Comments from the Chair, Robert W. Hastings
We had an excellent Executive Committee meeting on Saturday, April 25, and discussed several significant environmental issues facing the state. One of the most critical is the Governor’s threat to close many state parks because of the economic crisis in the state. State Parks and the natural environments they contain and protect are especially valuable to Sierra Club members. We encourage all Club members to contact their political representatives and emphasize their concern that state parks not be closed. Although some of us believe that this is a political bluff on the part of the governor to pressure other politicians to support his proposed tax increase, we cannot afford to wait and see. We must act now to help protect our state park system. Another thing we can do is increase the frequency of our visits to state parks. Show by your visits that state parks are valuable to you. And we need to act now! The first projected closing scheduled for May 1 has been rescinded, but another critical date is June 1, when a second group of closings has been scheduled. So we need to act before June 1.
On Sunday, several of us joined other Sierra Club members for a hike to Stephen’s Gap Cave Preserve, which our Chapter has helped protect by making a donation to the Southeastern Cave Conservancy. With its large entrance and impressive waterfalls, it can be visited and enjoyed even by those without special caving experience. Thanks to Sandy Kiplinger of the North Alabama Group and Ron Miller of the Southeastern Cave Conservancy for organizing this outing for us. I would encourage all to plan a trip to this unique state treasure, although a permit is required to visit the site (see http://www.scci.org/).
Back to Basics: Stephen’s Gap Callahan Cave Preserve
by Sandy Kiplinger, North Alabama Sierra Club
In the not too distant past, someone told me that John Muir was old-fashioned and out-of-date. I needed to delete his quote from an article I was writing and replace it with something ‘modern.’ Now I do admit that John Muir did not have a Facebook page, blog, Twitter or Instagram, but I continue to believe in his basic philosophy while growing the Sierra Club that, "if people in general could be got into the woods, even for once, to hear the trees speak for themselves, all difficulties in the way of forest preservation would vanish." Through John Muir’s visionary combination of recreation, education, and conservation, the Sierra Club has outings programs from the grassroots to the International level that carry our message forward. The first sentence of Sierra Club’s mission statement reads, ‘To explore, enjoy and protect the wild places of the earth.’
I don’t recall exactly how and when I learned of Stephen’s Gap Cave in Jackson County, but the first time I entered the Cave through its ‘walk-in’ entrance, I was captivated by the sound of thundering waterfalls and dark beauty. I am not a ‘Caver’ but an outdoor enthusiast who occasionally enjoys exploring the world beneath the earth’s crust. I also dabble in the amateur world of photography. What a combination in such a wondrous place. I soon engaged my daughter and friends, and eventually led Group outings into the Cave and on the property surrounding it.
Late last year, I noted on the North Alabama Group’s Facebook page that the Southeastern Cave Conservancy, Inc. (SCCi), a non-profit, purchased the Stephen’s Gap Cave property. In the comment section was a plea for help with the purchase price. I read on the SCCi website that they are “dedicated to cave acquisition, conservation, and management.” Recognizing a like-minded organization, and the importance of preserving this magnificent property in its wild state for future generations to enjoy, I began a dialogue with their Board Chair, Ron Miller, and Alabama Sierra Club Chapter Chair, Bob Hastings. In January, I was ecstatic when I received news that the Alabama Chapter ExCom approved my request for a donation to be used toward the purchase of what is now named the Stephen’s Gap Callahan Cave Preserve.
In honor of our new partnership, Charlie Cohen and I co-led three outings in April to the Stephen’s Gap Callahan Cave Preserve. Originally two were scheduled but there was such an interest that a third was added. I worked closely with Tom Whitehurst, SCCi land manager, to obtain a permit. He was extremely helpful throughout the entire process. Each outing was unique, primarily because of the weather, but all groups visited the interior of the Cave with its streambed and multiple waterfalls, and those that wished, hiked to an outside waterfall. The first group hiked by blooming wildflowers and was able to explore off-trail the less visited property above the outside waterfall to the bluff line. After a few days of rain, the second group was treated to an exceptional water flow in and outside the cave. The SCCi joined us on the third outing, along with several Alabama Sierra Club Executive Committee members, and educated us as to the property’s history, its ‘residents,’ and, to our delight, rappelled into the Cave through the pit. All were remarkable adventures.
