News and events of the Middle Tennessee Group of the Sierra Club
As people across the country protest in defense of Black lives, the Sierra Club recognizes the need to dismantle systemic racism in the United States and within our own organization. We must reckon with how white supremacy -- both past and present -- has shaped our institutions and do the critical anti-racism work necessary to repair the harm done. The environmental movement does not exist in a vacuum, and it is our responsibility to use our power to help abolish systemic racism, which is destroying lives, communities, and the planet.
September 2020 Newsletter
Current Situation
Due to the evolving COVID-19 pandemic situation, we are sensitive to our constituents during this challenging crisis. . . . As a result, cancellations of Sierra Club events have been extended through February 28, 2021. Meetings and programs are being held virtually when possible.
If You Don't Do Anything Else This Year....
in what is arguably the most important election in your lifetime...November 3, 2020
We are approaching one of the most critical election cycles ever. Climate change is one of the really big issues at stake. The officials we elect next will be the ones to carry out our response. You can register to vote at: https://ovr.govote.tn.gov.
1. For Davidson County (Nashville) residents, our local Elections Authority is the Davidson County Election Commission. Their home page has some good summary information plus useful links to the answers to a number of common questions, including:
- relevant dates and deadlines, - am I registered/what do I need to vote - do I qualify for mail-in voting
Please note that the deadline for having your voter registration submitted in time for the Fall Presidential election is October 5th! That means your registration must have been dropped off at your local Election Commission office or be postmarked by the Postal Service no later than October 5th. Remember if you don’t yet have a TN drivers license you cannot register online.
2. For residents of other Tennessee Counties, your county will have an Election Commission that administers elections and voting. To find information about your local Commission, and to obtain any general information about registering and voting in TN, the best starting place is the State’s Secretary of State office which administers elections at the state level and which produces the voter registration form used by all counties in the state.
Their web site govotetn.org has downloadable Voter Registration forms, information about voting requirements and dates/deadlines, option to check your registration status, sample ballots, and other election FAQs.
You may also download the GoVoteTN app for your mobile device.
Mail-in Ballots and Absentee Voting
If you are considering a mail-in ballot, please check the current guidelines published by the Tennessee Secretary of State. In Davidson County you must request a mail-in ballot for the General Election even if you previously requested one for the primaries. Mail-in ballots are expected to be delivered to the Davidson County Election Committee Office by September 15.
A new court order on August 25 found that Tennessee’s election officials have yet to properly inform voters that people in high-risk groups for COVID-19 and their caretakers can request a mail-in ballot this year. The issue has been referred to the Tennessee State Attorney General.
We will provide updates on Mail-in ballots on our website Political information page. Be sure to check with your local election commission office if you think you may qualify.
The Middle Tennessee Group is excited to continue with our monthly programs! We have found online programs to be virtually the best way to stay both physically distant and connected. Monthly programs connect us with hometown environmental heroes and provide a social and informative experience for our Sierra Club community.
Join us on Zoom at 7 PM – 8 PM CT the second Thursday of every month for a program in the comfort of your own home, we can’t wait to see you! Invite others who may be interested! Upon completing your registration, you will receive a confirmation email with the Zoom link.
Westmeade Outdoor & Sustainability Education
September 10, 2020
Karen McIntyre, the originator of the Westmeade Elementary School's initiative, will present "Westmeade Outdoor & Sustainability Education". She is leading the charge towards a more sustainable future. Sustainability, the ability to endure, is becoming a key interest in schools across the country in the push to make cities greener. Sustainability initiatives aim at creating systems that work long-term by minimizing the ecological and economic impact of human activity.
Westmeade Elementary encourages student participation in sustainability programs. They learn a holistic approach to gardening with vegetable garden useful for attracting pollinator species such as bees, ants, beetles, birds and butterflies.They practice everyday waste reduction through a multi-faceted waste reduction system. This combines food rescue, composting and recycling facilitated in a community effort.
Karen McIntyre is the librarian at Westmeade Elementary with a passion for sustainability and helping children to cultivate a long-lasting connection to their food, environment and community.
October 8: Randy Hedgepath, Tennessee State Naturalist, will present “Wildlife Watching”. Tour good places to see birds and other wildlife across Middle Tennessee, with an emphasis on state parks and natural areas. Learn new places to go and what you might see there!
If you were interested in our past programs but found the drive and time of day made it difficult for you, we welcome you to join the virtual programs. We send you a link before the program so you can login from your computer or iPad or phone. And you get a front row seat!
FYI: We will return to our regular meeting place at Radnor Lake, when possible. SIerra Club has suspended all in person events through February 28, 2021. We will continue with online program meetings until then. The good news is it’s an easy commute and you may attend whether you are local or not! Keep up-to-date and find past talks on the Middle Tennessee Group website: Middle TN Sierra Website
AddUp
Interested in adding your support for environmental campaigns around the USA? You can find information about our campaigns on our AddUp website. Read about each of them.
Your support is more important than ever in these difficult times. Add your signature to support those that are important to you. Your signature will be added to messages to your representatives and you will have the opportunity to share the campaign on your social media account.
MIDDLE TN GROUP ISSUES
AND BUSINESS MEETING
Monday, September 21, 2020, 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM
During the Covid-19 pandemic our monthly business meetings are being held virtually rather than in person.
You may be interested in attending our meetings to meet our leaders and learn more of what we do, but we know Nashville is a long drive at an inconvenient time of day for many of you. This may be an opportunity for you to visit our meeting from your phone or computer. The meeting is held via Zoom and you must register at least 24 hours in advance to get login information.
Sierra Club has suspended all Outings during the Corona Virus pandemic. Watch for announcements on our websites and Chapter Newsletter for information when those resume.
We are the Middle Tennessee Group of the Tennessee Chapter of the Sierra Club, the world’s oldest, largest, and most influential grassroots environmental organization. With over 3.5 million members and supporters, the Sierra Club has the resources to empower people and to influence public policy through community activism, public education, lobbying, and litigation.
Our mission is to Explore, Enjoy and Protect the Planet.
The COVID-19 crisis has not passed and continues to disproportionately harm Black, Indigenous, and Latinx people and other communities of color. The pandemic has revealed how the communities hardest hit are often the same communities that suffer from high levels of pollution and poor access to healthcare. The fight for environmental justice cannot be separated from the fight for racial justice.
