this TED Talk about the Power of Hope before the we gather: (20 minutes)

Come sit amongst friends,
Bring your cup of something hot;
talk and share. Resist!

Updated: 040225

Climate Safe Pension Funds for Illinois!

We are calling on YOU to reach out to your legislators and ask them to support the Fossil Fuel Divestment Act. It is time for Illinois to align our pension investments with our commitment to decarbonize our state through the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act.

Why?  Because Illinois pension funds are invested in fossil fuel companies. These investments finance the continued growth and expansion of the very industry that is the number one contributor to global warming and the effects of a changing climate on our communities and our economy.  And now it is time for the State of Illinois to step up and act on this important issue.

In a truly magical scene, these brilliant and intensely blue birds were dancing playfully between a couple trees, and right there and then, I decided to change my life’s path: to go back to school to study ecology, a field entirely new to me.

A few weeks later, I enrolled in a Master in Environmental Studies at Northeastern Illinois, while continuing to work as a lecturer teaching French at Northwestern University.

Around that time, I discovered the North Branch Prairie Project (now called the North Branch Restoration Project), a wonderful organization of volunteers who spend their Sundays restoring Cook County forest preserves and educating themselves to become citizen scientists and advocates.

I had come from Belgium a few years before, and the idea that volunteers could help manage public lands and advocate on their behalf was a totally new concept for me. It seduced me right away. I eventually became a steward at a beautiful prairie in Northbrook and spent a lot of time in the next 20 years happily monitoring plants, collecting seeds, cutting buckthorn, participating in prescribed burns, etc. And as a result of that work, I became increasingly worried about the climate and determined to do something more directly focused on that issue.

And then I attended a lecture by Bill McKibben during his 2012 “Do the Math Tour,” aimed at motivating college students to get their universities to divest from fossil fuels. Several years of activism with students ensued and eventually led to my involvement with 350 Chicago.

As I am sure you know, Bill McKibben founded 350.org before founding Third Act, when he turned 60. So, when I retired last December, it seemed natural to find out more about Third Act.

One of my first actions with Third Act Illinois was to go to City Hall on a cold and icy day in January to support a presentation to the press of CABO (Clean and Affordable Buildings Ordinance). I was thrilled to meet a group of active and dedicated peers and realized that this group was where I wanted to invest my energy. Very attractive to me was the sense of purpose, the combined experience of many members, and the resulting effectiveness of the Third Act organization.

This year, while I am still figuring out what retirement means, I want to be involved in the Preserving Democracy committee as the urgent fight to mitigate climate change and to transition to a fossil free society depends on having a functioning democracy.  Apart from that, I’ve had the opportunity to go back to City Hall for more CABO action, and to represent Third Act at a senior living facility and at a Chicago eco-fest, all activities that gave me a chance to work alongside fellow Third Actors.

It is those actions that I have enjoyed the most and have given me hope. I look forward to getting to know more of you and together to do our part to engage with the important issues of this critical moment in time.

__________________

All photos provided by Christiane Rey.

This article originally appeared in the 2024 July/August edition of the Third Act Illinois Newsletter.  

Contact: 

• Mardi Klevs at mklevs@gmail.com
• Susan Cotton at cotton.susan@gmail.com

Monthly Meeting:

• Usually the third Thursday of the month at 9:30 am. On Zoom. Please check the “Events” listing for details. 

Current Activities and Initiatives:

• Public Utility Companies: Fight utility rate hikes that extend reliance on infrastructure projects throughout Illinois and, in Springfield, organize to reshape Springfield’s energy future by ending its reliance on coal-fired generation.
• Chicago’s Clean and Affordable Buildings Ordinance (CABO) – In Chicago, the single largest source (68%) of all emissions is buildings. Third Act Illinois supports this legislation which, when enacted, will begin the long-term transition off the gas system and towards all-electric buildings. CABO can be a model for other metropolitan areas.
• Electrification: We are initiating a Navigation Project to assist our members and other seniors, both renters and homeowners, through the often confusing journey toward electrification.  

The best way to learn all about the Democratizing Energy Committee and upcoming actions is to attend our monthly meeting. 

Climate-fueled disasters exacted a devastating toll across the world again in 2023 with more extreme weather events (over $1 Billion in cost) in the USA than ever. At the same time, the fossil fuel companies had record profits and the biggest, dirtiest banks (Chase, Citi, Bank of America, and Wells Fargo) are continuing to fund the expansion of the fossil fuel industry when we know that any new development will just lengthen the time for us to address global warming. We have some great solutions (solar and wind energy, electric cars, electrification, cleaner and more efficient buildings) and the Inflation Reduction Act provides great incentives and programs to spur innovation and success.  We work to ensure we’re moving in the right direction as fast as possible.

Contact:

• Elliot Rossen at erossen@comcast.net (co-chair)
• Jack Swenson at johnlswenson@gmail.com   (co-chair)
• Kathy Tholin at kathy.tholin@gmail.com (co-chair)

Regular meeting:

Monthly, usually the third Wednesday of the month. See “Events” for the next meeting.

Current activities:

• Ensure that Illinois Has Climate Safe Public Pension Funds.  A climate safe world depends on investing wisely our collective resources including the funds states set aside for pension beneficiaries. This is why we are excited to be championing House Bill 3037 and Senate Bill 3717 (Illinois Pension Divestment Act) which would require our state to prohibit the investment of public pension funds in fossil fuels.  We are  joining 350 Chicago and the Climate Realty Project in forming Climate Safe Pensions Illinois, a campaign to create a critical mass of support for this legislation.
• Pressure the Big Banks and Corporations to Stop Financing Fossil Fuel Companies to Pollute our World, Destroy our Health, and Expand the Climate Chaos. We are participating in 2-3 major national campaigns focused on private divestment of large, private investment portfolios through coordinated “actions”.
• Help People Make Climate-Safe Personal Investments Through our “Move Your Money” Program. A climate safe world starts with us.  Each of us makes individual financial decisions which put our money in the hands of banks, fund managers and insurance companies who invest it on our behalf.  To change our financial services choices can seem complicated and we’re here to help everyone simply that process!

How you can help:

• Are you interested in large, impactful projects to help stop the money pipeline that is fueling climate chaos?
• Are you interested in ensuring future generations can live on a thriving, sustainable planet?
• Do you want to ensure that the huge state pension funds are not financing fossil fuel expansion? We are looking for team leaders in every legislative district and every allied environment organization to bring people together around this issue. Please join us!

Contact:

• Jean Bryan at jbryan.chitown@gmail.com (co-chair)
• Catharine Schutzius at cschutzius@sbcglobal.net (co-chair)
• Laurie Bunkers at lbunks@comcast.net (volunteer coordinator)

Regular meeting:

Monthly, usually the third Thursday at 4 pm (Central). However, see “Events” for the next meeting.

Current activities:

• Welcomes new members and helps them connect with specific committees or initiatives,
• Maintains the membership and mailing database,
• Publishes a monthly newsletter,
• Creates in-person opportunities for social, educational, and/or networking events,
• Hosts the TA-Illinois book club (see “Events”),
• Shares our message to senior groups or locations where seniors may congregate.

How you can help:

• Share your skills: writing, editing, WordPress, Mailchimp, database,
• Identify a location/opportunity for outreach,
• Contact new members via phone and/or email,
• Create an opportunity for members near you to meet (we will help!),
• Participate in the Book Club, suggest a reading, host a discussion