This week I don’t have any words. And I can’t offer you any hope or encouragement. Sorry.

But I offer three events you can attend and I have a request.

On Monday, November 14, at 5:30 p.m. in the second floor ballroom of the Union Hall at 208 East Main, Robbie Liben from Northern Rockies Rising Tide is leading a discussion on capitalism and how it relates to the climate movement. Naomi Kline in her must-read book, This Changes Everything, begins the discussion about the root cause of our deteriorating climate. Robbie is going to pick up where she leaves off.

On Tuesday, November 15, together with Indian People Action, at 1 p.m. at 1600 North Avenue West (behind NorthWestern Energy), 350 Missoula is joining a world-wide day of action to support the water protectors at Standing Rock. Speakers include several men and women who have recently returned from the resistance camp. Which, of course, is the number one bull’s eye of the fossil fuel oligarchs. They want this pipeline. This is where the serious repression of our new president and his administration will start. Over 40 people have signed up so far to be at this Missoula demonstration . . . so if you’re looking for a vehicle to show your displeasure and want to create a network of commitment, here’s the place to start. The demonstration is a peaceful demonstration with no civil disobedience planned.

More information here: https://www.350montana.org/2016/11/04/nodalp-day-of-action-planned-for-nov-15th/

Facebook page here: https://www.facebook.com/events/1672503299706267/?notif_t=plan_user_invited&notif_id=1478804804599374

Sign up here: https://actionnetwork.org/events/nodapl-day-of-action-missoula-mt?referrer=350-org

On Thursday, November 17, from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Great Burn Brewery, 2230 McDonald Avenue in Missoula, the Sierra Club invites you to to a happy hour that will address the challenge of getting Montana to 100 percent Renewable Energy. “Carbon to Clean” is “a structured conversation about accelerating the shift to clean energy,” featuring the Sierra Club’s David Merrill, UM adjunct professor Peter McDonough, City of Missoula energy conservation coordinator Chase Jones, and Chis Daum of Oasis Solar.

Finally, my request. 350 Missoula — like all of us — is entering an important transition. We are going to get our leadership team together in the next several weeks and begin our strategic plan for 2017. Our board of directors consists of Jeff Smith, Jerome Walker, M.D., Jim Parker, Marta Meengs, John Woodland, and Brad Stacey. Two others, Dave Harmon and Bruce Bender, are considering joining our team. I would strongly encourage you, if would like to deepen your involvement in the climate movement, to think about stepping up, becoming a leader on our team. As you can see, we need gender and age diversity. Think about it. Bring a letter about why you want to join our leadership team to our next meeting — Monday, November 14, 5 p.m. at the Union Hall, 208 East Main, second floor ballroom. Email me, yswolfhowl@gmail.com, if you have any questions.

I hope to see you soon.

Jeff Smith, Chair, 350 Missoula