From the desk of Patty Durand, Georgia Chapter Director:
Good morning
I am pleased to let you know that we are improving our communications with a monthly e-newsletter beginning with this introductory issue. Through this forum we will share news about the Georgia Chapter of the Sierra Club as well as other events related to the environment in Georgia. We know that some of our members and supporters would like to receive information more frequently so if you have been receiving a weekly email from me that will continue. In addition to being more up to date, this new e-newsletter tool will provide new benefits such as:
-
You can register for an event with the click of a button - RSVP now for May's Sierra Club 101.
-
You can contribute financially to the Georgia Chapter via credit card - Click here to donate now.
-
You can take action to protect the environment via email - Click here to take action
-
You can participate in Sierra Club surveys - Provide the Georgia Chapter with some feedback.
Please let me know what you think and I look forward to your feedback.
I would like to take the time to introduce the Georgia Chapter's main campaigns which encompass a majority of the environmental work at the Georgia Chapter:
Clean Energy For Georgia - In Georgia, we work to reduce our dependence on dirty fossil fuels and increase use of clean, smart technology. We are fighting proposals to bring two coal-fired power plants on-line while promoting energy efficiency, wind and solar as solutions to Georgia's energy needs. To learn more visit http://www.cleanenergy4ga.org/.
Regional Action to Improve Livability - Our (RAIL) campaign supports transit projects such as the Atlanta BeltLine, commuter rail such as the rail line from Macon to Athens through Atlanta and expanded statewide support for transit including operating funds in addition to capital funds. Transportation is a huge source of carbon emissions and commuters fighting traffic congestion need choices. To learn more contact RAIL Committee chair Jin Dexter at jimdex@aol.com.
Keep Our Water Plentiful and Healthy - Sierra Club is working to ensure clean water and secure a statewide water plan that promotes clean and plentiful water for all. Our volunteers organize citizen water-quality monitoring teams in Georgia. These folks help raise community awareness about local water issues and works to make sure that violations are documented and reported. To learn more contact Water committee chair Sam Booher at SBOOHER@aol.com.
Wildlands and Wildlife - This committee seeks to protect wildlife, public lands and special places and block threats to these lands from commercial logging, mining, abusive recreation, and overgrazing. We do this through monitoring forest service notices, evaluating and commenting on DNR proposals, ensuring that our parks and wildernesses have the necessary resources to protect them in perpetuity, and by working on trail clean-ups. To learn more contact Wildlands committee chair Zasha Mickey at zasham@comcast.net.
Tidelands Conservation Committee - this committee works to protect coastal marshland with legislative, legal, scientific, technical, communications and advocacy techniques. The Tidelands Conservation Committee is a founding member of Save the Coast, a campaign addressing the interrelated systems of freshwater wetlands, freshwater flows, and the expansive Georgia salt marsh with a mission to insure an intact and improved ecosystem that comprises the Georgia Coast and its Atlantic Slope watersheds. If you are interested in working on this committee please contact Mark Mosely at msmosely@aol.com.
Please read on for more Georgia Chapter News and Environmental Events.
Headlines
Better Place Electric Car Network - Last Friday I attended a presentation at the Atlanta Chamber of Commerce sponsored by a company called Better Place (http://www.betterplace.com/). Better Place is working to build an electric car network using technology available today with goals of sustainable transportation, global energy freedom from oil. And their commitment is to buy only zero carbon electrons using long term PPAs (power purchase agreements) which will help drive the renewable energy industry as electric vehicles solve a long standing challenge of how to store wind and solar energy. With this plan, electric batteries for the car will store excess renewable energy as car batteries charge up over night and at charge spots. To learn more please read their website.
Georgia Water Coalition Airs TV Ads to Raise Awareness of Threats to Well Water - On Monday, the Georgia Water Coalition (GWC) began airing television commercials in Middle Georgia informing citizens about proposals to pump chemically treated sewage and river water into groundwater. This practice (known as aquifer storage and recovery or ASR) can contaminate vital drinking water sources for many Georgians, an issue the GWC wants Georgians to be sure to know about.
The next Chapter Newsletter deadline April 1. Please submit articles to newsletter editor Patty Conley at gasierran@gmail.com.
|
Save the Dates!
Saturday June 6th from 6 - 8 p.m. The Georgia Chapter will thank our financial supporters by throwing a thank you party at Glenridge Hall in Sandy Springs. Members who are part of our Georgia Giving Society or Legacy Council will receive invitations closer to the event. If you have not yet responded to one of our appeals please do so before May 1st so that you will receive an invitation, or feel free to donate online now- click here please. We will enjoy a keynote address by national Sierra Club board member Sanjay Ranchod about the Sierra Club’s diversity council and our plans for future diversity.
