January 14, 2019 (Monday) - I gave a talk at the Greater Woodbury Environmental Forum with Michael Lang - “Green Sanctuary” at the Unitarian Universalists with Flanders Nature Center and Connecticut Community Foundation at the Mattatuck UU, Woodbury, CT
January 23, 2019 (Wednesday) - Anne and I flew to Puerto Rico and saw HAMILTON with Lin-Manuel Miranda in San Juan. Brilliant! During our week there we also saw the devastation in recovery from Hurricane Maria, category 5 storm, that hit the island on Sept. 20, 2017. That storm caused 2,975 deaths here, and was the islands deadliest and costliest on record. The storm was so strong it blew most of the insects and birds off the island, and stripped a lot of the rainforest trees of their leaves.
February 5, 2019 (Tuesday) - We showed my film “ESCARPMENT” to the University of Green Bay film night, and friend Dean Hoeggan from Door County hosted it. Great turnout (75 people) and lots of discussion about the Great Lakes, geology and climate change afterwards.
February 7, 2019 (Thursday) - I held my CLEARING class in the Jen Jensen center on Climate & Policy.
February 8, 2019 (Friday) - I attended The Clearing potluck dinner at St. Rosalias church in Sister Bay, and was asked to be present in my Jens Jensen character. Great fun!
February 17, 2019 (Sunday) - Anne and I continue our Citizens’ Climate Lobby work on legislation and education for people in Connecticut. We held a session with Susan Olson at the Avon Library all afternoon to dive into our Energy Innovation & Carbon Dividend Act that is in the U.S. House of Representatives.
February 19, 2019 (Tuesday) - Anne and I met with our U.S. Representative Joe Courtney to discuss the Energy Innovation & Carbon Dividend Act and his support for this. Reluctant to lead, but we will keep after him. I recorded the interview; here’s the link: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gk26ZxQvbKo]
February 21, 2019 (Thursday) - We are in Chicago researching Jens Jensen for my slowly evolving book “An Evening with Jens Jensen” and refinement of my one-man show of the same name. We spent the day at the Newberry Library. We also met with Corinne Pierog, executive director at the Morrison-Shearer foundation - Jensen photos are in files there. Lots of discoveries!!!
March 13, 2019 (Wednesday and all week through Sunday March 17) - Anne and I are participating in Al Gore’s Climate Leadership training in Atlanta, Georgia. This is fantastic, and includes Reverend Dr. William Barber II who brings perspectives from the black community and persons of faith. But above all is the message we are in trouble and must act fast to stem the ravages of climate change impacts.
And during the conference, on March 16, Saturday, our granddaughter Anna Joanne Kuhns is born at 1:36 am in Los Angeles. We fly there to help out.
March 30, 2019 (Saturday) - Citizens’ Climate Lobby Regional Conference with Iona Lutey (regional coordinator) at Sage College, Troy, NY. Performance of Carbon Copy. Carbon, element number 6 on the periodic table, the stuff of life, and - when increased in abundance and currently not managed by nature is the cause of global warming. Global warming leads to climate change as the Earth’s systems try to rebalance from the sudden abundance of this curious element. What a mess we’re in . . . Carbon Copy is the text of what we write in articles, newspapers, books and magazines, and how we convey information to elected folks, and in general communicate through words to educate the greater population. Carbon Copy, the play, is a musical play about how we communicate the challenges facing us with climate change. It speaks to how we treat our Earth, and what our legacy will be for our future generations. It is about what we can do to move forward with science-based policy that also addresses social justice and economics through non-partisan legislation. It’s also about the climate heroes - you who volunteer to get this hard work done. Here is the link to a recording of the show: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0kItu1kUX4c]
I’ve been working with the cast for a few months, and we put the play on to the Citizens’ Climate Lobby volunteers (about 150 people). Actors Morgan Heyward, Regina Desrosiers, Jackson Hine, Peterson Toscano, James Carola and George Shaw all participated in the skits about climate situations. Musicians Teresa Broadwell (violin), Regina Desrosiers (vocals), James Carola (vocals) joined me in the musical numbers I wrote. Anne Schmidt, my wife, was of great assistance in data gathering, stage management and editing. Here’s the music video I made of “Put A Price On Your Carbon” [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Dl4gEi-StA]
April 23, 2019 (Tuesday) - We meet with U.S. Representative Jahana Hayes at 1:30 at the library in Southbury, CT. Citizens’ Climate Lobby volunteers Ron Brandes and Susan Olson are there and set it up. We review the climate legislation and ask for her co-sponsorship. Rep. Hayes is considering it.
April 24, 2019 (Wednesday) - We meet with community activist Kevin Booker, Jr., at the Groton Library, and I also give a short talk on climate. Groton municipal Southeast Connecticut TV is there. We dive into deep discussions on how to pass climate legislation. We have a long way to go on this effort!!!! Jason Hine, co-founder of RiseUpMystic is there, and is a great friend and leader on this whole effort.
