Monthly Newsletter of the Eastern Missouri Group
JANUARY 2014
Eastern Missouri Group Website | Join | Group Leadership
January 22, 2015, General Meeting
7:00 to 8:30 pm at the Sierra Club office, 2818 Sutton Blvd, Saint Louis, MO 63143 (map)
The Clean Power Plan for Missouri: Jobs, Cleaner Air and a Safe Climate for Future Generations
Andy Knott, Beyond Coal Campaign Representative and John Hickey, Missouri Chapter Director will discuss how the US EPA's Clean Power Plan will benefit Missouri, and the challenges we face in getting it implemented by DNR.
February 26,2015, General Meeting
7:00 to 8:30 pm at the Sierra Club office, 2818 Sutton Blvd, Saint Louis, MO 63143 (map)
African Americans in the Environmental Movement -- A panel discussion with Harry Jackson – St Louis Post Dispatch Writer who produces the weekly hiking column; Dennis Cooke – Outdoor Skills Specialist, Missouri Department of Conservation; and Representative Clem Smith – member of the National Caucus of Environmental Legislators.
The Trail Report
The Trails Committee is getting ready for a busy 2015. Take some time this year and join us on some of the activities throughout the year.
- Spring in the Pioneer Forest. We will have two trail outings: March 27th - 28th and then April 25th - 26th. We will be camping at Johnson's Shut-Ins State Park.
- National Trails Day will be at Hawn State Park on June 6th.
- The October work week is scheduled for October 17th through 25th.
- Join us at one of our monthly Trails Committee meetings, Saturdays at the Sierra Club Office.
This is only a part of the activates that are happening this year. We hope this is the year that you give back by joining us on a work outing, at a meeting or at National Trails Day. For more information on how you can help contact Paul Stupperich.
Pioneer Forest and Sierra Club Go Way Back
The Sierra Club volunteers who worked on trails in Pioneer Forest in October 2014 enjoyed the backcountry outdoor experience and the team effort. The trails they maintained encourage low-impact recreation in the Current River watershed.
Pioneer Forest is now part of the L-A-D Foundation but the forest lands were purchased in mid-20th century by Leo Drey who is known as Missouri’s Pioneer in Sustainable Forestry. Drey began discussion with other land agencies to develop public recreation on his land as early as 1965. By late 1979 the 12 miles of the Ozark Trail in the Blair Creek section were built by Sierra Club volunteers with help from Greg Iffrig of Pioneer Forest and Al Schneider, Trail Coordinator for MDNR. This OT section and the MDC sections just north and south of Powder Mill Ferry on the Current River were the first sections of the Ozark Trail to be built. Join us in the Roger Pryor Pioneer Backcountry as we continue this tradition.
March 27-29, Friday-Sunday: Ozark Trail maintenance. We may see early flowers and hear native birds in this special area known as the Roger Pryor Pioneer Backcountry. We will meet at Johnson’s Shut-Ins Visitor Center at 8:30 am on March 27, Friday for the drive to Pioneer Forest. Camping will be free at Johnson's Shut-Ins but expect to bring your meals. You are welcome to attend for one or more days. Registration is required. Contact Paul Ohlendorf or Paul Stupperich, (314) 429-4352.
Thank you, Penny
Penny Holtzmann is retiring from the Sierra Club in January 2015. Penny has been the behind the scenes EMG staff person for 12+ years. She has provided continuity for the elected and changing Executive Committee. Former ExCom Chair Richard Egan relates that “Penny’s experience and know-how trumped my position. She was MY boss, and I respected her opinions and judgment!” In addition to keeping ExCom on track, her duties varied from managing the financial records to creating EMG's electronic newsletter (more than 50 monthly issues) to providing support for volunteers and helping with EMG events, such as Trivia night. If you ever called the EMG office or sent an email query to the EMG office, you received a quick response from Penny. She kept the office organized and running smoothly. Thank you, Penny, for your many years of effective service. We will miss you.
Green Time TV - Social Challenges/Energy Challenges
Green Time appears in four Missouri areas. See the webpage at greentime.tv. In the St. Louis area it airs at noon on Saturdays on Channel 24-1 and at 8:00 pm on Mondays on Channel 24-2 on these dates:
February 7 & 9: “Police Violence in Ferguson ” What happened immediately after Michael Brown was killed on August 9, 2014? What did residents of Canfield Apartments see when they came out of their homes? Kayla Reed, Michael T. McPhearson and Don Fitz discuss why their reactions sparked a movement that spread across the country and then around the world.
February 14 & 16: “Police Accountability.” Much of Ferguson burned on November 24, 2014, the night of the announcement that Darren Wilson would not be charged for killing Michael Brown. John Chasnoff, Michael T. McPhearson, and Don Fitz discuss how protest organizers attempted to work with police prior to that evening.
February 21 & 23: “Residential Energy Efficiency.” Can using energy efficiency save you money while it helps the environment? For low income home-owners, reduction of energy bills can be critical for affording medications or food. Jessica Freiberger and Connie Taylor ask why “healthy homes” are important and how home retrofits can provide local jobs.
February 28 & March 2: “Energy Efficient Building Codes” Why does it make sense to incorporate energy efficiency when the structure is built, instead of later? How difficult is it for builders to adapt to modern energy efficiency standards? Caryl Kinsey Fox, Richard Reilly and Don Fitz discuss local building codes.
February shows include “Mike Brown's Memorial – Canfield” and “I Believe That We Will Win – Rally Cry for VonDerrit Myers Jr,” “#FergusonOctober - St. Louis Police Tear Gas Protestors - October 11, 2014,” “VonDerrit Myers, Jr. - #BlackLifeMatters,” “My Generation: Home Energy Efficiency,” “You Know Clean Energy is winning when …,” “Midwest Energy Efficiency Alliance,” and Morgan Freeman on climate disruption.
To volunteer to help produce Green Time call 314-727-8554 or email Don. Like Gateway Greens on Facebook and click Get Notifications.
Eastern Missouri Group Outings Calendar
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!