Volunteer
Yes! Please volunteer to help Utah Moms for Clean Air clean up Utah’s dirty air.
Offer dedicated time and take on a big job by choosing from the Volunteer Needs below. We also suggest many shorter, often one-time actions you can take under the What Else You Can Do lists below.
Offer expertise and guidance with other members of our committees.
- Transportation
- Clean Energy
- Fundraising & Event Organizing
- Education Outreach
- Publications & Virtual Outreach
- Media
- Government Relations
- Regulatory Oversight
- Science
If you don’t see a need listed but you want to offer your time and experience in a particular area, please contact us. We do want your help.
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Actions for Clean Air
Help Utah Moms for Clean Air clean up Utah’s dirty air. Some of our recent work has been focused in the areas described below. We need volunteers for ongoing jobs and one-time actions. If you want to offer your help and don’t see a specific request below, don’t let that stop you! Please contact us at supermoms@utahmomsforcleanair.org.
** Clean Energy and Coal **
Contact: Dana Clark, dana@utahmomsforcleanair.org
Utah Moms for Clean Air recognizes that existing coal-fired power plants are one of the leading contributors to our poor air quality. Furthermore, we are concerned that new coal plants will not only worsen the air quality, they will displace and overwhelm efforts to bring more sustainable alternatives on line. Our Coal and Clean Energy work is focusing on challenging new coal plants in Utah and Nevada, and promoting clean energy alternatives, including solar, wind and energy efficiency/demand management.
Volunteers needed:
• Monitoring proposed coal plants in Nevada and Utah and help with outreach and messaging on this issue.
** Legislation **
Contact: Jennifer Whitlock, jennifer@utahmomsforcleanair.org
The Utah legislative session begins in January. There are several proposed bills that would help improve Utah’s air quality.
Volunteers needed:
• Contact representatives and committee members to support clean air legislation;
• Monitor the status of legislation;
• Attend daytime committee hearings on bills;
• Testify on bills regarding a personal experience with the adverse health effects of polluted air;
• Help mobilize constituents in key legislative districts.
What else you can do:
During the Utah State Legislative Session
• Call your legislators to ask them to support specific legislation
• Attend committee hearings and other legislative events wearing a Clean Air name tag
• Host a meeting at your home with your legislator. Invite your neighbors to present their concern for air quality and request support for specific legislation.
Local government
• Go to city council meetings to monitor plans for growth. Tell law makers of your concern for walkable, mixed-use communities.
• Ask local elected officials to support clean air action as they participate in the Council of Governments and the Wasatch Front Regional Council.
• Ask local officials what is being done to reduce emissions from their vehicle fleet. Present them with real alternatives, and ask them to do more.
• Ask local officials what is being done to reduce impact from electrical and other power use. Present them with real alternatives, and ask them to do more.
** Publications & Outreach **
Contact: Lori Taylor, lori@utahmomsforcleanair.org
We organize and recruit new Utah Moms for Clean Air. We organize volunteers, matching skills and experience to needs. We communicate with members and the public through the website, newsletter, and other means.
Volunteers needed:
• Organize Volunteers;
• Become a grassroots organizer, gathering relevant data from our membership and figure out what legislative districts we are all in so we can get the right message to the right people;
• Organize a chapter of Utah Moms for Clean Air beyond Salt Lake County;
• Publish newsletter and alerts;
• Build website for serious social organizing;
• Design materials public education – writers, editors, and graphic designers welcome;
• Research red/yellow days for the past several years for an ongoing calendar project.
What else you can do:
• Become a member of Utah Moms for Clean Air by signing up on our website or on the sign-up sheet at events.
** Regulatory Oversight **
Contact: Travis Harvey, travis@utahmomsforcleanair.org
We maintain relationships with the rule-makers and rule-enforcers, and prod them to continue looking out for the health of Utahns. We work primarily with the Utah Division of Air Quality, the EPA, the Utah Department of Health, and the local Health Districts.
Volunteers needed:
We need diplomats and clear communicators in this area who can maintain relationships and build trust while pushing for change. Two main kinds of work are needed:
• Attend daytime meetings within state government to keep track of currents happenings and maintain an ongoing and omnipresent Utah Moms for Clean Air presence;
• Conduct research of relevant Utah law/state code, current permits issued by the DAQ, violations of said permits, etc. This research will be conducted on the Internet and by telephone.
** School Bus Initiatives **
Contact: Michelle Hofmann, michelle@utahmomsforcleanair.org
Utah Moms for Clean Air is working with school districts and government agencies to reduce the health risks associated with exposure to diesel exhaust by:
1) Reducing school bus and private automobile idling time;
2) Retrofitting current school bus fleets with new technologies and introducing cleaner fuels; and
3) Replacing the oldest buses with new ones that meet stringent pollution control standards.
Volunteers needed:
• Organize school-based idling reduction campaigns;
• Work with school districts to improve school bus fleets;
• Coordinate activities with government agencies;
• Grant writing;
• Fundraising.
** Transportation **
Contact: Cameron Cova, cameron@utahmomsforcleanair.org
Utah Moms for Clean Air is working to improve air quality by tackling the largest cause of pollution — cars and trucks. We are focusing on three goals:
1) Changing how often people drive,
2) Changing what people drive, and
3) Changing how people drive).
Volunteers needed:
• Contact representatives and committee members to support transportation related legislation;
• Organize effort to convince Wasatch Front Regional Council to return public transportation to long range plan;
• Contact employers regarding incentives for public transit ridership;
• Submit public comment to UDOT on Mt. View Corridor by 1/24 – ask them to prioritize public transit, keep freeway away from schools;
What else you can do:
• Change your own driving habits — drive less frequently, especially on poor air quality days;
• Don’t idle your car while parked, waiting in line, etc.;
• Drive your newest and most efficient car whenever possible;
• Become familiar with public transit options near you — use them on bad air days.