Join our virtual Program meeting on line to hear Randy Hedgepath present a Photo Tour of Good Places To See Wildlife
October 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.
Registration opportunity ends on October 5th. The information below can help you find your status and voting places.
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
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 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.
Our Programs Are Back!
Join us on October 8th for the next program featuring Randy Hedgepath, The Naturalist for Tennessee State Parks, for a photo tour of good places to see birds and other wildlife in Middle Tennessee and across the state. To see more information about the program and to register, visit the following link on the Middle Tennessee Group website - Randy Hedgepath - Wildlife Watching In Tennessee.
Tap here to register and receive a Zoom link for the program! Upon completing your registration, you will receive a confirmation email with the Zoom link.
The Middle Tennessee Group is excited to continue with our monthly programs! 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. Join us on Zoom at 7 PM – 8 PM CT the second Thursday of every month. You can login from your computer or iPad or phone. And you get a front row seat!
Randy Hedgepath
A Photo Tour of Good Places To See Wildlife
Join Randy Hedgepath, The Naturalist for Tennessee State Parks, for a photo tour of good places to see birds and other wildlife in Middle Tennessee and across the state, with emphasis on state parks and natural areas. You can learn new places to go and what you might see there in this light-hearted program of stories, facts, and trivia.
Randy takes beautiful photos. You will want to enjoy them by joining into the Zoom session.
and we'll send you an email with instructions before the program.
State Naturalist, Randy Hedgepath has more than 30 years of experience with Tennessee State Parks. Randy has served as a Ranger Naturalist at South Cumberland and Radnor Lake State Parks. He was appointed State Naturalist for Tennessee State Parks in 2007. A graduate of UT-Martin and former National Park Service Interpretive Specialist, Randy is one of the most sought after interpretive specialists in the southeastern United States.
You can learn more about Randy and our natural resources through reading his Facebook Page.
Last Month Westmeade Outdoor & Sustainability Education
Last month Karen McIntyre, the originator of the Westmeade Elementary School's initiative, presented "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.
Karen told us about the history of the Sustainability program at the school and described its successes.
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
Clarksville-Montgomery County News
During September, members of Sierra Club Clarksville-Montgomery County focused on the upcoming Clarksville City Council election, where 22 candidates are seeking seats in seven of Clarksville’s twelve city wards. We invited the candidates to participate in a (Zoom) public forum on sustainability September 15, and were pleased to have eleven candidates respond. Questions were sent in advance addressing sustainability issues including greenhouse gas emissions, renewable energy, green spaces, and environmental justice. The answers were well-researched, and enlightening – in many ways! Our questions and some candidate responses can be viewed on our Facebook page here.
Sierra Club has made endorsements for three candidates for Clarksville City Council. You can learn about the endorsements by contacting JoAnn McIntosh via email at mcijoann@gmail.com. We thank them for stepping forward to serve our community on environmental issues!
[Just FYI: here are the questions we asked the candidates.]
1. A 2019 survey by Yale University showed that 63% of Montgomery County residents believe that global warming is happening, 54% think local officials should do more to address it, and 68% think that environmental protection is more important than economic growth. Clarksville is the fifth-largest city in TN, but the only one of the top five without a Sustainability Director/Dept. Would you advocate for creating this position in CMC?
2. Clarksville is also the only city of the top five without a resolution/goals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Would you sponsor such a resolution?
3. Several Tennessee cities and their electric companies have developed community solar programs where renewable solar energy is made available to residents and businesses who cannot install solar panels on their premises. Would you support a community solar initiative in Clarksville?
4. Low-income residents across the country suffer disproportionately from environmental pollution and energy burdens. This population sector has also experienced more unemployment during the pandemic, facing utility shutoffs and evictions. How will you address these issues, both short term (COVID financial assistance) and long term (developing programs for healthy, energy-efficient housing)?
5. Clarksville has made great progress in providing green spaces for its residents. Would you support allocating additional resources to expand the Greenway and add more green spaces?
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.
We offer the 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.
State Naturalist, Randy Hedgepath has more than 30 years of experience with Tennessee State Parks. Randy has served as a Ranger Naturalist at South Cumberland and Radnor Lake State Parks. He was appointed State Naturalist for Tennessee State Parks in 2007. A graduate of UT-Martin and former National Park Service Interpretive Specialist, Randy is one of the most sought after interpretive specialists in the southeastern United States.