Halloween in the Swamp! Join us for a full moon weekend at our annual chapter retreat, held this year at Laura Walker State Park there is tent camping and park cabins for lodging. We will enjoy time at Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge the weekend of October 30 - November 1. More info to follow.
Community Events of Interest
Eastern States Rock Art Conference
Friday through weekend March 27 - 29th Where: Red Top Mountain State Park near Cartersville GA The tentative schedule includes a reception and social on Thursday followed by a bus tour of local rock art sites on Friday. Lunch will be provided during the tour. Papers will be presented on Saturday followed by business and board meetings. Jim Langford of the Coosawattee Foundation will give a special lecture Saturday night of “The Coosawattee Plate a Catholic/Aztec Artifact from Northwest Georgia”. Some have called the engraved copper plate “the most important artifact ever found in Georgia”, but listeners are invited to decide for themselves the importance of this unusual artifact as its story unfolds. The lecture will begin at 7:30 pm. For more information contact Tommy Hudson at myrockart@yahoo.comor 678-983-5333. More information on the Eastern States Rock Art Research Association can be found at http://www.esrara.org/.
Earth Hour Lights off!
Saturday March 28th 8:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. Where: Where you are Earth Hour is a global event in the fight against climate change. By simply turning out all non-essential lighting for one hour you can join tens of millions of concerned citizens throughout the world in calling for action to save our planet for future generations. In 2008 more than 50 million took part, as the lights darkened at Sydney's Opera House, Rome's Coliseum, the Empire State Building and the Golden Gate Bridge. Even Google's homepage went black. In the US, cities large and small have said they'll participate including Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Miami, Nashville, and San Francisco. They will join international cities such as Auckland, Beijing, Copenhagen, Edinburgh, Helsinki, Hong Kong, Istanbul, Lisbon, London, Manila, Mexico City, Moscow, Oslo, Rome, Singapore, Toronto, and Warsaw. For more info go to http://www.earthhourus.org/.
Marta Community Update meeting
Monday March 30th 5:30 - 7 p.m.
Where: Marta Headquarters, across from Marta Lindbergh rail station, 2424 Piedmont Road NE, Atlanta.
Marta Board Business Management Committee Meeting members of the general public welcome, special focus on FY 2010 budget development status. From 7:30 - 9 p.m. Marta’s financial updates will include 2009 state legislative agenda, federal economic stimulus, etc.
The Science of Sustainability 2nd annual Emory/Ga Tech lecture series
Monday March 30th 6:30 - 8 p.m.
Where: Indie Coffee, 340 W. Ponce de Leon in Decatur
Join Kyle Van Houtan, Emory Fellow in Science & Society, as he discusses Darwin and Christianity on the extinction of species.
Retrofitting Suburbia
Thursday April 2nd 7 - 9 p.m.
Where: Centennial Group monthly meeting, Life University, Cobb County
Ellen Dunham-Jones, AIA, is director of the architecture program at the Georgia Institute of Technology and co-author of Retrofitting Suburbia: Urban Design Solutions for Redesigning Suburbs (Wiley, January 2009). An award-winning designer, expert on urban and suburban design and a board member of the Congress for the New Urbanism, her work documents the redevelopment of dead malls, dying office parks, and other aging suburban properties into more sustainable places. For more information contact Centennial group chair Jean Ann Wheelock at jeanann.wheelock@gmail.com.
Clean Energy, Green Economy Town Hall
Thursday April 16th 7 - 8:30 p.m.
Where: Decatur Public Library Auditorium, 215 Sycamore St., Decatur, GA 30030
Join for a discussion about a cooler, cleaner and cheaper energy future for Georgia with Congressman John and leaders in energy efficiency and renewable power. Learn how you and your communicty can support cleaner energy and a greener economy. For more information contact Emily Thomas of Environment Georgia at Emily@environmentgeorgia.org.
Green-Pink Party
Friday April 17th 7 p.m.
Where: Manuel’s Tavern, 602 N. Highland Ave Atlanta, GA 30307
The Sierra Club is a partner in this nationwide initiative which educates the public on the connection between womens' issues and environmental issues. Yes, you have to wear green or pink. There will be a video screening and great giveaways. The event is being co-hosted by the Rollins Environmental Health Action Committee and the Emory Reproductive Health Association. For more information contact Population Issue leader Todd Daniel at gooseboy1@gmail.com.
Thank you,
Patty Durand, State Director
Georgia Chapter of the Sierra Club
1401 Peachtree Street Suite 345
Atlanta GA 30309
404-607-1262 x 226
Support the Georgia Chapter - Donate Now!