Atlanta Group Sierra Club Executive Committee Minutes
Date and Time: 04 January 2000 19:00-21:20
Location: Carolyn Weber's House
Attendees: Ted Jackson, Chris Kaufman, Alan Toney, Carolyn Weber, Janet Westervelt
Quorum: Present
Agenda: No agenda was available.
Minutes: The December 99 minutes were distributed and accepted.
Treasurer: $6,000 in checking account and running $4,900 above budget. Treasurer moved $2,500 from checking into Pax World Fund investments, which now has a balance of $5,900. Carolyn wanted a quarterly full transactions report from the Treasurer.
Bluesheets: Partially completed by Atlanta Group ExCom. Additional tasks needed to fill empty slots. Chris will accept conservation chair (issues for 2000: forests, water quality, air). Carolyn will find a co-membership chair. Janet will become program chair.
Program: January's program will be Inner City Outings by Dee Klein. February's program will be Legislative by Mark Woodall and Neil Herring. March's program will be Galapagos slide show by Virginia Dunbar. Tentatively, April's program will be water quality in India, along with deforestation and arsenic leaching, by John Spots. Chris asked if free trade and World Trade Organization would be a good meeting topic.
Membership: Carolyn stated the FRIP for 1999 the Atlanta Group has 29 new memberships (exceeding our 25 person goal). The Atlanta Group has a chance to draw for a $200.00 gift or a visit from Sierra Club president Carl Pope. We are in competition with 23 other groups. Carolyn also mentioned that a person might be available to help with membership; she was formerly with the High Museum of Art. Someone should ask Epworth UMC to add "visitors welcome" to the sign out front of the church. Carolyn will also look into getting an announcement in the Atlanta Journal & Constitution, Creative Loafing, and DeKalb newspapers.
Newsletter: The Atlanta page in the Georgia Sierran was filled. The next speaker should write up a blurb (e.g., Virginia Dunbar, John Spots). Next newsletter deadline is February 10. Also need pictures from the Holiday Party and Cumberland Island trip over New Years.
Conservtn: Special conference called Greenprints 2000, February 6-8 at the Renaissance Hotel; information located at www.greenprints2000.org. Chris stated that a Conservation meeting will be on the 3rd Tuesday of the month (Jan 18) at the Church Street Coffee House in Decatur. Larry Winslett issued a letter complaining that Ducks Unlimited and Georgia Dept. of Natural Resources has been interfering with the National Forest Plan. Alan mentioned that the Fulton Soil & Water Conservation District is continuing to have problems with the City of Atlanta. Atlanta is stonewalling and encouraging builders to go ahead and build without permits. Fulton SWCD will see if Georgia EPD will step in and enforce Erosion & Sedimentation laws.
Adopt Stream: Janet indicated that she was out of chemicals for testing. She wanted funding from the Group for a new test kit, $400 approximately. Currently borrowing from Barrow County. Kits last about 4 years (40-50 chemical tests). Refills cost $150. Motion made & carried.
Store: Herb relayed to Janet that Sierra Club calendars should be put on sale for 50% off at the January meeting. Remaining calendars should be shipped back afterwards.
Outings: No report.
One Club: No report.
Goals: In 1999, Alan mentioned goals that the Atlanta Group should undertake to build up the club and get people working together. Alan believes a core 30 people working together to bring a group together. Some ideas to energize the membership include:
• Dogwood Festival - assist in operating a booth to share information
• Plant Rescue - no one in Atlanta Group doing this; Cobb group is active in plant rescue
• Open Dialog with other groups - combined conservation efforts with Cobb, Gwinnett
• Earth Day - assist in operating a booth to share information
Next Meeting: Carolyn Weber continued to offer to host the 1st Quarter Atlanta Group ExCom meetings at her house, starting at 7:00 pm. Next meeting on February 1st.
Last updated: 30 Jan 00