Learn More, Get Involved
Join us at the Benjamin L Hooks Library the evening of February 20 between 6:30 and 8:00 pm. There will be refreshments and both old and new members.
Our February program is an idea sharing and input opportunity about the Sierra Club Chickasaw Group's major activities and plans for 2020; you will learn a little about each one and have a chance to give your comments and thoughts. You will also have a chance to explore volunteer opportunities. The 6 major activities that we will highlight are 1) Reduce, Reuse, Recycle (and Refuse), 2) Energy and Climate, 3) Environmental Justice, 4) Outings, 5) Membership, and 6) Communication. We'll also have an open-ended listening session for your suggestions in other areas where you think we should be involved and where you would want to help. We call this program "Eco-Speed Dating.” Let’s date! Come out and hear our brief "come-ons" and also, please write down your ideas on our brainstorm posters. We look forward to seeing you!
Facebook event link: https://www.facebook.com/events/462604781283962/
Thursday, February 20th 6:30-8:00 pm at the Benjamin Hooks Library 3030 Poplar Ave Memphis, TN 3811
March Program and Event Features Living Lands & Waters
For 22 years Living Lands & Waters and waters has been traveling up and down the Mississippi and its tributaries by barge cleaning and collecting trash.
They just passed a milestone of 10 MILLION POUNDS removed from our waterways.
One of their leaders will be presenting at the Library for our March program on the 19th and on the 21st, we will join with the Wolf River Conservancy to clean up the Wolf River Harbor.
Their event: https://wolfriver.org/default.aspx?p=129528&evtid=1692820:3/21/2020
Chickasaw Leads Winter Retreat
The Statewide winter retreat was held at Cedars of Lebanon State Park on January 24-26th. Led by our new Executive Committee Chair, Ramie Bell, Chickasaw was responsible for organizing the tasks, purchasing and preparing all the food and making sure the event went off without a hitch. In addition to many seminars (the highlight of which was Scott Banbury's roundup of ongoing challenges), the State Naturalist led 3 hikes for those brave enough to face the brisk weather. Look for our next retreat in the spring at Booker T. Washington State Park, near Chattanooga.
Transit Equity Day a Big Success
Transit Equity Day is a national event created and organized by a number of supportive groups- social justice groups, labor groups, and environmental groups, including the Sierra Club. Unfortunately, the information about the day didn't get to Sierra Club leaders in Memphis until a week before the designated date, which was the 107th anniversary of Rosa Parks' birth. Ms. Parks had highlighted that transit was an important service for the community and for individuals no matter their skin color, income level, religious faith, ethnic background or other characteristic. So the theme of Transit Equity Day was to once again highlight the importance of transit, and to point out that it is an equity issue and an important resource for many individuals who rely on it to get to work, school, shopping, doctor's appointments, and other needs as well. We had a successful event in Memphis in part due to the equity theme, but also due to the fact that Shelby County is in the middle of a campaign to increase funding for transit in Memphis, and to expand it further into the County. Most of the local media outlets covered the event, and the following speakers expressed their support for the dual themes-- the County Mayor, the transit agency President, and leaders of MICAH (Memphis Interfaith Coalition on Action and Hope), MBRU (the Memphis Bus Riders Union), MCIL (the Memphis Center for Independent Living, Innovate Memphis, and the Sierra Club. See the photo.
Six Sierrans Brave Heat and Sun to Survey Shelby Farms
On a mid-winter day six members of the Chickasaw Group set off on an arduous three mile hike to explore less seen parts of Shelby Farms. Despite the warmth and sun, none suffered heat related complaints, due to their excellent preparation. The trek was lead by our Executive Committee Chair, Ramie Bell, who helped identify many native plants, both those with name placards and those which required learned knowledge or a web search to identify. Many lakes, a children’s playground and some bison were also seen alongside the trail.
The Outings Committee plans many more such hikes throughout the year, so let us know if you’d like to participate.
Ongoing Permitting Controversies
In conjunction with Protect Our Aquifer, Sierra Club has been voicing our opposition to two projects that threaten our drinking water: 1) A plan to clean and reinject water from a contaminated plume in Collierville and 2) A new (but largely redundant) crude oil pipeline from the Valero Refinery to the Capstone Pipeline in Byhalia
A Big Win
Shelby County was planning to retire 63 high-mileage passenger vehicles and replace them, in kind. Sierra Club objected when the matter came before the County Commission and the County has agreed to consider whether hybrid or electric vehicles are a better choice.
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