Thank you SCCi for taking on the stewardship of an incredible wild place and to the Alabama Chapter for supporting their effort.
Save the Date!
October 23-25, 2015
Alabama Sierra Club Retreat
Explore, Enjoy, Protect… on 440 acres at the beautiful Living River Center on the Cahaba River.
The focus will be on outings with experienced guides, hands-on learning, and exploring the beauty of the river and surrounding area. There will be opportunities to hike, bird, hunt for fossils, and canoe the Cahaba.
Lodging and meals will be available on site.
Look for your registration form coming soon!
Earth Day Mobile Bay
Beehive Design Collective Presentation on Dismantling Monoculture
by Lucina Horner
The Sierra Club was one of the sponsors for a presentation by the Beehive Design Collective on Wednesday April 15, 2015 at the newly established Adelante Worker Center in Hoover, Alabama.
It turns out that the Beehive Design Collective is a very interesting organization of people that go around collecting people’s stories and creating artistic murals depicting those stories. The presentation on April 15 included an explanation of the fabric murals and the work of the Beehive Collective.
Their website (http://beehivecollective.org) describes the organization this way: The Beehive Design Collective is a wildly motivated, all-volunteer, activist arts collective dedicated to “cross-pollinating the grassroots” by creating collaborative, anti-copyright images for use as educational and organizing tools. We work as word-to-image translators of complex global stories, shared with us through conversations with affected communities. On their website are pictures of other murals as well as a brief illustrated publication called “The True Cost of Coal”.
In this presentation, Molly Shea from the Beehive Collective told us about the activities of the Beehive Design Collective in going around Mesoamerica (southern Mexico and most of Central America) listening to the stories of the people and creating a fabric depiction of those stories. The largest one that she focused on was the Plan Mesoamerica which covered one whole wall and spread over to the next wall. This very large drawing depicted the Plan Mesoamerica which included all the large development in the area (Panama Canal expansion, roadways, dams, etc.) as well as the major players involved (World Bank, International Monetary Fund, etc.) showing the damage it had on the peoples of the area. The second part of the fabric mural, twice the size of the first mural, showed how the common people are able to fight back or resist the changes in their own way in their communities. It would surely have taken hours to explain every detail of the depictions because they were so very detailed, but Molly pointed out the highlights and described the significance of some of the drawings.
There were other smaller murals from other regions, including one from Columbia. The attending members were invited to inspect the murals up close, ask questions and generally dialogue with her. By anti-copyright, they mean that all of their creative images are free to be distributed in any way that might further their cause in bringing the individual stories of these people to light. The members of the Beehive Collective travel around the country and the world making these presentations and inviting people to view their murals.
Nearly 20 Outings and Events Around the State
It is spring. The time is right to get out and enjoy the beauty! Find an outing here.
Sierra Club National Awards
(We have awards for both Sierra Club members and non-members.)
Deadline for nominations: June 1, 2015
Descriptions of Sierra Club National Awards:
- Ansel Adams Award. Honors an individual who has made superlative use of still photography to further a conservation cause.
- Communication Award. Honors the best use of communications (either print or electronic) by a Sierra Club group, chapter or other entity to further the Club's mission. Up to two may be awarded annually.
- David Brower Award. Recognizes outstanding environmental reporting or editorial comment that contributes to a better understanding of environmental issues.
- Denny and Ida Wilcher Award. This $3,000 award honors a Sierra Club chapter or group for outstanding work in membership development and/or fundraising, including increasing diversity of membership and/or donors. Judging criteria include creativity, originality and ratio of funds raised to expenses.
