Atlanta Group Sierra Club Executive Committee Minutes
Date and Time: 06 June 2000 19:20-21:05
Location: Ted Jackson's House
Attendees: Herb Bastin, Ted Jackson, Alan Toney, Carolyn Weber, Janet Westervelt
Quorum: Present
Agenda: Agreed upon agenda used, however in the future need to add legislative to agenda.
Minutes: The May 2000 minutes were distributed and accepted by acclamation.
Chair: Alan received a questionnaire designed to find out about the connections between local groups and national organization, giving information to the public about the environment, and combat anti-environmental groups. Alan has been trying to get Bob Woodall active again in legislative issues through Sue Anne Brenner's efforts with the DeKalb CEO race.
Vice Chair: At the Chapter ExCom meeting Frank Carl resigned from ExCom as Augusta (Savannah River Group) representative. Judy Gordon will take over as Savannah River Group Chair. Michael Knotts' wife, Erin Farwell, will become the newsletter editor. Chapter is looking for representatives for the Appalachian Regional Coordinating Council, Gulf Coast Regional Coordinating Council, and Atlantic Coastal Ecoregion Coordinating Council. Mark Alexander will represent the Chapter in the Southern Appalachian Highlands Ecoregion Coordinating Council. Alan Toney was nominated to chair the Chapter Nomination Committee. Janet reported that she will be unlikely to re-up for the Atlanta Group Executive Committee. Herb may run, but need to get others (e.g., Karen Hoover, Hege ?, Steve ?) to also run.
Treasurer: $2,800 in checking account and running over budget. Pax World Fund investments now has a balance of $6,200. Earth Day T-shirts sales were reported to be $550 and expenses were at $1275, netting -$725. Other groups owe $707 and three T-shirts sales have been unreported. No dues for 2000 have been transferred to the group, probably due to cash flow problems at the Chapter. Apparently Chapter is awaiting a transfer reimbursement for paying Bryan Hager and Kirpal. Janet passed out a proposed dues subvention given at the end of the last Chapter meeting; the proposal was not approved.
Conservtn: On the forest informational meetings for roadless issues in Gwinnett county, there was a small turnout. The room used by the Sierra Club and Wilderness Society ahead of time included speakers and refreshments as well as information dispersal and hat give away. On June 21 (Wednesday) a meeting in Gainesville is scheduled; one week later will be at the Gwinnett Civic Center. Meetings are from 6-9 pm. We need to make a plan to get people up to these meetings. Talk up the meetings at our general membership meeting to motivate people. Chapter will pay for vans to have people car pool to meetings. As Chris was not present at the ExCom meeting, Janet was unsure if a June 17 clean-up of the Tucker stream is ongoing. Janet was also unsure if the conservation meetings held third Tuesday evenings is still ongoing. Harvey Young was contacted via email to reconfirm for Tuesday's general membership meeting. Chapter's water committee (Glen Grozman, Alan Toney, others?) will have meeting on Greenspace $30 million grants. There is not much money when the grants are divided amongst the 40 counties. Janet inadvertently gave Peter Kirby (Wilderness Society) the wrong date, but will confirm him for the second Tuesday in November. Alan, as part of the Fulton County Soil and Water Conservation District may revoke Alpharetta's ability to issue land disturbing permits; they are not in compliance. Alan also gave a presentation to the Chattahoochee Riverkeeper regarding the Chattahoochee River.
AdoptStream: Karen Hoover and Chris Brinson came on Saturday's biological monitoring at Emory, but decided not to conduct the biological monitoring. On Sunday in Gwinnett County, Janet and Claudette Metz had 10 people (5 from Atlanta group) do a monitoring. The biological diversity received a good rating. June's biological monitoring is June 24 and an email list will be used to remind people of the upcoming event. On June 11 a Save the Allatoona Lake event will be held from 12-3 pm. There are canoe trips, music and a picnic scheduled.
Legislative: Bob Woodall responded to Sue Anne Brenner's queries about questionnaires sent to DeKalb candidates. A voter's guide, if not mixed with endorsements, is considered to be educational and can get funding back if published in a newsletter. Janet doubts there would be any endorsements of candidates, but need to find out if the Chapter will be endorsing any candidates. Alan would contact Karen Austin. Frank Carl's last newsletter will be July/August.
Outings: A national outdoors activity workshop for new or experienced outings leaders will be held in the St. Petersburg area Friday October 27 - Sunday October 29. Cost is $25.
One Club: Chapter-wide desire to incorporate One Club to South Georgia. Herb has a work plan for the period of the grant (April 2000 - April 2001). All tasks have been set out for the year and indicates who is doing what. First task is to find a template for conservation leader: fill out name, description, status, time line and issue. Second, give to outings leader to participate. Outings leaders are generally in favor, though not all outings leaders have been contacted. Need to get conservation leaders interested in working with outings.
Membership: Ted reported poor turnout at general membership meetings: 30-35 people. Alan noted that in 189 new memberships he has seen, many lived in Alpharetta; he may call new members to see if any patterns emerge. Carolyn Weber will get data about zipcodes to see about moving members into the correct geographic groups. We need a membership chair; Carolyn and Janet will convene a membership planning meeting and will ask for specific names and telephone numbers.
Store: Herb reported that the store is not selling many items. He will inventory and replenish items that are selling. Year 2000 calendars should now be credited on our Random House account. We agreed to sell Earth Day T-shirts at $8.00.
Web Page: Sue Anne Brenner's report comparing DeKalb CEO's positions and source of campaign funds were published on the web site.
Program: June's meeting will have Harvey Young of DNR discussing the Greenspace program. For July discussion centered around an evening picnic at Candler Park (across from Epworth UMC) on 2nd Tuesday. August will be Henning von Schmeling of the Chattahoochee Nature Center on native Georgia plants. Sam Parry of Sierra Club Washington office will give a talk on human rights and the environment in September. October's meeting will be political action/voting issues done by Roger Buerki. November's meeting will be Peter Kirby about the Appalachian Southern Forests. December is the holiday party. January 2001 will have a presentation by the Chattahoochee Riverkeeper.
Newsletter: Need to change the Atlanta Page to read the ExCom meets on the first Tuesday (not the second Tuesday). Alan tried to email Sue Anne Brenner to include an article for the DeKalb CEO race. Also will have Earth Day events and photos.
Specl Events: Need to announce the picnic for July, starting at 7 pm (half hour earlier than normal). Need to bring blankets and chairs. Bring your own dinner (cold), drinks to share. We will provide coolers, ice, cups, napkins, soda, and paper goods.
New Items: The host of the 3rd Quarter Atlanta Group ExCom meetings will be at Chris Kaufman's house, starting at 7:00 pm, if he agrees. Ted Jackson offered his house as a backup. Next meeting on July 4th.
Last updated: 04 Jul 00