Cimarron Group Sierra Club March E-News
Remember the latest info is always online at http://oklahoma.sierraclub.org/cimarron
The Cimarron Group's monthly meetings have moved locations!!! Our monthly meetings will now be located at SixTwelve in the Paseo district and are excited about being part of the vibrant and exciting Paseo district community! The new address is 612 NW 29th Street Oklahoma City, OK. There is a parking lot and parking spots along the streets surrounding the building as well. The Spring Fling at the Lake Hefner Boathouse on March 28th is in lieu of the March General meeting so our first monthly meeting at the new location will be April 16th at 7pm. See you there!!! |
Check out the Oklahoma Chapter's newest issue of the OK Sierran for more information of interest for the Oklahoma Sierra Club!
In this eNews:
- Oklahoma Legislation
- March Events
- April Events
OKLAHOMA LEGISLATION We need your help with our legislative alert program now more than ever!!! Please sign-up to contact your state legislators via phone or email about environmental bills coming up for a vote: http://oklahoma2.sierraclub.org/legislative. Our two top priority issues this year are:
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PLEASE VOTE IN OKC CITY COUNCIL ELECTION MARCH 3rd: Elections will be held this year in Wards 2, 5, 6, and 8 (4-year terms) The Cimarron Group has endorsed Dr. Ed Shadid: Ed is a Sierra Club member, supporter and donor and has been an outspoken proponent for sustainable solutions in our City, including walkable neighborhoods, public transit, and “green” planning. To help educate citizens, he has hosted public forums on these topics and more. Ed was also the primary proponent of the urban agriculture ordinance that was adopted last year to promote gardening, composting and rain barrels.
Most recently, Ed organized the opposition to an oil drilling and fracking project proposed next to Lake Hefner, a popular hiking/biking area and a critical part of the City’s water supply. After several hundred people showed up at the public meeting, that proposal was withdrawn. Ed then organized a public forum on water quality and drinking water protection and is now promoting a Council resolution to prohibit any new drilling leases on lands surrounding our drinking water lakes, including Atoka and McGee Creek. |
LOBBY DAY: Tuesday, April 7, starting at 8:30am, will be our very important LOBBY DAY at the Oklahoma State Capitol. Our Sierra Club lobbyist is up against big money opposition at the Capitol and the only advantage he has is YOU ... the constituents! Don’t worry about lack of knowledge or experience—there will be a briefing session before we start talking to the legislators. We will choose one or two priority bills active at the time and will provide talking points. If we have enough people, we will work in pairs. We need at least 30 volunteers (bring a friend!) ... please contact sderichsweiler@cox.net for more information. To volunteer, register here !
March Events
Mar 7, 11 am - 3pm: First Aid and CPR Class - AT CAPACITY, future classes will be scheduled and posted - Don't get outdoors unprepared! Take a First Aid and/or CPR class, taught by Sierra Club Outings Leader and professional nurse, Traci Schaeffer! First Aid will be from 11 AM - 1 PM, and CPR will run from 1-3PM. The cost is $20 for one class or $40 for both. The card is through the American Heart Association and is valid for two years. The class is also open to youth ages 12 and older. Wear clothes that allow movement, since it will be necessary to get on the floor to perform skills. Contact Traci with any questions at tracischaeffer@gmail.com or 405-820-0682
Mar 7, 8:30 - 9:30am: CommonWealth Garden School - The CommonWealth Urban Farms is hosting a practical, hands-on, weekly class specifically for home gardeners. If you’ve never gardened before, or if you want to deepen your gardening knowledge, this course is for you. Take what you learn straight home and put it to use in your own garden! There are 30 weekly classes, attend one, some, or all! The first class is March 7th and is a special 1 hour class, Designing and Starting Your Home Garden. Check out the link above for more information and a list of sessions available during this great class offered by our friends at CommonWealth Urban Farms!
Mar 9, 10am - Pruning Fruit Trees: Apples, Pears & Peaches. This is a hands-on practical exercise in pruning the most common fruit trees grown in Oklahoma. Please bring your own equipment, if you have them, including gloves, hand pruners, lopers, and tree saws. We will be meeting at Lynn Cooper's place south of Guthrie. For directions, call Lynn at 405-229-0696 or Rick at 405-395-7191. Cost of the one session is $5. Register now!
Mar 9, 6:30pm - Conservation Committee Meeting - Join the Conservation Committee at the new Oklahoma Sierra Club office, located in the Uptown District in Oklahoma City. Location: 600 NW 23rd Street #205, Oklahoma City, OK
Mar 14, 7pm - 3rd Annual Cimarron St. Patrick's Day Party - Home of Mark & Susie Derichsweiler: Previously held as a fundraiser, this year's event will be a potluck/BYOB. Donations will certainly be welcome, but not required. Location: 217 NW 27th Street, OKC, OK.
Mar 28, 6pm - Cimarron Group Spring Fling at the Lake Hefner Boat Club (annual fundraising auction & awards) - Celebrate Spring with the Sierra Club. The Spring Fling has replaced our former Christmas party as the primary fundraiser and awards event. This is the big fundraiser of the year, including a raffle, silent auction, and live auction. Meat dishes will be provided by the Club, but please bring an appetizer, side dish, or dessert to share. Wine and beer will be available, but donations would be appreciated. If you bring your own dishes and utensils, you will be in the front of the line.
We are now accepting items for our fundraising auction (both live and silent). These auctions depend on donations provided or colicited by members. Contact Doug Hill (Isawwood925@aol.com or 476-0222) with items you wish to donate or just bring them along to the party. (Please remember—This is NOT a garage sale!) A donor solicitation letter and donor thank you letter are available upon request. We would like to encourage you to donate your time for services such as gardening, cooking, cleaning, etc. or lessons (i.e., bridge, tennis, kite flying, cooking, canning+). These are generally our best fundraising items.
Apr 7 & 9, 2015 - Beginner's Backpacking Workshop - SAVE THE DATES!: Come learn from experienced Sierra Club backpackers about the basics of backpacking. This fun and educational workshop is spread out over two nights and covers everything from the basics of what you need to bring to the type of gear that is suggested for different types of outings. Stay tuned for more information on this great workshop on our events calendar or in next month's eNews!
Apr 11-18, 2015 - Upscale Camping in the Caribbean. They call it "glamping", and this group will spend a week doing just that. Glamorous camping at scenic Cane Bay on St. Croix. We will stay in modern tent cabins, snorkel the crystal clear waters of the Caribbean, and make day excursions to sail, hike and generally explore the largest of the US Virgin Islands.