- Distinguished Achievement Award. Honors persons in public service for a particular action of singular importance to conservation. Up to three may be awarded annually.
- Distinguished Service Award. Honors persons in public service for strong and consistent commitment to conservation over a considerable period of time. Up to three may be awarded annually.
- Edgar Wayburn Award. Honors outstanding service to the environmental cause by a public official.
- Environmental Alliance Award. Honors Club members or entities who have helped further environmental goals through collaboration with other, non-Sierra Club constituencies.
- Francis P. Farquhar Mountaineering Award. Honors an individual's contribution to mountaineering and enhancement of the Club's prestige in this field. The Mountaineering Oversight Committee selects recipients.
- John Muir Award. The highest award conferred by the Sierra Club. Honors a distinguished record of achievement in national or international conservation causes. Recipients receive life membership in the Sierra Club.
- Joseph Barbosa Award. Recognizes club members under the age of 30 who have a demonstrated record of service to the environment. Includes an award of up to $500 to further the work of the recipient(s).
- International - The Chico Mendes Award. Recognizes individuals or non-governmental organizations, outside the United States who have exhibited extraordinary courage and leadership, at the grassroots level, in the universal struggle to protect the environment. The International Team nominates recipients.
- International - Earthcare Award. Honors an individual, organization, or agency distinguished by making a unique contribution to international environmental protection and conservation. The International Team nominates recipients.
- International - Raymond J. Sherwin Award. Honors extraordinary volunteer service toward international conservation. The International Team nominates recipients.
- Madelyn Pyeatt Award. Honors Sierra Club members who have made outstanding contributions through working with youth. Includes a $500 award to further the work of the recipient(s).
- Oliver Kehrlein Award. Honors service to the Sierra Club Outings Program either at the local or national level over an extended period of time.
- One-Club Award. Honors club members at any level who have used outings as a way to protect or improve public lands, instill an interest in conservation, increase membership in the Sierra Club, or increase awareness of the Sierra Club.
- Robert Bullard Environmental Justice Award. Honors individuals or groups that have done outstanding work in the area of environmental justice.
- Special Achievement Award. Honors an individual Sierra Club member, committee, group or chapter for a single act of particular importance dedicated to conservation or to the Club. Up to three may be awarded annually.
- Special Service Award. Honors a Sierra Club member, committee or group for strong and consistent commitment to conservation or the Club over an extended period of time. Up to three may be awarded annually.
- Susan E. Miller Award. Honors administrative contributions to groups, chapters and regional entities. Up to three Susan E. Miller awards may be given annually.
- Walter A. Starr Award. Honors the continuing active work and support of the Club by a former director.
- William E. Colby Award. Honors an individual for outstanding leadership, dedication and service to the Sierra Club. Acknowledges service within the Sierra Club's organizational structure but may include conservation achievements.
- William O. Douglas Award. Recognizes those who have made outstanding use of the legal/judicial process to achieve environmental goals, particularly those with national significance.
PROCEDURE FOR SENDING MATERIAL TO THE ALABAMA SIERRAN
Many thanks to Roe Hyche, Bob Hastings, Lucina Horner, and Peggie Griffin for agreeing to be the new newsletter committee.
The newsletter is put together monthly, and material for the newsletter should be sent to plgriffin@comcast.net, with a subject line of "For the Editorial Board" no later than the 15th of the month.
Group newsletter editors may continue sending group meeting information and calendars of events to Joe Watts at joe@joewatts.com, no later than the 25th of each month.
Guidelines for Material:
The newsletter committee is seeking articles about Alabama environmental issues, articles highlighting Alabama’s special beautiful places, and engaging write-ups about group and chapter activities.
Articles should be originally written for the Alabama Sierran, factual, and timely.
A link to another publication should only be used rarely, but if a link is to be used, a full summary of the information (at least a paragraph long) should be written, with the link provided for more detailed information.
The newsletter committee has the right to make any changes, so that material will meet these guidelines.