Eastern Missouri Group E-Newsletter
JULY 2011
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August 25, 2011, Sierra Club General Meeting
at Litzsinger School, 10094 Litzsinger Road at Lindbergh Blvd, Ladue, MO 63124 (map)
7:30 PM to 9 PM
Adventures in India with Cookstoves and Tigers presented by Ken Schechtman, PhD.
Biomass stoves are used by about 3 billion people worldwide. The resulting indoor air pollution is associated with nearly 2 million annual deaths, mostly among women and children and mostly due to respiratory diseases. The wood used in these stoves is the primary cause of deforestation in many countries and a major source of greenhouse gas emissions. In this talk, I will present data that illustrate the scope of using alternative stoves and the failure of non-scientific efforts to improve the situation.
Clean Jobs Tour
On Thursday June 30th, 75 Sierra Club members and supporters toured the CG Power Systems plant in Washington, Missouri. CG Power Systems makes transformers that are used in wind generators and solar collectors. The goal of the tour was to see firsthand that renewable energy can create good, family-wage jobs here in Missouri. CG Power Systems employs about 480 workers at its facilities in Washington, MO. See article for the complete story.
New Guidance on Clean Water Act
Comments are due on this draft guidance by July 31, 2011.
The Clean Water Act (CWA) as amended in 1977 is the basis for protection of surface water quality in the United States. The EPA and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers have issued new draft guidance to define whether a waterway, water body, or wetland is protected by the Clean Water Act.
Reasons to ask them to finalize this draft Guidance and to request a formal rulemaking process:
- the present interpretation of the CWA causes delays and confusion in the implementation of important programs.
- existing Guidance threatens U.S wetlands, streams and other water bodies which are crucial to our drinking water sources and healthy watersheds.
- over 2.4 million citizens in Missouri get drinking water from water systems that under existing Guidance may not be fully protected by the CWA.
Please comment by July 31.
Water Quality Monitoring
On
Saturday July 30, join Sierrans when we investigate a high quality
stream in a wooded niche near expanding Eureka. Our stream team will
monitor Fox Creek
and send the data to the Department. of Natural Resources. At two
locations we will test for dissolved oxygen and other chemical
parameters. We also do visual surveys and measure stream flow. Please
contact: Leslie Lihou (314)726-2140 or Jim Rhodes (314)821-7758.
Nominees Sought for 2012-2013 Executive Committee
The Executive Committee (ExCom) is the governing body of the Eastern Missouri Group. ExCom members make an invaluable contribution to the direction and success of the Sierra Club.
Executive Committee members meet once per month to supervise Eastern Missouri Group (EMG) administration and activities. This includes appointing and supporting committees, acting on recommendations from the conservation and political committees, establishing the budget, authorizing and supporting participation in public events and policy issues, supporting fund-raising, overseeing office administration, and responding to whatever other needs arise.
There are seven voting members in the EMG ExCom, elected for terms of two years. Three candidates will be elected for 2012-2013.
Sierra Club members interested in serving on the EMG ExCom are encouraged to contact one of the members of the Nominating Committee: Richard Egan, Frank Lorberbaum, or Del Johnson.
Sierra Club members may also become a candidate by submitting a petition signed by at least fifteen members. Petitions must be received by the Nominating Committee by Saturday, July 30.
Fundraising Season is Here! Please Join the Lemonade Brigade
Do you know where the bulk of the Eastern Missouri Group's annual income comes from? Believe it or not, the vast majority of money to rent office space, employ a staff person, and support our conservation programs comes from lemonade sales!
If you love and want to support the Sierra Club, please help at one of our upcoming lemonade events. We will have booths at the Festival of the Little Hills in St. Charles on August 19-21, and at the Veterans Festival in Forest Park on September 3-5. For more information and to volunteer, please call Jim Young, 314-664-9392, or the EMG office, 314-664-0890.
Sierra Student Coalition Seeks Alumni from Area Universities
This fall, the Sierra Student Coalition is launching a series of "100% coal-free electricity" campaigns on Missouri campuses, and seeks help from the "elders" of the environmental community. The 5 schools being targeted are: Missouri S&T in Rolla, which has already committed to a future of geothermal energy instead of coal; Washington University in St. Louis; Webster University; Truman State University; and UMKC. If you are an alumnus, a professor, are connected in some way to these universities, or would like to offer financial support, please contact Lindsey Berger, the "Beyond Coal Missouri" organizer for the Sierra Student Coalition.
Annual Chapter Campout Cuivre River State Park near Troy, Missouri will be the location for our annual campout on the weekend October 14-16. Look for campout registration and list of activities in the next E-newsletter and in the next SierraScape. For questions contact: Becky Denney, dardenney@sbcglobal.net or (314) 645-3394. July views from Frenchman's Bluff Trail at Cuivre River State Park. This trail is 1.5 miles and one of many trails at the park. |
Eastern Missouri Group Outings Schedule
Sierra Club members and non-members are welcome to join Club members on our outings.
Visit the Eastern Missouri Group website for more information about outings, activities, and issues.
Please consider making a donation to the Eastern Missouri Group today!