Golden Triangle GroupSierra Club |
|
Serving Southeast Texas |
|
Date: TUESDAY, November 3, 2009 PROGRAM: Touring in Alaska
Gander Mtn. Sports Store PRESENTER: Rose Ann Jordan 5855 Eastex Freeway, Beaumont The Meeting Area is in the back left of the store. TIME: 7:00 P.M. General Meeting
Rose Ann, long-time Sierra Club member and avid birder, will host this photographic journey through Alaska.
Roll Beyond Coal Bike Ride & Rally Saturday, October 31st
IN BEAUMONT - The Ride activities begin at 8:00 am in the Colonnade Shopping Center next to Crazy Jose’s on Phelan Blvd. We will offer a 7.3 mile route or you can choose the extended 14.1 mile route. Bring your bike and your kids and have some fun! Win prizes after the ride, during our social event in the patio area at Crazy Jose’s. On-line registration is now available or you can register to ride the day of the event. More details are posted on our local web site. http://texas.sierraclub.org/triangle/index.html Pre-registrants can pick up their Roll Beyond Coal T-Shirts the morning of the event. Participating organizations and businesses are: The Golden Triangle Group Sierra Club - The Southeast Texas Hike & Bike Coalition Bicycle Sports & Kickstand Bike Shop Sierra Club Calendars now Available Our once a year fun raiser, Sierra Club pictorial calendars are now available at the meetings or from Joe Murphy. Continuing the tradition, Wilderness hanging calendars with thirteen beautiful nature scenes are available for $13 each. Also, the Desk Engagement calendars are unique for those who require more space for appointments and are available at $14 each. They are illustrated with a host of colorful scenes and each two page spread allows one week at a glance. Please buy a calendar for yourself and some for those “hard to shop for” friends and relatives.
Lunch with the Chair Do you want to get involved but not sure which local Sierra Club project fits your schedule and interest? Let’s have lunch and talk. The time commitment is one hour or less, and the date and place can be arranged. Contact Bruce Walker at 554-0203 or bwalker@gt.rr.com. Let’s do lunch!
Texas Amendments Voting – November 3rd On Tuesday, November 3, 2009, Texans will be voting on 11 proposed amendments to our State Constitution. There are several good web sites where one may go to read pros and cons and especially in depth descriptions of these amendments. http://www.tlc.state.tx.us/pubsconamend/analyses09/analyses09.pdf is the Texas Legislator web site, with details of each amendment, along with their corresponding enabling legislation from this past legislative session. http://www.lwvtexas.org/2009VG/2009CAVG[FINAL].pdf is the League of Women Voters’ web site with their “take” on each amendment. Of particular interest to Sierrans and homeowners are proposed amendments #2 & 3. These two will correct some inadequacies in current law concerning how resident homesteads are taxed, and requires all Appraisal Districts to “play by the same exact set of rules.” Proposition 11 is also of special interest to both Sierrans and landowners in that it requires stricter interpretation of the laws for any governmental entity using the power of eminent domain to “take” land for what may be less than true public use. This amendment also requires that if that entity decides at a later time it no longer needs the land acquired under eminent domain, then it will be required to give “first refusal right” to the former landowner to buy back that land “at the same price originally paid to the landowner.” Lastly, of special importance to all Sierrans is proposition 9, the amendment which addresses the definition of “state owned public-beaches”. This has become a sore point for many concerned citizens who have been denied access to some Texas beaches by landowners who insist they and not the state should have control of the beach in front of their property. This is your state and we encourage you to read and study the amendments, then either vote early or get out on November 3rd and help guide your state into the future. Early voting closes Friday, October 30, 2009. Lone Star Chapter - Executive Committee Elections At-Large Members – 2009
EXERCISE YOUR DEMOCRATIC RIGHT TO VOTE— in the Lone Star Chapter Executive Committee Elections!! Vote by November 13!!
If you have not already received your Fall 2009 issue of the Lone Star Sierran (LSS), you should shortly. In it you will find the candidates for At-Large Members for the Chapter ExCom. Four candidates are profiled, however, you may only vote for a maximum of three. Be sure to read the profile and statements of each candidate so you can best determine who you would like to have serving you on the statewide level. Remember this is your organization and it needs each of you taking an active part in the decision making process. Also note that one of the four candidates is an active member of our own local Group. It has been several since we have had an At-Large ExCom member from our area. These At-Large elected members, as well as the regional Group appointed representatives make up the Chapter ExCom. Please be sure to vote by Nov 13. NOTE that you must vote using the printed ballot in the LSS, as it has the necessary confirmation on the reverse side of that ballot.