May 2, 2019 (Thursday) - Anne and I attended the ceremony on the New London STATE PIER with CT Governor Ned Lamont and others for the new Bay State off-shore wind farm project. Here’s the link to the short video I made: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eEV86PbPPTQ]
May 16, 2019 (Thursday) - I present climate data, impacts and solutions in a talk to the Rocky Hill Historical Society dinner. Ed Chiucarello (president of RHHS) set this up. The talk builds on my “Navigating The Energy Maze” book I published with George Shaw. And the talk, “Transition to Clean Energy - Getting to 2050” is online: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YzdpebDz1iY]
June 7, 2019 (Friday) - Anne and I went to see my old (brief) acquaintance Arlo Guthrie at The Guarde Theater in New London, CT tonight. What a great show!!!!!
June 8 - 11, 2019 (Saturday to Tuesday) - Anne and I are down in Washington, DC once again for Citizens’ Climate Lobby’s annual “Lobby Day” and convention in our nation’s capitol. We spend all Tuesday meeting with U.S. Representatives and Senators on The Hill. Climate Action is slow with these politicians.
June 16 - 22, 2019 (Sunday to Saturday) - All week I’m at The Clearing in Ellison Bay, WI teaching my writing class, “Tell Me Your Story”. Anne is taking Deb Jones spinning and weaving class. A great week to write, relax and chat with our many friends here.
July 18, 2019 (Thursday) - I perform my solo show spin-off of the stage play I wrote for Citizens’ Climate Lobby (that we performed last March at the CCL Regional Conference in NY). This is my one-man show, and I adapted it to change shirts - and hence characters - on stage to keep it moving. The show was sponsored by the Door County Land Trust (Terrie) and put on at the Woodwalk Gallery and Performance Barn south of Egg Harbor, WI. Great fun and much discussions.
July 28, 2019 (Sunday) - August 3 (Saturday) - All week at The Clearing in Ellison Bay, WI again - this time around, teaching my Geology and Natural History of Door County and the ESCARPMENT. Great class, lots of hikes. On the Sunday we showed my film “ESCARPMENT” at the Crossroads Nature Center in Sturgeon Bay.
August 20, 2019 (Tuesday) - at the Woodwalk Gallery and Performance Barn south of Egg Harbor, WI, this time for my one-man show “An Evening with Jens Jensen”. We had a full house - really a fun time. Mom and Jeanne are there. A couple came up to me after the show - I’m still in my Jensen costume - and they wanted to hire me (Jens) to landscape their property. I said, “I’m not Jens - I’m Roger”. They said, “We still want to hire you!” So - I took the short term job to help them out. Hilarious, though!
August 21, 2019 (Wednesday) - in Green Bay, WI at the Neville Museum geology club. I showed my “ESCARPMENT” movie, great crowd - lots of fun once again.
August 23, 2019 (Friday) - in Saukville, WI at the Riveredge Nature Center, where executive director Mayr Holleback has asked me again to do a show (fifth year!!!). I do “An Evening with Jens Jensen” show - a big hit, great crowd and lots of fun!
August 27, 2019 (Tuesday) - Anne and I attended a news briefing with CT Senator Chris Murphy. I asked him about climate change and his new bill “Save Our Seas Act of 2019”. Here’s my video clip [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yxcO-8Xh7SE]
September 20, 2019 (Friday) - we attend the Youth Climate March in Hartford. Senator Blumenthal showed up and we were able to chat with him about our Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act that is in the U.S. House - he’s on-board with a carbon tax. I made this video of the event: “The Climate Crisis - Young People Demand Action” [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V9WVlo27WSo].
September 26, 2019 (Thursday) - back at the Neville Museum in Green Bay, WI. Katy Maier organized a dinner and then I do the show. I’m doing the monologue on ESCARPMENT and mass extinctions (I call it adventures in mass extinctions . . . because it is so dramatic!). Great turn out. Sold a couple dozen copies of my movie “ESCARPMENT”, and they carry it at the museum. The Neville is a wonderful city museum with great exhibits on Wisconsin history and geology.
October 13, 2019 (Sunday) - I was asked to give a message/talk on climate change and what people can do as individuals at the First Congressional Church of Old Lyme. Mariette Brown, Donald Gonci, Carleen Gerber, Tom Sherer, Dave Gogle and others helped set it up. It resulted in a long session of Q&A and discussions afterwards. Very up beat on this sobering topic.
October 19, 2019 (Saturday) - I’m in Door County, WI again, and giving a field trip on geology and nature with Paul Regnier to the Marshalls Point residents (on Lake Michigan). This is always a great opportunity to further expose folks to climate and natural history.
October 20, 2019 (Sunday) - I’m invited to give the message at the Unitarian Universalists group in Ephraim, WI. I talk about climate and mass extinctions, of personal responsibilities and what we can do as individuals - especially VOTE for those who will use climate science to lead the way with meaningful climate actions and legislation. Meg Ziegelman set this up.
November 10-12, 2019 (Sunday to Tuesday) - Anne and I are back in Washington, DC for another Citizens’ Climate Lobby “Lobby Day” and fall national conference. We visit the offices of Senator Chris Murphy, Senator Richard Blumenthal, and Representative John Larson and Representative Joe Courtney - all seeking co-sponsorship on our Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act.
November 14, 2019 (Thursday) - A great meeting at Connecticut College (ConnCollege) in New London, CT with students about Connecticut government, legislation and climate change.
December 16, 2019 (Monday) - Anne and I are on the west coast (San Francisco). My brother Dave is having surgery for cancer. This is really tough. I believe, from his early career in the chemical industry, that his cancer is related to exposure - so an environmentally induced cancer.