Metro Atlanta Group
The Georgia Chapter of the Sierra Club is a state-wide organization which also promotes and supports regional organizations called "groups". We currently have three groups based in Atlanta. They are located in DeKalb County (Metro Atlanta group), Cobb and North Fulton Counties (Centennial Group), and Gwinnett County (Gwinnett Group). The Chapter also has groups located in Augusta (Savannah River Group), Savannah (Coastal Group), and LaGrange (LaGrange Group). For more information on the group in your area please view the groups in the About Us section of the Georgia Chapter homepage.
Do you live in the City of Atlanta? DeKalb County? South Fulton County? Then the Metro Atlanta Group is for you. Sierra Club is generally organized to follow governmental lines, and the Metro Atlanta Group (a name from years ago before other groups in the metro area existed) covers those local political jurisdictions.
What do we do?
-
Monthly programs - to keep you informed and up to date (2nd Tuesday of every month at the Episcopal Church of the Epiphany, 2089 Ponce de Leon Ave - at intersection with East Lake)
-
Political activism - to influence local governments on environmental issues (varies with time)
-
Adopt a Stream - participate in a state-wide program to monitor water quality including South Fork of Peachtree Creek (chemical monitoring once a month; biological monitoring once a quarter)
-
Explore Atlanta - Field trips to see what's in the area - forests/hiking trails/environmental problems and possible solutions (on a Saturday most months of the year)
What's hot now? The Beltline - Water Quality - Building Codes
Beltline: The September 8th program will be presented by the BeltLine Environmental Study Team, and explain the potential impacts of the BeltLine on Atlanta. This 22 mile loop is intended to connect neighborhoods, parks, and communities with transit and trails. Come to the program and learn about the Beltline, and have input to the study team. Then, on September 12th, join other members of the Sierra Club and take a narrated tour of the BeltLine route - in an air-conditioned tour bus. For more information about the BeltLine tour please click here. Please contact Jeanne McCarthy, Jeanne_mccarthy@bellsouth.net or 404-873-3985, to reserve a spot with the Sierra Club. Please do not contact the Beltline tour directly.
Water Quality: Water Supply is a state-wide issue that is being dealt with by the Georgia Chapter, but Water Quality is a local issue. We have adopted a specific site on the South Fork of Peachtree Creek (at Medlock Park) where we go monthly to look at the stream, monitor the chemicals in the stream, and every three months look at the changes in macro-invertebrates (the things without backbones that you can see without a microscope - larvae of insects; worms; clams and other "bi-valves"; etc.) For more information or to be involved please contact Nancy Wylie at nancywylie@mindspring.com.
Political Activism: The City of Atlanta is currently considering a "green building code”. Please read the last issue of the Footnotes Online “ASBO Vote” for more information. These upgrades to the existing building code are important means to better protect the environmental and economic welfare, health and overall quality of life for all Atlantans.
For more information on the Metro Atlanta Group please click here.
**Photos courtesy of Christopher T. Martin and D. Gordon Draves.**
Smart Energy Team Meeting, Sunday, September 12th, Seandra Rawls - Chapter Staff, 404-607-1262 x 222 |
Sierra Club Social Corner
Hot Planet, Cold Drinks
Thursday, September 10th, 7p.m.
Come join us for dinner at Parish for the latest installment of Hot Planet, Cold Drinks. Dave Emory, transportation planner for ARC and creator of the ATrain trip planner will school us on the past, present, and future of transit in the state. As always, Parish will be serving the tasty Sierra Martinis and we’ll be introducing the A-Train drink. 7 p.m. at 240 N. Highlands, brought to you by the Social and Rail Committee.
Atlanta BeltLine Braves Night
Tuesday, September 15th, 7p.m.
Turner Field
Join the Sierra Club for the Atlanta Beltline Night at the Braves vs the New York Mets at 7p.m. Tickets are $12.00. E-mail us at sierra_club_socials@yahoo.com. Brought to you by the Social and Rail Committee.
Chapter Retreat at Okefenokee Swamp
Friday - Sunday, October 30th - November 1st
Laura Walker Park, near Okefenokee Swamp
Join us this fall for the annual chapter gathering. We’ll have kayak/canoe trips in the swamp, float trips on the St. Mary’s river, hikes with naturalists in the forest, and much more... Please look for the registration form on the chapter website, and join us in the swamp for an unforgettable Halloween. For questions or more information please contact Genie Strickland at the Georgia Chapter at genie.strickland@sierraclub.org or 404-607-1262 or click here.
Environmental Scoop
Southern Solar Summit
Thursday, September 3rd
GreenBusiness Works EXPO, Cobb Galleria Center
At the Green Business Works EXPO, individuals interested in alternative energy options will gather with panels on solar thermal hot water, solar photovoltaics, the Smart Grid, solar economics, solar and Georgia state policy and much more. There will be keynote addresses by Paula Vaughan (Sustainability), John Bergwell (Chevron Energy Solutions), and Bradley D. Collins (Executive Director of ASES and Publisher of SOLARTODAY magazine). The Summit in Atlanta is a full-day format and requires registration. Please click here for more information.
Hemlockfest
Friday - Sunday, November 6th - 8th
HemlockFest is an annual benefit music festival to increase public awareness and generate funds to help save the Eastern and Carolina Hemlock trees. Funds raised each year are used for support of the Georgia laboratories rearing adelgid-devouring beetles, education and research on the Hemlock woolly adelgid problem, and assisting businesses and homeowners to protect Hemlocks on their private property. Learn more by clicking here.
Support Your Chapter
For more than 25 years, Sierra Club's Georgia Chapter has worked successfully to protect Georgia's resources, water, forests, wildlife and way of life. It would not have been possible without your actions and generosity. With your help we have laid the groundwork to be the most influential environmental organization in Georgia, and changes in political leadership make this the best time to support our environmental work.
Any contribution you make now supports the work of the Georgia Chapter of the Sierra Club and stays right in Georgia! Please consider a sustaining contribution of $10 or more per month. 100% of your donation will be spent in Georgia to preserve and protect our beautiful state. Help build a greener future for Georgia - donate today!
Interested in reading more?
If you have missed an issue of Footnotes Online you can view them online in our Footnotes Online archive by clicking here. You can also sign up for alerts in order to take action at times when we need decision makers to hear from you. Click here to veiw the newest edition of the Georgia Sierran. We need your help!