Curbing Emissions by Sealing Gas Leaks In the 10/15/09 edition of the New York Times, Energy & Environment section, there was an informative article addressing the amount and frequency of unplanned natural gas emissions. These emissions are mostly from gas producing wells, storage tanks of petrochemicals and even pipelines. Any petroleum based gas fumes that leak into the atmosphere create methane gas, a potential heat-trapping gas. These gases account for a significant amount of pollution which contributes to the global climate change of concern to so many people. Not only are the invisible gas fumes adding to the harmful air pollution, but the loss of most of these gases represents a significant profit loss to the companies extracting, storing, transporting or owning the gas. Today’s technology allows a relatively easy and cost effective method of finding these leaks, and with that knowledge companies can efficiently “plug the leaks”. To read more about this concern and how many companies are now beginning to tackle the problems of curtailing the emissions, go to the web site below.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/15/business/energy-environment/15degrees.html?scp=1&sq=natural%20gas%20leaks&st=cse Notes from the Chair October has been a busy month for our local Sierra Group. We had the outing at Caddo Lake and the annual Sierra Celebration at Martin Dies State Park. Many of us attended the dedication of the new headquarters at the Big Thicket National Preserve, and we are participating in the Scarecrow Festival at Shangri La. And we still have the Roll Beyond Coal Bike Rally coming on October 31st. I believe strongly that we should support other organizations who share our conservation and environmental goals. We continue to work with the Texas Conservation Alliance and their efforts to get Congressional authorization for the study of the Neches as a Wild and Scenic River. Some of us attended the Houston Audubon annual meeting where TCA was recognized for their work in support of this initiative. I also encourage everyone to visit Shangri La in the next few weeks during their first annual Scarecrow Festival. Shangri La is always a great place to visit, but this month is there are over 80 scarecrows displayed throughout the garden and all are very clever and creative. Our local group entered a display depicting Teddy Roosevelt and John Muir at the dedication of Yosemite National Park in 1906. Visitors can vote for a favorite entry, and I hope that you think our entry deserves your vote. I don’t know what the prize will be for the winning display, but our group worked very hard to put the display together and in place. The Scarecrow Festival is a great example of how many different organizations can come together to support each other. Please plan to participate in our “Roll Beyond Coal Bike Rally” on October 31st (this Saturday). If you don’t ride, please sign up to volunteer. This is a great opportunity to get involved and participate in your local Sierra Club Group and promote clean alternative energy sources, green jobs, and clean air. Also, remember that the elections now taking place for new Lone Star Chapter ExCom Committee Members. There are three open positions and four nominees. Our own Kathryn Walker is a nominee, and I encourage all local members to take this opportunity to elect a representative from Southeast Texas. (My personal opinion and my personal recommendation) Speaking of elections…the election for the open positions on our local ExCom Board will be held soon. Please think about people that you would like to nominate. New committee members contribute new ideas, new directions, and a new enthusiasm. This is the life blood of all organizations. Get involved. This is a great time to be active in your local group. You can make a difference and contribute to our environmental and conservation initiatives in Southeast Texas and beyond. Enjoy, Explore, & Protect the Planet
Bruce
Please send address changes to: Kathryn Walker – GTGSC newsletter & to Membership Services 795 19th St PO Box 52968 Beaumont, TX 77706-5001 Boulder CO 80322-2968 ktwalker@gt.rr.com address.changes@sierraclub.org GOLDEN TRIANGLE GROUP DIRECTORY All phone #’s are Area Code 409 * BRUCE WALKER CHAIR 554-0203 (Send GTGSC correspondence to 795 19th St., Beaumont, TX 77706-5001) * GALE COURTNEY SECRETARY 866-7793 * PAM LEWIS PUBLICITY 554-4012 * WENDY MIRES OUTINGS CHAIR 883-2619 * JOHN PAUL CONSERVATION CHAIR LEGISLATIVE LIAISON 751-0350 * BILL TETLEY ENVIRONMENTAL EDUC 722-8974 NEWSLETTER EDITOR tetley.wr@juno.com CHAPTER DELEGATE JOE MURPHY TREASURER 883-6126 KATHRYN WALKER PROGRAM; MEMBERSHIP 554-0203 PAM LEWIS WEBMASTER 554-4012 GTSierraGroup@aol.com * GTGSC EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEMBERS
VISIT OUR WEB SITES Golden Triangle Group: http://texas.sierraclub.org/triangle/index.html and the Trail Between The Lakes: http://www.toledo-bend.com/national-forest/index.asp?request=trail |
|
GOLDEN TRIANGLE GROUP SIERRA CLUB NEWSLETTER November 2009 ExCom Meets this month at 5:30 at Time Warner Cable Media Sales Office, 2825 IH 10 East, Suite 101, Beaumont. Members are welcome |